Prognostic influence of microsatellite alterations of muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy

ObjectiveTo examine the prognostic effect of microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).Patients and methodsThe liquid nitrogen-preserved specimens of 220 patients between March 2009 and December 2012 were analyzed for the presence of MSI and LOH in 12 loci (ACTBP2, D16S310, D16S476, D18S51, D4S243, D9S162, D9S171, D9S747, FGA, INF-α, MBP, MJD) using polymerase chain reaction. MSI was defined as MSI-stable, MSI-Low, or MSI-High if instability was detected in 0, 1, or 2 or more of the examined markers, respectively. The association between MSI-High and LOH and CSS was analyzed using uni- and multivariate analyses and the degree of agreement between tumor and urine samples were determined.ResultsMSI were found in 1030 (39%) and 1148 (43.5%) in tumor and urine specimens, respectively (Kappa = 0.77). On the other hand, LOH was found in 163 (6.2%) of tumor tissues and 44 (1.7%) in urine specimens (Kappa = 0.34). Microsatellite alterations were significantly associated with worse CSS at 1- and 5-year in tumor tissue (95% and 83.7% vs. 65.8% and 3.5%, respectively; P < 0.001) and in urine sample (90% and 64% vs. 46.5% and 9.3%, respectively; P < 0.001). MSI and/or LOH was an independent predictor of CSS (HR: 9.8; 95%CI: 5.1–18.9; P < 0.001).ConclusionsMicrosatellite alterations were potentially an independent predictor of CSS in patients with MIBC. The agreement was good between tumor and urine MSI but weak for LOH.     

Correlates of refusal of radical cystectomy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer

PurposeTo evaluate factors associated with radical cystectomy (RC) refusal, subsequent treatment decisions, and their influence on overall survival (OS).Materials and methodsWe queried the National Cancer Database for patients with non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), cT2-T4M0. Patients who refused recommended RC were further stratified by treatment into chemotherapy, radiation therapy, chemoradiotherapy, and no treatment groups. Patients were excluded from the analysis if surgery was not planned, not recommended; or if survival data were unknown. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was utilized to identify independent predictors of refusing RC. Cox proportional hazards model with propensity score overlap weighting was utilized to identify survival predictors. Kaplan-Meier analysis was utilized to evaluate survival according to treatment.ResultsA total of 74,159 MIBC patients were identified. Among patients with documented reasons for no surgery, 5.4% refused RC despite physician recommendation. Predictors of refusal on multivariate analysis included female gender (P = 0.016), advancing age ≥80 (vs. <60, P < 0.001), African American race (vs. white, P < 0.001) Medicaid (vs. private insurance, P < 0.001) and advancing T stage (T4 vs. T2, P < 0.001). Patients treated at academic centers were less likely to decline RC (vs. community centers, P < 0.001). Median survival after RC was 40.44 months vs. 12.52 months in refusal group. Undergoing chemoradiation had significantly improved survival in those patients compared to monotherapy or no treatment (hazard ratio 0.25, P < 0.001). Overlap weighted model Identified RC refusal as an independent predictor of poor OS (P < 0.001).ConclusionsSeveral sociodemographic and clinical factors are associated with refusing radical cystectomy. Such refusal is associated with poor survival outcomes.     

Prognostic significance of vascular invasion in patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether vascular invasion (i.e. lymphatic and blood vessel invasion) could be a useful prognostic predictor in patients with locally invasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder who underwent radical cystectomy. METHODS: This series included 114 consecutive patients undergoing radical cystectomy for primary TCC of the bladder between November 1989 and July 2003. Several clinicopathological characteristics of these patients were analyzed, focusing on the association between vascular invasion and disease recurrence after radical cystectomy. RESULTS: Lymphatic and blood vessel invasions were detected in 55 (48.2%) and 33 (29.8%) specimens, respectively. Lymphatic invasion was significantly associated with pathological stage, tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, blood vessel invasion and disease recurrence, whereas blood vessel invasion was significantly related to pathological stage, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion and disease recurrence. Recurrence-free survival in patients with lymphatic invasion was significantly lower than that in those without lymphatic invasion, and a similar significant difference in recurrence-free survival was observed between patients with and without blood vessel invasion. However, multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model showed that only pathological stage and lymph node metastasis could be used as independent predictors for disease recurrence after radical cystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a significant association between several prognostic parameters, vascular invasion was not an independent predictor of disease recurrence; therefore, if there are other conventional parameters available, there might not be any additional advantage to considering the presence of vascular invasion when predicting the prognosis of patients undergoing radical cystectomy for TCC of the bladder.     

Prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion of bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy

PURPOSE: We determined the prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in patients treated for invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 1971 to June 2004, 2,005 patients underwent radical cystectomy for primary bladder cancer with intent to cure. All patients with nontransitional cell carcinoma histology, palliative procedures, unknown lymphovascular status, less than pT1 pathological stage, or any neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy/radiation therapy were excluded, leaving 702 comprising the study cohort. Of the 702 patients 249 (36%) had LVI. RESULTS: Median followup was 11.0 years (range 8 days to 23.2 years). Overall 5 and 10-year survival was 51% and 34%, while 5 and 10-year recurrence-free survival was 66% and 64%, respectively. Ten-year recurrence-free survival in patients without LVI was 74% compared with 42% in those with LVI (p <0.0001). Similarly 10-year overall survival was 43% in patients without LVI compared with 18% in those with LVI (p <0.0001). In the organ confined/lymph node negative and lymph node positive pathological subgroups survival outcomes were significantly worse if LVI was present. Although a trend was observed, LVI status was not statistically significant in patients with extravesical node negative disease. Stepwise Cox regression analysis revealed that pathological subgroup (organ confined, extravesical and lymph node positive) (p <0.0001) and LVI status (p = 0.0004) were independent prognostic variables for recurrence-free and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphovascular invasion appears to be an important and independent prognostic variable in patients with invasive bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy. LVI status should be determined in cystectomy specimens, which may provide further risk stratification in patients following radical cystectomy.     

Prognostic significance of serum lactate dehydrogenase in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

BackgroundTo investigate the prognostic significance of preoperative serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer (BCa).Patients and methodsA cohort of 263 patients undergoing open or laparoscopic radical cystectomy between 2011 and 2016 was studied. Baseline characteristics, hematological variables, follow-up data were collected. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard regression model were applied to assess the relationship between LDH and overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS).ResultsAfter a median 34.2 (22.9–45.8) months follow-up, all-cause death, cancer-specific death, and disease recurrence occurred in 66 patients, 50 patients, and 91 patients. The elevation of serum LDH was associated with several unfavorable parameters, including advanced age, continent cutaneous urinary diversion, increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, decreased lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. Patients with a higher serum LDH (> 220 U/L) had a worse OS (P < 0.001), CSS (P < 0.001) and DFS (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis suggested that elevated LDH was an independent predictor for OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.113, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.524–6.358; P = 0.002), CSS (HR: 4.564, 95% CI: 2.008–10.373; P < 0.001), DFS (HR: 2.051, 95% CI: 1.125–3.739; P = 0.019). Medical history of diabetes, high pT stage, and positive lymph node also were adverse predictors for oncological outcomes of BCa patients in multivariate analysis.ConclusionsPreoperative serum LDH is an independent prognostic biomarker for OS, CSS, and DFS in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for BCa, which can be incorporated into prognostic models.     

Prognostic significance of adjuvant cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy following radical cystectomy in patients with invasive bladder cancer

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to retrospectively examine the outcomes of adjuvant cisplatin‐based combination chemotherapy following radical cystectomy in patients with invasive bladder cancer in order to identify parameters predicting the prognosis of these patients. Methods: This study included a total of 51 patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy between January 1995 and December 2004, and subsequently received at least two cycles of either MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) or MVP‐CAB (methotrexate, doxorubicin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin and cisplatin) chemotherapy in an adjuvant setting because of the presence of diseases corresponding to pT3/4 and/or pN1/2 without clinical evidence of metastasis. The significance of several clinicopathological factors as predictors of disease recurrence and cancer‐specific death was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: During the observation period of this study (median, 26.5 months), disease‐recurrence and cancer‐specific death were observed in 21 and 16 patients, respectively. The 5‐year recurrence‐free and cancer‐specific survival rates were 48.6% and 54.1%, respectively. Among several factors examined in this series, lymph node metastasis and concomitant carcinoma in situ (CIS) were identified as significant predictors of both disease‐recurrence and cancer‐specific death, and these were also independently associated with disease‐recurrence and cancer‐specific death. Conclusions: Adjuvant cisplatin‐based combination chemotherapy for patients with extravesically extended bladder cancer following radical cystectomy resulted in comparatively unsatisfactory outcome concerning cancer‐control; accordingly, it would be necessary to develop a more efficacious therapeutic strategy for such patients, particularly for those with lymph node metastasis and/or concomitant CIS.     

Prognostic significance of vascular and perineural invasion in urothelial bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy

PURPOSE: Data on the prognostic significance of tumor invading lymphatic and blood vessels in bladder cancer are controversial, while little is known about perineural invasion in this tumor. We determined the prognostic value of these parameters in radical cystectomy specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Slides of 283 radical cystectomy specimens obtained from 1986 to 1997 were examined retrospectively with respect to tumor invasion in lymphatic and blood vessels, and perineural spaces. This review was performed while blinded to lymph node tumor involvement or the postoperative disease course. The Kaplan-Meier probability analysis of tumor-free survival and the log rank test were used to determine the prognostic effects of vascular and perineural invasion. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model was also performed. RESULTS: Lymphatic, blood vessel and perineural tumor invasion were present in 54.1%, 13.1% and 47.7% of specimens, respectively. Tumor progressed in 46.3% of patients. On univariate analysis all 3 factors showed strong prognostic significance. However, on multivariate analysis only blood vessel invasion, invasion depth and regional lymph node status were independent prognostic factors (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node metastases, pT classification and blood vessel invasion are independent prognostic parameters of tumor-free survival that should be used to guide patient treatment after radical cystectomy. Invasion of the blood and lymphatic vessels should be commented on separately in the pathology report.     

Cost-effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

ObjectivesTo determine the costs of treatment and the duration of survival, adjusted for quality of life, for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with immediate radical cystectomy (RC) or with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with intent for subsequent RC.Methods and materialsA retrospective review of our institutional review board–approved database identified patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated at our institution from 2004 to 2011. Patients were divided into those receiving RC alone and those receiving NAC before planned RC. Patients who refused RC following NAC were included in an intention-to-treat analysis. Survival duration was converted to quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and costs of treatment per QALY were determined.ResultsA total of 119 patients (65.4%) received RC alone and 63 (34.6%) received NAC, 38 of whom proceeded to cystectomy as planned. Mean total costs were $42,890 and $52,429 for RC and NAC, respectively (P = 0.005). The 5-year overall survival was 31.7% and 42.5% for the RC-only group and the NAC group, respectively (P = 0.034). The 5-year overall survival measured in QALYs was 21.9% and 42.9% for the RC-only and the NAC groups, respectively (P = 0.021). The increased cost for NAC was $5,840 per additional life year gained (95% CI: $1,772–$9,909) and $6,187 per additional QALY gained (95% CI: $1,877–$10,498).ConclusionsThe use of NAC is associated with a significant increase in quality-adjusted survival. The additional cost per QALY gained is approximately $6,000. The cost-utility analysis of NAC compares favorably with other cancer-specific therapies.     

腹腔镜无管化兔头回肠原位新膀胱治疗浸润性膀胱癌：附视频

目的探索腹腔镜膀胱根治性切除及无管化兔头回肠原位新膀胱术治疗浸润性膀胱癌的初步经验。方法回顾分析2012年3月至2012年12月采用腹腔镜治疗浸润性膀胱癌3例,3例患者年龄分别为57、65及76岁。取回肠50cm,中部40cm剖开缝成“W形”新膀胱,两端各保留5cm肠管形似兔耳与新膀胱体呈兔头形状,两侧兔耳部分别植入两侧输尿管,术中双侧输尿管内未留置双J管或外支架管,回肠新膀胱无留置造瘘管,新膀胱底部与后尿道断端吻合,仅在新膀胱内留置双腔尿管。初步观察手术时间、并发症、住院日数等。结果手术时间为分别为380、402及430min,1例术后肠粘连,对症治疗后好转。无伤口感染、尿漏及其他并发症。结论腹腔镜无管化兔头回肠原位新膀胱术治疗经选择的浸润性膀胱癌是可行的。     

术前白蛋白碱性磷酸酶比值对根治性膀胱切除术后总体生存期的影响

目的探讨术前白蛋白碱性磷酸酶比值(AAPR)与根治性膀胱切除术后患者总体生存期(OS)的关系。方法回顾性分析2007年1月至2015年12月青岛大学附属医院收治的166例膀胱癌患者的临床病理资料。男148例,女18例。年龄(65.1±9.4)岁。伴高血压病31例、糖尿病14例。体质指数(BMI)(24.00±3.32)kg/m^2。肿瘤单发92例,多发74例。肿瘤直径<3 cm者43例,≥3 cm者123例。合并肾积水33例,无肾积水133例。术前AAPR(0.62±0.23)。根据AAPR的三分位点将患者分为低AAPR组55例,AAPR(0.42±0.09);中AAPR组55例,AAPR(0.58±0.05);高AAPR组56例,AAPR(0.86±0.21)。美国麻醉医师协会(ASA)分级1级4例,2级65例,3级86例,4级11例。根治术前患者均行经尿道膀胱肿瘤切除术,病理诊断均为膀胱癌,高级别144例,低级别22例。166例均行根治性膀胱切除术,其中腹腔镜手术140例,开放手术26例。术中行输尿管皮肤造口55例,回肠代膀胱96例,回肠原位新膀胱15例。将AAPR连续性变量和AAPR分组作为原始模型,调整年龄、肿瘤大小、pT分期、pN分期、肾积水、ASA分级、辅助化疗的数据作为校准模型1,在校准模型1基础上增加BMI、肿瘤数目、病理等级的数据作为校准模型2。采用趋势性检验检测不同AAPR组间危险比(HR)变化趋势。分析不同因素分层的AAPR与OS的关系。采用Kaplan-Meier法绘制生存曲线。采用基于广义相加模型的曲线拟合表示AAPR与OS的关系。结果本组166例中位随访63个月,生存95例,死亡71例。3年生存率为61%,5年生存率为50%。术后病理分期:T1期27例,T2期82例,T3期48例,T4期9例;N0期145例,N1期14例,N2期6例,N3期1例。术后52例行辅助化疗。单因素Cox回归分析结果显示,AAPR(HR=0.09,95%CI 0.022~0.391,P=0.001)、高AAPR组(HR=0.40,95%CI 0.216~0.742,P=0.003)、年龄(HR=2.42,95%CI 1.294~4.531,P=0.006)、肿瘤大小(HR=2.11,95%CI 1.112~4.014,P=0.023)、肿瘤数目(HR=0.62,95%CI 0.378~1.022,P=0.061)、pT3期(HR=8.93,95%CI 3.173~25.114,P<0.001)、pT4期(HR=10.39,95%CI 3.110~34.707,P<0.001)、N1期(HR=2.80,95%CI 1.422~5.531,P=0.003)、N3期(HR=17.06,95%CI 2.192~132.863,P=0.007)、病理分级(HR=0.30,95%CI 0.113~0.817,P=0.019)、肾积水(HR=2.36,95%CI 1.406~3.939,P=0.001)、术后辅助化疗(HR=2.66,95%CI 1.674~4.247,P<0.001)均与术后OS相关。调整年龄、肿瘤大小、pT分期、pN分期、肾积水、ASA分级、辅助化疗、BMI、肿瘤数目、病理分级后,Cox回归分析结果显示,与低AAPR组相比,高AAPR组的死亡风险降低约59%(HR=0.406,95%CI 0.200~0.822,P=0.012),AAPR每升高1个单位,死亡风险下降约80%(HR=0.199,95%CI 0.051~0.779,P=0.020)。趋势性检验结果显示,原始模型和校准模型中,AAPR不同分组间OS的HR下降趋势均有统计学意义(P=0.016),提示两者呈线性关系。调整年龄、肿瘤大小、pT分期、pN分期、肾积水、ASA分级、辅助化疗、BMI、肿瘤数目、病理分级后,曲线拟合图显示,AAPR与OS呈线性相关,随AAPR升高,术后死亡风险下降,OS延长。结论AAPR与膀胱肿瘤患者根治性膀胱切除术后的OS成线性相关,随AAPR升高,患者术后死亡风险下降,OS延长。     

中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值在肌层浸润性膀胱癌预后评估中的价值

目的探讨术前外周血中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值(NLR)是否可以作为肌层浸润性膀胱癌(MIBC)患者术后的预后评价指标。方法回顾性分析2008年1月至2011年12月行膀胱癌根治术的214例MIBC患者的临床资料,根据患者术前外周血NLR大小分为低NLR组(NLR<3,92例)和高NLR组(NLR≥3,122例),比较两组患者的5年生存率并进行预后危险因素分析。结果低NLR组和高NLR组MIBC患者5年生存率分别为70.9%和55.8%(P<0.01)。单因素分析显示,术前NLR、吸烟史、病理T分期、肿瘤分级、围手术期输血、淋巴结转移、淋巴结密度及切缘阳性与MIBC患者预后有关(P<0.05);Cox回归分析证实,NLR是影响MIBC患者预后的独立危险因素(HR=2.142,95%CI:1.212~3.786,P<0.01)。结论术前NLR是影响MIBC患者术后生存时间的独立危险因素,可作为MIBC患者的预后指标。     

经尿道不同膀胱切除术在非肌层浸润性膀胱癌治疗中的疗效对比

目的 探讨并比较经尿道不同膀胱切除术在非肌层浸润性膀胱癌(NMIBC)治疗中的疗效.方法 选择2010年5月至2013年5月于本院进行治疗的91例NMIBC患者,根据手术方法分为经尿道钬激光膀胱肿瘤切除术(HOLRBT)组45例和经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术(TURBT)组46例.记录并比较其手术时间、术中出血量、膀胱冲洗时间、尿管留置时间、术后住院时间等手术情况和并发症发生等资料差异.所有患者随访两年,记录肿瘤复发情况和其累积复发率.结果 两组患者的手术时间差异并无统计学意义(P＞0.05).与电切术组患者相比,HOLRBT组患者的术中出血量较少,膀胱冲洗时间、尿管留置时间和术后住院时间较短,并发症发生率较低,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).两组患者的两年累积复发率比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 与TURBT相比,HOLRBT在治疗NMIBC疗效确切,能够改善患者预后,值得临床进一步推广.     

The prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy

IntroductionThe neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an attractive marker because it is derived from routine bloodwork. NLR has shown promise as a prognostic factor in muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) but its value in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) before radical cystectomy (RC) is not yet established. Since NLR is related to an oncogenic environment and poor antitumor host response, we hypothesized that a high NLR would be associated with a poor response to NAC and would remain a poor prognostic indicator in patients receiving NAC.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on patients with nonmetastatic MIBC (cT2-4aN0M0) who received NAC prior to RC between 2000 and 2013 at 1 of 19 centers across Europe and North America. The pre-NAC NLR was used to split patients into a low (NLR ≤ 3) and high (NLR > 3) group. Demographic and clinical parameters were compared between the groups using Student's t test, chi-squared, or Fisher's exact test. Putative risk factors for disease-specific and overall survival were analyzed using Cox regression, while predictors of response to NAC (defined as absence of MIBC in RC specimen) were investigated using logistic regression.ResultsData were available for 340 patients (199 NLR ≤ 3, 141 NLR > 3). Other than age and rate of lymphovascular invasion, demographic and pretreatment characteristics did not differ significantly. More patients in the NLR > 3 group had residual MIBC after NAC than the NLR ≤ 3 group (70.8% vs. 58.3%, P = 0.049). NLR was the only significant predictor of response (odds ratio: 0.36, P = 0.003) in logistic regression. NLR was a significant risk factor for both disease-specific (hazard ratio (HR): 2.4, P = 0.006) and overall survival (HR:1.8, P = 0.02).ConclusionNLR > 3 was associated with a decreased response to NAC and shorter disease-specific and overall survival. This suggests that NLR is a simple tool that can aid in MIBC risk stratification in clinical practice.     

Prognostic significance of Her2/neu overexpression in patients with muscle invasive urinary bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy

Introduction The aim of the study was to evaluate the status of Her2/neu protein expression in patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinomas of the bladder treated with radical cystectomy and to determine its prognostic significance. Material and methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 90 patients who had undergone cystectomy for invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Immunohistochemical analysis for Her2/neu was done on paraffin-fixed tissues with CB11 antibodies (BioGenex, San Ramon, CA, USA). Sections with grade 2 and grade 3 staining were considered positive for Her2/neu. Results Over a median follow-up period of 46 months (24–96 months) 46 patients are living without disease recurrence and six with recurrent disease either at the local site or with distant metastases. The remaining 38 patients have died. The median overall survival time was 50 months, and median disease-free survival time was 40 months. The Her2/neu status was significantly related to the tumor stage (P = 0.001), lymph node involvement (77% in N+ vs 23% in N0; P = 0.001) and the grade of the disease (32% of grade 2 vs 71% of grade 3; P = 0.037). Kaplan–Meier curves showed a significantly worse disease-related survival period (log rank P = 0.011) for patients with Her2 overexpressing tumors than for those without overexpression. In addition to tumor stage [P = 0.001; relative risk (RR) = 2.62] and lymph node status (P = 0.0001; RR = 2.95), Her2 status (P = 0.020; RR = 2.22) was identified as an independent predictor for disease-related survival in a multivariate analysis. Conclusion These results suggest that Her2 expression might provide additional prognostic information for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Future studies on Her2 expression with chemosensitivity and the efficacy of Her2-targeted therapies in urothelial carcinomas are warranted.     

Prognostic factors in a recent series of patients treated with radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical and pathological prognostic factors in a homogeneous series of patients with bladder cancer who had undergone radical cystectomy in the late 1990s. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 156 patients who had undergone radical cystectomy and iliac-obturator lymphadenectomy for bladder carcinoma at our department between 1995 and 2001. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 39.71 +/- 26.2 months. The 5-year overall and cancer-specific survival rates were 47.2 and 54.7%, respectively. Upper urinary tract obstruction (p = 0.03), clinical stage of both the primary tumor (p = 0.0001) and loco-regional lymph nodes (p = 0.04), pathological stage (2002 TNM) of the primary tumor (p < 0.0001), pathological loco-regional lymph node involvement (p < 0.0001), and vascular embolization (p = 0.005) were significant on univariate analysis. Pathological lymph node involvement (p = 0.001) and both pathological (p = 0.022) and clinical stages of the primary tumor (p = 0.002) turned out to be independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Pathological lymph node involvement, clinical and pathological stage of the primary tumor were the cancer-specific, survival-independent, predictors in our series. Our multivariate analysis data identified pT3-4 and pN+ patients as those with the worst prognosis.