Evaluation of ABO blood group as a prognostic marker in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Overview

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ABO blood group as a prognostic marker in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 556 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for RCC at a single institution. The associations of ABO blood group with clinical and pathological variables were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-squared tests. The impact on overall survival (OS) and RCC-specific survival (RCC-SS) was analysed using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: Blood group O was associated with the absence of lymph node metastases (P = 0.034) and the presence of bilateral RCC (P = 0.017). No associations with age, gender, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, T stage, M stage, grade and histological subtype were observed. In univariable and multivariable survival analysis, ABO blood group was not associated with OS and RCC-SS. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, ABO blood group was not linked with RCC prognosis. Blood group O may be associated with the absence of lymph node metastases and the presence of bilateral RCC. External validation in larger cohorts is necessary.