Efficacy and Safety of Sorafenib Therapy on Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in Korean Patients: Results from a Retrospective Multicenter Study

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sorafenib for Korean patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Methods

A total of 177 mRCC patients using sorafenib as first- (N = 116), second- (N = 43), and third-line (N = 18) therapies were enrolled from 11 Korean centers between 2006 and 2012. The patient characteristics, therapy duration, tumor response, disease control rate, and tolerability were assessed at baseline and at routine follow-ups, and the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times and rates were analyzed.

Results

Among all patients, 18 (10.2%) stopped sorafenib treatment for a median of 1.7 weeks, including 15 (8.5%) who discontinued the drug, while 40 (22.6%) and 12 (6.8%) patients required dose reductions and drug interruptions, respectively. Severe adverse events (AEs) or poor compliance was observed in 64 (36.2%) patients, with 118 (7.4%) ≥grade 3 AEs. During the treatment, one myocardial infarction was observed. The number of ≥grade 3 AEs in the first-line sorafenib group was 71 (6.8% of the total 1048 AEs). During a median follow-up of 17.2 months, the radiologically confirmed best objective response rate, disease control rate, median PFS, and median OS were 22.0%, 53.0%, 6.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.2–8.9), and 32.6 months (95% CI, 27.3–63.8) for the total 177 sorafenib-treated patients, respectively, and 23.2%, 56.0%, 7.4 months (95% CI, 5.5–10.5), and not reached yet (95% CI, 1.0–31.1) for the first-line sorafenib group, respectively.

Conclusions

Sorafenib produced tolerable safety, with a ≥grade 3 AE rate of 7.4% and an acceptable disease control rate (53.0%) in Korean mRCC patients.     

肾癌患者凝血指标的临床分析

目的:探讨肾癌患者异常增高的凝血指标、静脉血栓栓塞症(VTE)发生率与临床分期的关系,分析肾癌患者血液高凝状态的临床特征。方法:对2010年至2012年335例住院的肾癌患者Fib、D-D、BPC水平进行检测并筛查发生VTE的患者。结果:335例肾癌患者中,异常Fib、D-D、BPC的发生率分别为20.6%、9.9%、6.6%,且随着肾癌分期的增加,凝血指标异常的发生率逐渐升高,各分期之间比较有统计学差异(P0.05);VTE的发生率为2.2%,Ⅳ期肾癌患者最高为1.2%,且各分期之间比较有统计学意义(P0.05)。年龄≥60岁、肿瘤最大径10 cm、临床分期晚、伴有远处转移的肾癌患者血液高凝的发生率分别显著高于年龄60岁、肿瘤最大径10 cm、临床分期早、不伴有远处转移的肾癌患者(P0.05)。结论:年龄≥60岁、肿瘤最大径10 cm、临床分期晚、伴有远处转移可能是肾癌患者发生血液高凝状态和VTE的危险因素,应引起临床重视。     

Skeletal Metastases in Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Study and Review of the Literature

Background: Skeletal metastases represent an underappreciated site of metastasis in patients with pancreatic cancer. Previous reports have estimated the prevalence to range from 5 percent to 20 percent. With the use of gemcitabine and novel targeted agents such as erlotinib, there has been a modest increase in survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. As such, it is anticipated that previously uncommon occurrences such as skeletal metastases will become more frequent.     

Tubulocystic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Great Imitator

Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma (TCRC) is a rare renal tumor. Patients are usually asymptomatic; it is usually detected incidentally, during imaging studies for Bosniak type III and type IV renal cysts. These tumors rarely metastasize. The role of targeted therapy in such rare tumors is still controversial. We report a case of TCRC initially presented as a Bosniak type II renal cyst and was discovered ultimately to be a metastatic disease. This type of presentation might broaden our understanding of this rare disease.     

Fine Needle Aspiration of A Pancreatic Oxyphilic Carcinoma With Pulmonary and Subcutaneous Metastases

The cytological appearances of an oxyphilic pancreatic carcinoma are reported and the histological and clinical features are described. Despite the presence of pulmonary and subcutaneous metastases this tumour did not behave in an aggressive fashion.     

Pancreaticoduodenectomy Combined with Vascular Resection and Reconstruction for Patients with Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Multicenter,Retrospective Analysis

Objective

The aim of this study was to present the therapeutic outcome of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer treated with pancreatoduodenectomy combined with vascular resection and reconstruction in addition to highlighting the mortality/morbidity and main prognostic factors associated with this treatment.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological data of a total of 566 pancreatic cancer patients who were treated with PD from five teaching hospitals during the period of December 2006–December 2011. This study included 119 (21.0%) patients treated with PD combined with vascular resection and reconstruction. We performed a detailed statistical analysis of various factors, including postoperative complications, operative mortality, survival rate, operative time, pathological type, and lymph node metastasis.

Results

The median survival time of the 119 cases that received PD combined with vascular resection was 13.3 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 30.3%, 14.1%, and 8.1%, respectively. The postoperative complication incidence was 23.5%, and the mortality rate was 6.7%. For the combined vascular resection group, complications occurred in 28 cases (23.5%). For the group without vascular resection, complications occurred in 37 cases (8.2%). There was significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.001). The degree of tumor differentiation and the occurrence of complications after surgery were independent prognostic factors that determined the patients’ long-term survival.

Conclusions

Compared with PD without vascular resection, PD combined with vascular resection and reconstruction increased the incidence of postoperative complications. However, PD combined with vascular resection and reconstruction could achieve the complete removal of tumors without significantly increasing the mortality rate, and the median survival time was higher than that of patients who underwent palliative treatment. In addition, the two independent factors affecting the postoperative survival time were the degree of tumor differentiation and the presence or absence of postoperative complications.     

miR-21对肾癌细胞凋亡和侵袭力的影响

目的:探讨miR-21对肾癌细胞凋亡和侵袭力的影响.方法:人类肾癌细胞株Caki-1和OS-RC-2细胞,分别以As-miR-21转染沉默miR-21,转染无关乱码寡核苷酸序列作阴性对照,以及不转染寡核苷酸的作空白对照,以MTT法测细胞生长,以AnnexinVFITC凋亡检测试剂盒检测凋亡,采用Transwell肿瘤浸润实验测细胞增殖力.结果:转染无关乱序miRNA的阴性对照组其细胞生存率与空白对照无差异,而转染As-miR-21的Caki-1和OS-RC-2细胞,其生存率均显著下降(P＜0.05),且在72 h时生存率下降最明显;转染AS-miR-21的细胞凋亡率(Caki-1 16.7％; OS-RC-2 14.5％)相对于转染无关乱序miR-21的阴性对照细胞(Caki-12.3％; OS-RC-2 3.3％)和未转染的空白对照细胞(Caki-1 2.5％; OS-RC-2 3.7％)显著增加(P＜0.05).转染AS-miR-21的细胞跨过Transwell膜的相对于转染无关乱序miR-21的阴性对照细胞和未转染的空白对照细胞显著减少(P＜0.05).结论:miR-21能增加肾癌细胞的抗凋亡力和侵袭力,沉默miR-21能抑制肾癌恶性程度.     

MicroRNA-145在肾癌中的临床意义及其分子机制探讨

目的:探讨miRNA-145在肾癌中的临床意义及其分子机制。方法:通过实时定量PCR检测和比较16例肾癌患者的肿瘤组织及癌旁正常肾组织中miRNA-145的表达,并分析miRNA-145的表达水平与肾癌患者病理特征及临床分级的相关性。进一步采用实时定量PCR检测和比较肾癌细胞株786-O、769P及正常肾细胞株HK2中miRNA-145表达量,通过转染miRNA-145 mimics和阴性对照miRNA至769P、786-O肾癌细胞株后观察癌基因(bcl-2、e2f3、cdk6、ccnd1)mRNA的表达。结果:肾癌组织中miRNA-145的表达显著低于癌旁正常肾组织(P0.05),且与肾癌的直径、病理核分级及临床分级呈显著负相关(P0.05)。肾癌细胞株769P、786-O中miRNA-145的表达显著低于正常HK-2肾细胞(P0.05),而转染miRNA-145 mimics的769P、786-O细胞中多个癌基因(bcl-2、e2f3、cdk6、ccnd1)的mRNA表达均较阴性对照组显著降低(P0.05)。结论:MiRNA-145在肾癌中呈低表达,可能通过调控多个癌基因的表达在肾癌的发生发展过程中发挥重要的作用。     

干细胞在胰腺癌中的研究进展

胰腺癌是预后程度极差的恶性肿瘤,已初步证实胰腺干细胞可转化为胰腺癌细胞。成功分离和鉴定了胰腺癌干细胞并对其与转移、耐药的关系和信号通路异常的关系进行了初步研究。深入理解干细胞在胰腺癌中的作用,可能根本改变临床胰腺癌防治的方式。     

Impact of Age on the Cancer-Specific Survival of Patients with Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma: Martingale Residual and Competing Risks Analysis

Background

Age at diagnosis has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor of localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in several studies. We used contemporary statistical methods to reevaluate the effect of age on the cancer-specific survival (CSS) of localized RCC.

Methods and Findings

1,147 patients with localized RCC who underwent radical nephrectomy between 1993 and 2009 were identified in our four institutions. The association between age and CSS was estimated, and the potential threshold was identified by a univariate Cox model and by martingale residual analysis. Competing risks regression was used to identify the independent impact of age on CSS. The median age was 52 years (range, 19–84 years). The median follow-up was 61 months (range, 6–144 months) for survivors. A steep increasing smoothed martingale residual plot indicated an adverse prognostic effect of age on CSS. The age cut-off of 45 years was most predictive of CSS on univariate Cox analysis and martingale residual analysis (p = 0.005). Age ≤45 years was independently associated with a higher CSS rate in the multivariate Cox regression model (HR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.05–2.40, p = 0.027) as well as in competing risks regression (HR = 3.60, 95% CI = 1.93–6.71, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Increasing age was associated with a higher incidence of cancer-specific mortality of localized RCC. Age dichotomized at 45 years would maximize the predictive value of age on CSS, and independently predict the CSS of patients with localized RCC.     

Prognostic Value of Components of Body Composition in Patients Treated with Targeted Therapy for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Case Series

BackgroundTo evaluate the association between various components of body composition and overall survival of patients treated with targeted therapies for advanced renal cell carcinoma.MethodsThis retrospective study included 124 Chinese patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who had been treated with targeted therapy from 2008 to 2012 at Fudan University Cancer Center. The L3 plane from a computed tomography scan was analyzed. Area and density were recorded as quantitative and quality measures. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportion hazard regression models were constructed to calculate the crude and adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of various components of body composition for overall survival. X-tile software was used to search for optimal cutoffs for male and female patients and the concordance index evaluated incremental changes in prognostication.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, sex and Heng risk stratification, only visceral adipose tissue index (HR 0.981, p = 0.002) and subcutaneous adipose tissue index (HR 0.987, p = 0.048) were independently associated with overall survival. Visceral adipose tissue remained a significant prognostic factor (HR 0.997, p = 0.005) when the influence of body mass index was included. Using defined cutoffs, patients with low VAT had double the death rate (p = 0.007). Visceral adipose tissue also added significant benefit to Heng risk stratification. Further exploratory analysis revealed that visceral adipose tissue may be an indicator of nutritional status in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.ConclusionRadiologic measurement of VAT is an independent prognostic factor for Asian patients treated with targeted therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma.     

肾癌相关基因克隆——肾癌cDNA消减文库的构建

应用抑制性消减杂交技术,构建人肾癌与正常肾差异表达的cDNA消减文库.分别从肾癌及正常肾细胞系中提取poly(A)⁺RNA,依次合成单链及双链cDNA,经酶切成平均大小为400～600 bp的片段,将肾癌cDNA分为两组,分别与两种不同的接头衔接,再与正常肾cDNA进行两次消减杂交及两次抑制性PCR后,将产物与T/A载体连接构建成功cDNA消减文库,并转染大肠杆菌进行文库扩增.构建成功具有高消减效率的人肾癌cDNA消减文库,非特异性cDNA片段被有效地消减,特异表达的cDNA得到富集.文库扩增后得到6 500个克隆,随机挑取350个制备质粒,酶切分析均得到400～600 bp插入片段.所构建的人肾癌cDNA消减文库为进一步大批量筛选、克隆肾癌特异性表达的未知新基因奠定了基础.     

Role of Chemokines in Renal Cell Carcinoma

With new frontiers of pharmaceutical therapies focusing on tumor growth and angiogenesis, understanding the interaction between immune system and tumor microenvironment has become ever more important. Chemokines and chemokine receptors appear to play an integral role in tumor characteristics. Evidence suggests CXCR4, CXCL5, CXCR7, and stromal derived factor-1 appear to be crucial in survival, growth, and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. As the role of chemokines in renal cancer is becoming more evident, further research will lead to a better understanding of tumor biology and the development of new therapeutic targets to help improve survival.Key words: Chemokine, Cytokines, Renal cell carcinoma, OncocytomaRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the seventh most common malignant condition among men and twelfth among women, representing 2% to 3% of all cancers.¹ Thirty to 40% of affected patients present with stage III or stage IV disease. It has an estimated incidence of 57,760 per year, which has increased 2% to 3% per year with no significant decrease in mortality rates.² Median survival of patients with metastatic disease is merely 13 months.¹ Studies have established that tumor and stroma interact through a variety of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors.³ Recent evidence suggests chemokines may facilitate tumor growth, survival, and metastatic potential of various cancers including RCC. Chemokines have a potential to be utilized as tumor markers and novel targets of antiangiogenic therapy. Investigating the role of various chemokines in the development and metastasis of cancer has become a major focus of contemporary research. We examined the relevant literature and present a review of selected chemokines and their roles in renal cell cancers.     

Solitary Renal Fossa Recurrence of Renal Cell Carcinoma After Nephrectomy

Renal cell carcinoma without metastasis responds well to surgical excision but is known to recur postnephrectomy. In a small but significant number of patients this recurrence is not accompanied by metastasis, which is important as these people benefit from further surgery. We examined 20 articles from the current literature to ascertain how best to treat this condition. Surgical management renders better results than conservative or medical therapies. Readily available investigations such as blood tests and computed tomography can help determine the right patients for surgery in an evidence-based fashion. Current findings have allowed us to suggest a protocol for the treatment of solitary renal fossa recurrence of postnephrectomy renal cell carcinoma. There are further opportunities for study in validating our protocol, and in novel renal cell carcinoma treatment strategies that have not been tested on solitary renal fossa recurrences.Key words: Renal cancer, Recurrence, Nephrectomy, Complications, ManagementKidney cancers represent 2% of cancers worldwide; the most common type is renal cell carcinoma. Curative treatment of localized disease is a nephrectomy. Following surgery, recurrence can happen locally with an incidence of 1.61%.^1–5 A solitary renal fossa local recurrence is rare but important to distinguish from local recurrence with metastasis, which would not benefit from surgical resection. The 5-year survival postresection of local recurrence for those without metastasis compared with those with metastasis was 62% compared with 0%.⁴ The kidneys are bordered by the colon, spleen, liver, stomach, and associated neurovascular structures, all of which may be invaded in this form of recurrence; specific morbidity is related to the invasion and subsequent resection of these organs. General morbidity is caused by the surgery itself, with pain, infection, and hemorrhage being major contributors (Figure 1). This article explains predictive factors in recurrence, useful diagnostic modalities, and management, and provides recommendations and highlights opportunities for further study.Open in a separate windowFigure 1Computed tomography image of a patient with renal fossa recurrence of renal cancer after nephrectomy. Of note is the large mass identifiable in the spleen.     

Xp11.2 易位/TFE3基因融合相关性肾癌1 例

目的:报道一例Xp11.2易位/TFE3基因融合相关性肾癌的诊治经过,探讨该病的临床和病理特征、诊断和治疗以及预后。方法:男性,7岁,以无痛性肉眼血尿为主诉就诊,入院后行B超,CT等影像学检查及常规实验室检查,行右肾根治性切除术,并予病理检查及基因检测,确诊为Xp11.2易位/TFE3基因融合相关性肾癌。结合相关文献资料,分析Xp11.2易位/TFE3基因融合相关性肾癌的临床和病理、诊断及治疗和预后等。结果:患者B超和CT检查提示右肾实质性占位,增强CT检查提示右肾中部实质内可见团状混杂密度影,增强后未见明显强化;术前诊断右肾肿瘤,术中探查难以实施保留肾单位手术,遂行根治性肾切除术。术后病理:灰红色肿块,边界清楚,肿块切面灰红灰黄,可见坏死和钙化灶,肿瘤细胞成乳头状结构排列,肿瘤细胞边界限清楚,细胞胞质丰富,细胞核圆行,染色质呈泡状,可见核仁,间质内可见沙砾体形成;免疫组化标记肿瘤细胞结果示:TFE3(+),CD10(+),CD117(灶+),CD68(-),EMA(-),HMB45(-),Ki67(约5%+),P504s(+),P53(约10%+),RCC(-),Vimentin(-);基因检测结果:t(X;17)(p11.2;q23)染色体易位,形成CLTC-TFE3融合基因。术后随访32个月,患者病情稳定,复查B超和CT复查均未见肿瘤复发和转移。结论:Xp11.2易位/TFE3基因融合相关性肾癌无特异性临床表现,诊断主要依赖影像学检查、病理形态学特征、特异性标记物的免疫组化及基因检测;需与其他肾细胞癌鉴别;首选手术治疗,术后需要进行密切随访。     

Impact of Individual and Environmental Socioeconomic Status on Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Objectives

We aimed to explore the impacts of individual and environmental socioeconomic status (SES) on the outcome of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in regions with significant SES disparity, through a retrospective multicenter cohort in China.

Methods

Overall, 2,171 incident patients from seven PD centers were included. Individual SES was evaluated from yearly household income per person and education level. Environmental SES was represented by regional gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and medical resources. Undeveloped regions were defined as those with regional GDP lower than the median. All-cause and cardiovascular death and initial peritonitis were recorded as outcome events.

Results

Poorer PD patients or those who lived in undeveloped areas were younger and less-educated and bore a heavier burden of medical expenses. They had lower hemoglobin and serum albumin at baseline. Low income independently predicted the highest risks for all-cause or cardiovascular death and initial peritonitis compared with medium and high income. The interaction effect between individual education and regional GDP was determined. In undeveloped regions, patients with an elementary school education or lower were at significantly higher risk for all-cause death but not cardiovascular death or initial peritonitis compared with those who attended high school or had a higher diploma. Regional GDP was not associated with any outcome events.

Conclusion

Low personal income independently influenced all-cause and cardiovascular death, and initial peritonitis in PD patients. Education level predicted all-cause death only for patients in undeveloped regions. For PD patients in these high risk situations, integrated care before dialysis and well-constructed PD training programs might be helpful.     

赖氨酰氧化酶样蛋白2在肾细胞癌中的表达及其临床意义

为探究赖氨酰氧化酶样蛋白2 (lysyl oxidase like 2, LOXL2)与肾细胞癌(renal cell carcinoma, RCC)的关系,本研究采用免疫组织化学方法检测58例RCC组织及13例癌旁组织中LOXL2的表达水平,并利用统计学方法进一步分析LOXL2与临床病理参数和预后之间的关系。研究显示,LOXL2在癌组织和癌旁组织的阳性表达率分别为68.96%和23.08%,差异具有统计学意义(p<0.05)。LOXL2阳性表达与患者的临床分期和肾包膜浸润相关(p<0.05),但是与患者的性别、年龄、吸烟、病理类型、肿瘤大小和肿瘤分级均无相关性(p>0.05)。采用Kaplan-Meier法和Log-Rank检验分析LOXL2与术后生存时间的关系,实验显示LOXL2阳性组和阴性组患者的5年生存率分别为61.58%和89.46%,差异具有统计学意义(p<0.05)。我们的研究表明LOXL2在肾癌中过表达,其可能在肾癌的侵袭和转移过程中发挥作用,可作为预后的分子标记物。