Gastrointestinal metastases in renal cell carcinoma: A retrospective multicenter GETUG (Groupe d′Étude des Tumeurs Uro-Génitales) study

• Published in: European journal of cancer (1990) 2024-03, Vol.199, p.113534-113534, Article 113534
• Main Authors: Carneiro, F., Vinceneux, A., Larroquette, M., Rony, M., Carril, L., Laguerre, B., Blazevic, I., Bartelemy, P., Teyssonneau, D., Goujon, M., Linassier, C., Thiery-Vuillemin, A., Roubaud, G., Mourey, L., Albiges, L., Gravis, G., Gross-Goupil, M., Cancel, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Gastrointestinal Tract; Metastasis; Renal Cell Carcinoma
• ISSN: 0959-8049; 1879-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.113534

Among patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), bone and visceral metastases have a poor prognosis, while endocrine gland metastases have a more favorable prognosis. Gastrointestinal metastases (GIMs) are rare, and their prognosis is still poorly understood. To report clinical presentations, patient characteristics, therapeutic strategies, and prognosis of GIMs from RCC. We retrospectively collected data from RCC patients presenting GIMs, in 10 French GETUG centers, between 2000 and 2021. We identified 74 patients with 87 GIMs, mostly gastric or duodenal. The median age at GIM diagnosis was 69 years and 76% of patients already had other metastases. GIMs occurred after a median duration of 5.4 years (IC95%=[4.2–7.1]) and 1.9 years (IC95%=[1.2–3.8]) from RCC diagnosis and first metastasis, respectively. GIMs were symptomatic in 52 patients (70%), with anemia in 41 patients (55%) and/or gastrointestinal bleeding in 31 patients (42%). Only 22 asymptomatic patients (30%) were fortuitously diagnosed. GIM management consisted of systemic treatment only in 29 GIMs (33%), local treatment only in 23 GIMs (26%), and both local and systemic treatment in 18 GIMs (21%). For 17 GIMs (20%), there was no therapeutic modification. After diagnosis of GIM, median overall survival was 19 months. We report the largest retrospective cohort of GIMs in RCC patients. They should be suspected in case of anemia or gastrointestinal bleeding in any patient with a history of RCC. Their management varies widely depending on their location in the digestive tract and whether or not they are symptomatic. •This is the largest cohort on gastrointestinal metastases from renal cell carcinoma.•Gastrointestinal (GI) mets were often symptomatic (70%) with anemia or GI bleeding.•GI mets appeared late, after a median of 5.4 years after initial RCC diagnosis.