Prognostic Role of Pancreatic Metastases From Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results From an Italian Center

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 354 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated at our institute to determine whether pancreatic metastases are associated with overall survival (OS) in mRCC patients treated with surgery/targeted therapy (TT). Our findings suggest that pancreatic metastases are an independent predictor of survival in mRCC patients. Background: Pancreatic metastasis accounts for 2% to 11% of all mRCC cases. The prognostic value of pancreatic metastases in the era of TTs is unclear. We evaluated outcomes in a cohort of mRCC patients with pancreatic metastases (PmRCC) who were treated with TTs. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 354 mRCC patients treated at our institute between January 2005 and June 2012. Differences in terms of OS between this unselected cohort of mRCC patients and a subgroup of patients with PmRCC were investigated. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test methods were used to evaluate OS. Results: In total, 24 PmRCC (7%) patients were identified, and were compared with a cohort of 330 mRCC patients with metastasis at other sites. Pancreatic metastases were synchronous in 3 patients, and they were metachronous in 11 patients. Surgical resection of pancreatic metastases was performed in 2 (8%) patients. At a maximum follow-up of 89 months (median, 51 months), median OS was 39 months in PmRCC patients, vs. 23 months in the mRCC patient group (P = .0004). Conclusion: Among mRCC patients treated with TTs, the presence of pancreatic metastasis seems to be associated with a longer survival than the presence of metastasis at other sites.