Metastatic renal cancer: Better never than late

摘要

Approximately 30% of patients undergoing resection of clinically localized renal carcinoma with curative intent will develop metastatic disease recurrence [1]. Like all solid tumors, renal carcinoma is a clinically heterogeneous disease, and these recurrences occur with variable kinetics. Although most recurrences occur within 3 yr of surgery, approximately 10% of recurrences occur beyond 5 yr [2]. Prior research efforts have focused on better understanding the characteristics of primary tumors associated with these late recurrences [3] in an attempt to optimize postoperative surveillance strategies. However, until now, the outcomes in patients with late recurrences have been relatively unexplored.