The role of stereotactic body radiotherapy in switching systemic therapy for patients with extracranial oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma

Background Targeting oligometastatic lesions with metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) using stereotactic-body radiotherapy (SBRT) may improve treatment outcomes and postpone the need for second-line systemic therapy (NEST). We looked at the results of oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients who had five or fewer lesions and were treated with SBRT. Methods We examined the treatment outcomes of 70 extracranial metastatic RCC (mRCC) patients treated at two oncology centers between 2011 and 2020. The clinical parameters of patients with and without NEST changes were compared. The prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and NEST-free survival were evaluated. Results Median age was 67 years (range 31-83 years). Lung and bone metastasis were found in 78.4% and 12.6% of patients, respectively. With a median follow-up of 21.1 months, median OS was 49.1 months and the median PFS was 18.3 months. Histology was a prognostic factor for OS, BED, and treatment switch for PFS in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, the significant predictor of poor OS was clear cell histology, and a lower BED for PFS. Following SBRT for oligometastatic lesions, 19 patients (27.2%) had a median NEST change of 15.2 months after MDT completion. There were no significant differences in median OS or PFS between patients who had NEST changes and those who did not. No patient experienced grade >= 3 acute and late toxicities. Conclusions The SBRT to oligometastatic sites is an effective and safe treatment option for <= 5 metastases in RCC patients by providing favorable survival and delaying NEST change.

Automated summary

This study examined the effectiveness of SBRT in treating oligometastatic lesions in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. The results showed that SBRT is an effective and safe treatment option, providing favorable survival outcomes and delaying the need for second-line systemic therapy (NEST) change.