National Inpatient Sample analysis of use of metastasectomy in the era of targeted and immunotherapies

Metastasectomy is a useful adjunct in the management of metastatic cancer. Widespread adoption of novel targeted and immunotherapies has improved the survival profiles of multiple malignancies, which has potentially altered the role of metastasectomy. Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample investigated the use of metastasectomy across five primary cancers form 2016 to 2021. Over the study period, colorectal cancer was the most frequent indication for metastasectomy (n=57,644), followed by lung cancer (n=55,090), breast cancer (n=12,616), renal cancer (n=8427), and melanoma (n=5658). Use of metastasectomy increased over the study period for breast cancer (average annual percent change +10,6%; p-0,013) and melanoma (+8.3%; p=0.040) but did not significantly change for lung cancer (-1,6%; p=0.26), colorectal cancer (+0.3%; p=0.83), or renal cancer (+2.3%; p=0.36). The authors conclude that the role of metastasectomy will continue to develop as new treatment protocols improve survival profiles for patients with metastatic disease.