Surgical-only treatment of pancreatic and extra-pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma - quality of life and survival analysis

BACKGROUND: Treatment of pancreatic metastases (PM) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still an issue between surgeons and oncologists, in the era of target-therapy. METHODS: Data from 26 patients undergoing resection of PM and extra-PM from RCC, with R0 intention were retrospectively analysed. No one received adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were divided into two groups; Group A comprehends 14 patients who developed synchronous (5) or methacronous (9) extra-PM. Group B comprehends 12 patients that developed PM only. RESULTS: No intraoperative mortality was recorded. Complications occurred in 14 patients (53.8%), all but 2 (7.26%) were graded I and II according to Clavien-Dindo classification. Recurrences occurred in 8 patients (30.8%), of whom, 5 (62.5%) were submitted for further resections in other sites. Three-, five- and ten-year observed overall survival were respectively 88,5% [95%CI: 0,56 – 1,33], 76,9% [95%CI: 0,47 – 1,19] and 50% [95%CI: 0,20 – 1,03]. Disease-free survival was 65,4% [95%CI: 0,38 – 1,05], at 3 years, 57,7% [95%CI 0,323 – 0,952] at 5 years and 42,9% [95%CI 0,157 – 0,933], at 10 years. QoL analysis, through WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, assessed at last available follow up revealed a mean score of 75,9 ± 11,6 on 100 points. CONCLUSION: Despite no significant differences in survival between patients affected by Pancreatic or Extra-Pancreatic metastases, PM patients seems to show better outcome when managed surgically. mRCC patients, eligible for radical metastasectomy, tend to have long survival rates, reduced recurrence rates and good QoL. STUDY REGISTRATION: This paper was registered retrospectively in ClinicalTrials.gov with Identification number: NCT03670992.