Objective The aims of this study were to identify clinical, intraoperative and pathological prognostic factors for predicting extraurothelial recurrence and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who had undergone laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LRNU), and to investigate the site-specific patterns of recurrence and the associated outcomes. Materials and methods A retrospective revision was undertaken of 117 consecutive patients who had undergone transperitoneal LRNU for UTUC between 2007 and 2012. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify prognostic factors and Kaplan–Meier was used to estimate CSS. Results With a median follow-up of 20 months, 36 patients (30%) developed extraurothelial recurrence (local and/or distant). In the multivariate analysis, entering the urinary tract during LRNU was related to local recurrence (p = 0.04), management of the distal ureter to CSS (p = 0.003), pathological stage and positive margins to local (p = 0.001, p = 0.013), distant (p = 0.028, p = 0.009) and global recurrence (p = 0.05, p = 0.012) and CSS (p = 0.011, p = 0.042), and multifocality to distant recurrence (p = 0.024). Median time to recurrence was 11.4 months after LRNU. Of 36 patients with progression, 23 (64%) had simultaneous local and distant recurrence and eight had atypical metastases: two port-site metastases, five peritoneal, two subcutaneous and two abdominal wall implants. The 5 year CSS was 61% for all patients with UTUC and 9% for those with recurrence. Conclusions Intraoperative events could have a negative impact on the oncological outcomes of patients with UTUC treated with LRNU. The use of laparoscopy for advanced UTUC may be related to atypical ways of spreading.

Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer globally, with most cases classified as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). While transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) remains the gold-standard treatment, its complications, high recurrence rates, and economic burden have prompted interest in alternative strategies like active surveillance (AS) for low-grade and low-grade NMBIC recurrences. AS minimizes surgical interventions and patient burden, but lacks standardized protocols for inclusion criteria and follow-up schedules. Most studies suggest intensive monitoring during the first year, with criteria often based on tumor size, number, and grade. Acquisition of evidence: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in December 2024 using Pubmed, Cochrane, and Trip databases to identify studies on AS for low-grade NMBIC recurrences. Only English studies were included, with Boolean operators used to refine the search. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes (PICO) selection criteria were followed. The Newcastle–Ottawa quality assessment scale was used to analyze the quality of the included studies. Evidence synthesis: This systematic review included 11 studies evaluating AS for NMIBC. Early studies, such demonstrated AS as a feasible alternative to TURBT, with low progression rates. Subsequent research confirmed its safety in selected patients, with tumor growth and positive cytology being the main reasons for intervention. More recent investigations, further supported AS as a viable strategy, highlighting the low risk of stage and grade progression and its potential to reduce surgical interventions. Conclusions: AS may be considered an alternative approach for low-risk NMIBC recurrences. However, there is need for prospective studies and personalized approaches to optimize AS, addressing follow-up strategies, inclusion criteria and progression thresholds.

Currently, there are no reliable prognostic factors to determine which upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients will progress after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). We aim to evaluate whether liquid-biopsy-based biomarkers (circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)) were able to predict clinical outcomes in localized UTUC patients undergoing RNU. Twenty patients were prospectively enrolled between 2021 and 2023. Two blood samples were collected before RNU and three months later. CTCs and cfDNA were isolated and evaluated using the IsoFlux system and Quant-iT PicoGreen dsDNA kit, respectively. Droplet digital PCR was performed to determine ctDNA status. Cox regression analysis was performed on CTCs, cfDNA, and ctDNA at two different follow-up time points to examine their influence on tumor progression and cancer-specific survival (CSS). During a median follow-up of 18 months, seven (35%) patients progressed and three (15%) died. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that cfDNA levels three months after RNU are a significant predictor of tumor progression (HR = 1.085; p = 0.006) and CSS (HR = 1.168; p = 0.029). No associations were found between CTC enumeration and ctDNA status with any of the clinical outcomes evaluated. The evaluation of cfDNA levels in clinical practice could improve the disease management of UTUC patients.

Open revision of ureteroenteric strictures (UESs) is associated with considerable morbidity. There is a lack of data evaluating the feasibility of robotic revisions. To analyze the perioperative and functional outcomes of robot-assisted ureteroenteric reimplantation (RUER) for the management of UESs after radical cystectomy (RC). A retrospective multicenter study of 61 patients, who underwent 63 RUERs at seven high-volume institutions between 2009 and 2020 for benign UESs after RC, was conducted. Data were reviewed for demographics, stricture characteristics, and perioperative outcomes. Variables associated with being stricture free after an RUER were evaluated using a multivariate Cox regression analysis. Among 63 RUERs, 22 were right sided (35%), 34 left sided (54%), and seven bilateral (11%). Twenty-seven (44%) had prior abdominal/pelvic surgery and five (8%) radiotherapy (RT). Thirty-two patients had American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores I–II (52%) and 29 ASA III (48%). Forty-two (68%) RUERs were in ileal conduits, 18 (29%) in neobladders, and two (3%) in Indiana pouch. The median time to diagnosis of a UES from cystectomy was 5 (3–11) mo. Of the UESs, 28 (44%) failed an endourological attempt (balloon dilatation/endoureterotomy). The median RUER operative time was 195 (175–269) min. No intraoperative complications or conversions to open approach were reported. Twenty-three (37%) patients had postoperative complications (20 [32%] were minor and three [5%] major). The median length of hospital stay was 3 (1–6) d and readmissions were 5%. After a median follow-up of 19 (8–43) mo, 84% of cases were stricture free. Lack of prior RT was the only variable associated with better stricture-free survival after RUER (hazard ratio 6.8, 95% confidence interval 1.10–42.00, p = 0.037). The study limitations include its retrospective nature and the small number of patients. RUER is a feasible procedure for the management of UESs. Prospective and larger studies are warranted to prove the safety and efficacy of this technique. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of a novel minimally invasive technique for the management of ureteroenteric strictures. We conclude that robotic reimplantation is a feasible and effective procedure.