Lymphovascular invasion is independently associated with poor prognosis in patients with localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma treated surgically.
OBJECTIVE
We explored the prognostic impact of lymphovascular invasion in patients with localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.


METHODS
The clinical records of 135 patients treated surgically for localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (pTa-3N0M0) were reviewed retrospectively. Lymphovascular invasion was defined as cancer cells in an endothelium lined space. Actuarial survival curves were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences between survival curves were evaluated by the log rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model.


RESULTS
Median followup was 55 months (range 3 to 232). Lymphovascular invasion was present in 57 patients (42.2%) and it was associated with higher pathological T stage and higher tumor grade. Recurrence-free and disease specific survival rates in patients with lymphovascular invasion were significantly worse than those in patients without lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that lymphovascular invasion, patient age and pathological T stage were significant prognostic factors for recurrence-free and disease specific survival. Based on multivariate analysis patients were divided into 4 risk groups, including pT2 or less/negative lymphovascular invasion, pT2 or less/positive lymphovascular invasion, pT3/negative lymphovascular invasion and pT3/positive lymphovascular invasion. Recurrence-free and disease specific survival rates in patients with pT3/positive lymphovascular invasion were significantly worse than rates in the other 3 groups (each p <0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The current study indicates that positive lymphovascular invasion predicts poor survival in patients with pathologically localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. Risk stratification based on lymphovascular invasion status and pathological T stage would be helpful for selecting patients at high risk who would be appropriate candidates for clinical trials.
Saito
Kazutaka
K
Department of Urology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. kzsaito.uro@tmd.ac.jp
Kawakami
Satoru
S
Fujii
Yasuhisa
Y
Sakura
Mizuaki
M
Masuda
Hitoshi
H
Kihara
Kazunori
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery