The predictors and surgical outcomes of different distant metastases patterns in upper tract urothelial carcinoma: A SEER-based study

The role of surgical resection of the primary tumor in metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To evaluate the role of extirpative surgery for the primary tumor in metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (mUTUC).

RECENT FINDINGS

The PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched on July 2024 to identify relevant studies according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) statement. Studies were eligible for analysis if they compared oncologic outcomes between mUTUC patients who underwent surgical resection of the primary tumor and patients who did not. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analyses. We identified 2686 reports, of which 11 articles comprising 12 833 records were selected for this systematic review. Eight and three studies used Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) and National Cancer Database (NCDB) databases, respectively. Surgical resection of the primary tumor was significantly associated with better CSS and OS in patients with mUTUC. Among the 5353 mUTUC patients included in our meta-analysis, radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) was independently associated with better OS with a pooled hazard ratio (HR) of 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54-0.72, P  < 0.05]. Subgroup analyses of studies restricted to mUTUC patients with distant lymph node metastasis ( n  = 1372) revealed RNU to be independently associated with better OS with pooled HR: 0.44 (95% CI 0.28-0.67, P  < 0.05) together with systemic chemotherapy, primary tumor site in the ureter, lower T stage, and no locoregional lymph node involvement.

SUMMARY

Surgical resection of the primary tumor offers oncologic survival benefits in select patients with mUTUC. However, in the absence of data from prospective randomized studies, it is essential to evaluate each patient individually as part of a collaborative multidisciplinary shared decision working with the patient.

Trends and Determinants of Palliative Care Utilization Among Patients With Metastatic Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma in the National Cancer Database

Objective: To identify patterns of palliative care usage and identify determinants of palliative intervention using a large contemporary cohort of patients with metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (mUTUC). Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried from 2004 to 2020 for patients with mUTUC. Patients with a prior malignancy, non-mUTUC, and missing follow up or palliative care information were excluded. Demographics and baseline characteristics were compared between patients with mUTUC who received palliative care and those that did not. Trends in annual palliative care usage were assessed via logistic regression. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of receipt of palliative care. Results: Four thousand and forty-four patients with mUTUC were included in the final cohort, among which 908 received palliative care (22.5%) and 3136 did not (77.5%). We found that the utilization of palliative care increased significantly from 2004 (15.0%) to 2019 (23.1%), P < .001. Additionally, on multivariate analysis we found that a recent year of diagnosis, receipt of a prior nonsurgical treatment paradigm, and an overall survival <6 months were independent predictors of palliative intervention, all P < .001. On the other hand, undergoing treatment at a minority serving hospital and older age were associated with lower likelihood of receiving palliative care, both P < .001. Conclusions: There is a low but increasing trend of utilization of palliative care among patients with mUTUC. Expansion of palliative care services, particularly among older patients and those at minority-serving hospitals, remains a key opportunity to improve quality of life and enhance patient-centered care among those with mUTUC.

Development and validation of a predictive model for postoperative metastasis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy and analysis of risk factors for different metastatic sites: a multicenter study

PURPOSE

To develop a prediction model for assessing the risk of postoperative metastasis in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) and to analyze independent risk factors for metastasis at different sites.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data from 555 UTUC patients who underwent RNU at 3 medical centers between January 2012 and August 2023. Patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 388) and a validation cohort (n = 167) at a 7:3 ratio. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed in the training cohort to identify postoperative metastasis risk factors. A nomogram was developed based on these factors and validated. In addition, independent risk factors for metastasis at different sites were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the 555 patients, 122 (22.0%) developed postoperative metastasis. Middle and lower ureteral tumors, T stage ≥ T3, high-grade tumors, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and a prognostic nutritional index (PNI) < 48.75 were associated with poorer metastasis-free survival (MFS). The nomogram achieved C-indexes of 0.816 and 0.812 in the training and validation cohorts. Age < 65 years was a risk factor for lymph node metastasis, tumor size and necrosis predicted liver metastasis, and a higher preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was associated with bone metastasis. Median overall survival (OS) for lymph node, lung, liver, multiple sites, bone, and brain metastasis were 14, 10, 6, 5.5, 5, and 4.5 months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The prediction model developed effectively assesses postoperative metastasis risk in UTUC patients' aids in guiding individualized treatment. The risk factors for different metastasis sites are generally similar, with slight variations, which may offer new directions for future research on site-specific therapeutic strategies.

Efficacy of cytoreductive surgery for metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) study of 508 patients

Background

Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy alone is currently considered the standard of care for patients with metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (mUTUC). However, less research has been done on the efficacy of other combinations. In this study, we explored the role of cytoreductive surgery in patients with mUTUC receiving different types of systemic therapy.

Methods

Data from 9,436 anonymized records were abstracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2008-2018. Of these, 508 individuals received systemic therapy subsequent to being diagnosed with mUTUC. These patients had all been treated with systemic therapies such as chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Patients were stratified into either a non-surgical or surgical group based on cytoreductive surgery status before systemic therapeutics commenced. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Cox's proportional hazard models were then used to analyze prognostic factors related to OS and CSS.

Results

Of the 508 cases, 36.8% (n=187) had received cytoreductive surgery with systemic treatments. The remaining 63.2% (n=321) received either chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy alone. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that 11.6% had 3-year OS [95% confidential interval (CI): 7.1-17.3] for cytoreductive surgery with systemic treatment and 4.9% (95% CI: 2.7-8.0) for systemic treatment alone (P=0.001). The 3-year CSS was 14.9% for cytoreductive surgery plus systemic treatment (95% CI: 9.4-21.7%) and 6.0% (95% CI: 3.4-9.8%) for systemic treatments alone (P=0.003). Under multivariate regression analysis, primary ureter site OS had a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.58-0.95, P=0.02) and a CSS HR of 0.72 (95% CI: 0.56-0.94, P=0.01). The cytoreductive surgery OS HR was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.65-0.95, P=0.02) and the CSS HR was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.61-0.92, P=0.006). Additionally, chemotherapy had an OS HR of 0.46 (95% CI: 0.33-0.0.65, P<0.001) and a CSS HR of 0.44 (95% CI: 0.31-0.63, P<0.001). Bones and liver metastases were also indicative of poorer prognosis. Validation was conducted through subgroup analysis which suggested cytoreductive surgery was effective only for patients who received chemotherapy or combined chemo-radiotherapy but not for radiotherapy alone.

Conclusions

Cytoreductive surgery provided significantly increased OS and CSS for mUTUC patients who received chemotherapy or combined chemo-radiotherapy in this study. In addition, the primary tumor and metastatic sites were shown to be related to improved patient survival although this was a small and relatively homogeneous cohort of study, sample therefore, further research is required.

Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Narrative Review of Current Surveillance Strategies for Non-Metastatic Disease

Non-metastatic upper urinary tract carcinoma (UTUC) is a comparatively rare condition, typically managed with either kidney-sparing surgery (KSS) or radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Irrespective of the chosen therapeutic modality, patients with UTUC remain at risk of recurrence in the bladder; in patients treated with KSS, the risk of recurrence is high in the remnant ipsilateral upper tract system but there is a low but existent risk in the contralateral system as well as in the chest and in the abdomen/pelvis. For patients treated with RNU for high-risk UTUC, the risk of recurrence in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, as well as the contralateral UT, depends on the tumor stage, grade, and nodal status. Hence, implementing a risk-stratified, location-specific follow-up is indicated to ensure timely detection of cancer recurrence. However, there are no data on the type and frequency/schedule of follow-up or on the impact of the recurrence type and site on outcomes; indeed, it is not well known whether imaging-detected asymptomatic recurrences confer a better outcome than recurrences detected due to symptoms/signs. Novel imaging techniques and more precise risk stratification methods based on time-dependent probabilistic events hold significant promise for making a cost-efficient individualized, patient-centered, outcomes-oriented follow-up strategy possible. We show and discuss the follow-up protocols of the major urologic societies.

Lymph Node Dissection in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: Current Status and Future Perspectives

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This narrative review aims to evaluate the role of lymph node dissection (LND) in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and its implications for staging and management outcomes, as well as future perspectives.

RECENT FINDINGS

Multiple studies have demonstrated the limitations of conventional imaging techniques in accurately localizing lymph node metastasis (LNM) in UTUC. While 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (18FDG-PET/CT) shows promise for preoperative LNM detection, its specificity is low. Alternative methods such as choline PET/CT and sentinel lymph node detection are under consideration but require further investigation. Additionally, various preoperative factors associated with LNM hold potential for predicting nodal involvement, thereby improving nodal staging and oncologic outcomes of LND. Several surgical approaches, including segmental ureterectomy and robot-assisted nephroureterectomy, provide a possibility for LND, while minimizing morbidity. LND remains the primary nodal staging tool for UTUC, but its therapeutic benefit is still uncertain. Advances in imaging techniques and preoperative risk assessment show promise in improving LNM detection. Further research and multi-center studies are needed to comprehensively assess the advantages and limitations of LND in UTUC, as well as the long-term outcomes of alternative staging and treatment strategies.

Risk factors for extraurothelial recurrence in upper tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy: a retrospective study based on a Chinese population

Objectives

The risk factors for extraurothelial recurrence (EUR) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) are currently inconsistent and unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify these risk factors and develop a grading system for EUR.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 220 patients who underwent RNU for UTUC in our center from January 2009 to December 2020. Overall survival (OS) and extraurothelial recurrence-free survival (EURFS) were compared using the Kaplan-Meier curve with a log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were applied to identify the independent risk factors related to EUR.

Results

The median follow-up period was 42 (range: 2-143) months. Of the 220 patients, 61 patients developed EUR in our cohort, which had worse survival outcome. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed pathologic stage, lymph node (LN) status, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), Ki-67, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were independent risk factors for EUR. The Kaplan-Meier curves revealed a significant difference in EUR among the three risk groups.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that pathologic stage, LN status, LVI, Ki-67, NLR, and PLR are independent risk factors for EUR in UTUC patients after RNU. The development of a grading system for EUR risk stratification may assist urologists in making clinical decisions regarding the management of UTUC.