Renal cell carcinoma: should radical nephrectomy be performed in the presence of metastatic disease?
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is associated with an unfavorable prognosis and the treatment options are limited. Adjunctive radical nephrectomy, performed either before or after the administration of systemic immunotherapy, has been proposed as a means of improving outcome. The role of nephrectomy for patients with metastatic disease remains controversial. This article reviews the role of nephrectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and the optimal timing for surgery relative to immunotherapy.
Sawczuk
I S
IS
Department of Urology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. iss1@columbia.edu
Pollard
J C
JC
D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009392:Nephrectomy; D011379:Prognosis