DALLAS, June 4 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've created a statistical model to predict the probability of a renal cancer patient being cancer free 12 years after surgery.
The researchers said their model, known as a nomogram, uses tumor and patient characteristics to maximize predictive accuracy. The scientists said knowing the likelihood of the cancer's return can help clinicians counsel patients and customize treatment recommendations.
"If the cancer appears only in the kidneys, it can often be treated with a partial or radical nephrectomy," said the study's lead author, Dr. Ganesh Raj, an assistant professor of urology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. "This nomogram is designed for use in the initial counseling session after diagnosis and enables patients to have a clearer understanding of their cancer outcomes with surgery."
The research that included the Cleveland Clinic, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Mayo Clinic appears in the Journal of Urology.
