Histopathological predictive factors for the overall survival rate in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder treated by radical cystectomy: a Romanian cohort study.

INTRODUCTION

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) variants are considered as having a more aggressive behavior and a more advanced stage at presentation than conventional UC. However, the evidence supporting the role of UC variants on overall survival (OS) is conflicting. We aimed to assess the impact of demographic factors (age at surgery, gender) and tumor characteristics [conventional∕variant UC, associated carcinoma in situ (CIS), associated papillary component, Tumor, Node, Metastasis (TNM) staging, positive surgical margins] on OS in a series of patients treated for UC in our Department.

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective, cohort study and included 69 UC patients treated by radical cystectomy (RC) in our Department over an eight-year period, with complete follow-up information. Associations of UC variants as well as demographic and morphological factors with OS were assessed using univariable and multivariable Cox analysis.

RESULTS

Our data showed that UC variants were statistically significantly associated with the presence of distant metastases (p=0.036) and positive surgical margins (p=0.009), but had no influence on OS (p=0.504). Further on, we demonstrated that age at surgery (p=0.045), tumor stage (p=0.012), lymph node involvement (p=0.009), and presence of positive surgical margins (p=0.002) had a statistically significant influence on OS both by univariable and multivariable Cox analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, tumor stage and lymph node involvement, as well as positive surgical margins represent prognostic factors in RC patients. UC variants were more likely to be associated to metastases and positive surgical margins but had no influence on OS.