Clinical study of targeted therapy in the treatment of metastatic non–clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of targeted therapy in the treatment of metastatic non–clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC). Methods Data of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who received sorafenib (400 mg, twice one day) or sunitinib (50 mg/d, 4 weeks on/2 weeks off) as the first–line targeted therapy from Dec. 2006 to May. 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Pathological diagnosis indicated 317 clear cell RCC (ccRCC) and 56 nccRCC (29 papillary RCC and 27 other subtypes). Kaplan–Meier method was used to assess overall survival (OS), and log–rank test was performed to compare the difference of median follow–up between the two groups. Side effects were also documented and analyzed in all the patients. Results The follow–up period was 2.7 to 79.9 mon (median: 34.3 mon) in the whole group, among which the median follow–up was 36.6 mon in metastatic ccRCC patients and 18.5 mon in nccRCC patients, respectively. The one, two and three–year survival rate in metastatic ccRCC patients were 90.2%, 47.9% and 24.6%, respectively. The one–year survival rate in metastatic nccRCC patients was 60.7%, and only one patient survived over two years. Compared with ccRCC patients, those with nccRCC showed poorer prognosis (P 0.05). Conclusions Targeted therapy is efficient in the treatment of metastatic nccRCC patients and the side effects are reversible, although the prognosis is poorer compared with ccRCC. Key words: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma; Clear cell renal cell carcinoma; Non–clear cell renal cell carcinoma; Targeted therapy