Cystectomy For Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Research Articles

Oncologic outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and lymph node dissection with partial cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Oncologic outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and lymph node dissection with partial cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

2428: Radiotherapy or cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Outcomes with two clinical pathways

2428: Radiotherapy or cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Outcomes with two clinical pathways

The Assessment of SF-36 Survey for Quality-of-Life Measurement after Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review.

This study presents a systematic review of the literature on individuals' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), utilizing the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) as a primary assessment tool. The review was designed as an exhaustive literature search across three major databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Embase up to December 2023, using the PRISMA guidelines. The selection process refined 2281 identified articles down to 11 studies meeting our inclusion criteria. These studies encompassed a diverse demographic and clinical profile of 774 participants, with follow-up durations ranging from 3 to 130 months, thereby offering insights into both short-term and long-term HRQoL outcomes. The results highlighted significant alterations in individuals' HRQoL across various domains post-radical cystectomy. Notably, the Physical Functioning (PF) and Bodily Pain (BP) domains generally scored higher, indicating a moderate to high perceived physical health status. However, the Role Physical (RP) and Role Emotional (RE) domains showed variability, reflecting the challenges in daily role fulfillment and emotional adjustment post-surgery. A marked variability in physical recovery was observed, with studies reporting significant differences in PF and RP scores between patient groups. The General Health (GH) and Vitality (VT) domains sometimes reflected perceived deteriorations, whereas the Mental Health (MH) scores suggested that many patients maintained or achieved high levels of well-being post-operatively. The conclusions drawn from this systematic review underscore the profound and multi-faceted impact of radical cystectomy on HRQoL, varying widely between studies, being influenced by geographic factors, surgical methods, and the time of evaluation. The findings emphasize the necessity for holistic patient care approaches that address both physical and emotional rehabilitation, aiming to improve HRQoL outcomes.

Paradigm Shifting Research: Key Studies in Urologic Oncology.

Genitourinary malignancies have a substantial impact on men and women in the USA as they include three of the ten most common cancers (prostate, renal, and bladder). Other urinary tract cancers are less common (testis and penile) but still have profound treatment implications related to potential deficits in sexual, urinary, and reproductive function. Evidenced-based practice remains the cornerstone of treatment for urologic malignancies. The authors reviewed the literature in consideration of the four top articles influencing clinical practice in the prior calendar year, 2022. The PROTECT trial demonstrates favorable 15-years outcomes for active monitoring of localized prostate cancer. The SEMS trial establishes retroperitoneal lymph node dissection as a viable option for patients with seminoma of the testis with limited retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. CheckMate 274 supports adjuvant immunotherapy following radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer with a high risk of recurrence. Data reported from the IROCK consortium reinforce stereotactic ablative radiotherapy as an option for localized renal cell carcinoma. The care for patients with urologic cancers has been greatly improved through advances in surgical, medical, and radiation oncologic treatments realized through prospective randomized clinical trials and large multicenter collaborative groups.

Characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the real world.

Characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the real world.

Oncologic outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and lymph node dissection with partial cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Oncologic outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and lymph node dissection with partial cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Laparoscopic vs. open surgical access radical cystectomy with subsequent orthotopic reconstruction in the treatment of invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Radical cystectomy combined with extended lymph node dissection is the treatment of choice for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and can be performed using open, laparoscopic, or robot-assisted surgical access.

Comparative Outcomes of Radical Cystectomy in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Muscle-invasive bladder cancerposes a significant clinical challenge that necessitates effective therapeutic interventions. Radical cystectomy is a primary treatment option, but a comprehensive understanding of its outcomes is crucial for informed clinical decision-making.This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate and summarize the outcomes associated with radical cystectomy as a primary treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer with a focus on survival rates, complications, and quality of life.A systematic search across databases-PubMed, Google Scholar, and others-covered studies from 2017 onwards. Included were studies reporting survival rates, complications, and quality of life post-radical cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients, including randomized controlled trials, cohort, and observational studies. Multidimensional analysis revealed promising findings regarding the efficacy of radical cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Survival outcomes, including overall survival and disease-specific mortality, have demonstrated significant improvements, particularly in recent randomized controlled trials and cohort studies. Complications associated with the surgical procedure, such as positive surgical margins and lymph node yields, were generally acceptable. Quality of life outcomes post-radical cystectomy exhibited positive trends, although variations were noted in the emotional and social domains. This review underscores radical cystectomy's role in enhancing overall survival and reducing disease-specific mortality in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Despite reported complications, recent studies support its acceptable risk profile. Detailed examination of various factors contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the procedure. These findings emphasize the importance of individualized treatment approaches in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, considering both oncological efficacy and perioperative outcomes.Radical cystectomy remains fundamental in urological oncology, with ongoing advancements refining its significance.

Comparing trimodal therapy with radical cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: an updated meta-analysis.

We conducted this meta-analysis to compare the two muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treatment modalities in terms of cancer-specific survival (CSS) and other outcome indicators. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted using various academic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane database, EMBASE, Chinese biomedical literature database, Wan fang databases, and China National Knowledge Internet databases between 1966 and December 2023. This review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) No. (CRD42023398977). This study included a total of 54,816 patients diagnosed with bladder cancer from 14 studies, of which 6,228 patients were assigned to the trimodal therapy (TMT) group and 48,588 patients were assigned to the radical cystectomy (RC) group. Based on the results, the RC group exhibited a higher rate of survival than the TMT group [pooled hazard ratio (HR) = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.18-1.28, Z = 1.46, P < 0.001]. In terms of CSS, patients in the RC group had a longer CSS compared with those in the TMT group (pooled HR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.29-1.67, Z = 5.893, P < 0.001). Compared with RC, TMT is significantly associated with an increased risk of both types of mortality (pooled HR: 1.30, P < 0.001). Overall, the findings of this meta-analysis suggest that RC treatment may be associated with improved overall survival. Moreover, it was observed that cancer-specific survival was significantly prolonged among patients in the RC group as opposed to those who received TMT. In addition, it was shown that patients who received TMT exhibited a higher risk of all-cause mortality when compared with those who underwent RC.

Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Analysis of Efficacy and Safety in 119 Patients

IntroductionCisplatin-based systemic chemotherapy is recommended as neoadjuvant treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) before radical cystectomy (RC). However, clinical challenges include the possibility of primary chemoresistance and limited feasibility in patients with renal impairment. This study investigated the efficacy and safety profiles of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) followed by RC. Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 119 patients with nonmetastatic MIBC, who were pathologically diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma and underwent NCRT before RC. The pathological response to NCRT was evaluated using RC specimens. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were compared according to pathological responses to NCRT. ResultsOf the 119 patients, 111 (93%) underwent RC; ypT0 and downstaging to ≤ypT1 were observed in 42 (38%) and 76 (68%) patients, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, smaller tumor size was independently associated with ypT0. During a median follow-up of 5.2 years, 28 (25%) patients developed recurrence and 22 (20%) died of bladder cancer after RC. The 5-year RFS and CSS rates were 75% and 80%, respectively. The 5-year RFS rates in patients with ypT0, ypTa/is/1, and ≥ypT2 were 87%, 87%, and 46%, respectively. Similarly, patients with ypT0 and ypTa/is/1 had more favorable CSS (90% and 87% at 5 years, respectively) than those with ≥ypT2 (60%, P = .001). None of the patients experienced ≥grade 4 adverse events related to NCRT or ≥grade 4 complications of RC. ConclusionsThis study demonstrated sufficient efficacy and safety profile of NCRT followed by RC. Chemoradiotherapy may be a helpful alternative for neoadjuvant treatment before RC.

AKI and Acute Kidney Disease After Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Two Underestimated but Dangerous Threats

AKI and Acute Kidney Disease After Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Two Underestimated but Dangerous Threats

P235 - Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in suboptimal neoadjuvant dose-dense MVAC followed by radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

P235 - Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in suboptimal neoadjuvant dose-dense MVAC followed by radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Genomic Tumor Correlates of Clinical Outcomes Following Organ-Sparing Chemoradiation Therapy for Bladder Cancer.

There is an urgent need for biomarkers of radiation response in organ-sparing therapies. Bladder preservation with trimodality therapy (TMT), consisting of transurethral tumor resection followed by chemoradiation, is an alternative to radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), but molecular determinants of response are poorly understood. We characterized genomic and transcriptomic features correlated with long-term response in a single institution cohort of patients with MIBC homogeneously treated with TMT. Pretreatment tumors from 76 patients with MIBC underwent whole-exome sequencing; 67 underwent matched transcriptomic profiling. Molecular features were correlated with clinical outcomes including modified bladder-intact event-free survival (mBI-EFS), a composite endpoint that reflects long-term cancer control with bladder preservation. With a median follow-up of 74.6 months in alive patients, 37 patients had favorable long-term response to TMT while 39 had unfavorable long-term response. Tumor mutational burden was not associated with outcomes after TMT. DNA damage response gene alterations were associated with improved locoregional control and mBI-EFS. Of these alterations, somatic ERCC2 mutations stood out as significantly associated with favorable long-term outcomes; patients with ERCC2 mutations had significantly improved mBI-EFS [HR, 0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.06-0.37; P = 0.030] and improved BI-EFS, an endpoint that includes all-cause mortality (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15-0.68; P = 0.044). ERCC2 mutant bladder cancer cell lines were significantly more sensitive to concurrent cisplatin and radiation treatment in vitro than isogenic ERCC2 wild-type cells. Our data identify ERCC2 mutation as a candidate biomarker associated with sensitivity and long-term response to chemoradiation in MIBC. These findings warrant validation in independent cohorts.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Before Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Elective and Eligibility Factors Impacting Utilization.

We aimed to assess utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and etiologies for lack of NAC receipt among patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Patients diagnosed with MIBC undergoing radical cystectomy at a single institution (2005-2021) were included. Patients were categorized by receipt of NAC, and reasons for no NAC were categorized into eligibility and elective factors. Overall survival was analyzed using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models and modeled with Kaplan-Meier curves. Three hundred eighty patients with MIBC were included; 154 (40.5%) received NAC. Patients were not candidates for NAC due to renal dysfunction (16.6%), clinical contraindications (4.7%), salvage setting (2.1%), and histology (5.3%; total N = 109). Among 271 (71.3%) who were eligible, utilization increased from early (2005-2016) to recent (2016-2021) time periods (34.2% to 85.7% among NAC-eligible, P < .001; 22.8% vs 67.1% among all MIBC, P < .001). Elective factors for not receiving NAC included patient symptoms (7.8%), disease progression concern (7.0%), patient preference/refusal (20.3%) and provider discretion (8.1%) among 271 NAC-eligible patients. Notably, patient preference/refusal decreased from 33.6% to 3.4% in recent years (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, lack of NAC utilization due to renal dysfunction (HR 2.18, P = .002), clinical contraindications (HR 2.62, P = .01), and elective factors (HR 1.88, P = .01) were associated with worse overall survival. NAC utilization increased over time with 85.7% of eligible patients with MIBC receiving NAC in recent years. Renal dysfunction, patient preference, and clinical contraindications were primary etiologies for lack of NAC. Fewer patients refused NAC in recent years leading to a potential ceiling for NAC utilization.

Role of Maximal Transurethral Resection Preceding Partial Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

We aimed to evaluate whether maximal transurethral resection (TUR) affects the oncological outcome of partial cystectomy (PC) performed in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), although radical cystectomy (RC) and trimodal therapy (TMT) are regarded as standard treatments for MIBC. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the data of 98 patients who underwent PC due to MIBC between January 2006 and December 2018. Of the 98 patients, 71 underwent maximal TUR. We evaluated the recurrence-free survival (PFS), pelvic recurrence-free survival (pPFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) using the Kaplan-Meier method according to the maximal TUR status. Variables associated with survival were analyzed using Cox regression analyses. The 5-year PFS (42.5% vs. 20.3%, p = 0.008), pPFS (50.7% vs. 24.1%, p = 0.003), and CSS (74.0% vs. 51.0%, p = 0.016) were also higher in patients who underwent maximal TUR. The multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that maximal TUR was associated with PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.500, p = 0.029), pPFS (HR = 0.353, p = 0.004), and CSS (HR = 0.416, p = 0.027). However, maximal TUR did not affect the OS (HR = 0.618, p = 0.132). PC resulted in acceptable oncological outcomes in patients with MIBC, while maximal TUR played an important role in improving the oncological outcomes. PC after maximal TUR can be suggested as a treatment option for MIBC patients who are unable to undergo RC and TMT.

Initial Experience of Cutaneous Continent Urinary Diversion by Modified Penn Pouch Technique: Is It More Expedient than Ileal Conduit?

Introduction: In the current clinical practice, following cystectomy, either due to malignant or benign pathologies, the most common urinary diversion is in the form of ileal conduit. Quality of life is markedly decreased in patients with ileal conduit as they have to carry an external appliance with the poorest self-images that significantly reduce the desires of all forms of physical contact (sexual and non-sexual). Here we describe the initial experience of cutaneous continent urinary diversion following cystectomy that provides the patients with an external appliance-free life with good functional outcomes of the reservoir. Methods : The hospital records of 6(six) patients during a period of 5 months were reviewed retrospectively who underwent cutaneous continent urinary diversion in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka and Center for Kidney Diseases &amp; Urology Hospital, Dhaka. Out of 6 (six) patients, 5(five) underwent radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and 1(one) patient underwent simple cystectomy for exstrophy bladder. For the creation of the reservoir modified Penn pouch technique was applied, and the appendix was used as a catheterizable cutaneous stoma for the continent mechanism. A peri-operative and short periods of postoperative outcomes, including complications, quality of life assessment, continence and ability to empty the reservoir by selfcatheterization, was recorded. Results : Among the 6 (six) patients, 5 (five) cases were following radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and 1 (one) was following simple cystectomy for exstrophy bladder. After a median follow-up of 6 weeks, the continence rate was 100%. All patients (100%) could empty the neo-bladder by self-catheterization every 4-8 hours. Patients were highly satisfied with this stoma as they could avoid external appliances. Conclusion : Cutaneous continent urinary diversion is a successful method of neobladder construction following cystectomy for urinary bladder malignancy or severe functional and anatomical urinary bladder abnormalities with excellent functional outcomes. It needs skilled surgical techniques, and the decision on this method used should depend upon the indications and contraindications of surgery like renal functional status, patient anatomy, the physical and physiological condition of the patients and personal choice. Bangladesh J. Urol. 2022; 25(1): 7-13

Downstaging and Survival Associated with Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Before Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

BackgroundNeoadjuvant cisplatin-containing chemotherapy before radical cystectomy is the standard of care for patients with localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, a large proportion of patients are ineligible for cisplatin. Single-arm phase 2 neoadjuvant immunotherapy trials have reported promising tumor response rates, but interpretation is limited owing to lack of a comparator arm. ObjectiveTo compare rates of pathologic downstaging and overall survival between patients receiving neoadjuvant immunotherapy (NAI), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), or no neoadjuvant therapy (NNAT). Design, setting, and participantsWe identified 18 483 patients in the National Cancer Data Base who were diagnosed with clinically localized MIBC and underwent radical cystectomy from 2014 to 2019. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisNearest-neighbor propensity-score caliper matching was used to create three demographically similar and equally sized cohorts stratified by NAT receipt. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of treatment received with pathologic downstaging to pT0N0 and pT < 2N0. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to assess the association of treatment received with overall survival (OS). Results and limitationsPropensity score matching yielded three equally sized cohorts without significant differences in baseline characteristics (n = 840). The NAI group had a higher rate of pathologic downstaging to pT0N0 than the NNAT group and a similar rate to the NAC group (NNAT 6.7% vs NAC 26.4%, odds ratio 5.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9–8.3; NAI 22.5%, odds ratio 4.0, 95% CI 2.4–7.1). The NAI group had better OS than the NNAT group and similar OS to the NAC group (NAC: hazard ratio 0.62, 95% CI 0.42–0.92; NAI: hazard ratio 0.68, 95% CI 0.46–0.97, with NNAT as the reference). The primary limitation is selection bias from confounding by clinical indication. ConclusionsNAI is a promising alternative to NAC for patients with clinically localized MIBC, as evidenced by similar pathologic downstaging rates and OS benefits in comparison to no NAT. Phase 3 trials should be conducted to test the noninferiority of NAI to NAC. Patient summaryWe compared outcomes for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer according to whether they received chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or no medical therapy before surgical removal of their bladder. We found that preoperative immunotherapy improved patient survival and regression of the cancer stage in comparison to no medical therapy, similar to the outcomes seen with preoperative chemotherapy. Randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Prior to Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer With Variant Histology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Survival Outcomes and Pathological Features

PurposeTo conduct systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on survival and histopathological outcomes of variant histology (VH) of urothelial carcinoma (UC) of bladder. MethodsThis systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023389115). Literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies published up to January 2023. Population, intervention, comparator, outcome, and study design were as follows: bladder cancer patients with VH (population), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (intervention), radical cystectomy only (comparators), oncological survival and pathologic response (outcomes), and retrospective or prospective (study design). ResultsFinally, a total of 17 studies were included in the present study (quantitative analysis, n = 17; qualitative analysis, n = 12). Pooled HR was 0.49 (95% CI: 0.31-0.76; P = .002) for OS. Pooled HR was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.38-0.98; P = .04) for CSS. Pooled HR was 0.44 (95% CI: 0.21-0.93; P = .03) in PFS. Pooled OR was 6.61 (95% CI: 4.50-9.73; P < .00001) in complete pathologic response. Pooled OR was 9.59 (95% CI: 3.56-25.85; P < .00001) in any pathologic response. Evidence quality assessments for each 5 comparisons using the GRADE approach were that Certainty was moderate in 1, low in 1, and very low in 3. ConclusionsAdministration of NAC before surgery in bladder cancer patients with VH might confer better survival outcomes and higher pathologic down staging rate than no administration of NAC before surgery.

Survival after sequential neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by trimodal treatment or radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

to assess the respective outcomes of patients with localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treated by either radical cystectomy (RC) or trimodal treatment (TMT) depending on pathological response to previous neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) assessed on cystectomy specimen or post-NAC transurethral resection (TURB) specimen, respectively. We retrospectively included all consecutive patients treated in one academic center with cisplatin-based NAC followed by RC or TMT for cT2-3N0M0 MIBC between 2014 and 2021. Primary endpoint was metastasis-free survival (MFS) in both treatment groups and according to pathological response to NAC. Local recurrence-free survival and conservative management failure (metastasis-free bladder-intact survival) for patients treated with TMT were assessed. 104 patients were included, 26 treated with TMT and 78 with RC. The rate of complete pathological response was 47.4% in patients treated with RC (ypT0) and 66.7% in patients treated with TMT (ycT0). Median follow-up was 34.9months. Four-year MFS was 72% in both treatment groups. Four-year MFS was 85% in both ypT0 RC patients and ycT0 TMT patients. ycT0 stage was associated with low rates of intravesical recurrence and conservative management failure. Patients with post-NAC ycT0 stage treated with TMT have favorable oncological outcomes similar to those of ypT0 patients treated with RC. Assessment of complete histological response with TURB after NAC may help in selecting the best candidates for bladder preservation with TMT.

Evaluation of short-term outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a single Egyptian institution experience

Background and aimNeoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) before radical cystectomy (RC) became the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) in the last few years. We aimed to evaluate the radiological, pathological responses to NAC, and the 30-day surgical outcomes after RC in MIBC.Patients and methodsA retrospective cohort study involving adult patients with localized urothelial MIBC who received NAC followed by RC at the National Cancer Institute of Egypt (NCI-E) for 2 years (2017 and 2018). Out of 235 MIBC cases, we recognized 72 patients (30%) who fitted the eligibility criteria.ResultsA cohort of 72 patients with a median age of 60.5 years (range 34–87). Hydronephrosis, gross extravesical extension (cT3b), and radiologically negative nodes (cN0) were depicted initially in 45.8, 52.8, and 83.3% of patients, respectively. Gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) was the rampant NAC employed in 95.8%. Radiological evaluation post NAC using RECIST v1.1 revealed a response rate (RR) of 65.3% in bladder tumor and progressive disease in the former and lymph nodes encountered in 19.4 and 13.9%, respectively. The median time from the end of NAC to surgery was 8.1 weeks (range 4–15). Open RC and ileal conduit were the most common types of surgery and urinary diversion, respectively. Pathological down-staging was encountered in 31.9%, and only 11 cases (15.3%) achieved pathological complete response (pCR). The latter was significantly correlated with the absence of hydronephrosis, low-risk tumors, and associated bilharziasis (p = 0.001, 0.029, and 0.039, respectively). By logistic regression, the high-risk category was the only independent factor associated with a poor likelihood of achieving pCR (OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.1–16.7; p = 0.038). Thirty-day mortality occurred in 5(7%) patients, and 16(22%) experienced morbidity, with intestinal leakage being the most frequent complication. cT4 was the only significant factor associated with post-RC morbidity and mortality compared to cT2 and cT3b (p = 0.01).ConclusionsOur results are further supporting the radiological and pathological benefits of NAC in MIBC, evidenced by tumor downstaging and pCR. The complication rate after RC is still considerable; hence, more larger studies are necessary to postulate a comprehensive risk assessment tool for patients who would get the maximum benefit from NAC, hoping to accomplish higher complete response rates with ultimately increased adoption of the bladder preservation strategies.