Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pancreas: Clinical features and treatment outcome

Abstract

Background and Objectives Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pancreas (PM-RCC) is infrequent; we sought to describe the characteristics of PM-RCC and analyze the outcome following treatment.

Methods Data of 3107 mRCC patients treated between 1992 and 2007 from the Korean Renal Cancer Study Group database were obtained to identify 300 (9.7%) PM-RCC patients. Characteristics and survival were analyzed and compared to the rest of the mRCC, according to the timing of metastasis and surgical treatments received.

Results PM-RCC was younger at initial diagnosis (55.0 vs. 58.2 years), more frequently in women (30.3% vs. 22.3%), and metachronous (65.3% vs. 41.9%) with a longer disease-free period (82.0 vs. 33.0 months). Overall survival (OS) was significantly better in PM-RCC but pancreas metastasectomy was associated with improved OS only among metachronous PM-RCC. In the 132 metachronous PM-RCC with pancreas metastasectomy, median recurrence-free survival was 17.2 months and we found Heng risk group (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.384, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.213–4.684), younger age (HR = 0.965, 95% CI = 0.945–0.987), shorter interval to pancreas metastasis (HR = 0.993, 95% CI = 0.986–0.999), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status to be predictive of early progression following pancreas metastasectomy.

Conclusion Compared to the other mRCC, PM-RCC demonstrated a favorable prognosis. Pancreas metastasectomy was associated with prolonged survival in the metachronous PM-RCC with a long progression-free period.