The value of pathologic factors in predicting cancer-specific survival among patients treated with radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and prostate.
BACKGROUND
A recent consensus conference on bladder carcinoma highlighted the need for pathologic predictors of outcome for patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. This review was undertaken to determine the pathologic features predictive of cancer-specific survival after a radical cystectomy and urinary diversion for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and prostate.


METHODS
Between 1969 and 1990, 531 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and prostate were treated with radical cystectomy at the Duke University Medical Center. Records and pathologic specimens were analyzed and correlated with outcome. Both univariate and multivariate analyses of the pathologic staging were performed to identify variables predictive of cancer-specific survival.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis indicated that pathologic tumor (pT) stage, positive nodes, positive surgical margins, prostatic stromal involvement, grade, age, ureteral involvement, squamous cell carcinoma, and squamous cell differentiation in the specimen all were predictive of poor cancer-specific survival. Carcinoma in situ (CIS) in the specimen was not an adverse prognostic indicator. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the pT stage, nodal involvement, positive surgical margins, patient's age at surgery, and loss of histologic differentiation were predictive of poor cancer-specific survival. CIS was found again not to have a negative influence on cancer-specific survival.


CONCLUSIONS
If any of these features are noted in the final pathologic specimen, patients should be considered for some form of additional postoperative treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy in an attempt to improve their chances for cancer-free survival. These factors will become more important in selecting which patients should be placed in developing adjuvant clinical trials.
Frazier
H A
HA
Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
Robertson
J E
JE
Dodge
R K
RK
Paulson
D F
DF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015653:Cystectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014547:Urinary Diversion