Retrospective study of patients with advanced upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (UUT-TCC)

Abstract

14611 Background: UUT-TCC is a rare disease with poor prognosis. The aim of the study was to review retrospectively the outcome of 66 patients treated in a single cancer center. Methods: Clinical records of patients treated between 1993 and 2005 were reviewed to identify treatment modalities and outcome. Results: There were 47 (71%) males, median age was 60 years (range: 40–85) and UUT-TCC was associated with superficial bladder cancer in 14 (21%) patients. Forty-one patients had pT2–4 pN0–2 M0 disease after radical nephro-ureterectomy. Adjuvant treatment was: none for 25 patients, chemotherapy for 6 patients, radiotherapy for 1 patient, chemotherapy then radiotherapy for 9 patients. Twenty-seven patients relapsed after a median time interval of 12 months (range: 2–88). Fifty-two patients had metastatic disease (25 at initial diagnosis and 27 after relapse). Respectively 19 and 33 patients had one or multiple metastatic sites. Sites of metastases were: local in 12 patients, retroperitoneal lymph nodes in 30, liver in 23, lung in 19 and bone in 15. Thirty-six patients received platinum-based chemotherapy, 10 received palliative radiotherapy, 5 received best supportive care, and 1 had surgery. Response rate to chemotherapy was 40% with median response duration of 5.5 months (range: 0.2–18.5). Overall survival was 14.6 months. Conclusion: UUT-TCC has a worse prognosis than bladder TCC. However response to chemotherapy and overall survival seem worse than in metastatic bladder cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.