High Response Rates to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in High-Grade Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

To evaluate the impact of cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients who underwent nephroureterectomy for high-grade (HG) upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Retrospective review was conducted of patients with HG UTUC from 2011 to 2017 who underwent nephroureterectomy at 2 institutions. Patients with eGFR >50 mL/min/1.73 m² were considered eligible for NAC and were referred for evaluation of NAC prior to nephroureterectomy. Patient demographics, kidney function, clinical and pathologic response rates, and outcomes were analyzed.

Of 95 patients with HG UTUC meeting inclusion criteria (mean age 72.3 years, mean preop eGFR 57.0 mL/min/1.73 m²), 61 patients were considered eligible for NAC with eGFR >50 mL/min/1.73 m², of which 25 (41%) received NAC. Of the patients who received NAC, 80% (20/25) of the patients had clinical response on imaging and 80% (20/25) had pathologic response (

Cisplatin-based NAC demonstrated a high clinical and pathologic response rate in patients with HG UTUC without compromising definitive surgical treatment. Since nephroureterectomy significantly reduces kidney function and eligibility for cisplatin-based chemotherapy after surgery, patients with HG UTUC should be considered for NAC.