Key clinical point: Features that are specific to histologic subtype and take into account known differences in predictive features within a given histology were found predictive of progression and death from renal cell carcinoma. This model does not rely on current American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging, which limits obsolescence as updated staging guidelines are put forth.

Major finding: Each model had excellent discrimination, stratified patient outcomes, and is based on features that have been externally validated by other centers. The goal is to operationalize these models into an online tool that will provide important prognostic information for routine clinical use and in designing future studies among patients with RCC.

Study details: A total of 3633 patients with sporadic, unilateral, nonmetastatic RCC were identified in the Mayo Clinic Nephrectomy Registry, of whom 2726 (75%) were diagnosed with ccRCC, while 607 (17%) had papRCC, and 222 (6%) had chromophobe (chrRCC). Of the remaining patients (excluded from analysis), clear cell papillary RCC was present in 32 (1%), RCC not otherwise specified in 31 (1%), collecting duct in seven (< 1%), and other rare subtypes in eight (< 1%).

Disclosures: The researchers had no relevant financial disclosures.

Source: Leibovich B et al. European Urology 73; 2018: 772-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2018.01.005