Sarcomatoid Urothelial Carcinoma: A Single Cancer Center Experience

BACKGROUND: Sarcomatoid bladder cancer is a rare and aggressive variant of urothelial carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective review of our experience in managing patients with sarcomatoid bladder cancer (SRBC) between 1997 and 2011 was performed to better define the behavior and outcomes of this disease. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 63 years. All patients presented with high grade histology. Eighty-five percent of the patients presented with muscle invasive disease and fifty percent presented with stage IV carcinoma. Ten of 14 (71%) of patients underwent a cystectomy. Patients with SRBC was younger (P < 0.01), more commonly presented with higher grade histology (P < 0.01) and advanced stage disease (P < 0.01), in comparison with patients with Urothelial carcinoma (UC). At a median follow-up of 7 months (range 1.3 - 112), five (35.7%) patients have died in last follow-up. Two-year survival was 53.5%. Three patients with long term survival were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcomatoid bladder cancer is associated with poor prognosis. Multimodality therapy may improve these patients outcome.