Other-Cause Mortality, According to Partial vs. Radical Nephrectomy: Age and Stage Analyses

Introduction We tested the association between other-cause mortality and partial vs. radical nephrectomy in patients with T1a, T1b, and T2 renal cell carcinoma, across all patient ages. Material and Methods Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2010-2020), patients with localized renal cell carcinoma stages (T1a-T1b-T2, N0, M0), who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy were identified. Only patients with tumor size 2 to 10 cm were included. Cumulative incidence plots and multivariable competing risks regression models were used. Results Of 68,195 patients, 28,845 (42%) underwent partial nephrectomy vs. 39,350 (58%) radical nephrectomy. In T1a patients, 5-year other-cause mortality rates were 6% for partial nephrectomy vs. 11% for radical nephrectomy (Δ=5%). In T1a patients, partial nephrectomy independently predicted lower other-cause mortality, across all ages (HR: 0.73, P < .001). In age category subgroup analyses addressing T1a patients, in all age categories, partial nephrectomy invariably predicted lower other-cause mortality than radical nephrectomy: ≤59 years (HR: 0.67, P < .001); 60 to 69 years (HR: 0.70, P < .001); and ≥70 years (HR: 0.79, P < .001). Finally, in T1b patients, as well as in T2 patients, no other-cause mortality advantage was recorded for partial vs. radical nephrectomy: T1b (8 vs. 10%, Δ=2%); T2 (8 vs. 9%, Δ=1%). Conclusions Relative to radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy is associated with lower other-cause mortality in stage T1a renal cell carcinoma patients across all age categories, including the oldest patients. Conversely, no clinically meaningful other-cause mortality benefit was associated with partial nephrectomy in stages T1b or T2, regardless of age, including youngest patients.