Pretreatment Prognostic Nutritional Index Is an Independent Predictor of Survival in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Targeted Therapy

In the present study we examined the effect of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) on the overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the correlation between pretreatment PNI and OS. The PNI was an independent prognostic factor for OS. The PNI increases the prognostic accuracy of established factors and could be a valuable tool for tailoring surveillance. Background: In the present study we examined the effect of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) on the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with targeted therapy. Patients and Methods: The study included 125 patients with metastatic RCC. Pretreatment PNI was calculated as 10 x serum albumin (g/dL) + 0.005 x total lymphocyte count (per mm(3)). Univariable and multi variable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the correlation between pretreatment PNI and OS and PFS. Harrell concordance index was used to measure discrimination. Results: The median follow-up time was 45.3 months (interquartile range, 23.7-77.3 months). Decreased PNI was significantly associated with older female patients, poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, types of initial drug, and increased Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and Heng risk score (P < .05). An increase in the PNI of 1 unit was associated with a 10% decrease in the risk of death from RCC (hazard ratio, 0.90; P < .001). In the multivariable analysis, the PNI was an independent prognostic factor for OS (P < .001). In intermediate-risk patients according to MSKCC and Heng risk criteria, OS was better in the high PNI group than in the low PNI group (P = .0136 and P = .0009, respectively). Conclusion: PNI is an independent prognostic factor in patients with metastatic RCC treated with targeted therapy. When used as an adjunct, it increases the prognostic accuracy of established factors and could be a valuable tool for tailoring surveillance, patient counseling, and clinical trial design.