Outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with a single lymph node metastasis at time of radical cystectomy
Authors: Rink Michael , Hansen Jens , Cha Eugene K. , Green David A. , Babjuk Marko , Svatek Robert S. , Xylinas Evanguelos , Tagawa Scott T. , Faison Talia , Novara Giacomo , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Daneshmand Siamak , Lotan Yair , Kassouf Wassim , Fritsche Hans‐Martin , Pycha Armin , Comploj Evi , Tilki Derya , Bastian Patrick J. , Chun Felix K. , Dahlem Roland , Scherr Douglas S. , Shariat Shahrokh F. 
Published: July 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Lymph node (LN) metastasis is a critical predictor for disease recurrence and cancer‐specific survival in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) treated with radical cystectomy. Patients with a low LN disease burden (pN1) might be cured by surgery alone, while patients with a high LN disease burden (stage ≥ pN2) might benefit most from adjuvant chemotherapy.

We found that outcomes of patients with pN1 UCB are significantly affected by pathological stage and soft tissue surgical margin status. Our nomogram may help to improve outcomes prediction in patients with pN1 UCB. An accurate prediction of the individual risk of outcomes may help risk stratifying patients with pN1 UCB to help improve clinical decision‐making.

Objectives

To identify clinicopathological factors that predict outcomes in patients with a single lymph node (LN) metastasis (pN1) treated with radical cystectomy (RC) for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB).

LN metastasis is an established predictor of clinical outcomes in patients. While most patients with large LN burden experience disease recurrence, lymphadenectomy can be curative in patients with pN1 disease.

Patients and Methods

We analysed 381 patients with pN1 UCB from a multi‐institutional cohort of 4335 patients with UCB treated with RC and lymphadenectomy without preoperative chemo‐ or radiotherapy.

Subgroup analyses were performed for patients with ≥9 LNs removed and according to adjuvant chemotherapy administration (n = 215).

Results

The median (interquartile range, IQR) LN number was 15 (19) and the median (IQR) LN density was 6.7 (7.5)%.

Within a median follow‐up of 41 months, the mean (+/− sd) 2‐ and 5‐year cancer‐specific survival (CSS) rates were 55 (3)% and 46 (3)%, respectively.

On multivariable analysis that adjusted for the effects of standard clinicopathological features, female gender (hazard ratio [HR] 1.48, P = 0.023), higher tumour stage (HR 1.68, P = 0.007), positive soft tissue surgical margin (STSM; HR 2.06, P = 0.004), higher LN density (HR 2.99, P = 0.025) and absence of adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 0.70, P = 0.026) were independently associated with CSS.

In subgroup analyses of patients with ≥9 LNs removed, tumour stage and STSM status remained independent predictors for CSS (P = 0.009 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

About half of the patients with pN1 UCB died from UCB within 5 years of RC.

Pathological stage and STSM status are strong predictors for outcomes.

Accurate prediction of the individual risk of CSS may help risk stratifying pN1 UCB in order to help improve clinical‐decision making. Patients with pN1 UCB presenting with additional unfavourable risk factors need a closer follow‐up scheduling and might receive adjuvant therapy.