Therapy of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy.

PURPOSE

We evaluated the outcome of patients with locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma treated at our university.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 16 cases of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma in the renal fossa treated with surgical resection alone or in combination with biological therapy.

RESULTS

Complete resection was possible in 15 patients of whom 3 had positive surgical margins. Of the 12 patients with negative margins 6 are free of disease while the 3 with positive margins had involvement of a remaining ipsilateral adrenal gland and distant metastasis. Of all 16 patients 12 are alive a median of 23.5 months after the diagnosis of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma. Of those treated with the combination of biological therapy and surgery 50% have no evidence of disease compared to 25% of those treated with surgery alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term survival can be achieved with an aggressive surgical approach. Incomplete resection or positive surgical margins are associated with a high risk of local or distant failure, and combined treatment with immunotherapy and surgery may offer a benefit compared to surgery alone.