Analysis of the factors influencing the survival time of patients with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma

The aim of the present study was to identify the factors influencing the survival time of patients with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC). Between January 2000 and September 2017, a total of 21 patients were enrolled, all of whom were diagnosed with SRCC. In total, eight prognostic factors were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator, a log-rank test and Cox's proportional hazards model. The log-rank test results revealed that there was a significant association between the proportion of sarcoma elements and survival time of patients with SRCC (P<0.05). In addition, there was a significant association between post-operative drug treatment and SRCC survival time (P<0.05). The results of the Kaplan-Meier estimate demonstrated that the survival curve of post-operative drug treatment was significantly greater compared with the survival curve of patients who did not undergo drug treatment (P<0.05). The survival curve of patients with a proportion of sarcoma elements <50% was significantly greater compared with the survival curve of patients with a proportion of sarcoma elements >= 50% (P<0.05). Furthermore, the Cox's proportional hazards model revealed that the mortality risk in post-operative patients without drug treatment was 5.822 times greater compared with that of patients with drug treatment (P<0.05). Mortality risk in patients with a proportion of sarcoma elements >= 50% was 4.682 times higher compared with that of patients with sarcoma elements <50% (P<0.05). Finally, post-operative drug therapy was revealed to be a protective factor which significantly affected the survival time of patients with SRCC [risk ratio (RR)=0.172], in addition to the proportion of sarcoma elements >= 50% (RR=4.682). In conclusion, drug therapy should be promoted upon patient diagnosis with SRCC and attention should be given to the proportion of sarcomatoid components.