Sex not prognostic factor in RCC.

A review of RCC patients receiving surgery at two centres in Germany over a 10-year period has concluded that patient sex is not a significant independent prognostic marker (Waalkes et al. Onkologie 2011; 34: 24-28; www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Waalkes%20S%2C%20Rott%20H%2C%20Herrmann%20TR%2C%20Wegener%20G).

The study examined records of 1,810 patients treated between 1995-2005. Two-thirds of patients were male (64.5%). Mean age at surgery was significantly younger for male versus female patients (61.4 vs. 63.5 years). Males were also more likely to have advanced disease (45.2% vs. 37.6%) and higher tumour grades (14.1% vs. 11.1%).

While cancer-specific 5-year survival was significantly worse in men (64.7% vs. 74.0%), sex was not a significant independent prognostic marker on multivariate analysis. The researchers concluded that men are more likely to have a higher tumour stage and metastases at diagnosis. However, it is unclear if this is because of more aggressive tumour biology, or greater delays in diagnosis due to neglected routine physical examinations.