Effect of lymph node dissection on the outcomes of upper tract urothelial carcinomas: a meta-analysis

Prognostic significance of age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status in patients with stage III-IV upper tract urothelial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To assess the trend of incidence and survival stratified by age, race, gender and SES and the differences in time between groups in stage III-IV upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients.

METHODS

7,505 stage III-IV UTUC patients between 2004 and 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. The overall survival (OS) and the cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test as well as multivariate Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among the 7,505 patients, 3,584 were classified as young, 2,464 were classified as middle-aged, and 1,461 were classified as elderly. The years of diagnosis were divided into three periods including 2004-2007, 2008-2011 and 2012-2015. The incidence rates for UTUC were 0.69, 0.74, and 0.77 per 100,000 in the first, second, and third period, respectively. Disparities in the long-term survival rate between male and female patients and among patients of different races narrowed over time. There was no difference in prognosis between races (p = 0.078 for OS and p = 0.167 for CSS). The difference in survival rate between the poor and rich groups narrowed along with the three time periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival rate disparities according to sex, race, and socioeconomic status narrowed in time, except in patients aged 74-82 years. Increased age, black race, and poverty are associated with worse survival outcomes. In general, the long-term survival rate improved continuously across the three periods.

Comparing Oncological Outcomes and Surgical Complications of Hand-Assisted, Laparoscopic and Robotic Nephroureterectomy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the oncological outcomes and surgical complications of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treated with different minimally invasive techniques for nephroureterectomy.

Methods

From the updated data of the Taiwan UTUC Collaboration Group, a total of 3,333 UTUC patients were identified. After excluding ineligible cases, we retrospectively included 1,340 patients from 15 institutions who received hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (HALNU), laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) or robotic nephroureterectomy (RNU) between 2001 and 2021. Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox proportional hazards model were used to analyze the survival outcomes, and binary logistic regression model was selected to compare the risks of postoperative complications of different surgical approaches.

Results

Among the enrolled patients, 741, 458 and 141 patients received HALNU, LNU and RNU, respectively. Compared with RNU (41.1%) and LNU (32.5%), the rate of lymph node dissection in HALNU was the lowest (17.4%). In both Kaplan-Meier and univariate analysis, the type of surgery was significantly associated with overall and cancer-specific survival. The statistical significance of surgical methods on survival outcomes remained in multivariate analysis, where patients undergoing HALNU appeared to have the worst overall (p = 0.007) and cancer-specific (p = 0.047) survival rates among the three groups. In all analyses, the surgical approach was not related to bladder recurrence. In addition, HALNU was significantly associated with longer hospital stay (p = 0.002), and had the highest risk of major Clavien-Dindo complications (p = 0.011), paralytic ileus (p = 0.012), and postoperative end-stage renal disease (p <0.001).

Conclusions

Minimally invasive surgery can be safe and feasible. We proved that compared with the HALNU group, the LNU and RNU groups have better survival rates and fewer surgical complications. It is crucial to uphold strict oncological principles with sophisticated technique to improve outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

The nephroureterectomy: a review of technique and current controversies

The nephroureterectomy (NU) is the standard of care for invasive upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and has been around for well over one hundred years. Since then new operative techniques have emerged, new technologies have developed, and the surgery continues to evolve and grow. In this article, we review the various surgical techniques, as well as present the literature surrounding current areas of debate surrounding the NU, including the lymphatic drainage of the upper urinary tract, management of UTUC involvement with the adrenals and caval thrombi, surgical management of the distal ureter, the use of intravesical chemotherapy as well as perioperative systemic chemotherapy, as well as various outcome measures. Although much has been studied about the NU, there still is a dearth of level 1 evidence and the field would benefit from further studies.

Development and external validation of a preoperative nomogram for predicting pathological locally advanced disease of clinically localized upper urinary tract carcinoma

Objective

To develop and validate a preoperative nomogram to predict pathological locally advanced disease (pLAD) of clinically localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treated with extirpative surgery.

Methods

In total, 1101 patients with cN0M0 UTUC (development cohort, n = 604; validation cohort, n = 497) from 2 independent academic databases were retrospectively analyzed. pLAD was defined as pT3/4 and/or pN+. Multivariate logistic regression was used to develop a nomogram. The accuracy of the nomogram was evaluated with a receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration plot, and decision curve analysis.

Results

The development and validation cohorts comprised 204 (33.8%) and 178 (35.8%) patients with pLAD, respectively. The multivariate analyses showed that the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (hazard ratio [HR], 2.27; P < .001), chronic kidney disease (HR, 1.56; P = .032), tumor location (HR, 1.60; P = .029), hydronephrosis (HR, 2.71; P < .001), and local invasion on imaging (HR, 8.59; P < .001) were independent predictive factors. After bootstrapping, a well‐calibrated nomogram achieved discriminative accuracy of 0.77 in the development cohort. The decision curve analysis demonstrated improved risk prediction against threshold probabilities (≥8%) of pLAD. These results were consistent in the validation cohort.

Conclusion

Our novel nomogram allows for more highly accurate prediction of pLAD of UTUC. This nomogram integrates standard imaging and laboratory factors that help to identify patients who will benefit from preoperative chemotherapy, extended lymph node dissection, or both.

Proton beam therapy for renal pelvis and ureter cancer: A report of 5 cases and a literature review

Standard treatment for localized renal pelvis and ureter cancer is surgery. Previously, the primary role of radiation therapy (RT) in cancer treatment was to control pain and hemostasis as palliative or as adjuvant therapy following surgery. In this report, we describe 5 patients with the disease treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) as curative treatment. Between September 2009 and July 2013, 5 males with renal pelvis (n=3) or ureter (n=2) cancer were treated by PBT with hypofractionated [72.6 Gy relative biological effectiveness (RBE)/22 fractions] or conventional [64-66 Gy (RBE)/32-33 fractions] fractionation. The median patient age was 72 years (range, 59-85 years). Three patients were deemed unfit for surgery. Local hypofractionated PBT was performed in 2 patients with T1-2N0M0 diseases, while prophylactic lymph node irradiation using a patch irradiation technique was performed for the remaining 3 patients, who had T3-4 disease. Two patients with T3-4 disease received chemotherapy prior to definitive PBT. No serious acute or late toxicities were observed in any patient. Local tumor control was achieved in 3 patients (60%); however, distant metastases were observed in 2 patients. Four of the five patients (80%) evaluated in the present study survived for >3 years. The data is limited; however, PBT appears to be a potential option for patients with renal pelvis or ureter cancer, especially for those who are unsuitable for radical surgery.

Current Status of Lymphadenectomy During Radical Nephroureterectomy for Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer-Yes, No or Maybe?

While pelvic lymphadenectomy during radical cystectomy for bladder cancer is a well-established standard of care, the same does not hold true for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Indeed, a template-based lymphadenectomy is rarely, if ever, performed in conjunction with radical nephroureterectomy at most centres across the globe. While multiple studies have explored the staging and therapeutic role of lymphadenectomy in cases of UTUC, there remain large gaps in our understanding of the indications, extent and safety of this procedure as an adjunct to nephroureterectomy. This article elucidates the current knowledge on outcomes, benefits and complications of template-based lymphadenectomy during radical nephroureterectomy for UTUC. We also explore the current evidence-based guidelines on this controversial topic.

Current role of lymphadenectomy in the upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Introduction

Lymphadenectomy (LND) has recently attracted considerable interest from urological surgeons, as extended lymphadenectomy might have a role in accurate staging or improving patient survival in those patients with urological malignancies.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively rare neoplasm, accounting for about 5% of all urothelial cancers. Up to 30% of patients with muscle-invasive UTUC have metastasis in the regional lymph nodes (LNs), which represents a well-established poor prognostic factor.

Material and methods

A medline search was conducted to identify original articles and review articles addressing the role of lymphadenectomy LND in UTUC. Keywords included lymphadenectomy, lymph node excision, nephroureterectomy, and upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Results

LND instead of lymphadenectomy has recently attracted considerable interest from urological surgeons and might have a potential role in improving the oncological outcome in patients with urothelial carcinoma. LND ideally improves disease staging; thereby, we need to find the way to identify the patients who could really benefit from adjuvant systemic theraphy. Template-based LND with Radical Nephroureterectomy (RNU) for high risk disease is gaining support based on accumulating retrospective data and supports its utility as a potentially therapeutic maneuver. RNU is still the gold standard treatment for UTUC, but minimal invasive procedures such as laparoscopic RNU and Robot Assisted Nephroureterectomy (RANU) are becoming more employed in recent years and should be used by expert hands.

Conclusions

Therapeutic benefits of LND and nodal status on disease free survival (DFS) and Cancer Free Survival (CSS) remains controversial. Although most of the data comes from retrospective studies, we encourage performing well designed, prospective, and multicentre studies to clarify this in the coming years.

Upper urinary tract disease: what we know today and unmet needs

Purpose

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare and poorly investigated disease. Intense collaborative efforts have increased our knowledge and improved the management of the disease. The objective of this review was to discuss recent advances and unmet needs in UTUC.

Methods

A non-systematic Medline/PubMed literature search was performed on UTUC using the terms “upper tract urothelial carcinoma” with different combinations of keywords. Original articles, reviews and editorials in English language were selected based on their clinical relevance.

Results

UTUC is a disease with specific epidemiologic and risk factors different to urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). Similarly to UCB, smoking increases the risk of UTUC and worsens its prognosis, whereas aristolochic acid (AA) exposure and mismatch repair genes abnormality are UTUC specific risk factors. A growing understanding of biological pathways involved in the tumorigenesis of UTUC has led to the identification of promising prognostic/predictive biomarkers. Risk stratification of UTUC is difficult due to limitations in staging and grading. Modern imaging and endoscopy have improved clinical decision-making, and allowed kidney-sparing management and surveillance in favorable-risk tumors. In high-risk tumors, radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) remains the standard. Complete removal of the intramural ureter is necessary with inferiority of endoscopic management. Post-RNU intravesical instillation has been shown to decrease bladder cancer recurrence rates. While the role of neoadjuvant cisplatin based combination chemotherapy and lymphadenectomy are not clearly established, the body of evidence suggests a survival benefit to these. There is currently no evidence for adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in UTUC.

Conclusions

Despite growing interest and understanding of UTUC, its management remains challenging, requiring further high quality multicenter collaborations. Accurate risk estimation is necessary to avoid unnecessary RNUs while advances in technology are still required for optimal kidney-sparing approaches.

Contemporary role of lymph node dissection at the time of radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma

PURPOSE

To review the contemporary data on the role of lymph node dissection (LND) at the time of radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

METHODS

A computerized bibliographic search using the following protocol ("Nephroureterectomy") AND ("Lymphadenectomy" OR "Lymph node" OR "Lymphatic") was performed in MEDLINE to identify all original and review articles that addressed the role of LND for UTUC.

RESULTS

Regional lymph node (LN) boundaries of UTUC have been recently investigated in mapping studies to propose anatomic templates of LND according to the laterality and location of primary tumor. Although these anatomic templates remained poorly described, most reports supported the staging benefit of LND that allowed for risk stratification of patients with (pN+) or without (pN0) LN metastases from those who did not undergo such a procedure (pNx). In addition, the therapeutic benefit of LND at the time of RNU was supported by better oncological outcomes obtained after complete LND when compared to incomplete or no LND, especially in the group of patients with advanced disease. The number of LNs removed was also correlated with both, more accurate staging and greater cancer-specific survival after LND, whose feasibility and safety have been validated in prospective studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite mostly based on data with level of evidence 3, our comprehensive review of the literature supports the staging and therapeutic benefits of LND at the time of RNU for UTUC, which are particularly significant for patients with muscle-invasive or locally advanced disease.

Patterns of Lymphatic Metastases in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma and Proposed Dissection Templates

PURPOSE

Information on patterns of lymph node metastases for upper tract urothelial carcinoma is sparse. We investigated patterns of lymph node metastases in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective multi-institutional study of 73 patients with N+M0 upper tract urothelial carcinoma who underwent template lymphadenectomy during nephroureterectomy. Anatomical locations of tumor, and number of lymph nodes removed and positive lymph nodes were analyzed and descriptive statistics were performed.

RESULTS

On the right side the 20 renal pelvis tumors had lymph node metastases to the hilum in 22.1% of cases, and to paracaval, retrocaval and interaortocaval regions in 44.1%, 10.3% and 20.6%, respectively. The 10 proximal ureter tumors had lymph node metastases to the hilum in 46.2% of cases, and to paracaval and retrocaval regions in 46.2% and 7.7%, respectively. The 2 distal ureter tumors had lymph node metastases equally to the paracaval and pelvic regions. On the left side the 24 renal pelvis tumors had lymph node metastases to the hilum region in 50.0% of cases and to the para-aortic region in 30.0%. The 8 proximal ureter tumors had lymph node metastases to the hilum region in 36.4% of cases and the para-aortic region in 63.6%. The 5 mid ureter tumors had lymph node metastases to the para-aortic, common iliac and internal iliac regions in 40%, 40% and 20% of cases, respectively. The 4 distal ureter tumors had lymph node metastases to the para-aortic, common iliac, external iliac and internal iliac regions in 33.3%, 33.3%, 16.7% and 16.7% of cases, respectively. Interaortocaval involvement from both sides as well as out of field lymph node metastases appeared to occur secondarily. Consolidated templates were constructed based on the available data.

CONCLUSIONS

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma has characteristic patterns of lymph node metastases depending on the side and anatomical location of the primary tumor, including right-to-left migration and involvement of interaortocaval nodes in the setting of proximal disease. Standardized dissection templates should be prospectively evaluated in multicenter trials to assess morbidity and potential clinical benefit.

Lymphadenectomy for testicular, penile, upper tract urothelial and urethral cancers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The lymph node dissection (LND) is an integral component of many oncologic surgeries. Better understanding of each cancer's behaviour and improvements in surgical techniques necessitate a critical analysis of lymph node disease and the optimal LND template. This review will focus on updates in managing lymph node disease in testicular, penile, upper tract urothelial and urethral cancer.

RECENT FINDINGS

For testicular and penile cancer, advances have focused on reducing the morbidity associated with the standard templates of dissection while maintaining oncologic efficacy. For upper tract urothelial carcinoma, data continue to be mixed regarding the need for a LND, though it does seem to benefit patients with advanced tumours. Little is known regarding the optimal LND template for urethral cancer.

SUMMARY

A thorough LND has an established diagnostic and therapeutic role in testicular and penile cancer. For upper tract urothelial carcinoma, the role of an LND remains controversial, though emerging evidence points to an association with improved outcomes. Due to the rarity of urethral cancer, there are no standard LND templates, though excising clinically positive nodes is recommended. For all these cancers, more sophisticated risk stratification based upon clinical and pathologic factors has helped determine which patients require an LND and how to best manage these patients after surgery.