Prognostic effects of different nephroureterectomy techniques for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a network meta-analysis

Abstract Background Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is an aggressive malignant tumor, with surgical intervention as the primary treatment. This study evaluates the prognostic effects of laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LNU), open radical nephroureterectomy (ONU), robot-assist...

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Main Authors: Huan Wen, Yu Zhou, Lin Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13773-1
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author Huan Wen
Yu Zhou
Lin Yang
author_facet Huan Wen
Yu Zhou
Lin Yang
author_sort Huan Wen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is an aggressive malignant tumor, with surgical intervention as the primary treatment. This study evaluates the prognostic effects of laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LNU), open radical nephroureterectomy (ONU), robot-assisted laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (Robotic LNU), and hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (Hand LNU) in the treatment of UTUC through a network meta-analysis. Methods A systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases was conducted for randomized controlled trials meeting the criteria from database inception until April 2024. Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to compare the effects of each surgical method on overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall recurrence rate (ORE). Results Seventeen randomized controlled trials were included in this network meta-analysis. The results indicated that LNU significantly improved CSS compared to ONU [HR = 0.81, 95%CI= (0.7, 0.93)], while there were no significant differences between Hand LNU and Robotic LNU compared to ONU. Among minimally invasive surgeries, Hand LNU significantly shortened CSS compared to LNU [HR = 1.49, 95%CI=(1.1, 2.03)]. Regarding ORE, no significant differences were found between LNU, Hand LNU, and Robotic LNU compared to ONU, although LNU had a higher recurrence rate than Robotic LNU [HR = 1.705, 95%CI=(1.007, 3.001)]. For OS, both LNU [HR = 0.84, 95%CI=(0.75, 0.94)] and Robotic LNU [HR = 0.81, 95%CI=(0.68, 0.96)] were significantly better than ONU, whereas Hand LNU significantly shortened OS compared to LNU and Robotic LNU. There were no significant differences in progression-free survival (PFS) between LNU and ONU. The cumulative efficacy ranking indicated that Robotic LNU ranked highest for ORE and OS, while LNU ranked first for CSS. Conclusion Robotic LNU demonstrates advantages in prolonging OS and reducing recurrence rates, while LNU excels in improving CSS. Although Hand LNU shows suboptimal effects in some comparisons, it remains valuable, and surgical choices should be based on individualized needs.
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spelling doaj-art-9075358a5c2d414697d85a409ce239b62025-08-20T02:01:35ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-02-0125111010.1186/s12885-025-13773-1Prognostic effects of different nephroureterectomy techniques for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a network meta-analysisHuan Wen0Yu Zhou1Lin Yang2Department of Urology, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityDepartment of Urology, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityDepartment of Urology, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityAbstract Background Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is an aggressive malignant tumor, with surgical intervention as the primary treatment. This study evaluates the prognostic effects of laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LNU), open radical nephroureterectomy (ONU), robot-assisted laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (Robotic LNU), and hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (Hand LNU) in the treatment of UTUC through a network meta-analysis. Methods A systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases was conducted for randomized controlled trials meeting the criteria from database inception until April 2024. Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to compare the effects of each surgical method on overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall recurrence rate (ORE). Results Seventeen randomized controlled trials were included in this network meta-analysis. The results indicated that LNU significantly improved CSS compared to ONU [HR = 0.81, 95%CI= (0.7, 0.93)], while there were no significant differences between Hand LNU and Robotic LNU compared to ONU. Among minimally invasive surgeries, Hand LNU significantly shortened CSS compared to LNU [HR = 1.49, 95%CI=(1.1, 2.03)]. Regarding ORE, no significant differences were found between LNU, Hand LNU, and Robotic LNU compared to ONU, although LNU had a higher recurrence rate than Robotic LNU [HR = 1.705, 95%CI=(1.007, 3.001)]. For OS, both LNU [HR = 0.84, 95%CI=(0.75, 0.94)] and Robotic LNU [HR = 0.81, 95%CI=(0.68, 0.96)] were significantly better than ONU, whereas Hand LNU significantly shortened OS compared to LNU and Robotic LNU. There were no significant differences in progression-free survival (PFS) between LNU and ONU. The cumulative efficacy ranking indicated that Robotic LNU ranked highest for ORE and OS, while LNU ranked first for CSS. Conclusion Robotic LNU demonstrates advantages in prolonging OS and reducing recurrence rates, while LNU excels in improving CSS. Although Hand LNU shows suboptimal effects in some comparisons, it remains valuable, and surgical choices should be based on individualized needs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13773-1Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC)Nephroureterectomy (NU)Cancer-specific survival (CSS)Overall survival (OS)
spellingShingle Huan Wen
Yu Zhou
Lin Yang
Prognostic effects of different nephroureterectomy techniques for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a network meta-analysis
BMC Cancer
Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC)
Nephroureterectomy (NU)
Cancer-specific survival (CSS)
Overall survival (OS)
title Prognostic effects of different nephroureterectomy techniques for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a network meta-analysis
title_full Prognostic effects of different nephroureterectomy techniques for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a network meta-analysis
title_fullStr Prognostic effects of different nephroureterectomy techniques for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a network meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Prognostic effects of different nephroureterectomy techniques for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a network meta-analysis
title_short Prognostic effects of different nephroureterectomy techniques for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a network meta-analysis
title_sort prognostic effects of different nephroureterectomy techniques for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma a network meta analysis
topic Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC)
Nephroureterectomy (NU)
Cancer-specific survival (CSS)
Overall survival (OS)
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13773-1
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