Prognostic Factors of Overall Survival in Upper Urinary Tract Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Several prognostic factors that influence overall survival after radical nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma have been described. We have performed a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. The clinicopathological factors associated with an increased risk of death were age, multifocality, lymphovascular invasion, pT3-4 stage, pT2 vs <pT2 stage, node-positive disease, tumor grade, tumor size, and positive surgical margins. This meta-analysis of published data identified 9 significant predictors of mortality that should be systematically assessed to propose a risk-based strategy for the choice of adjuvant therapy and surveillance after radical nephroureterectomy. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc.