# Prognostic Value of the Lung Immune Prognostic Index (LIPI) in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that the Lung Immune Prognostic Index (LIPI) can predict survival outcomes in kidney cancer patients, even those treated with specific drugs.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that LIPI is an independent and valuable prognostic tool for renal cell carcinoma beyond immunotherapy settings.

## Key findings

- LIPI was significantly associated with overall, progression-free, and disease-free survival in RCC patients.
- LIPI remained an independent prognostic factor for survival outcomes in multivariate analysis.
- Strong correlations were found between LIPI and established RCC prognostic scores (IMDC and MSKCC).

## Abstract

Background: The Lung Immune Prognostic Index (LIPI) has recently emerged as a novel prognostic biomarker in several malignancies, particularly in patients receiving immunotherapy. However, its role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), especially in non-metastatic and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-treated patients, remains unclear. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 153 patients diagnosed with RCC between 2012 and 2024 were analyzed. Prognostic scores including LIPI, International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC), and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) scores were calculated. The patients were stratified into risk groups (good, intermediate, and poor) based on these scores. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression methods. Correlations between scoring systems were assessed using Pearson’s correlation. Results: The median follow-up was 29.1 months. A total of 55 (35.9%) patients had metastases at diagnosis. LIPI was significantly associated with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) (p < 0.05). In the multivariate Cox analysis, LIPI remained an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS. Strong positive correlations were found between LIPI and both IMDC and MSKCC scores (r > 0.6, p < 0.001). Notably, LIPI demonstrated prognostic relevance even in patients treated with TKIs. Conclusions: LIPI is a simple and accessible prognostic tool that provides significant survival stratification in RCC patients. Its predictive utility extends beyond immunotherapy cohorts, indicating potential value in broader RCC management. Integration of LIPI into current prognostic models may improve individualized treatment approaches.