Urachal Carcinomas: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Urologic Oncology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Urachal carcinoma is a rare malignancy with limited existing data.
• Consolidating evidence on diagnosis, epidemiology, and treatment is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze current evidence on urachal carcinoma.
• To evaluate diagnostic strategies, treatment modalities, and oncological outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE up to September 2024.
• Inclusion of 50 studies comprising 1,901 cases of urachal carcinoma.
• Single-arm meta-analysis to assess oncological outcomes.

Main Results:

• En-bloc resection with umbilectomy demonstrated oncologic advantage in localized disease.
• Cisplatin-based chemotherapy showed the best response in both adjuvant and metastatic settings.
• Estimated 5-year overall survival rate of 51%; tumor recurrence in 35% of cases.

Conclusions:

• This review offers comprehensive evidence for clinical decision-making in urachal carcinoma.
• En-bloc resection with umbilectomy and specific chemotherapies are recommended.
• Further research into alternative therapies is needed to optimize patient outcomes.