Prognostic Role of Pretreatment C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio in Urological Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: To investigate the potential prognostic role of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with urinary cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), bladder cancer (BC), and prostate cancer (PC). Methods: We searched and screened literatures with PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science in January 2022. We applied combined hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the associations. Results: Thirteen studies including 2,941 cases were analyzed in our study. Merged results indicated that highly pretreated CAR was associated with inferior overall survival (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.86-2.62, p < 0.001) and progression-free survival (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.36-2.52, p < 0.001) for urinary cancers. In a subgroup analysis of OS by tumor type, CAR can be a predictor in RCC (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.72-2.56), BC (HR 3.35, 95% CI 1.94-5.80), and PC (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.43-3.37). In a subgroup analysis of PFS by tumor type, CAR can be a predictor in BC (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03-3.02), and RCC (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.25-2.89). The reliability and robustness of results were confirmed. Conclusions: High pretreated CAR was effective predictor of poor survival in patients with urinary cancers and can act as prognostic factor for these cases. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42022306414).

Clinicopathologic factors linked to oncologic outcomes for renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid dedifferentiation: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There are still differences in the prognostic factors of renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid dedifferentiation (sRCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate important predictors of survival in patients with sRCC. Patients and methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted to identify eligible studies. The endpoints embraced overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Hazard ratios (HRs) and related 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted. Results: A total of 13 studies were included for analyses. The pooled results showed that high European Cooperative Oncology Group performance score (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.32-4.30; P = 0.004), high T stage (HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.66-2.86; P < 0.001), positive lymph node (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.40-1.69; P < 0.001), distant metastasis (HR 2.52, 95% CI 1.99-3.21; P < 0.001), lung metastases (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16-1.80; P < 0.001), liver metastases (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.30-2.25; P < 0.001), tumor necrosis (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.14-2.80; P = 0.010), and percentage sarcomatoid ≥50% (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.57-3.52; P < 0.001) were associated with unfavorable OS. Positive lymph node (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.33-1.85; P < 0.001) and high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.29; P = 0.008) were associated with unfavorable CSS. High T stage (HR 1.93 95% CI 1.44-2.58; P < 0.001) was associated with unfavorable progression-free survival. Conclusions: A meta-analysis of available data identified important prognostic factors for CSS, OS, and PFS of sRCC, which should be systematically evaluated for patient counseling, risk stratification, and treatment selection. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=249449.

Comparison of outcomes between laparoscopic and robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for complex renal tumors: RENAL score ≥7 or maximum tumor size >4 cm.

INTRODUCTION: We reviewed current studies and performed a meta-analysis to compare outcomes between laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) treating complex renal tumors (RENAL score ≥7 or maximum clinical tumor size >4 cm). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Using the databases of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, a comprehensive literature search was performed in April, 2020. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) or weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed-effect or random-effect model. Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plots. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Ten observational studies including 5193 patients (LPN: 1574; RAPN: 3619) were included. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding conversion to open (P=0.07) surgery, all complications (P=0.12), grade 1-2 complications (P=0.10), grade 3-5 complications (P=0.93), operative time (P=0.94), estimated blood loss (P=0.17). Patients undergoing LPN had a significant higher rate of conversion to radical (OR=4.33; 95% CI: 2.01-9.33; P<0.001), a longer ischemia time (IT, P<0.001; WMD=3.02 min; 95% CI: 1.67 to 4.36), a longer length of stay (LOS, P<0.001; WMD=0.67 days; 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.99), a lower rate of positive surgical margin (P=0.03; OR=0.71; 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.96), a greater eGFR decline (P<0.001; WMD=2.41 mL/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI: 1.22 to 3.60), a higher rate of CKD upstaging (P<0.001; OR=2.44; 95% CI: 1.54 to 3.87). No obvious publication bias was observed. CONCLUSIONS: For complex renal tumors, RAPN is more favorable than LPN in terms of lower rate of conversion to radical surgery, shorter IT, shorter LOS, less eGFR decline, and lower rate of CKD upstaging. Methodological limitations of observational studies should be taken into account in interpreting these results.

Prognostic Role of Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase in Patients With Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: To investigate the potential prognostic role of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) using the method of systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for eligible studies up to February 2020. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the relationship. Results: A total of 14 studies including 4,009 patients with UC were incorporated. The results showed that a high pretreatment serum LDH was associated with an inferior overall survival (OS, HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.39-1.87, p < 0.001), cancer-specific survival (CSS, HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.05-1.90, p = 0.022), and disease-free survival (DFS, HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.04-2.59, p = 0.034) in UC. Subgroup analyses identified that a high pretreatment serum LDH was associated with a poor OS (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.02-3.81, p = 0.042) and DFS (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.04-2.59, p = 0.034) in upper tract urothelial carcinoma, a short OS (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.37-2.15, p < 0.001) in urothelial carcinoma of bladder. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that a high level of pretreatment serum LDH was associated with inferior OS, CSS, and DFS in patients with UC. This biomarker can be an important factor incorporated into the prognostic models for UC.