Paraneoplastic Resolution Holds Prognostic Utility in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The presence of paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS) in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with worse survival; however, little is known about whether resolution of PNS after intervention has any prognostic value. We sought to determine if resolution of PNS by one year after cytoreductive nephrectomy was significantly associated with improved overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively maintained nephrectomy database for patients with any histology metastatic RCC (mRCC) who underwent nephrectomy between 2000 and 2022. Patients with the necessary laboratory studies available within 90 days before and by one year after surgery were included for study. PNS resolution was defined as an abnormal value compared to established laboratory cutoffs by one year after surgery. Multiple PNS in one patient was allowed, and resolution of each PNS was measured separately. OS and CSS were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: A total of 253 patients met inclusion criteria. A total of 177 patients (70.0%) met criteria for at least one PNS resolution by one year. Five-year OS and CSS rates were 15.7% and 36.2% for no PNS resolved, 24.5% and 31.6% for 1 PNS resolved, and 43.0% and 58.2% for ≥2 PNS resolved, respectively (p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, no PNS resolution was associated with worse OS (HR 2.75, p < 0.001) and CSS (HR 2.62, p < 0.001) compared to ≥2 PNS resolved.

Conclusions: Resolution of preoperative PNS abnormalities by one year following surgery is associated with improved OS and CSS in patients with mRCC.