Comparison Between Laparoscopic and Open Radical Nephroureterectomy in a Contemporary Group of Patients: Are Recurrence and Disease-Specific Survival Associated with Surgical Technique?

Abstract

Background Open radical nephroureterectomy (ORN) is the current standard of care for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), but laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LRN) is emerging as a minimally invasive alternative. Questions remain regarding the oncologic safety of LRN and its relative equivalence to ORN. Objective Our aim was to compare recurrence-free and disease-specific survival between ORN and LRN. Design, setting, and participants We retrospectively analyzed data from 324 consecutive patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RN) between 1995 and 2008 at a major cancer center. Patients with previous invasive bladder cancer or contralateral UTUC were excluded. Descriptive data are provided for 112 patients who underwent ORN from 1995 to 2001 (pre-LRN era). Comparative analyses were restricted to patients who underwent ORN (n = 109) or LRN (n = 53) from 2002 to 2008. Median follow-up for patients without disease recurrence was 23 mo. Intervention All patients underwent RN. Measurements Recurrence was categorized as bladder-only recurrence or any recurrence (bladder, contralateral kidney, operative site, regional lymph nodes, or distant metastasis). Recurrence-free probabilities were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods. A multivariable Cox model was used to evaluate the association between surgical approach and disease recurrence. The probability of disease-specific death was estimated using the cumulative incidence function. Results and limitations Clinical and pathologic characteristics were similar for all patients. The recurrence-free probabilities were similar between ORN and LRN (2-yr estimates: 38% and 42%, respectively; p = 0.9 by log-rank test). On multivariable analysis, the surgical approach was not significantly associated with disease recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.88 for LRN vs ORN; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57–1.38; p = 0.6). There was no significant difference in bladder-only recurrence (HR: 0.78 for LRN vs ORN; 95% CI, 0.46–1.34; p = 0.4) or disease-specific mortality (p = 0.9). This study is limited by its retrospective nature. Conclusions Based on the results of this retrospective study, no evidence indicates that oncologic control is compromised for patients treated with LRN in comparison with ORN.

Long-term results of retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma in China

“…Another retrospective study of 324 consecutive patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy found no evidence to indicate that oncologic control was differentially compromised in patients treated with laparoscopic surgery as compared to those treated with open surgery. 22 Collectively, these results show that the laparoscopic procedure produces the same oncologic results in upper urinary tract TCC patients as the open surgery.…”

Regional differences in practice patterns and associated outcomes for upper tract urothelial carcinoma in Canada

“…The diminished use of laparoscopy in Eastern Canada (36%) compared to western (60%) and central (64%) regions may reflect a delayed adoption of laparoscopy in general, or a hesitation to adopt this technique specifically for nephroureterectomy. We now know from our own collaboration 15 and from other series 6,16,17 that the oncologic control for laparoscopic and open nephroureterectomy appears to be the same, but this was previously debated. Interestingly, the rate of laparoscopic cases done in Canada in the 10-year study period was much higher than the number reported in the largest multi-institutional series published, where only 28%% (270/1249) of patients from 9 centres underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy from 1987 to 2007.…”

“…It would appear from multiple retrospective series, for example, that laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is equivalent to open nephroureterectomy, but this has not been evaluated prospectively. [4][5][6][7] The most recent EAU guidelines state that there is limited data for laparoscopic versus open nephroureterectomy (grade B evidence), lymphadenectomy (Grade C evidence), and technique of bladder cuff excision (Grade C evidence). Other critical questions, such as the use of perioperative chemotherapy, have even less evidence.…”

Matched-Pair Analysis of Open versus Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Cell Carcinoma

“…UUT-UCC is a biologically aggressive disease with a high potential for recurrence and death [3]. Up to 60% of UUT-UCCs are invasive at diagnosis compared with only 15-25% of bladder tumours [4].…”