Leibovich, Bradley C.

Alcohol consumption has been associated inversely with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk; however, no study has examined effect modification by germline variation in alcohol‐metabolizing genes. We investigated whether the association between alcohol intake and RCC risk is modulated by germline variants in alcohol dehydrogenase genes in a large case–control study. Data from 652 RCC cases and 1,366 non‐cancer controls were analyzed. Alcohol intake was assessed using a standardized risk factor questionnaire. Three previously genotyped polymorphisms in ADH6 and ADH7 with the TaqMan assay were examined. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using logistic regression, adjusting for covariates. Compared to non‐drinkers, ever consumption of alcohol was associated with lower RCC risk (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.42–0.65). Analysis with cubic spline regression curve showed a “J‐shaped” relationship between alcohol drinks/day and RCC risk, such that there was no added benefit against RCC for consumption of more than two drinks/day. We observed effect modification by variation in rs1154454 (ADH7) (pinteraction = 0.007); a per unit increase in alcohol drink/day was associated with 35% lower RCC risk among non‐minor allele carriers, a 27% lower risk among those who carry one copy of the minor allele, but no association was observed among those with two copies of the minor allele. These findings indicate that alcohol consumption is associated with lower RCC risk. Consuming more than two drinks a day does not confer additional protection against RCC. The association between alcohol intake and RCC risk appears to be modulated by inter‐individual germline variation in alcohol‐metabolizing genes.

Objectives To compare renal functional changes after percutaneous cryoablation ( PCA ) or partial nephrectomy ( PN ). Patients and Methods Patients who underwent PCA or PN for a solitary renal mass at a single institution were identified (2003–2013). Estimated glomerular filtration rates ( eGFR s) were calculated at baseline, discharge, and at the 3‐month follow‐up using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Changes in renal function were compared between groups using 1:1 propensity score ( PS ) matching, adjustment for PS quintile, and inverse probability weighting ( IPW ). Results There were 2 040 procedures available for the PS analyses, including 448 PCA and 1 592 PN . After PS adjustments, there were no significant differences in baseline clinical features between PCA and PN patients. In the PS ‐matched analysis, the change in eGFR from baseline to discharge for PCA and PN patients was −3.1 and −1.1 mL /min/1.73 m 2 , respectively ( P = 0.038), with percentage changes of −4.5% and 0% respectively ( P = 0.006). From baseline to the 3‐month follow‐up, the absolute change in eGFR for PCA and PN patients was −4.3 and −2.1 mL /min/1.73 m 2 , respectively ( P = 0.008), and the percentage change was −6.1% and −2.4% respectively ( P = 0.005). Similar results were obtained after adjusting for PS quintiles and in the IPW analysis. Importantly, the rate of chronic kidney disease stage progression at the 3‐month follow‐up was similar between the groups (21% vs 18%). Conclusions Our results confirm that both PCA and PN have a minor impact on renal function. While we observed a statistically greater decline in eGFR after PCA compared with PN , both approaches result in excellent preservation of renal function.

456 Background: Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy for which relatively limited characterization exists to date. We evaluated clinicopathologic features, treatment patterns, and variables associated with outcomes for patients with RMC. Methods: We reviewed the National Cancer Database to identify patients diagnosed with RMC between 1998-2012. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Clinicopathologic features associated with all-cause mortality (ACM) were assessed using Cox regression analysis. Results: We identified 153 patients with RMC, comprising approximately 0.04% of renal malignancies during this time period. Median age at diagnosis for RMC was 24 years (IQR 20, 31). The majority of RMC patients were black (135; 88%), male (108; 71%), and presented with unilateral, right-sided tumors (101; 66%). Notably, nearly half (72; 48.9%) presented with metastatic disease. A total of 92 (64.3%) patients underwent radical nephrectomy (RN), and 2 (1.3%) were treated with partial nephrectomy. Pathologic stage at nephrectomy was ≤pT2 in 30 patients (32.6%), pT3 in 43 (46.7%), pT4 in 7 (7.6%), and N+ in 50 (55.6%). Of the patients who underwent RN, 60 (65.2%) received multimodal therapy (MMT), including radiation (3; 3.3%), systemic therapy (49; 53.3%), and radiation + systemic therapy (8; 8.7%). Of the 59 patients who did not undergo surgical resection, the majority (46; 77.8%) presented with M1 disease. Median OS was 7.8 months for the entire RMC cohort, with 1- and 3-year OS of 34% and 11%, respectively. Notably, median OS for patients presenting with M1 and M0 disease was 5.2 months versus 11.2 months, respectively (p< 0.01). On multivariable analysis, treatment with RN (HR 0.40; p=0.003) or RN+MMT (HR 0.44; p<0.001) were associated with decreased ACM, whereas the presence of metastatic disease at diagnosis remained associated with an increased risk of ACM (HR 1.74; p=0.02). Conclusions: The prognosis for patients with RMC is dismal, with a median OS under 8 months. Further studies, including the development of novel therapies, are needed to establish the optimal multimodal management approach for these patients.

433 Background: Current guidelines suggest that percutaneous thermal ablation (PTA) can be utilized in those with significant comorbidity who are unable to tolerate surgery (radical or partial nephrectomy). However, the use of PTA in healthy patients, who are otherwise candidates for surgery, has been limited. Here, we reviewed our institutional experience in healthy patients electing to undergo PTA, specifically cryoablation. Methods: We identified patients ≤65 years undergoing percutaneous cryoablation for solitary, non-metastatic renal masses <7cm (cT1). We further limited our cohort to patients with an ASA score of 1 or 2, and in whom pre-operative eGFR was >60. Clincopathologic characteristics and recurrence patterns (local recurrence within the kidney versus metastatic disease) were evaluated. Results: Between March 2003 and December 2015, 705 patients underwent cryoablation, of whom 43 (6.1%) were deemed to be “healthy”. Median age of this cohort was 57 years (IQR 52−62), with pre-ablation eGFR of 75.6 (IQR 69.0-86.3). Seven patients (16.3%) had a prior partial nephrectomy, and 5 (11.6%) had a solitary kidney. The majority (40, 93.0%) of ablated masses were cT1a, with 3 (7.0%) being cT1b. Median tumor size was 2.0 cm. 27 masses (63.7%) were biopsy-proven renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and 6 (13.6%) were benign; histology was unknown in 10 (22.7%). Follow-up imaging was available for 37 patients. Median radiological follow-up was 22 months (IQR 9-42), during which time 2 patients developed metastatic disease and 1 developed local recurrence; all events were in patients with biopsy-proven RCC. No patients died from RCC during this time period. Conclusions: In this single institution cohort of “healthier” patients with cT1 solitary renal masses, cryoablation offered reasonable short term oncologic control. While longer follow-up data are needed to evaluate for durability, cryoablation in healthy patients, particularly those with challenging surgical anatomy, warrants further study.

402 Background: AGS-003 is an autologous tumor RNA-loaded dendritic cell-based immunotherapy being tested in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. The immunologic specificity for the patient’s own tumor is achieved using amplified tumor RNA electroporated into monocyte derived dendritic cells. To produce AGS-003 for RCC patients the RNA is amplified from a 100 mg primary tumor sample obtained via nephrectomy. In this non treatment study we evaluated the feasibility of RNA amplification from MIBC tissue acquired by transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Methods: MIBC tissue was obtained via TURBT. Following draining of the irrigant used during the TURBT procedure, tissue was placed into an RNA preservative solution to prevent RNA degradation until processing. Methods developed for the amplification of RCC tumor RNA and RNA quality testing were applied to the RNA extracted from the MIBC specimens. Results: This work demonstrated that the methods developed for the amplification and testing of RNA from RCC can be successfully employed for the amplification of RNA from MIBC specimens collected by TURBT. Results demonstrated that the total RNA yields obtained from bladder tissue exceed that of similar masses of primary RCC tumors. This finding enabled the reduction in the amount of starting material from 100 mg to 50 mg of bladder tissue. The amount of amplified RNA produced from the lower bladder cancer masses were sufficient to support the production of immunotherapy at full scale (17 doses average). Conclusions: These data demonstrate the feasibility of RNA extraction and amplification from muscle invasive bladder cancer tissue and supports our planned phase II clinical study. [Table: see text]

Objective To evaluate the association between renal tumour complexity and outcomes in a large cohort of patients undergoing percutaneous cryoablation ( PCA ). Patients and Methods Patients with renal tumours treated with PCA were identified using our prospectively maintained ablation registry (2003–2015). Salvage procedures and inherited tumour syndromes were excluded. The associations between R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score ( NS ) and risk of complications, renal function impairment, local failure and cancer‐specific mortality ( CSM ) were evaluated using univariate and multivariable logistic, linear and Cox regression models. Results The cohort included 618 tumours treated during 580 procedures in 565 patients. The median (interquartile range [ IQR ]) follow‐up was 34 (14.66) months. Complications (any grade) during a procedure ( n [total] = 87, 15%) were more frequent with higher NS ( NS 4–6: 10%; NS 7–9: 14%; NS 10–12: 36%; P < 0.001). Higher NS was independently associated with risk of complications (odds ratio [ OR ; per 1 point] = 1.3; 95% confidence interval [ CI ] 1.2–1.5; P < 0.001). Of all the NS components, tumour size was the most strongly associated with complication risk ( OR 3.4; 95% CI 2.2–5.2; P < 0.001). The median ( IQR ) decline in glomerular filtration rate ( GFR ) from baseline was 9% (0, 22) at last follow‐up. Each additional point in NS was associated with a 1.3% (95% CI 0.4–2.1; P = 0.005) greater GFR decline from baseline. NS was not significantly associated with local failure ( n [total] = 14, 2%; NS 4–6: 2%; NS 7–9: 3%; NS 10–12: 5%; P = 0.32) or CSM ( n [total] = 8, 2%; NS 4–6: 2%; NS 7–9: 3%; NS 10–12: 2%; P = 0.88). Conclusion In high‐complexity tumours PCA was associated with a tumour size‐driven increased risk of post‐procedural complications. Higher NS was associated with a small, clinically minor additional decline in renal function. Risks for local failure and CSM were low, regardless of tumour complexity.

516 Background: The impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is controversial. Herein, we evaluated the association of DM with survival among patients with RCC. Methods: We reviewed 2,589 patients treated with nephrectomy for sporadic, unilateral, M0 RCC between 1990 and 2008 and compared demographic and tumor characteristics in patients with and without DM (nonDM). Patients with DM (n=313) were matched 1:2 to nonDM patients according to date of surgery, age, smoking status, obesity, ECOG performance status (PS), CKD stage, histological subtype, and nuclear grade. Cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The association of DM with outcomes was evaluated with Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: A total of 313 (12%) patients had DM. DM patients were significantly older at RCC diagnosis, more likely to be obese, and had higher Charlson scores, CKD class, rates of smoking, and worse PS at surgery (p<0.001). Patients with DM were also more likely to have ccRCC (83% vs. 76%, p=0.02) and to undergo nephron-sparing surgery (42% vs. 35%, p=0.01), while other pathologic features were similar in DM and nonDM. Among the 939 matched cases and controls, 463 patients died within a median of 5.5 years after nephrectomy. Median follow-up for survivors was 8.6 years. Five-year CSS was not significantly different among DM patients 84% vs. nonDM patients 87% (p=0.11), although 5-year OS was significantly worse among DM patients (66% vs. 75%; p<0.001). Indeed, even after adjusting for Charlson score, DM patients were noted to have a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.33; p=0.004). In a subanalysis of patients with clear cell RCC, DM patients were more likely to die from RCC compared with nonDM patients after adjusting for the SSIGN (Stage, Size, Grade, Necrosis) score (HR 1.44; p=0.034). Conclusions: In this surgical cohort, DM was independently associated with decreased CSS among patients with ccRCC and with decreased OS in all RCC subtypes. Further studies to determine the potential biologic mechanism for this interaction are warranted.

503 Background: We evaluated temporal patterns in the utilization of systemic therapy among patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) for metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC) from a large national cancer registry and assessed patient characteristics associated with receipt of systemic treatment. Methods: We reviewed the National Cancer Database to identify patients with stage IV RCC who underwent CN between 1998-2010. Systemic therapy was defined as any treatment with immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy (including targeted agents). We evaluated the association between clinicopathologic features and receipt of systemic therapy using multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations, and assessed the interaction of treatment with time, stratified as immunotherapy (1998-2004) versus targeted-therapy (2005-2010) eras. Results: Of 22,409 patients with mRCC undergoing CN, 8,830 (39%) received systemic therapy. Receipt of systemic therapy increased from 32% in 1998 to 49% in 2010 (p<0.001), largely due to increased utilization of chemotherapy (13.9% vs. 46.7%; p<0.001). Following adjustment, increasing patient age (51-60 years: OR 0.82 [CI 0.73-0.92]; 61-70 years: OR 0.67 [CI 0.59-0.76]; ≥71 years: OR 0.36 [CI 0.31-0.43]), as well as coverage with Medicaid (OR 0.61 [CI 0.5-0.74]), Medicare (OR 0.70 [CI 0.62-0.79]), or no insurance (OR 0.75 [CI 0.63-0.91]) were associated with decreased utilization of systemic therapy. Although use of systemic therapy in the elderly (≥71 years) and in patients with Medicare/Medicaid remained lower throughout the study period, each of these cohorts was significantly more likely to receive systemic treatment in the targeted versus immunotherapy era (all p values <0.05). Conclusions: Utilization of systemic therapy among patients undergoing CN has increased over time, coinciding with the introduction of targeted therapies. Nevertheless, still less than half of such patients receive systemic treatment. While the etiology for lack of treatment is likely multifactorial, the potential health policy implications of continued disparities in care warrant further investigation.

498 Background: Surgery for RCC patients with IVC thrombus above the hepatic veins is complex and associated with an increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, minimal data exist that describe contemporary perioperative outcomes at major referral centers or the prognostic factors associated with adverse surgical outcomes. The objective of this study is to determine the preoperative predictors of major complications and 90 day mortality after surgery in RCC patients with IVC thrombus above the hepatic veins. Methods: Records were reviewed of all RCC patients with IVC tumor thrombus above hepatic veins who had surgery from 1/2000 to 12/2012 at Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, UT Southwestern and the University of Wisconsin. Major complications were recorded were defined as 3A or greater according to the Clavien- Dindo system within 90 days of surgery. Univariate and multivariate (MV) analyses were used to evaluate associations of preoperative clinical, pathological or laboratory variables with risk of major complications or 90-day mortality. Results: A total of 162 patients were identified for study (thrombus level 3,4 in 69 and 93 patients, respectively, according to Neves classification). Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 60/162 (37.5%), while 40 (24.7%) patients underwent pre-operative angioembolization. Major complications were reported in 55 (34.0%) patients, with the most common being respiratory (12.4%), hematologic (9.2%) and cardiac (8.6%). On MV analysis, preoperative systemic symptoms and level 4 thrombus were independently associated with an increased risk of major complications. Mortality was reported in 17 (10.5%) patients within 90 days after surgery. On MV analysis, ECOG performance status and low serum albumin were independently associated with increased risk of 90 day mortality. Conclusions: Contemporary perioperative mortality and major complication rates for RCC patients with upper level thrombus are 10 and 34%, respectively. ECOG PS >1 and low serum albumin are associated with an increased risk of perioperative mortality, and should be considered when selecting patients for neoadjuvant systemic therapy trials.