Lymphovascular invasion is independently associated with poor prognosis in patients with localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma treated surgically.

PURPOSE: We explored the prognostic impact of lymphovascular invasion in patients with localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical records of 135 patients treated surgically for localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (pTa-3N0M0) were reviewed retrospectively. Lymphovascular invasion was defined as cancer cells in an endothelium lined space. Actuarial survival curves were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences between survival curves were evaluated by the log rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS: Median followup was 55 months (range 3 to 232). Lymphovascular invasion was present in 57 patients (42.2%) and it was associated with higher pathological T stage and higher tumor grade. Recurrence-free and disease specific survival rates in patients with lymphovascular invasion were significantly worse than those in patients without lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that lymphovascular invasion, patient age and pathological T stage were significant prognostic factors for recurrence-free and disease specific survival. Based on multivariate analysis patients were divided into 4 risk groups, including pT2 or less/negative lymphovascular invasion, pT2 or less/positive lymphovascular invasion, pT3/negative lymphovascular invasion and pT3/positive lymphovascular invasion. Recurrence-free and disease specific survival rates in patients with pT3/positive lymphovascular invasion were significantly worse than rates in the other 3 groups (each p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicates that positive lymphovascular invasion predicts poor survival in patients with pathologically localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. Risk stratification based on lymphovascular invasion status and pathological T stage would be helpful for selecting patients at high risk who would be appropriate candidates for clinical trials.