To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the comparative studies reporting oncological and renal function outcomes of segmental ureterectomy (SU) versus radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC).
A literature search on Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane library was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, and a meta-analysis was performed to assess cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), intravesical recurrence free survival (IVRFS) and surgery-related variations in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
A total of 11 retrospective studies with 3963 patients who underwent either SU (n = 983; 24.8%) or RNU (n = 2980; 75.2%) were included. Although patients treated with SU were more likely to be diagnosed with favorable pathological features, the meta-analysis of unadjusted data revealed no significant difference between both groups in terms of CSS (HR 0.90, p = 0.33) and OS (HR 0.98, p = 0.93). Accordingly, the meta-analysis of adjusted data confirmed equivalent CSS (HR = 0.90, p = 0.47) between SU and RNU. Similarly, no significant difference was found in terms of RFS (HR 1.06, p = 0.72) and IVRFS (HR 1.35, p = 0.39). However, a significant decreased risk of impaired renal function was observed after SU when compared to RNU (mean eGFR difference = 9.32 ml/1.73 m(2), p = 0.007).
Although adverse patient and tumor characteristics were not equally balanced between treatment arms, our systematic review and meta-analysis supports similar oncological outcomes between SU and RNU, with better preservation of renal function after SU. As such, SU should be preferably used as the first-line treatment for low-risk ureter tumors, while considered for selected cases of high-risk disease.
European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology. 2016 Aug 25 [Epub ahead of print]
D Fang, T Seisen, K Yang, P Liu, X Fan, N Singla, G Xiong, L Zhang, X Li, L Zhou
Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Urology, Peking University, National Urological Cancer Centre, No. 8 Xishiku St, Xicheng District, Beijing 100034, China., Academic Department of Urology, Pitié Salpétrière Hospital, APHP, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, Paris F-75013, France; UPMC University Paris 06, GRC5, ONCOTYPE-Uro, Institut Universitaire de Cancérologie, Paris F-75005, France., Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No.107 Yanjiang West Rd, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510120, China., Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA., Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Urology, Peking University, National Urological Cancer Centre, No. 8 Xishiku St, Xicheng District, Beijing 100034, China. Electronic address: .
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