The long-term outcome of nephron-sparing surgery versus radical nephroureterectomy for organ-localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: a population-based study of 1969 patients

Purpose: To compare the long-term outcomes after nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) and radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) and investigate prognostic factors for organ-localized upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) as the role of NSS for UTUC remains unclear. Methods: Patients diagnosed with organ-localized UTUC between 2004 and 2020 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The propensity score overlap weighting (PSOW) process, Cox regression analysis, Kaplan‒Meier analysis, competing-risks models, and subgroup analysis were employed to compare the outcomes and identify prognostic factors. The overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) nomograms were developed and evaluated using the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. Results: A total of 1969 patients were included. After the process of PSOW, baseline data were well balanced. RNU was associated with similar OS and CSS than NSS in the overall cohort. Age, T stage, and histologic grade were independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS, while marital status was an independent prognostic factor only for OS. Four and three predictors were identified for developing the OS and CSS nomograms, respectively. C-index (OS 0.637, CSS 0.670), calibration curve, and Kaplan–Meier analysis proved excellent predictive accuracy of nomograms. Conclusion: Patients accepting RNU had a comparative or better outcome in each sample group. NSS achieved a similar oncologic control for selected patients with organ-localized UTUC.