Recurrence rates and survival in a Danish cohort with renal cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION: Patients with localised and locally advanced renal cancer experience about 20% recurrence during a five-year follow-up period. The aim of the present study was to report recurrence rates and survival in a Danish population with renal cancer.

METHODS: Data on patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at our institute from January 2005 to December 2013 were collected retrospectively.

RESULTS: Overall, 367 patients were diagnosed with RCC during the period, and 78 patients (21%) presented with metastasis. The mean follow-up period for all patients was 41 months (standard deviation = 29, 95% confidence interval: 38-44). The total recurrence rates (RRs) at one, three and five years were 4.5%, 13.5% and 22.3%, respectively. Overall survival rates in the patients who underwent surgery with localised and locally advanced disease were 96.1%, 88.2% and 78.3% for one, three and five years, respectively. The mean time to first recurrence was 26.6 months. The one-year RR was 1.2%, 5.5% and 13.8% for low, intermediate and high-risk Leibovich scores, respectively. The three-year RR was 8.3%, 14.1% and 29.6% for low, intermediate and high-risk Leibovich scores, respectively; and the five-year RR was 12.0%, 26.6% and 52.9% for low, intermediate and high-risk Leibovich scores, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: RRs after localised and locally advanced RCC was 22%. According to the risk of recurrence, we recommend a follow-up programme after nephrectomy with computed tomography every second year for low-risk patients, annually for intermediate-risk patients and every six months for high-risk patients.

FUNDING: none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: none.