Adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma: updated results of the Seoul National university hospital experience

Objectives: The objective of this study was to update the long-term outcome in the treatment of locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) regarding the role of adjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and methods: Clinical data from 138 patients who underwent RNU for locally advanced UTUC (pT3/4 or pN+) were analyzed. Results: The adjuvant chemotherapy group comprised 66 patients, and other 72 patients did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy was the most common regimen, depending on the patient's eligibility and renal function. The median follow-up period was 48.7 months (interquartile range: 29.2-96.9 months). The 3-and 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 76.0% and 69.9% for the non-adjuvant chemotherapy group versus 74.6% and 54.5% for the adjuvant chemotherapy group (p=0.301, log-rank test). Overall survival (OS) rates for the same time period were 70.1% and 62.9% for the non-adjuvant chemotherapy group versus 73.8% and 53.2% for the adjuvant chemotherapy group (p=0.931, log-rank test). On multivariate analysis, adjuvant chemotherapy could not predict DSS and OS after surgery. When patients who received cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy (n=59) were compared to those who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, similar results were found. Conclusions: There does not appear to be a significant DSS or OS benefit associated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Prospective randomized clinical trials are necessary to verify the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on locally advanced UTUC.

Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma and lymphovascular invasion after radical nephroureterectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records and clinicopatholgic outcomes of patients (n=552) treated with RNU between 1986 and 2013. Patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and those for whom LVI status was not recorded were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups according to LVI (n=86) or no LVI (n=256). RESULTS: The study included 344 patients (240 men and 104 women) with a median of 53.9 months of follow-up (range, 1-297 months) after RNU. Tumors were organ confined (T2/N0) in 211 (61.3%) and tumor grade high in 291 (84.6%). AC was administered in 64 patients (18.6%). A total of 280 patients (81.4%) were treated with surgery alone. Patients with LVI tended to be older (p=0.049), have a higher pT stage (pT3/T4, p<0.001), be pN+ (p<0.001), have a high tumor grade (p<0.001), and experience recurrence (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, LVI was an independent prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival and overall survival (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that in the subgroup of patients with LVI, AC was a significant prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.51; p=0.027 and hazard ratio, 0.50; p=0.025, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: AC does not seem to reduce mortality in patients with advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma after RNU. In the subgroup of patients with LVI, AC had a positive impact on cancer-specific survival and overall survival. LVI would be helpful for selecting patients who are appropriate for AC.

Efeitos da sondagem nasogástrica em pacientes com acidente cerebrovascular e disfagia / Effects of nasogastric catheterization in patients with stroke and dysphagia / Efectos de la cateterización nasogástrica en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular y disfagia

O estudo teve por objetivo analisar os efeitos da sondagem gástrica em pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral e disfagia. Revisão sistemática da literatura, realizada em seis bases de dados, com os descritores stroke e intubation, gastrointestinal. Foram encontrados 120 estudos e selecionados três ensaios clínicos. Os resultados apontaram diferentes desfechos, entre os quais: aumento do nível sérico de albumina (gastrostomia), prognóstico ruim e risco de morte (gastrostomia), aumento das falhas no tratamento devido a bloqueio, deslocamento e reinserção da sonda nasogástrica, e aumento da incidência de hemorragia gastrointestinal (sonda nasogástrica). A partir dos resultados obtidos nesta revisão sistemática, ressaltam-se as seguintes evidências: a sondagem nasogástrica deve ser adotada precocemente como um método de alimentação enteral; as falhas do tratamento são mais comuns naqueles que utilizam a sonda nasogástrica como método de alimentação; os resultados relacionados à melhora do estado funcional dos pacientes foram semelhantes, independente do método de terapia nutricional empregado.

This study aimed to analyze the effects of gastric intubation in patients with stroke and dysphagia. A systematic literature review was performed in six databases, using the keywords stroke and intubation, gastrointestinal. One hundred and twenty studies were found, from which three clinical trials were selected. The results showed different outcomes, including: increased serum albumin level (gastrostomy), poor prognosis and risk of death (gastrostomy), increased treatment failures because of blocking, displacement and reinsertion need of the nasogastric tube, and increased incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding (nasogastric tube). From the results obtained in this systematic review, we emphasize the following evidences: a nasogastric catheter should be adopted as a method of early enteral feeding; treatment failures are more common in those who use nasogastric tube-feeding; outcomes related to improved functional status of patients were similar, regardless of the method of nutritional therapy used.

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar los efectos de la intubación gástrica en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular y disfagia. Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática de la literatura en seis bases de datos, utilizando-se las palabras clave accidente cerebrovascular y intubación, gastrointestinal. Entre 120 estudios identificados, fueran seleccionados tres ensayos clínicos. Los resultados mostraron diferentes desfechos, incluyendo: aumento del nivel de albúmina sérica (gastrostomía); mal pronóstico y riesgo de muerte (gastrostomía); aumento de los fracasos del tratamiento debido a obstrucción, desplazamiento y necesidad de reinserción de la sonda nasogástrica; y aumento de la incidencia de hemorragia gastrointestinal (sonda nasogástrica). A partir de los resultados obtenidos, destacamos las siguientes evidencias: se deben adoptar catéteres nasogástricas como método de alimentación enteral temprana; fracasos del tratamiento son más comunes en aquellos que utilizan la alimentación con sonda nasogástrica; los resultados relacionados con la mejora del estado funcional de los pacientes fueron similares, independientemente del método de terapia nutricional utilizado.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter and struvite calculi

Context: The association of primary carcinoma of the ureter and lithiasis is extremely rare. We report a rare case of a primary carcinoma of the ureter with corariform calculus. Case Report: 60-year-old phaeodermal female, reported a history of right-side nephritic colic, hyperthermia and pyuria during the past 20 years andhad received treatment for urinary infections a number of times. The first clinical presentation was related to lithiasis and the tumor had not been shown up by excretory urography, cystoscopy or ultrasonography. Two months after the calculus had been eliminated, the patient began to have serious symptoms and a grade III transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter was discovered. Total nephroureterectomy and M.V.A.C. (Metrotrexate + Vinblastina + Doxo Rubicina + Cisplatina) chemotherapy were tried unsuccessfully. In this report we emphasize the diagnostic difficulty caused by the concomitant presence of the two pathologies. In our opinion, the rapid evolution in this case is directly related to the high grade of the tumor.