[Significance of anemia as an independent prognostic factor in patients with renal cell carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the significance of anemia as well as other prognostic factors influencing survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).


METHODS
A retrospective review of data of 316 patients who underwent surgery between 1970 and 2003 was performed. Most important known prognostic factors of RCC were investigated.


RESULTS
Most of patients had T1b-T2, low nuclear grade and single tumours. In 8.2% and 9% of cases, lymph node and metastatic dissemination were detected at the time of diagnosis, respectively. At the beginning, most frequent symptoms were hematuria and pain, with anemia (Hb >10g/dl) in 69 patients. After a median follow-up of 50 months, 24.1% of patients had a recurrence. From these, more than 50% developed recurrence within one year after nephrectomy. Advanced tumours (T3-4) consisted of high nuclear grade (III-IV) tumours, larger size tumours, with necrosis and vascular infiltration in surgical specimen, as well as lymph node and metastatic dissemination. In multivariate analysis, anemia, time to recurrence, type of treatment for recurrence as well as lymph node dissemination were independent factors of cancer specific survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Anemia seems to be a marker of recurrence and progression in patients with renal cell carcinoma undergoing nephrectomy. From our point of view, anemia could be considered a significantly high mortality rate for renal cancer in these patients.
Fernández Gómez
Jesús María
JM
Hospital Universitario Central de Austurias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Espanã. jmfernandezgomez@telefonica.net
Jalón Monzón
Antonio
A
Alvarez Múgica
Miguel
M
García Rodríguez
Jorge
J
Miranda Aranzubía
Oscar
O
González Alvarez
Roberto Carlos
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult