The gold standard treatment for non-metastatic upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) is represented by radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). The choice of surgical technique in performing UTUC surgery continues to depend on several factors, including the location and extent of the tumor, the patient's overall health, and very importantly, the surgeon's skill, experience, and preference. Although open and laparoscopic approaches are well-established treatments, evidence regarding robot-assisted radical nephroureterectomy (RANU) is growing. Aim of our study was to perform a critical review on the evidence of the last 5 years regarding surgical techniques and outcomes of minimally invasive RNU, mostly focusing on RANU. Reported oncological and function outcomes suggest that minimally invasive RNU is safe and effective, showing similar survival rates compared to the open approach.
Cancers. 2023 Sep 15*** epublish ***
Antonio Franco, Francesco Ditonno, Carol Feng, Celeste Manfredi, Morgan R Sturgis, Mustafa Farooqi, Francesco Del Giudice, Christopher Coogan, Matteo Ferro, Chao Zhang, Zhenjie Wu, Bo Yang, Linhui Wang, Riccardo Autorino
Department of Urology, Rush University, Chicago, IL 60612, USA., Department of Maternal Infant and Urologic Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy., Division of Urology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy., Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.