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Growth pattern of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients with delayed surgical intervention

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Abstract

Purpose

Few studies have evaluated the growth pattern of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients with delayed treatment. This report investigated the growth rate and stage progression of incidentally discovered RCC following a long period of active surveillance.

Methods

Thirty-two patients who did not receive immediate surgical treatment for renal solid masses that later proved to be RCC were reviewed retrospectively. Annual tumor growth rates were calculated according to changes in the maximal diameter on CT or MRI. Clinical and pathological characteristics associated with tumor growth rate and stage progression were analyzed.

Results

The median tumor size grow from 2.14 (range, 0.30–6.70) cm to 4.33 (range, 1.40–8.80) cm after a median 46.0 months observation period. The average tumor growth rate was 0.80 (range, 0.16–3.80) cm/year. Clear cell carcinoma (0.86 cm/year) tended to grow faster than papillary cell carcinoma (0.28 cm/year) (P = 0.066). The mean growth rate of grade 2 tumors (0.88 cm/year) was faster than that of grade 1 tumors (0.36 cm/year) (P = 0.041). Thirteen tumors (40.6%) were upstaged at a median 48 months after initial presentation. Cox regression analysis revealed initial tumor size as the only risk factor for upstaging (P = 0.018). No local and systemic recurrences were noted in our cohort after the intervention at a median of 47 (range, 6–248) months of follow-up.

Conclusions

RCCs were found to be slow growing in a group of untreated renal cell carcinoma patients. However, some tumors progressed in stage under observation. The growth rate of RCC tended to correlate with histologic grade and histologic subtype.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, First Hospital of Peking University, Institute of Urology, Peking University, National Urological Cancer Center, No. 8 Xishiku St, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China

    Xue-Song Li, Lin Yao, Kan Gong, Wei Yu, Qun He, Li-Qun Zhou & Zhi-Song He

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  1. Xue-Song Li
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  2. Lin Yao
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  3. Kan Gong
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  4. Wei Yu
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  5. Qun He
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  6. Li-Qun Zhou
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  7. Zhi-Song He
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhi-Song He.

Additional information

Xue-Song Li and Lin Yao contributed equally to this article.

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Li, XS., Yao, L., Gong, K. et al. Growth pattern of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients with delayed surgical intervention. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 138, 269–274 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-011-1083-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-011-1083-0

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