Hypertension and survival in renal cell carcinoma treated with anti-VEGFR agents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Antiangiogenetics (AAG) are drugs that are commonly used to treat a number of neoplasms, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). They exert their activity by inhibiting the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway. Hypertension (HTN) represents one of the most common side effects secondary to AAG employment, and recent studies seem to suggest rising evidence of a possible relationship between AAG-related hypertension (AAG-HTN) and a better outcome for patients. The aim of this meta-analysis was to verify the hypothesis that AAG-HTN might represent a prognostic factor in advanced RCC. A total of 15 out of 434 studies were included, which explored the prognostic impact of HTN, and reported a hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). AAG-HTN development was positively related to both OS and PFS, and all possible clinical implications and the potential role of AAG-HTN as a prognostic marker are discussed.