Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
09:28
Patient-derived Orthotopic Xenograft Models for Human Urothelial Cell Carcinoma and Colorectal Cancer Tumor Growth and Spontaneous Metastasis
Published on: May 12, 2019
10.8K
Tumor Laterality Predicts Pelvic Lymph Node Metastasis Patterns in Bladder Cancer.
Takahiko Hajime1,2, Masaki Shiota3, Genshiro Fukuchi1
1Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Annals of Surgical Oncology
|January 16, 2026
Summary
Bladder cancer tumor location predicts lymph node spread. Laterality guides tailored pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) to balance efficacy and reduce morbidity.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Surgical Oncology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Lymph node involvement (LNI) is crucial for bladder cancer prognosis and adjuvant therapy decisions.
- Extended pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) offers no survival benefit over standard PLND but increases morbidity.
- Tailoring PLND templates based on tumor characteristics like laterality may optimize risk-benefit.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between bladder tumor location (laterality) and lymph node metastasis patterns.
- To determine if tumor laterality influences the distribution of lymph node involvement in bladder cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 102 patients undergoing radical cystectomy with bilateral extended PLND.
- Classification of tumor laterality as unilateral or bilateral.
- Categorization of lymph node sites by laterality (ipsilateral/contralateral) and anatomical level (I and II).
Main Results:
- Overall LNI rate was 17.6%.
- Bilateral tumors showed a higher metastasis rate (24.2%) compared to unilateral tumors (14.5%).
- Contralateral LNI without ipsilateral involvement was rare (1.5%), as was skip metastasis to Level II (1.0%).
Conclusions:
- Bladder tumor laterality is a significant predictor of lymph node metastasis distribution.
- The low incidence of contralateral or skip metastasis suggests potential for tailored PLND strategies based on tumor location.
- Prospective studies are needed to validate tumor location-based PLND approaches.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Tumor Progression
Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
02:30Metastasis
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...