Skip to main content

The Role of Lymphadenectomy in the Management of Urothelial Carcinoma of the Upper Urinary Tract

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Abstract

Lymphadenectomy is considered as an integral part of radical surgery for urologic malignancies. Many studies have been conducted to confirm its benefit in improving staging accuracy or survival, including in patients with renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, and urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. In renal cell carcinoma, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) randomized phase 3 Trial 30881 failed to show any therapeutic benefit of lymphadenectomy. However, this trial has been criticized for enrolling patient at a low risk of lymph node metastases. Other studies have supported the hypothesis that lymphadenectomy may be beneficial in patients with high-risk renal cell carcinoma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bensalah K, Roupret M, Xylinas E, Shariat S. The survival benefit of lymph node dissection at the time of removal of kidney, prostate and urothelial carcinomas: what is the evidence? World J Urol. 2013;31(6):1369–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Capitanio U, Becker F, Blute ML, Mulders P, Patard JJ, Russo P, et al. Lymph node dissection in renal cell carcinoma. Eur Urol. 2011;60:1212–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Miki J, Egawa S. The role of lymph node dissection in the management of prostate cancer. Int J Clin Oncol [Review]. 2011;16:195–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kitamura H, Masumori N, Tsukamoto T. Role of lymph node dissection in management of bladder cancer. Int J Clin Oncol [Review]. 2011;16:179–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Blom JH, van Poppel H, Marechal JM, Jacqmin D, Schroder FH, de Prijck L, et al. Radical nephrectomy with and without lymph-node dissection: Final results of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Randomized phase 3 trial 30881 Editorial by Urs E. Studer and Frederic D Birkhauser on pp x-y of this issue. Eur Urol. 2009;55:28–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Crispen PL, Breau RH, Allmer C, Lohse CM, Cheville JC, Leibovich BC, et al. Lymph node dissection at the time of radical nephrectomy for high-risk clear cell renal cell carcinoma: indications and recommendations for surgical templates. Eur Urol. 2011;59:18–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. DiMarco DS, Zincke H, Sebo TJ, Slezak J, Bergstralh EJ, Blute ML. The extent of lymphadenectomy for pTXNO prostate cancer does not affect prostate cancer outcome in the prostate specific antigen era. J Urol. 2005;173:1121–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Briganti A, Blute ML, Eastham JH, Graefen M, Heidenreich A, Karnes JR, et al. Pelvic lymph node dissection in prostate cancer. Eur Urol [Review]. 2009;55:1251–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Capitanio U, Jeldres C, Patard JJ, Perrotte P, Zini L, de La Taille A, et al. Stage-specific effect of nodal metastases on survival in patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma. BJU Int [Multicenter Study Research Support, Non-US Gov’t]. 2009;103:33–7.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Batata MA, Whitmore WF, Hilaris BS, Tokita N, Grabstald H. Primary carcinoma of the ureter: a prognostic study. Cancer. 1975;35:1626–32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Lughezzani G, Jeldres C, Isbarn H, Sun M, Shariat SF, Widmer H, et al. Temporal stage and grade migration in surgically treated patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma. BJU Int. 2010;105:799–804.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Dhar NB, Klein EA, Reuther AM, Thalmann GN, Madersbacher S, Studer UE. Outcome after radical cystectomy with limited or extended pelvic lymph node dissection. J Urol [Comparative Study]. 2008;179:873–8. discussion 8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Abol-Enein H, Tilki D, Mosbah A, El-Baz M, Shokeir A, Nabeeh A, et al. Does the extent of lymphadenectomy in radical cystectomy for bladder cancer influence disease-free survival? A prospective single-center study. Eur Urol. 2011;60:572–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Stenzl A, Cowan NC, De Santis M, Kuczyk MA, Merseburger AS, Ribal MJ, et al. Treatment of muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer: update of the EAU guidelines. Eur Urol [Practice Guideline Review]. 2011;59:1009–18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zlotta AR. Limited, extended, superextended, megaextended pelvic lymph node dissection at the time of radical cystectomy: what should we perform? Eur Urol. 2012;61(2):243–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Grabstald H, Whitmore WF, Melamed MR. Renal pelvic tumors. JAMA. 1971;218:845–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Skinner DG. Technique of nephroureterectomy with regional lymph node dissection. Urol Clin North Am. 1978;5:252–60.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. McCarron Jr JP, Chasko SB, Gray Jr GF. Systematic mapping of nephroureterectomy specimens removed for urothelial cancer: pathological findings and clinical correlations. J Urol. 1982;128:243–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Akaza H, Koiso K, Niijima T. Clinical evaluation of urothelial tumors of the renal pelvis and ureter based on a new classification system. Cancer. 1987;59:1369–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Komatsu H, Tanabe N, Kubodera S, Maezawa H, Ueno A. The role of lymphadenectomy in the treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. J Urol. 1997;157:1622–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Miyake H, Hara I, Gohji K, Arakawa S, Kamidono S. The significance of lymphadenectomy in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Br J Urol. 1998;82:494–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sobin LH, Wittekind CH. Renal plevis and ureter (ICD-O C65, C66). TNM classification of malignant tumors. 7th ed. New York: Wiley-Liss; 2009. p. 258–61.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kondo T, Nakazawa H, Ito F, Hashimoto Y, Toma H, Tanabe K. Primary site and incidence of lymph node metastases in urothelial carcinoma of upper urinary tract. Urology. 2007;69:265–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kondo T, Tanabe K. Role of lymphadenectomy in the management of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and the upper urinary tract. Int J Urol. 2012;19:710–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Assouad J, Riquet M, Foucault C, Hidden G, Delmas V. Renal lymphatic drainage and thoracic duct connections: implications for cancer spread. Lymphology. 2006;39:26–32.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kondo T, Hara I, Takagi T, Kodama Y, Hashimoto Y, Iizuka J, et al. Therapeutic benefit from template-based lymphadenectomy in urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis—multi-institutional prospective study. 28th Annual EAU Congress. Milan: European Urological Association; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Bochner BH, Cho D, Herr HW, Donat M, Kattan MW, Dalbagni G. Prospectively packaged lymph node dissections with radical cystectomy: evaluation of node count variability and node mapping. J Urol. 2004;172:1286–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Stein JP, Penson DF, Cai J, Miranda G, Skinner EC, Dunn MA, et al. Radical cystectomy with extended lymphadenectomy: evaluating separate package versus en bloc submission for node positive bladder cancer. J Urol [Comparative Study Research Support, Non-US Gov’t]. 2007;177:876–81. discussion 81-2.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Miocinovic R, Gong MC, Ghoneim IA, Fergany AF, Hansel DE, Stephenson AJ. Presacral and retroperitoneal lymph node involvement in urothelial bladder cancer: results of a prospective mapping study. J Urol. 2011;186:1269–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Roscigno M, Cozzarini C, Bertini R, Scattoni V, Freschi M, Da Pozzo LF, et al. Prognostic value of lymph node dissection in patients with muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Eur Urol. 2008;53:794–802.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Roscigno M, Shariat SF, Margulis V, Karakiewicz P, Remzi M, Kikuchi E, et al. Impact of lymph node dissection on cancer specific survival in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma treated with radical nephroureterectomy. J Urol. 2009;181:2482–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Abe T, Shinohara N, Muranaka M, Sazawa A, Maruyama S, Osawa T, et al. Role of lymph node dissection in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: multi-institutional relapse analysis and immunohistochemical re-evaluation of negative lymph nodes. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2010;36:1085–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Burger M, Shariat SF, Fritsche HM, Martinez-Salamanca JI, Matsumoto K, Chromecki TF, et al. No overt influence of lymphadenectomy on cancer-specific survival in organ-confined versus locally advanced upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma undergoing radical nephroureterectomy: a retrospective international, multi-institutional study. World J Urol. 2011;29:465–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Lughezzani G, Jeldres C, Isbarn H, Shariat SF, Sun M, Pharand D, et al. A critical appraisal of the value of lymph node dissection at nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Urology. 2010;75:118–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Mason RJ, Kassouf W, Bell DG, Lacombe L, Kapoor A, Jacobsen N, et al. The contemporary role of lymph node dissection during nephroureterectomy in the management of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: the Canadian experience. Urology [Multicenter Study]. 2012;79:840–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ouzzane A, Colin P, Ghoneim TP, Zerbib M, De La Taille A, Audenet F, et al. The impact of lymph node status and features on oncological outcomes in urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UTUC) treated by nephroureterectomy. World J Urol. 2013;31:189–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter Treatment (PDQ®) [database on the Internet] 2013 [cited April 11, 2013]. Available from: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/transitionalcell/HealthProfessional.

  38. Roupret M, Babjuk M, Comperat E, Zigeuner R, Sylvester R, Burger M, et al. European guidelines on upper tract urothelial carcinomas: 2013 Update. Eur Urol. 2013;63:1059–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Xylinas E, Rink M, Margulis V, Faison T, Comploj E, Novara G, Raman JD, Lotan Y, Guillonneau B, Weizer A, Pycha A, Scherr DS, Seitz C, Sun M, Trinh QD, Karakiewicz PI, Montorsi F, Zerbib M, Gönen M, Shariat SF. Prediction of true nodal status in patients with pathological lymph node negative upper tract urothelial carcinoma at radical nephroureterectomy. J Urol. 2013;189(2):468–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Gayed BA, Thoreson GR, Margulis V. The role of systemic chemotherapy in management of upper tract urothelial cancer. Curr Urol Rep. 2013;14(2):94–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Cordier J, Sonpavde G, Stief CG, Tilki D. Oncologic outcomes obtained after neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of urothelial carcinomas of the upper urinary tract: a review. World J Urol. 2013;31(1):77–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Kondo T, Nakazawa H, Ito F, Hashimoto Y, Toma H, Tanabe K. Impact of the extent of regional lymphadenectomy on the survival of patients with urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. J Urol. 2007;178:1212–7. discussion 7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Brausi MA, Gavioli M, De Luca G, Verrini G, Peracchia G, Simonini G, et al. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLD) in Conjunction with nephroureterectomy in the treatment of infiltrative transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the upper urinary tract: impact on survival. Eur Urol. 2007;52:1414–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Roscigno M, Shariat SF, Margulis V, Karakiewicz P, Remzi M, Kikuchi E, et al. The extent of lymphadenectomy seems to be associated with better survival in patients with nonmetastatic upper-tract urothelial carcinoma: how many lymph nodes should be removed? Eur Urol. 2009;56:512–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Stein JP, Skinner DG. The role of lymphadenectomy in high-grade invasive bladder cancer. Urol Clin North Am. 2005;32:187–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Capitanio U, Suardi N, Shariat SF, Lotan Y, Palapattu GS, Bastian PJ, et al. Assessing the minimum number of lymph nodes needed at radical cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer. BJU Int. 2009;103:1359–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Dangle PP, Gong MC, Bahnson RR, Pohar KS. How do commonly performed lymphadenectomy templates influence bladder cancer nodal stage? J Urol [Research Support, Non-US Gov’t]. 2010;183:499–503.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Koppie TM, Vickers AJ, Vora K, Dalbagni G, Bochner BH. Standardization of pelvic lymphadenectomy performed at radical cystectomy: can we establish a minimum number of lymph nodes that should be removed? Cancer. 2006;107:2368–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Dorin RP, Daneshmand S, Eisenberg MS, Chandrasoma S, Cai J, Miranda G, Nichols PW, Skinner DG, Skinner EC. Lymph node dissection technique is more important than lymph node count in identifying nodal metastases in radical cystectomy patients: a comparative mapping study. Eur Urol. 2011;60(5):946–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Kondo T, Hashimoto Y, Kobayashi H, Iizuka J, Nakazawa H, Ito F, et al. Template-based lymphadenectomy in urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: impact on patient survival. Int J Urol. 2010;17:848–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Steven K, Poulsen AL. Radical cystectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy: survival of patients with lymph node metastasis above the bifurcation of the common iliac vessels treated with surgery only. J Urol. 2007;178:1218–23. discussion 23-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Karl A, Carroll PR, Gschwend JE, Knuchel R, Montorsi F, Stief CG, et al. The impact of lymphadenectomy and lymph node metastasis on the outcomes of radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Eur Urol [Review]. 2009;55:826–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Stein JP, Cai J, Groshen S, Skinner DG. Risk factors for patients with pelvic lymph node metastases following radical cystectomy with en bloc pelvic lymphadenectomy: concept of lymph node density. J Urol. 2003;170:35–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Masson-Lecomte A, Vordos D, Hoznek A, Yiou R, Allory Y, Abbou CC, de la Taille A. Salomon external validation of extranodal extension and lymph node density as predictors of survival in node-positivebladder cancer after radical cystectomy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2013;20(4):1389–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Jensen JB, Ulhøi BP, Jensen KM. Evaluation of different lymph node (LN) variables as prognostic markers in patients undergoing radicalcystectomy and extended LN dissection to the level of the inferior mesenteric artery. BJU Int. 2012;109(3):388–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Bolenz C, Shariat SF, Fernandez MI, Margulis V, Lotan Y, Karakiewicz P, et al. Risk stratification of patients with nodal involvement in upper tract urothelial carcinoma: value of lymph-node density. BJU Int. 2009;103:302–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Fritz GA, Schoellnast H, Deutschmann HA, Quehenberger F, Tillich M. Multiphasic multidetector-row CT (MDCT) in detection and staging of transitional cell carcinomas of the upper urinary tract. Eur Radiol. 2006;16:1244–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Kondo T, Tanabe K. The role of lymph node dissection in the management of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Int J Clin Oncol. 2011;16:170–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Yuasa T, Tsuchiya N, Narita S, Inoue T, Saito M, Kumazawa T, et al. Radical nephroureterectomy as initial treatment for carcinoma in situ of upper urinary tract. Urology. 2006;68:972–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Abe T, Harabayashi T, Shinohara N, Sazawa A, Maruyama S, Sasaki H, et al. Outcome of regional lymph node dissection in conjunction with laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. J Endourol. 2011;25:803–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Gerullis H, Kuemmel C, Popken G. Laparoscopic cystectomy with extracorporeal-assisted urinary diversion: experience with 34 patients. Eur Urol. 2007;51:193–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Lavery HJ, Martinez-Suarez HJ, Abaza R. Robotic extended pelvic lymphadenectomy for bladder cancer with increased nodal yield. BJU Int. 2011;107:1802–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Hemal AK, Stansel I, Babbar P, Patel M. Robotic-assisted nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff excision without intraoperative repositioning. Urology. 2011;78:357–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Thurairaja R, Studer UE, Burkhard FC. Indications, extent, and benefits of pelvic lymph node dissection for patients with bladder and prostate cancer. Oncologist. 2009;14:40–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Brossner C, Pycha A, Toth A, Mian C, Kuber W. Does extended lymphadenectomy increase the morbidity of radical cystectomy? BJU Int. 2004;93:64–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Rao SR, Correa JJ, Sexton WJ, Pow-Sang JM, Dickinson SI, Lin HY, et al. Prospective clinical trial of the feasibility and safety of modified retroperitoneal lymph node dissection at time of nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma. BJU Int. 2012;110:E475–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Bladder cancer: NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline in Oncology (NCN GuidelineTM) Version 1.2013 [database on the Internet]. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 2013 [cited March 7, 2013]. Available from: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/bladder.pdf.

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ms. Elizabeth Kiritani for the English correction of this manuscript. We also thank and Ms. Noriko Hata for secretarial work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexandre R. Zlotta MD, PhD, FRCSC .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kondo, T., Bochner, B.H., Daneshmand, S., Zlotta, A.R. (2015). The Role of Lymphadenectomy in the Management of Urothelial Carcinoma of the Upper Urinary Tract. In: Shariat, S., Xylinas, E. (eds) Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1501-9_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1501-9_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1500-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1501-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics