Age Does Not Impact Cancer Specific Mortality: From Sub-Distributional and Cause-Specific Hazard Analysis in RCC Patients Undergoing Radical Nephrectomy and Thrombectomy

Objective

To assess the impact of age on cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and other-cause mortality (OCM) in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy (RNTx) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with venous thrombus.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 196 patients who underwent RNTx for RCC with venous thrombus between 1990 and 2018 at a single tertiary referral center. Patients were categorized into three age groups: <60, 60-69, and ≥70 years. The cumulative incidence function (CIF) for CSM and OCM was calculated using the Aalen-Johansen estimator, and hazard ratios (HR) from sub-distributional hazard (SDH) and cause-specific hazard (CSH) models were employed to assess the impact of age on mortality.

Results

The median follow-up was 40.5 months. Of the 196 patients, 105 experienced disease progression, 125 had cancerrelated deaths, and 155 died from any cause. Perioperative outcomes, including ICU admission, 90-day readmission, and 90-day mortality, were similar across age groups. The CIF for 5-year CSM differed significantly among age groups (p = 0.032), though this difference was not observed at 10 years. OCM increased significantly with age, particularly in the ≥70 group at 10 years (p = 0.045). Multivariable SDH and CSH models showed no significant differences in CSM between age groups.

Conclusion

While age was associated with increased OCM, it did not significantly impact the hazard of CSM. Older age alone should not be considered a contraindication for surgical intervention in RCC with venous thrombus.