Laparoscopic vs open radical nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial cancer: oncological outcomes and 5‐year follow‐up

OBJECTIVE

To compare the oncological outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LNU) vs open NU (ONU) for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between July 1999 and January 2003, we performed 70 LNUs and 70 ONUs for TCC of the upper urinary tract. ONU was reserved for patients with previous abdominal surgery or with severe cardiac and/or pulmonary problems. Demographic data, tumour staging and histological grading and rates of metastasis were recorded and compared.

RESULTS

For LNU and ONU the mean operative durations were 240 min and 190 min, respectively. The definitive pathology showed a high incidence of tumour stage pT2 G2 in both LNU and ONU groups. The median follow‐up was 60 months. In the LNU group, the 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) was 75%: 100% for pTa, 88% for pT1, 78% for pT2, and 35% for pT3 (P < 0.001). In the ONU group, the 5‐year DFS was 73% (LNU vs ONU, P = 0.037): 100% for pTa, 89% for pT1, 75% for pT2 and 31% for pT3 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results of our long‐term controlled study support the use of LNU as an effective alternative to ONU in the therapy of upper urinary tract urothelial cancer.     

Oncological outcomes after laparoscopic and open radical nephroureterectomy: results from an international cohort

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Despite widespread adoption of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) for upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC), few studies have confirmed that it shares equivalent oncological outcomes with conventional open nephroureterectomy. This second large multicentre study confirms oncological equivalence for ONU and LNU in cohorts of both low and high risk patients.

OBJECTIVE

? To compare oncological outcomes in patients undergoing open radical nephroureterectomy (ONU) with those in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LNU).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

? A total of 773 patients underwent radical nephroureterectomy at nine centres worldwide; 703 patients underwent ONU and 70 underwent LNU. ? Demographic, perioperative and oncological outcome data were collected retrospectively. ? Statistical analysis of data was performed using chi‐squared, Mann–Whitney U‐ and log‐rank tests, and Cox regression analyses. ? The median (interquartile range) follow‐up for the cohort was 34 (15–65) months.

RESULTS

? The two groups were well matched for tumour stage, presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and concomitant carcinoma in situ (CIS). ? There were more high‐grade tumours (77.1% vs. 56.3%; P < 0.001) but fewer lymph node positive patients (2.9% vs. 6.8%; P= 0.041) in the LNU group. ? Estimated 5‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS) was 73.7% and 63.4% for the ONU and LNU groups, respectively (P= 0.124) and estimated 5‐year cancer‐specific survival (CSS) was 75.4% and 75.2% for the ONU and LNU groups, respectively (P= 0.897). ? On multivariable analyses, which included age, gender, race, previous endoscopic treatment for bladder cancer, technique for distal ureter management, tumour location, pathological stage, grade, lymph node status, LVI and concomitant CIS, the procedure type (LNU vs. ONU) was not predictive of RFS (Hazard ratio [HR] 0.80; P= 0.534) or CSS (HR 0.96; P= 0.907).

CONCLUSION

? The present study is the second large, independent, multicentre cohort to show oncological equivalence between ONU and LNU for well selected patients with upper urinary tract urothelial cancer, and the first to suggest parity for the techniques in patients with unfavourable disease.     

Comparison of Oncologic Outcomes for Open and Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy: A Multi-Institutional Analysis of 1249 Cases

Background

Data regarding the oncologic efficacy of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) compared to open nephroureterectomy (ONU) are scarce.

Objective

We compared recurrence and cause-specific mortality rates of ONU and LNU.

Design, setting, and participants

Thirteen centers from three continents contributed data on 1249 patients with nonmetastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Measurements

Univariable and multivariable survival models tested the effect of procedure type (ONU [n = 979] vs LNU [n = 270]) on cancer recurrence and cancer-specific mortality. Covariables consisted of institution, age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score, pT stage, pN stage, tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion, tumor location, concomitant carcinoma in situ, ureteral cuff management, previous urothelial bladder cancer, and previous endoscopic treatment.

Results and limitations

Median follow-up for censored cases was 49 mo (mean: 62). Relative to ONU, LNU patients had more favorable pathologic stages (pT0/Ta/Tis: 38.1% vs 20.8%, p < 0.001) and less lymphovascular invasion (14.8% vs 21.3%, p = 0.02) and less frequently had tumors located in the ureter (64.5 vs 71.1%, p = 0.04). In univariable recurrence and cancer-specific mortality models, ONU was associated with higher cancer recurrence and mortality rates compared to LNU (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.1 [p < 0.001] and 2.0 [p = 0.008], respectively). After adjustment for all covariates, ONU and LNU had no residual effect on cancer recurrence and mortality (p = 0.1 for both).

Conclusions

Short-term oncologic data on LNU are comparable to ONU. Since LNU was selectively performed in favorable-risk patients, we cannot state with certainty that ONU and LNU have the same oncologic efficacy in poor-risk patients. Long-term follow-up data and morbidity data are necessary before LNU can be considered as the standard of care in patients with muscle-invasive or high-grade UTUC.     

Modified laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for treatment of upper urinary tract transitional cell cancer is not associated with an increased risk of tumour recurrence

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy reduces the morbidity of surgical management of urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), but a potentially increased risk for local tumour spreading was reported. We evaluated results obtained from patients undergoing a modified laparoscopic approach and open procedures in this respect.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and March 2002 we performed 19 modified laparoscopic nephroureterectomies (LNU) with open intact specimen retrieval in conjunction with open distal ureter and bladder cuff removal and 15 open standard nephroureterectomies (ONU). Staging lymphadenectomy was performed in 14/19 (73.7%) patients with LNU and in 6/15 (40.0%) with ONU. In all patients operating time, blood loss, complications, pain score (VAS) and data in respect to tumour recurrence were analysed. Mean follow-up was 22.1+/-9.2 (range 14-34) months for LNU and 23.1+/-8.8 (14-36) for ONU respectively.RESULTS: In LNU and ONU pathological features were 12 pT1 vs. 10 pT1, 2 pT2 vs. 2 pT2 and 5 pT3 vs. 3 pT3, respectively. All patients had TCC and were R0 at final histology. Four patients with LNU had lymph node involvement, one in ONU. LNU had decreased operating times (p=0.057), blood loss (p=0.018), complications (p=0.001) and VAS scores (p=0.001). One tumour recurrence occurred in LNU, associated with a pT3b pN2 G3 TCC at final histology. One patient with ONU had local tumour recurrence at the site of the bladder cuff. No port-site metastasis occurred during follow-up with LNU.CONCLUSION: Improved peri-operative results and same cancer control as compared to open surgery by this modified LNU was not associated with an increased risk for tumour recurrence, since strict "non-touch" preparation, avoiding of urine spillage and intact specimen retrieval prevents tumour seeding. However, results from long term studies are still warranted to clarify this issue.     

Survival analysis in patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma: a comparison between open and hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the stage- and grade-specific survival rate in patients with upper urinary tract (UUT) transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) after open (ONU) or hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) with bladder-cuff excision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1998 to April 2005, 143 patients with UUT-TCC were treated with either ONU or LNU and enrolled in the study. The peri-operative data were collected by retrospective chart review. The recurrence, metastasis and survival rate were calculated. RESULTS: The 5-year disease-specific survival of patients with pT1 disease was 88.1% after ONU and 92.0% after LNU (P = 0.745); the respective values for patients with pT2 were 11/17 and 12/15 (P = 0.874), and for pT3 were six/11 and 12/15 (P = 0.476). The incidence of bladder recurrence within 2 years after surgery was 24.7% for ONU and 19.7% for LNU (P = 0.475). CONCLUSION: The results were similar after ONU or LNU with bladder-cuff excision; bladder-cuff excision using a hand-assisted device is effective and serves as a treatment option for patients with UUT-TCC.     

Laparoscopic versus open nephroureterectomy for the treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a systematic review and cumulative analysis of comparative studies

Context

Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) has increasingly been used as a minimally invasive alternative to open nephroureterectomy (ONU), but studies comparing the efficacy and safety of the two surgical procedures are still limited.

Objective

Evaluate the oncologic and perioperative outcomes of LNU versus ONU in the treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Evidence acquisition

A systematic review and cumulative analysis of comparative studies reporting both oncologic and perioperative outcomes of LNU and ONU was performed through a comprehensive search of the Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library electronic databases. All analyses were performed using the Review Manager (RevMan) v.5 (Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark) and Meta-analysis In eXcel (MIX) 2.0 Pro (BiostatXL) software packages.

Evidence synthesis

Twenty-one eligible studies (1235 cases and 3093 controls) were identified. A significantly higher proportion of pTa/Tis was observed in LNU compared to ONU (27.52% vs 22.59%; p = 0.047), but there were no significant differences in other stages and pathologic grades (all p > 0.05). For patients who underwent LNU, the 5-yr cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate was significantly higher, at 9% (p = 0.03), compared to those who underwent ONU, while the overall recurrence rate and bladder recurrence rate were notably lower, at 15% (p = 0.01) and 17% (p = 0.02), respectively. However, there were no statistically significant differences in 2-yr CSS, 5-yr recurrence-free survival (RFS), 5-yr overall survival (OS), 2-yr OS, and metastasis rates between LNU and ONU (all p > 0.05). Moreover, there were no significant differences between LNU and ONU in terms of intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and perioperative mortality (all p > 0.05). The results of our study were mainly limited by the retrospective design of most of the individual studies included as well as selection biases based on different management of regional lymph nodes and pathologic characteristics.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that LNU offers reliable perioperative safety and comparable oncologic efficacy when compared to ONU. Given that some limitations cannot be overcome, well-designed prospective trials are needed to confirm our findings.     

Oncological outcome of retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To report the oncological outcome of retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (RNU) with bladder cuff excision for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), and to compare the outcome with that of the traditional open nephroureterectomy (ONU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2001, 48 patients with upper urinary tract TCC were enrolled in the study; 25 had RNU and 23 had ONU. Oncological parameters (disease-free survival and disease-specific survival) were calculated from the time of surgery to the date of last follow up and were analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Mean follow up was 24.3 months in the RNU group, significantly shorter than in the ONU group. Bladder recurrence was identified in two patients with grade 3 pathological stage pT3, one patient with grade 3 stage pT2 disease and two patients with grade 2 stage pT2 disease. Multiple organ metastases in the lung, liver and lymph nodes were associated with bladder recurrence in two cases (grade 2 stage pT3, and grade 3 stage pT3). The recurrence rate was 20% (5 of 25 cases) and mean time to recurrence was 9.5 months. In the ONU group, bladder recurrence and metastases developed in four and three patients, respectively. The recurrence rate was 17% (4 of 23 cases) and mean time to recurrence was 23.4 months. No significant difference was detected in the disease-free survival rate and cancer-specific survival rate between the two groups (P=0.759 and P=0.866, respectively). CONCLUSION: The oncological outcome of RNU appears to be equivalent to that of ONU. Moreover, long-term follow up is necessary to evaluate the oncological outcome in comparison to ONU.     

Comparison of post-operative intravesical recurrence and oncological outcomes after open versus laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

Object

To retrospectively evaluate intravesical recurrence and oncological outcomes after open or laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for the upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC).

Patients and methods

This study comprised 122 patients diagnosed UUT-UC and subsequently nephroureterectomy was performed on. Several clinical and pathological parameters were emphasized for comparison of clinical outcomes.

Results

Among 122 patients with UUT-UC, 101 (82.8 %) and 21 (17.2 %) underwent open or laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (ONU or LNU), respectively. In univariable and multivariable Cox regression models, the surgical procedure exerted an impact neither on post-operative intravesical recurrence rate (p = 0.179 and 0.213, respectively) nor on cancer-specific mortality rate (p = 0.561 and 0.159, respectively). The 1-, 2- and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates of patients undergoing ONU or LNU were 92.1 versus 95.2 %, 87.1 versus 90.5 %, 79.2 versus 85.7 %, respectively, and the Kaplan–Meier plot illustrated that patients from two groups enjoyed an equivalent survival rate (p = 0.559). Moreover, we added that previous history of bladder tumor and pre-operative hydronephrosis was associated with intravesical recurrence, whereas three prognostic factors, including pathological tumor stage, grade, and lymphovascular invasion, showed possibility to be predictors of cancer-specific mortality.

Conclusion

There existed no significant difference of intravesical recurrence and CSS between patients after ONU and LNU. Conclusively, laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy did not present superiority to open management for patients with UUT-UC.     

Assessment of Oncologic Control Obtained After Open Versus Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinomas (UUT-UCs): Results from a Large French Multicenter Collaborative Study

Background

The purpose of this study was to compare the postsurgical survival of UUT-UC patients treated with ONU and LNU.

Methods

Using a multi-institutional, national, retrospective database, we identified patients with UUT-UC who underwent radical nephroureterectomy by open access (ONU) or by the minimally invasive alternative (LNU). Survival curves were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariate Cox model was used to evaluate the association between surgical approach and disease recurrence.

Results

Overall, 609 patients were included (ONU?=?459 and LNU?=?150). The median age was 69.8?years (range 61.9?C76), and the male-to-female ratio was 2:1. Postoperative complications occurred in 80 patients, with no significant difference between ONU and LNU on the whole (P?=?0.64). The median follow-up was 27?months. There was no difference between the 2 procedures in the 5-year CSS or 5-year RFS. Moreover, the 5-year CSS (P?=?0.053) and 5-year RFS (P?=?0.9) for cases with locally advanced disease (pT3/pT4) were similar between ONU and LNU. In the multivariate analysis, the surgical procedure used was not found to be associated with survival. The main limitation of the study is its retrospective design, which is the result of the rarity of the disease.

Conclusions

There is no evidence that oncological outcomes for LNU are inferior to those for open surgery, provided that the appropriate precautionary measures are taken.     

The long-term outcome after laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: a comparison with open nephroureterectomy

OBJECTIVES: To assess the long-term outcome of the endourological management of upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) by laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) or open nephroureterectomy (ONU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records and pathology reports were reviewed retrospectively for 67 nephroureterectomy specimens (42 obtained by ONU and 25 by LNU). The grade, stage, lymph node status and site of the tumour were recorded for each patient. The primary end-point of the follow-up was disease-related death. RESULTS: Overall there was a high proportion of G2 (44%) and G3 (39%) disease, with a significant correlation between increasing grade and stage of TCC (r = 0.74, P < 0.001). Of the 25 patients who underwent LNU, 22 had pelvicalyceal or upper ureteric TCC and conversion to open surgery was required in three (12%). Of the TCCs in this group half were G3 and half were invasive (pT1-3). In the ONU group there were more ureteric tumours because of selection criteria and overall 16 (39%) were G3 and half were invasive. Information on nodal status was available in one LNU and two of the ONU reports. Within a mean follow-up of 32.9 months for LNU and 42.3 months for ONU, nine (21%) of the ONU group and four (16%) of the LNU group had died, with a mean survival of 15.1 and 17 months, respectively, after surgery (not significant). All of these deaths were associated with G3 pT1-3 disease. CONCLUSIONS: In this series the case mix and outcomes were similar for those undergoing LNU and ONU. As laparoscopic renal surgery is associated with less postoperative morbidity it would seem reasonable to offer LNU to all patients with upper tract TCC, where appropriate and when there is no evidence of local invasion or metastasis. Because of the strong correlation between grade and stage, preliminary ureteroscopic assessment and biopsy may influence the surgical approach adopted.     

A comparison of the clinical outcome between open and hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To report the surgical outcome of retroperitoneoscopic hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) with bladder cuff excision for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), and to compare the outcome with that of the open procedure (ONU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1998 to January 2003, 145 patients with upper urinary tract TCC were enrolled in the study; 87 had ONU and 58 retroperitoneoscopic hand-assisted LNU. The specimens were reviewed by experienced pathologists to confirm the pathological stage. Operative duration, intraoperative blood loss, bowel recovery, analgesic use, hospital stay and time to convalescence were compared for both groups. The Mann-Whitney U-test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The mean follow-up for ONU and LNU was 35.1 and 16.0 months, the mean operative duration 230.2 and 259.1 min (P = 0.006), the mean blood loss 747.3 and 408.9 mL (P < 0.001), the mean duration of Foley catheterization 6.8 and 5.1 days (P < 0.001), and the hospital stay 12.6 and 9.3 days (P < 0.001). The bladder recurrence rate 2 years after surgery was 9.1% for ONU and 8.6% for LNU (P = 0.23); the local recurrence rate during the follow-up was 3.4% and none, respectively (P = 0.35). CONCLUSION: Although LNU took longer than ONU the intraoperative bleeding and hospital stay were better than for ONU. Both procedures have statistically comparable bladder recurrence and local recurrence rates.     

Laparoscopic versus Open Nephroureterectomy: Perioperative and Oncologic Outcomes from a Randomised Prospective Study

Background

Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) is increasingly being used instead of open nephroureterectomy (ONU) for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the upper urinary tract (UUT), but the evidence of equal oncologic effectiveness is still lacking.

Objective

To present perioperative and oncologic results from a prospective randomised study comparing ONU and LNU.

Design, setting, and participants

Eighty patients with nonmetastatic UUT UC and without previous history of UC were enrolled. Of those, 40 patients (group A) randomly received ONU and 40 patients (group B) randomly received LNU.

Interventions

ONU was performed through a flank incision with a lower quadrant incision to allow excision of a bladder cuff. Transperitoneal LNU was performed with a four-trocar technique, and bladder cuff was detached with a 10-mm LigaSure device.

Measurements

Perioperative data were compared with the student t test. Bladder tumour–free survival (BTFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) curves for both groups were compared with the log-rank test before and after stratifying patients for pT category and tumour grade.

Results and limitations

Operative times were comparable, while mean blood loss and mean time to discharge were significantly lower in group B (both p values <0.001). At a median follow-up of 44 mo, BTFS, CSS, and MFS were not significantly different between the two groups (log rank test; BTFS: p = 0.86; CSS: p = 0.2; MFS: p = 0.124). When matched for pT3 and high-grade tumours, CSS and MFS were significantly different between the two groups in favour of ONU (p = 0.039 and p = 0.004, respectively, for pT3 tumours; p = 0.078 and p = 0.014, respectively, for high-grade tumours).The limitations of our study include the small sample size, the single-centre experience, the personal choice of laparoscopic technique, and not performing lymphadenectomies.Perioperative data and preliminary oncologic results were presented at 22nd Congress of the European Association of Urology, Berlin, Germany.

Conclusions

In patients with organ-confined UUT UCs, LNU has the advantages of minimal invasiveness and oncologic outcomes comparable to those of ONU, while its effectiveness in patients with advanced stage diseases remains to be proven.     

Propensity-score-matched comparison of perioperative outcomes between open and laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: a national series

Background

Nephroureterectomy (NU) represents the primary management for patients with nonmetastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Either an open NU (ONU) or a laparoscopic NU (LNU) may be considered. Despite the presence of several reports comparing perioperative and cancer-control outcomes between the two approaches, no reports relied on a population-based cohort.

Objectives

Examine intraoperative and postoperative morbidity of ONU and LNU in a population-based cohort.

Design, setting, and participants

We relied on the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify patients with nonmetastatic UTUC treated with ONU or LNU between 1998 and 2009. Overall, 7401 (90.8%) and 754 (9.2%) patients underwent ONU and LNU, respectively. To adjust for potential baseline differences between the two groups, propensity-score-based matching was performed. This resulted in 3016 (80%) ONU patients matched to 754 (20%) LNU patients.

Intervention

All patients underwent NU.

Measurements

The rates of intra- and postoperative complications, blood transfusions, prolonged length of stay (pLOS), and in-hospital mortality were assessed for both procedures. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed within the cohort after propensity-score matching.

Results and limitations

For ONU versus LNU respectively, the following rates were recorded: blood transfusions, 15% versus 10% (p < 0.001); intraoperative complications, 4.7% versus 2.1% (p = 0.002); postoperative complications, 17% versus 15% (p = 0.24); pLOS (≥5 d), 47% versus 28% (p < 0.001); in-hospital mortality, 1.3% versus 0.7% (p = 0.12). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, LNU patients were less likely to receive a blood transfusion (odds ratio [OR]: 0.6; p < 0.001), to experience any intraoperative complications (OR: 0.4; p = 0.002), and to have a pLOS (OR: 0.4; p < 0.001). Overall, postoperative complications were equivalent. However, LNU patients had fewer respiratory complications (OR: 0.4; p = 0.007). This study is limited by its retrospective nature.

Conclusions

After adjustment for potential selection biases, LNU is associated with fewer adverse intra- and perioperative outcomes than ONU.     

Comparison of the new American Joint Committee on Cancer substratification in node-negative pT2 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: analysis of patient outcomes in a contemporary series

Study Type – Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? The prognostic value of pathological substratification in lymph node‐negative pT2 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder based on tumour depth has been controversially discussed in recent studies. In 1997, the AJCC and UICC modified the TNM staging system in bladder cancer providing a new substratification in pT2 bladder cancer based on a previous study of Jewett in 1952 reporting a worse prognosis for patients with deep muscle invasion compared to those with superficial muscle invasion. Recently, this prognostic significance has been considered of minor importance compared to significance of lymph node tumor involvement. Thus, many of these studies concluded that future revisions of the TNM staging system should consolidate both substages. However, these studies were hampered by the inclusion of patients with non‐urothelial carcinoma components, unknown number of retrieved lymph nodes, unknown extent of pelvic lymphadenectomy, and inclusion of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This study addresses specifically the prognostic significance of pT2 substaging in urothelial cancer in a contemporary, consecutive series of patients treated with radical cystectomy. All patients had pure urothelial cell carcinoma, and underwent an extended lymphadenectomy approach. The number of retrieved lymph nodes was recorded. There was a significant difference in survival in patients with lymph‐node negative pT2a vs. pT2b disease. Therefore, this study supports the prognostic value of the current substratification in pT2 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

OBJECTIVE

? To determine whether there is a difference in survival in patients with node‐negative pT2a vs pT2b urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UBC), as recent studies suggest that the new American Joint Committee on Cancer substratification may not have prognostic significance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

? Of 252 patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) and extended bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy (ePLND) between 1999 and 2009, 72 (28.6%), with a mean (range) age of 66 (44–83) years (50 men, 22 women), had pathologically confirmed pT2 UCB. ? Fisher’s exact test and Cox regression analysis were used for uni‐ and multivariate analysis of risk factors of recurrence at a median (range) follow‐up of 28 (2.2–115.7) months. ? Kaplan–Meier plots were used to estimate the impact of pT2 substratification in lymph node (LN)‐negative disease on recurrence‐free (RFS) and cancer‐specific (CSS) survival using log‐rank test.

RESULTS

? Of the 72 patients, 39 had pT2a (54.2%) and 33 pT2b UCB (45.8%) on definitive histological examination. The median (range) number of LNs removed was 19 (6–38) in pT2a and 22 (4–36) in pT2b (P = 0.31) UCB. ? At RC, there was LN‐positive disease in one patient with pT2a UCB, whereas seven patients with pT2b UCB had LN‐positive disease (P = 0.02). ? The median (range) number of LNs removed in LN‐positive disease was 18 (11–30) and in LN‐negative disease was 20 (4–38) (P = 0.52). ? In LN‐negative disease, actuarial 5‐year RFS was 85.9% in patients with pT2a UCB vs 37.5% in those with pT2b UCB (P < 0.001). Actuarial 5‐year CSS was 84.8% in patients with LN‐negative pT2a UCB vs 59.6% in patients with LN‐negative pT2b UCB (P = 0.01). ? In Cox regression analysis, pT2 substratification was the only independent risk factor of recurrence and cancer‐specific death (P < 0.001 and P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

? In this contemporary series of patients undergoing RC with ePLND, there was a significant difference in RFS and CSS between LN‐negative pT2a and pT2b UCB, and pT2 substratification was the only risk factor of recurrence and cancer‐specific death. ? These data are supportive of the current concept of substratification in LN‐negative pT2 UCB.     

A one-port pneumovesicum method in en bloc laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection is feasible and safe for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

? To introduce a modified method for managing the distal ureter in laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this method.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

? Six consecutive patients underwent LNU using a one‐port pneumovesicum method for pathologically confirmed upper tract TCC. ? Each patient was placed on the operating table in the lithotomy position and the pneumovesicum method was applied with CO₂ insufflation. Dissection was performed circumferentially through the entire detrusor muscle to disconnect the ureter from the bladder wall. A 10‐mm trocar was placed into the bladder above the pubic bone. The distal ureter was occluded using a Hem‐o‐lok clip and pushed out of the bladder. Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy was then performed with the patient in the lateral position. ? After surgery, all six patients received systemic chemotherapy and follow‐up.

RESULTS

? All procedures were performed successfully. ? The median (range) operating time for the complete procedure was 105 (85–140) min, and the median (range) estimated blood loss was 125 (60–230) mL. ? Seven days after surgery, each patient underwent cystography, which confirmed no extravasation of urine. ? None of the patients developed bladder tumour recurrence or metastatic disease during follow‐up.

CONCLUSIONS

? The one‐port pneumovesicum method in LNU, which is applied to manage the distal ureter and bladder cuff, is technically feasible and safe. ? The method simplifies management of the distal ureter, reduces the invasiveness of the procedure and improves cosmesis.     

Independent predictors of metachronous bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) after nephroureterectomy for TCC of the upper urinary tract

OBJECTIVE

To identify the prognostic factors predictive of metachronous bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in a multi‐institutional dataset of patients who had undergone nephroureterectomy (NU) for nonmetastatic upper urinary tract (UUT) TCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinical and pathological data of 231 patients who had had NU for UUT‐TCC from 1989 to 2005 in three European centres were collected retrospectively, and analysed for clinical and pathological variables.

RESULTS

The median follow‐up was 38 months; during the follow‐up, bladder TCC was detected in 109 patients (47.2%), and was significantly more common in patients who had UUT‐TCC after previous bladder TCC (P < 0.001), in those with ureteric cancer (P = 0.022), and in those with pT2 UUT‐TCC (P = 0.017). On multivariate analysis, a previous history of bladder TCC was the only independent predictor of metachronous bladder TCC (hazard ratio 2.825; P < 0.001). The 5‐year probability of being free from metachronous bladder TCC was 45.5%. A history of bladder TCC (P < 0.001) and UUT tumour site (P = 0.01) were significantly associated with the probability of bladder recurrence‐free survival. On multivariate analyses, a previous history of bladder TCC (hazard ratio 2.226; P < 0.001) and the presence of ureteric TCC (1.562; P = 0.036) were independent predictors of the probabilities of being free from metachronous bladder TCC.

CONCLUSION

In this multi‐institutional study of patients who had had NU for UUT‐TCC, a history of bladder TCC was the only independent predictor of metachronous bladder TCC, while both a history of bladder TCC and the presence of ureteric tumours were predictive of the probabilities of being free from metachronous bladder TCC.     

后腹腔镜联合膀胱电切镜对上尿路移行细胞癌根治性治疗的安全性研究

目的探讨后腹腔镜联合膀胱电切镜对肾盂、中上段输尿管移行细胞癌根治性治疗的手术及肿瘤学安全性。方法回顾性分析肾盂、中上段输尿管移行细胞癌患者58例临床资料,后腹腔镜联合膀胱电切镜肾输尿管全长切除组（A组）41例,开放肾输尿管切除组（B组）17例。对其手术效果、并发症及术后肿瘤复发情况进行对比。结果A组和B组手术出血量（98．4和165mL）、术后住院天数（7．1和8．0d）、术后应用止痛药时间（1．2和3．1d）比较,A组优于B组（P〈0．05）;两组手术时间（150和110min）、术后留置尿管时间（6．2和3．5d）比较,A组长于B组（P〈0．05）。A组1例因电切输尿管口出血,中转开放手术。A、B两组并发症发生率（7．3％和11．8％）及肿瘤复发率（14．6％,23．5％）差异均无统计学意义（P均〉O．05）。结论联合尿道电切镜、后腹腔镜肾输尿管切除术与开放手术相比,出血少、术后恢复快、并发症少,未增加术后肿瘤的复发。     

Purse‐string technique for laparoscopic excision of a bladder mucosal cuff in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: initial report with intermediate follow‐up

OBJECTIVE

To describe a novel modification for excision of a bladder mucosal cuff around the ipsilateral ureter during laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) in the patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2003 and 2007, 13 patients with upper urinary TCC were managed by LNU with excision of a bladder mucosal cuff. The renal pedicle was clipped early. The kidney was freed. The ureter was dissected down to the vesico‐ureteric junction. The intramural part of the ureter was dissected under vision and sharply freed from the surrounding detrusor muscle of the bladder until the level of the ureteric orifice. Then the detrusor muscle was further dissected away from the underneath bladder mucosa for 1 cm around the ureteric orifice. Thus, a bladder cuff of mucosa‐only could be retrieved. A purse‐string suture was taken at the edge of the dissected mucosa and the cuff was excised. The intaoperative and postoperative outcome and morbidity were recorded and results of the short‐ and intermediate‐term follow‐up were evaluated.

RESULTS

All the procedures were completed by laparoscopy. The mean operative time was 226 min. The mean blood loss was 233 mL. There were no major complications. The median follow‐up was 31.5 months. During follow‐up, one patient developed recurrence in the renal bed. There was no pelvic recurrences. Two patients developed papillary bladder tumours.

CONCLUSION

The purse‐string technique enabled complete LNU without opening of the pelvicalyceal system. Short‐ and intermediate‐term follow‐up showed the oncological safety of the procedure. The outcomes from more patients with a longer follow‐up are required to confirm these preliminary findings.     

Prognostic risk stratification of pathological stage T2N0 bladder cancer after radical cystectomy

Study Type – Therapy (individual cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) and pathological (p) stage T2N0 disease exhibit a range of clinical outcomes with an overall estimated 10–25% experiencing recurrence and death after radical cystectomy (RC). Nomograms to prognosticate UCB post‐RC have been developed in heterogeneous datasets of patients across different stages and do not address factors unique to pT2N0 disease. A user‐friendly prognostic risk model was devised for patients with pT2N0 UCB undergoing RC based on residual pathological stage at RC (pT2a, pT2b, OBJECTIVE ? To stratify risk of pathological (p) T2N0 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder after radical cystectomy (RC) based on pathological factors to facilitate the development of adjuvant therapy trials for high‐risk patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

? The study comprised 707 patients from a database of patients with pT2N0 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who had undergone RC and not received perioperative chemotherapy. ? The effect of residual pT‐stage at RC, age, grade, lymphovascular invasion and number of lymph nodes removed on recurrence‐free survival was evaluated using Cox regression analyses. A weighted prognostic model was devised with significant variables.

RESULTS

? The median follow up was 60.9 months. In multivariable analyses, residual disease at RC (pT2a: hazard ratio (HR) 1.740, P = 0.03; for pT2b: HR 3.075, P < 0.001; both compared with P = 0.09) and lymphovascular invasion (HR 2.234, P < 0.001) were associated with recurrence‐free survival (c = 0.70). ? Three risk groups were devised based on weighted variables with 5‐year recurrence‐free survival of 95% (95% CI 87–98), 86% (95% CI 81–90) and 62% (95% CI 54–69) in the good‐risk, intermediate‐risk and poor‐risk groups, respectively (c = 0.68). The primary limitation is the retrospective and multicenter feature.

CONCLUSIONS

? A prognostic risk model for patients with pT2N0 bladder cancer undergoing RC with generally adequate lymph node dissection was constructed based on residual pathological stage at RC, grade and lymphovascular invasion. ? These data warrant validation and may enable the selection of patients with high‐risk pT2N0 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder for adjuvant therapy trials.     

Perivesical fat invasion in bladder cancer: implications for prognosis comparing pT2b,pT3a and pT3b stages and consequences for adjuvant chemotherapy indications

Study Type – Therapy (retrospective cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The more that bladder cancer progresses from the urothelium to the outside of the bladder the worse the prognosis. To date, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy has not been completely defined. The present study clarifies the prognosis and benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy for different stages of bladder cancer that invade perivesical fat.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To assess the prognosis of pT2b, pT3a and pT3b bladder cancers after radical cystectomy (RC) in order to define potential situations where chemotherapy may be of benefit.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? Between 1985 and 2009, 903 patients underwent a RC and pelvic bilateral lymphadenectomy in an Institutional Referral Centre.
• ? In all, 87 patients (9.6%) had a pT2b tumour, 111 patients (12.3%) a pT3a tumour, and 129 patients (14.3%) a pT3b tumour.
• ? The median (range) overall follow‐up was 23 (1–350) months.
• ? Overall (OS), disease‐specific (DSS), metastases‐free (MFS) and local recurrence‐free survival (LRFS) was estimated and compared using Kaplan–Meier plots and log‐rank test.

RESULTS

• ? The 5‐year survivals pT2b and pT3a were similar for LRFS (86% vs 84%), MFS (69% vs 63%), DSS (72% vs 70%) and OS (66% vs 61%), and the prognosis was better than for pT3b stage tumours (69%, 44%, 40%, and 31% respectively).
• ? In pN0 disease, MFS differences between pT2b–pT3a and pT3b tumours were not significant in patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy (MSF of 87%, 69% and 56%, respectively) while they were significant in patients without adjuvant chemotherapy (MFS of 70%, 68% and 42%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

• ? Bladder cancers invading perivesical tissue macroscopically have a greater propensity to produce lymph node metastases, local recurrence, and have lower MFS, DSS, and OS. In pN0 disease, pT3b tumours may receive more benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.
• ? Our results could be a useful for selecting patients for adjuvant chemotherapy.