Management Of Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Research Articles

A narrative review of management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer perioperative period: will continuous and combined treatment be the new trend?

With the emergence of immunotherapy and targeted therapies, there are more options for the perioperative period management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), and various types of clinical studies are emerging, leading to the need to explore ways to choose the optimal treatment modality. This review aims to synthesize past and present treatment modalities and to explore future trends in the perioperative period cares of MIBC for the benefit of clinical practitioners. A non-systematic, literature search was conducted between March 5, 2023 and November 30, 2023 on PubMed using "perioperative period", "MIBC", "chemotherapy", "radiotherapy", "immunotherapy", "targeted treatment" and "combination" as keywords, along with a search for ongoing clinical studies that were related to the perioperative period of MIBC on classic.clinicaltrials.gov, some latest conference abstracts were also included as references. The trend towards benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in perioperative chemotherapy is gradually being recognized. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy, including single-agent immunization, like programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, and double-immunization, has been confirmed by several clinical studies to be beneficial to clinical remission rates, and the combination regimen is superior to single-agent therapy. Targeted therapies such as antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) are entering MIBC perioperative studies. Multiple sequential and combination clinical studies are gradually disclosing preliminary data on efficacy and safety. Immunotherapy would become an essential perioperative treatment for MIBC, and continuous and integrated perioperative management may become the MIBC treatment mode of the future. ADC medicines will also be a hot research focus in the coming years.

Comparative cost-effectiveness of trimodal therapy and radical cystectomy for management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Comparative cost-effectiveness of trimodal therapy and radical cystectomy for management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Bladder Only Radiotherapy Concurrent with Chemotherapy Outcomes in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Management: Our Institute Experience

Bladder Only Radiotherapy Concurrent with Chemotherapy Outcomes in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Management: Our Institute Experience

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.

Does Bladder Cancer Subtype Influence Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) and Pelvic Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DW-MRI) Response Evaluation After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy? Pathological Perspective

IntroductionWe aimed to provide a pathological perspective on the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) by correlating the prechemotherapy transurethral resection of bladder tumor findings and postchemotherapy radiologic evaluation with final radical cystectomy (RC) findings. Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study included 79 MIBC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and RC. Pelvic diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and pathologic reports were retrieved from our institutional database. All pathology slides were reviewed based on diagnostic criteria with high interobserver reproducibility. ResultsPathologic complete response (pCR) was confirmed in 32 patients (40.5%). The concordance and discordance between MRI and RC findings occurred in 68.3% and 31.7% of cases, respectively. The 21.5% of cases that were clinical CR (cCR) on MRI actually achieved pCR on RC specimens and 46.8% of cases that were non-cCR on MRI were actually non-pCR on RC specimens. In 19.0% of cases, RC findings were pCR, but MRI demonstrated residual tumor and the opposite was 12.7%. The greatest discrepancy between the 2 methods (75%, 3/4) was for the plasmacytoid subtype. Plasmacytoid histology was the most common histological subtype identified in RC specimens after NAC, followed by micropapillary and squamous histologies. ConclusionsWe found that all cases with plasmacytoid and micropapillary subtypes, and squamous differentiation did not show pCR. In particular, the largest discrepancy between MRI findings and RC pathology after NAC was seen in the plasmacytoid subtype. An accurate pathologic diagnosis based on strict criteria to identify histological subtypes of MIBC is necessary for proper treatment.

The Impact of Travel Time on Trimodal Therapy Compared to Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy (RC) and Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) followed by concurrent chemoradiation therapy (trimodal therapy, TMT) are both evidence-based approaches to the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and no randomized evidence conclusively supports the use of one treatment over another. Literature suggests that increasing distance to radiation therapy (RT) facilities reduces the likelihood that patients will receive RT, though this has not been evaluated in bladder cancer. We hypothesize that greater travel time between a patient's home and their closest RT facility is associated with a lower likelihood of undergoing TMT. Clinical data and the locations of patient residences and surgical facilities performing RC were obtained from the California Cancer Registry. RT facility locations were compiled from state regulatory databases and dosimetric accrediting bodies. Travel time was identified using the Google Distance Matrix API. California patients diagnosed with T2-4N0 bladder cancer in 2018-2019 who underwent TMT (> = 55Gy) or RC were included in this analysis. Chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess factors associated with an increased likelihood of receipt of TMT, and to compare travel times for patients receiving TMT vs RC. A total of 536 patients met inclusion criteria, and 27.1% underwent TMT. Patients receiving TMT were more likely to be older, White, male, and live further from their nearest RT facility. After adjusting for age, sex, and race/ethnicity, patients undergoing TMT were more likely than RC patients to live more than 30 minutes away from the nearest RT facility (OR 1.53, p = 0.21, ref<15 minutes). On multivariate analysis, patients receiving TMT were less likely than surgical patients to live 30-60 minutes or >60 minutes from their treatment facility ((OR 0.5, p-value<0.01, and OR 0.23, p-value <.001), ref: <30 minutes). Only 26.2% of patients who received TMT were treated at their nearest RT facility, while 13.3% of patients undergoing RC were treated at their nearest surgical facility. In a modern cohort of bladder cancer patients in California, about a quarter of T2-4N0 patients are undergoing bladder preservation. Patients undergoing TMT lived further from their nearest RT facility than patients undergoing surgery. Surgical patients were more likely to live >30 minutes from their treating facility than TMT patients. A minority of patients underwent treatment at the facility nearest to them, regardless of treatment modality chosen. Taken together, this suggests that proximity to the nearest RT facility may not be associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing TMT. Examination of actual treatment facilities (as opposed to the closest facility) shows that patients are traveling further for surgical care than TMT.

Codelivery of ERCC2 small interfering RNA and cisplatin with macrophage-derived mimetic nanovesicles for enhanced bladder cancer treatment.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy plays a vital role in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC); however, off-tumor toxicity and resistance often lead to cancer recurrence and eventual treatment failure. The loss of function of the nucleotide excision repair gene excision repair cross-complementing rodent repair deficiency gene 2 ( ERCC2 ) in cancer cells correlates with sensitivity to cisplatin, while its overexpression causes cisplatin resistance. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of ERCC2 combined with cisplatin treatment may improve therapeutic outcomes in patients with bladder cancer. Here, we aimed to develop macrophage-derived mimetic nanovesicles (MNVs) as a nanoplatform for the simultaneous delivery of cisplatin and ERCC2 siRNA for enhancing the efficacy of bladder cancer chemotherapy. The cellular uptake, gene down-regulation, tumor inhibition effects, and biosafety of the synthesized nanodrugs (MNV-Co) as a synergistic therapeutic strategy for MIBC were evaluated in vitro and in vivo . The results indicated high efficacy of MNV-Co against MIBC and low off-tumor toxicity. Furthermore, by down-regulating ERCC2 mRNA and protein levels, MNV-Co improved chemosensitivity, promoted cancer cell apoptosis, and effectively suppressed tumor growth. This study presents a potential approach for delivering cisplatin and ERCC2 siRNA concurrently to treat bladder cancer using a biomimetic nanosystem.

Real-life benchmarking bladder cancer care: A population-based study.

Radical cystectomy (RC) is a complex oncological surgical procedure and population studies of routine surgical care have suggested suboptimal results compared to high-volume centers of excellence. A previous Canadian bladder cancer quality-of-care consensus led to adoption of multiple key quality-of-care indicators, with associated benchmarks created using available evidence and expert opinion to inform and measure future performance. Herein, we report real-life benchmark performance for the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) relative to expert opinion guidance. This is a population-based, retrospective, cohort study that used the Ontario Cancer Registry (OCR) to identify all incident patients who underwent RC from 2009-2013. Electronic records of treatment from 1573 patients were linked to OCR; pathology records were obtained for all cases and reviewed by a team of trained data abstractors. The primary objective was to describe benchmarks for identified indicators, first as median values obtained across hospitals or providers, as well as a "pared-mean" approach to identify a benchmark population of "top performance," as defined as the best outcome accomplished for at least 10% of the population. Overall, performance in Ontario across all indicators fell short of expert opinion-determined benchmarks. Annual surgical volume by each surgeon performing a RC (benchmark >6, percent of institutions meeting benchmark=20%), percent of patients with MIBC referred preoperatively to medical oncology (MO; benchmark>90%, percent of institutions meeting benchmark=2%) and radiation oncology (RO; benchmark>50%, percent of institutions meeting benchmark=0%), time to cystectomy within six weeks of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in patients without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (benchmark <6 weeks, percent of institutions meeting benchmark=0%), percent of patients with adequate lymph node dissection (defined as >14 nodes, benchmark>85%, percent of institutions meeting benchmark=0%), percent of patients with positive margins post-RC (benchmark <10%, percent of institutions meeting benchmark=46%), and 90-day mortality (benchmark<5%, percent of institutions meeting benchmark=37%) fell considerably short. Simply evaluating benchmarks across the province as median performance significantly underestimated benchmarks that were possible by top-performing hospitals. Performance through most bladder cancer quality-of-care indicators fall short of benchmarks proposed by expert opinion. Different methodologies, such as a paredmean approach of top performers, may provide more realistic benchmarking.

Cost of Bladder Cancer Care: A Single Centre Comparison of Radical Cystectomy and Trimodal Therapy.

Radical cystectomy (RC) and trimodal therapy (TMT) are both accepted options in the management of muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). As such, we sought to evaluate the micro-level costs associated with both modalities. All patients undergoing TMT or RC for primary treatment of urothelial MIBC at a single academic centre between 2008 and 2012 were included. Direct costs associated with each phase of a patient's clinical course were collected from the hospital's financial department and physician costs were calculated based on the provincial fee schedule. Costs of radiation treatments were derived from previously published literature. A total of 137 patients were included. The mean patient age was 69 (+/-12). Overall, 89 (65%) patients underwent RC and 48 (35%) were treated with TMT. The RC group had higher rates of cT3/T4 compared to those in the TMT group (51% vs 26%, P < .001). The median cost in the treatment phase for RC was $30,577 (IQR: $23,908-$38,837) versus $18,979 (IQR: $17,271-$23,519) for TMT (P < .001). There was no significant difference between treatment groups with respect to cost of diagnosis or work up. However, the cost of follow up care was numerically higher for patients undergoing TMT compared to RC ($3,096/year vs $1,974/year, P = .09). In appropriately selected patients with MIBC where TMT costs are not prohibitive and are lower than in RC. With increasing follow up time after primary treatment, the cost difference between modalities may be mitigated by the need for bladder surveillance and salvage therapy in the TMT cohort.

Clinicopathological Features and Survival Analysis in Molecular Subtypes of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Molecular subtyping of bladder cancer (BC) aims to capture the biological heterogeneity of this complex disease in order to provide better patient risk stratification. Immunohistochemical (IHC) markers are regarded as promising surrogates to classify BCs into luminal and basal subtypes in routine practice. We investigated the correlation between the molecular subclassification, assessed through IHC, and the conventional prognostic variables of a cohort of 93 muscle-invasive BCs (MIBCs), with a focus on the pattern of muscularis propria (MP) invasion, and evaluated their association with outcome. Basal, luminal, double-positive (DP), and double-negative (DN) phenotypes were identified according to the coordinate expression of 1 basal (CK5/6) and 2 luminal (CK20, GATA3) markers, and accounted for 33.3%, 32.3%, 3.2%, and 31.2% (Scheme #1) and 9.7%, 60.2%, 26.9%, and 3.2% (Scheme #2). There was a significant association between the pattern of MP invasion and the molecular subtypes according to Scheme #2, in that all 8 basal and DN cases, as well as 83% of DP cases, had a non-infiltrative invasion pattern. No consistent differences were observed in terms of OS and CSS between the molecular subtypes obtained through surrogate IHC markers. In keeping with previous studies, we report the correlation between the identification of BC subtypes and the presence of morphological prognostic factors, supporting the need for a comprehensive pathological evaluation, including clinicopathological and molecular parameters, in order to improve the diagnosis and management of MIBC.

Current Status of Perioperative Therapy in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer and Future Directions.

Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy has been a standard of care in the perioperative management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer for years, but several novel therapies are under active investigation. This review aims to provide an update on recent relevant literature and a forward look at the future landscape of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients who opt for radical cystectomy. The recent approval of nivolumab as adjuvant therapy established a new treatment option for high-risk patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer after radical cystectomy. Several phase II studies of chemo-immunotherapy combinations and immunotherapy alone have reported pathological complete responses in the 26-46% range, including studies in cisplatin-ineligible patients. Randomized studies of perioperative chemo-immunotherapy, immunotherapy alone, and enfortumab vedotin are ongoing. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer remains a challenging disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality; however, increasing options in systemic therapy and an increasingly personalized approach to cancer treatment suggest continued future improvements in patient care.

Pathologic response with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and chemo-immunotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

531 Background: Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy (NAC) is established in the management of MIBC. Pathologic complete response (pCR, ypT0N0) and downstaging (&lt;ypT2N0) are associated with long term survival in patients with MIBC. Several trials have evaluated neoadjuvant immunotherapy (NAI) and chemoimmunotherapy (NACI) for MIBC. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of available trials to compare the incidence of pathological response with NAC, NAI and NACI in MIBC patients undergoing radical cystectomy. Methods: Phase II/III clinical trials assessing neoadjuvant systemic therapies (NAC, NAI, or NACI) in patients with MIBC undergoing radical cystectomy were identified through a systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE. Outcomes of interest included pCR and pathological downstaging. A DerSimonian and Laird random-effect meta-analysis was conducted to estimate pooled incidence of events using the Freeman-Tukey transformation. Clopper-Pearson method was used to estimate the associated 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Of the 5357 records initially identified, 28 trials with a total of 2138 patients were considered eligible for inclusion. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was assessed in 15 trials (1535 patients), NAI in 5 (288 patients), and NACI in 8 (315 patients). The pooled incidence of patients experiencing a pCR was 30.91% (95% CI: 26.54%-35.45%) with NAC, 30.92% (23.22%-39.14%) with NAI, and 42.25% (36.6%-48.0%) with NACI. The difference in pCR among these therapies was statistically significant (p &lt;0.05). Similarly, the pooled incidence of achieving pathological downstaging was 40.91% (34.26%-47.72%) with NAC, 38.84% (26.73%-51.64%) with NAI, and 62.88% (57.22%-68.39%) with NACI. Consistently, there was statistically significant effect modification by the choice of neoadjuvant systemic therapy (p &lt;0.01). The results were consistent across different clinically important subgroups (Table). Conclusions: NACI may achieve better pCR and pathological downstaging than NAC and NAI alone in MIBC patients which may potentially be associated with long-term survival. Definitive data from phase III trials are pending. [Table: see text]

Impact of COVID-19 on Management of MIBC: a Quantitative and Temporal Analysis

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic forced oncologists to balance the risk of cancer progression with the immunosuppressive effects of treatment. We assessed if the treatment received by muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients during the pandemic was different from the treatment decision discussed in the clinic and how that changed compared to pre- and post-pandemic. Methods: We retrospectively collected data of patients treated for MIBC in our institute from January to June 2020 (first wave of COVID-19). We assessed if the patients’ treatment plans were changed and compared the proportion across similar time periods (January to June) in 2019 and 2021. Change of treatment was defined as premature termination due to any cause, change of agents/modality and omission of planned treatment. Kruskall–Wallis test was used to compare the proportions over the three time periods. Mann–Whitney U-test was used to compare treatment between any two years. Results: In total, 115, 79 and 110 patients were treated for MIBC in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Treatment received was altered in 30.4%, 32.9% and 20.9% of patients in the corresponding years (P = 0.13). The proportion of patients with chemotherapy changes was significantly different across 2019–2021 (P = 0.01). There was a higher proportion of chemotherapy changes in 2020 (50%) when compared to 2019 (25.5%; P = 0.02) and 2021 (20%; P = 0.009). There was no significant difference between 2019 and 2021 (P = 0.55). No significant difference was noted in the proportion of patients who had altered treatment schedules in terms of radiotherapy (P = 0.10) or use of radiosensitisers (P = 0.71) across all three years. Conclusion: There was a significant impact of the first wave of the pandemic for planned chemotherapy. By January to June 2021, patterns of practice had recovered to those of 2019. The pandemic did not affect radiotherapy and radiosensitisation practice.

A feasibility study of utilizing a cadaveric training model for novel robotic bladder cancer brachytherapy techniques

PurposeThe current standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection. Although this treatment provides therapeutic benefit, it is associated with notable morbidity. Bladder sparing techniques, such as concurrent chemo-radiation, are less invasive and prioritize organ preservation in individuals with invasive bladder cancer and offer comparable disease control. High-dose-rate brachytherapy is an emerging paradigm in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. During high-dose-rate brachytherapy, radioactive sources are introduced to the area of the primary tumor through specialized catheters. The specific placement of brachytherapy catheters results in heightened effectiveness of the radiation treatment with less radiation damage to surrounding structures. For bladder-sparing therapies such as brachytherapy to rival radical cystectomy, these techniques need to be refined further by radiation oncologists. ProcedureOne such modality for developing and practicing these techniques is the use of cadaveric models in innovation-focused clinical training facilities, which provide a simulated sterile surgical environment without the concern for extending intraoperative time. Findings and conclusionsThe objective of this technical note is to demonstrate how clinical training facilities such as the Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education are ideal for the development, testing, and training of novel brachytherapy techniques using cadaveric models. By utilizing a network of similarly innovative training centers, research and development of brachytherapy techniques can be expedited, and novel bladder-sparing treatment methods can be implemented as the standard of care for bladder cancer.

151P Neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Real-world analysis of chemotherapy use and impact on patient outcomes

The optimal management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) consists of neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy. While adjuvant chemotherapy is used, there is a lack of high-level evidence to support this approach. We analysed the effect of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for MIBC in an Australian real-world population, described patterns of chemotherapy use and explored differences between treatment groups.

Which Biomarkers are Useful in the Management of Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer in 2022?

In current clinical practice, the use of biomarkers remains largely experimental for patients with localized disease. However, with continued commitment to prospective trials and collaborative efforts, we are on the horizon of incorporating biomarker use to guide personalized treatment decisions.

The effect of retroperitonealization of ureteroileal anastomosis on perioperative complications of radical cystectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion.

Radical cystectomy (RC) has been considered the standard management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Despite the improvements in surgical techniques and perioperative care, RC is still associated with high perioperative morbidity and mortality. This study aims to evaluate the effect of retroperitonealization of ureteroileal anastomosis on perioperative complications of RC with ileal conduit urinary diversion. This is a retrospective cohort study. We reviewed medical charts of 876 patients who underwent RC between 2016 and 2021. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 748 patients entered the study. According to retroperitonealization of the ureteroileal anastomosis, patients were categorized into two groups (group I without retroperitonealization of the ureteroileal anastomosis and group II with retroperitonealization of the ureteroileal anastomosis). Patients' characteristics and occurrences of any complications and high-grade complications were compared between these groups. In comparing the complication categories between the two groups, fewer patients in group II suffered from gastrointestinal, urinary, and cardiac events (p values were 0.018, 0.021, and 0.013, respectively). Moreover, fewer patients in group II experienced any complications and high-grade complications (p values were < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). The length of hospital stay was also significantly shorter in group II (p < 0.001). RC is associated with comparatively high perioperative morbidity and mortality. In the present study, 61% of the patients experienced at least one complication postoperatively. Retroperitonealization of the ureterointestinal anastomosis may decrease perioperative adverse events of RC with ileal conduit urinary diversion.

CK5/6 and GATA3 Defined Phenotypes of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Impact in Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Molecular Subtyping of Negative Cases.

Introduction and ObjectiveIdentifying patients that benefit from cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy is a major issue in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The purpose of this study is to correlate “luminal” and “basal” type protein expression with histological subtypes, to investigate the prognostic impact on survival after adjuvant chemotherapy and to define molecular consensus subtypes of “double negative” patients (i.e., without expression of CK5/6 or GATA3).Materials and MethodsWe performed immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of CK5/6 and GATA3 for surrogate molecular subtyping in 181 MIBC samples. The mRNA expression profiles for molecular consensus classification were determined in CK5/6 and GATA3 (double) negative cases using a transcriptome panel with 19.398 mRNA targets (HTG Molecular Diagnostics). Data of 110 patients undergoing radical cystectomy were available for survival analysis.ResultsThe expression of CK5/6 correlated with squamous histological subtype (96%) and expression of GATA3 was associated with micropapillary histology (100%). In the multivariate Cox-regression model, patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy had a significant survival benefit (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.19 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1–0.4, p < 0.001) and double-negative cases had decreased OS (HR: 4.07; 95% CI: 1.5–10.9, p = 0.005). Double negative cases were classified as NE-like (30%), stroma-rich (30%), and Ba/Sq (40%) consensus molecular subtypes and displaying different histological subtypes.ConclusionImmunohistochemical-based classification was associated with histological subtypes of urothelial MIBC. IHC markers like CK5/6 and GATA3 that are used in pathological routine could help to identify patients with basal and luminal tumor characteristics. However, a two-sided classification system might not sufficiently reflect the heterogeneity of bladder cancer to make treatment decisions. Especially the group of IHC-double negative cases, as further analyzed by mRNA expression profiling, are a heterogeneous group with different implications for therapy.

Quality indicators for the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the perioperative setting of radical cystectomy: a narrative review.

Background and ObjectiveIdentifying evidence-based and measurable quality-of-care indicators is crucial for optimal management of patients requiring radical cystectomy (RC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). RC with urinary diversion and lymphadenectomy is the standard treatment for patients with MIBC. Preoperatively, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with cisplatin-based combinations improves survival outcomes and is the recommended standard of care for eligible patients. Intraoperatively, lymph node dissection (LND) by, at least, following a standard pelvic lymph node template improves overall- and recurrence-free survival and allows for accurate tumour staging. Avoiding positive soft tissue surgical margins (STSM) should be a main target intraoperatively since they are almost universally associated with mortality. Implementing enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs can reduce lengths of hospital stay (LOS) and postoperative complication rates without increasing readmission rates after RC. Moreover, several studies have shown that smoking negatively affects local and systemic treatment outcomes in bladder cancer (BC) patients. Therefore, smoking cessation counselling for smokers should be an essential part of bladder cancer management regardless of the disease state.MethodsWe performed a comprehensive, non-systematic review of the latest literature to define indicators representing the best evidence available for optimal care of MIBC patients treated with RC.Key Content and FindingsIn this review, we propose five major quality indicators that are easily implementable for optimized management of MIBC patients treated with RC, including: usage of cisplatin-based NAC in eligible patients, ensurance of negative STSM, performance of (at least) a standard pelvic template LND, implementation of ERAS strategies, and professional smoking cessation counselling.ConclusionsOptimal management of MIBC needs to be framed by evidence-based, reproducible, and measurable quality indicators that will allow for guidance and comparative effectiveness assessment of clinical practices; adherence to them is likely to improve patients’ prognoses by a tensible margin. For the treatment of MIBC patients with RC, we identified five essential quality indicators.KeywordsAssessment; bladder cancer (BC); muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC); cystectomy; radical cystectomy (RC); quality

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: single-center experience

Abstract Objective Radical cystectomy remains the most effective treatment for patients with localized, invasive bladder cancer and recurrent noninvasive disease. Recently some surgeons have begun to describe outcomes associated with less invasive surgical approaches to this disease, such as laparoscopic or robotic assisted techniques. We report our maturing experience with 100 consecutive cases of robotic assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy regarding perioperative results, pathological outcomes, and surgical complications. Methods A total of 100 consecutive patients (73 male and 27 female) underwent robotic radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion at our institution from February 2018 to February 2021 for clinically localized bladder cancer. Outcome measures evaluated included operative variables, hospital recovery, pathological outcomes, and complication rate. Results The mean age of this cohort was 60.4 years (range 38 to 82). Ninety-five patients underwent ileal conduit diversion, 5 received a neobladder). The mean operating room time for all patients was 184 min (min time was 160 min) and mean surgical blood loss was 286 ml. On surgical pathology, 2% of the cases were pT1, 35% were pT2, 51+12% were pT3/T4 disease and 17% were node positive. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 16 (range 10 to 40). In no case was there a positive surgical margin. The mean days to flatus were 2.6, bowel movement 2.8 and discharge home 8.2. There were 21 postoperative complications in 20 patients with 4% having a major complication (Clavien grade 3 or higher) and 15% being readmitted within 30 days after surgery. At a mean follow-up of 12 months 3 patients had disease recurrence and died 4 of disease. Conclusions We report a relatively large cohort and maturing experience with robotic radical cystectomy for the treatment of bladder cancer, providing acceptable surgical and pathological outcomes. These results support continued efforts to refine the surgical management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.