Long-term clinical outcomes of patients with negative pathology (pN0) at primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection Journal Article


Authors: Baky, F.; Liso, N.; Williams, B.; Knezevic, A.; Funt, S. A.; Feldman, D. R.; Carver, B.; Sheinfeld, J.; Matulewicz, R. S.
Article Title: Long-term clinical outcomes of patients with negative pathology (pN0) at primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection
Abstract: Background: Patients who undergo primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (pRPLND) for early-stage testicular cancer and have no cancer (pN0) found in the retroperitoneum are believed to have an excellent prognosis. However, some experience relapse, potentially due to limitations of current staging methods. We aim to describe long-term outcomes and relapse patterns among a contemporary cohort of patients found to be pN0 at pRPLND to identify opportunities for improved diagnostic approaches and optimal patient selection. Methods: We reviewed our prospectively maintained database for patients who underwent pRPLND for nonseminomatous germ cell tumors at our tertiary cancer center during the period from January 1, 2000, through September 30, 2023 (n = 628). We excluded 282 patients with node-positive pathology for a final analytic cohort of 346 patients. Our primary outcome was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Secondary outcomes included timing and location of recurrence. Results: Of 346 included patients with pN0 pathology, 23 experienced relapse with a 2-year RFS rate of 93% (95% confidence interval: 90, 96). Most recurrences (70%) occurred in the lungs and within 6 months of pRPLND. Serum tumor markers were positive in 43% of patients at the time of relapse. All patients who relapsed were treated with salvage chemotherapy; 6 patients required additional surgical procedures. There was no testis cancer–related deaths. Conclusions: Two-year RFS for patients with pN0 pRPLND pathology is excellent. All recurrences were outside of the retroperitoneum, suggesting subclinical distant metastases at time of surgery and the benefits of a bilateral template dissection. Improved diagnostics may help better identify patients with disease within or outside of the retroperitoneum prior to pRPLND, helping guide treatment decisions. © 2024 Elsevier Inc.
Keywords: relapse; testicular cancer; germ cell tumors; surveillance; rplnd
Journal Title: Clinical Genitourinary Cancer
Volume: 22
Issue: 6
ISSN: 1558-7673
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2024-12-01
Start Page: 102217
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.clgc.2024.102217
PUBMED: 39307609
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC11606754
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PubMed and PDF -- MSK corresponding author is Richard Matulewicz -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Darren Richard Feldman
    343 Feldman
  2. Joel Sheinfeld
    254 Sheinfeld
  3. Brett Stewart Carver
    143 Carver
  4. Samuel Aaron Funt
    139 Funt
  5. Nicole E Benfante
    161 Benfante
  6. Andrea Knezevic
    107 Knezevic
  7. Fady Baky
    12 Baky