[When is cytoreductive nephrectomy not beneficial for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma?]

Primary tumor resection in patients with synchronous metastatic renal cell carcinoma and a good performance status corresponds to a guideline recommendation which, however, is based on weak data from the era of cytokine therapy. This article presents arguments that weigh heavily against cytoreductive nephrectomy. From a molecular genetic viewpoint, the intervention eliminates only the easiest adversary but cannot prevent cancer-related death. Therefore, benefits and risks must be carefully and critically considered. Cytoreductive nephrectomy is not beneficial if treatment-induced morbidity will substantially affect the patient's quality of life and/or life expectancy or if the size and topography of the primary tumor renders it less dangerous than the metastases.