Outcomes of Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy for Clinical T3a Renal Masses: A Multicenter Analysis

Background: Use of partial nephrectomy (PN) in T3 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is controversial. Objective: To evaluate quality outcomes of robot-assisted PN (RAPN) for clinical T3a renal masses (cT3aRM). Design, setting, and participants: This was a retrospective multicenter analysis of patients with cT3aN0M0 RCC who underwent RAPN. Intervention: RAPN. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The primary endpoint was a trifecta composite outcome of negative surgical margins, warm ischemia time (WIT) ≤25 min, and no perioperative complications. The optimal outcome was defined as achieving this trifecta and ≥90% preservation of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and no stage upgrading of chronic kidney disease. Multivariable analysis (MVA) identified risk factors associated with lack of the optimal outcome. Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted for survival outcomes. Results and limitations: Analysis was conducted for 157 patients (median follow-up 26 mo). The median tumor size was 7.0 cm (interquartile range [IQR] 5.0–7.8) and the median RENAL score was 9 (IQR 8–10). Median estimated blood loss (EBL) was 242 ml (IQR 121–354) and the median WIT was 19 min (IQR 15–25). A total of 150 patients (95.5%) had negative margins. Complications were noted in 25 patients (15.9%), with 4.5% having Clavien grade 3–5 complications. The median change in eGFR was 7 ml/min/1.72 m2, with ≥90% eGFR preservation in 55.4%. The trifecta outcome was achieved for 64.3% and the optimal outcome for 37.6% of the patients. MVA revealed that greater age (odds ratio [OR] 1.06; p = 0.002), increasing RENAL score (OR 1.30; p = 0.035), and EBL >300 ml (OR 5.96, p = 0.006) were predictive of failure to achieve optimal outcome. The 5-yr recurrence-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival, were 82.1%, 93.3%, and 91.3%, respectively. Limitations include the retrospective design. Conclusions: RAPN for select cT3a renal masses is feasible and safe, with acceptable quality outcomes. Further investigation is requisite to delineate the role of RAPN in cT3a RCC. Patient summary: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy in patients with stage 3a kidney cancer provided acceptable survival, functional, and morbidity outcomes in the hands of experienced surgeons, and may be considered as an option when clinically indicated. Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for clinical T3a renal masses provided acceptable survival, functional, and morbidity outcomes in the hands of experienced surgeons, and may be considered as an option if feasible when clinically indicated.