Department of Urology, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Suite 7416, MS#74, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.

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Radical cystectomy and lymphadenectomy is a standard treatment for patients with high-grade, invasive bladder cancer. Although the absolute limits of lymphadectomy at the time of surgery have not been precisely defined, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that an extended lymph node dissection may be beneficial for staging and survival in both node-negative and -positive bladder cancer patients. For lymph node-positive patients, several prognostic factors have been identified to provide risk stratification and direct the need for adjuvant treatment. These include: the pathological stage of the bladder tumor, extent of the lymphadenectomy and nodal tumor burden. The concept of lymph node density has also been identified as a prognostic factor. The literature and data on the extent of lymphadenectomy will be reviewed as well as the current prognostic variables and the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Written by
Bruins HM, Stein JP.

Reference
Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2008 Jul;8(7):1091-101.
doi:10.1586/14737140.8.7.1091

PubMed Abstract
PMID:18588454

UroToday.com Bladder Cancer Section

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