Nuclear Shape Analysis for Assessment of Prognosis in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Clinically localized renal cell carcinoma is cured by radical nephrectomy in 47% [stage T3a (II)] to 65% [stage T1, T2 (I)] of the patients. Local recurrence and metastatic disease probably result from undetectable microscopic metastases present at operation. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy may improve cure rates if administered adjuvantly. The outcome of individual patients who share surgical stage cannot be predicted reliably by tumor histology, pathological grading and/or nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid analysis.