Invasive non-urachal adenocarcinoma of the bladder: analysis of the National Cancer Database

To review the United States National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2004 to 2015 and analyze survival outcomes of invasive non-urachal adenocarcinoma based on treatment modality.

The NCDB 2004–2015 bladder dataset was queried for adenocarcinoma histology, excluding urachal variant, and limited to patients with clinical stage T2–T4 disease. Treatment modality was categorized as no treatment, cystectomy (partial or radical), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), or EBRT plus cystectomy. Our primary outcome was overall survival. Cox regression (CR) and Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis were performed.

851 patients were identified with invasive (cT2–T4) adenocarcinoma of the bladder. Treatment modalities included 398 (47.8%) no treatment, 298 (35.8%) cystectomy, 124 (14.9%) EBRT, and 31 (3.7%) EBRT plus cystectomy. On KM analysis excluding those with metastatic disease, the 5-year survival was significantly better (p < 0.001) for patients who underwent cystectomy (39.6%), versus no treatment (21.0%), EBRT (18.6%), or EBRT plus cystectomy (26.9%) (log rank, p < 0.001). On CR for mortality, age (HR 1.030, p < 0.001), Charlson score 1 (HR 1.287, p = 0.034), cT4 (HR 1.768, p < 0.001), and receiving treatment at a low-volume center (HR 1.289, p = 0.026) were associated with worsened survival; however, cystectomy (HR 0.593, p < 0.001) was the only factor associated with improved survival. For those undergoing cystectomy, the mean length of stay was 8.5 days and the 30-day readmission rate was 7.0%.

Invasive non-urachal adenocarcinoma of the bladder is a rare diagnosis. Survival benefits in patients without metastatic disease are seen only in those patients undergoing definitive surgery.