Aim: This study aimed to investigate whether the pathological features of primary lesions show additional prognostic value in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who are treated with sorafenib.
Patients & methods: A consecutive cohort of 284 patients was included from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between 2007 and 2013. The association between survival and pathological features of primary tumors was assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model. The incremental value of prognostication was evaluated.
Results: We found that the pathological features of primary lesions provided added prognostic value over the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center model in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who were treated with sorafenib.
Conclusion: Addition of a pathological score in the clinical setting could better identify patients at risk of poor survival.
Keywords: International Society of Urological Pathology; pathological features; prognosis; renal cell carcinoma; sorafenib.