Therapy For Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Research Articles

MyD88 Signaling Accompanied by Microbiota Changes Supports Urinary Bladder Carcinogenesis.

Urinary bladder cancer (BC) inflicts a significant impairment of life quality and poses a high mortality risk. Schistosoma haematobium infection can cause BC, and the urinary microbiota of BC patients differs from healthy controls. Importantly, intravesical instillation of the bacterium Bacillus Calmette-Guerin stands as the foremost therapy for non-muscle invasive BC. Hence, studying the receptors and signaling molecules orchestrating bacterial recognition and the cellular response in the context of BC is of paramount importance. Thus, we challenged Toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (Myd88) knock-out (KO) mice with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxylbutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN), a well-known urinary bladder carcinogen. Gut microbiota, gene expression, and urinary bladder pathology were followed. Acute exposure to BBN did not reveal a difference in bladder pathology despite differences in the animal's ability to recognize and react to bacteria. However, chronic treatment resulted in reduced cancer invasiveness among Myd88KO mice while the absence of functional Tlr4 did not influence BC development or progression. These differences correlate with a heightened abundance of the Faecalibaculum genus and the lowest microbial diversity observed among Myd88KO mice. The presented data underscore the important role of microbiota composition and MyD88-mediated signaling during bladder carcinogenesis.

Epirubicin and Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Intravesical chemotherapy is the standard of care in intermediate-risk non-muscleinvasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Different agents are used across the world based on availability, cost, and practice patterns. Epirubicin (EPI), one of these agents, has been used by many centers over many decades. However, its true differential efficacy compared to other agents and its tolerability are still poorly reported. We aimed to assess the differential efficacy and safety of intravesical EPI in NMIBC patients. (2) Methods: This study aimed to systematically review the efficacy and safety profile of Epirubicin (EPI) in the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) compared to other adjuvant therapies. A systematic search of the PUBMED, Web of Science, clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar databases was conducted on 31 December 2023, using relevant terms related to EPI, bladder cancer, and NMIBC. The inclusion criteria targeted studies that evaluated patients treated with EPI following the transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) for NMIBC and compared oncological outcomes such as recurrence and progression with other adjuvant therapies, including Mitomycin C (MMC), Gemcitabine (GEM), and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Additionally, studies investigating the safety profile of EPI administered intravesically at room temperature and under hyperthermia, as well as oncological outcomes associated with hyperthermic intravesical EPI administration, were included. (3) Results: Eleven studies reported adverse events after adjuvant intravesical instillations with EPI; the most frequently reported adverse events included cystitis (34%), dysuria, pollakiuria, hematuria, bladder irritation/spasms, fever, nausea and vomiting, and generalized skin rash (2.3%). Nine studies compared EPI to BCG in terms of recurrence and progression rates; BCG instillations showed a lower recurrence rate compared to EPI, with limited or non-significant differences in progression rates. Two studies found no significant differences between EPI and MMC regarding progression and recurrence rates. One study showed statistically significant lower recurrence and progression rates with GEM in high-risk NMIBC patients. Another study found no significant differences between EPI and GEM regarding recurrence and progression. (4) Conclusions: EPI exhibits similar oncological performances to Gemcitabine and Mitomycin C currently used for adjuvant therapy in NMIBC. Novel delivery mechanisms such as hyperthermia are interesting newcomers.

The Evolution of Nadofaragene Firadenovec: A Review and the Path Forward.

The intravesical gene therapy nadofaragene firadenovec (rAd-IFNα/Syn3) was FDA approved in 2022 for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) unresponsive to frontline treatment with BCG, and the first gene therapy developed for bladder cancer. This non-replicating recombinant adenovirus vector delivers a copy of the human interferon alpha-2b gene into urothelial and tumor cells, causing them to express this pleotropic cytokine with potent antitumor effects. To provide a historical overview describing how several decades of preclinical and clinical studies investigating the role of interferon in the treatment of bladder cancer ultimately led to the development of gene therapy with nadofaragene for NMIBC. We conducted a review of the literature using PubMed, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov to summarize our knowledge of the evolution of interferon-based therapy in NMIBC. The FDA approval of this therapy represents an important landmark in urologic oncology and several decades of research dedicated to the study of interferon's direct and indirect antitumor properties in NMIBC. The data gathered from the phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials continue to provide additional insights into the precise mechanisms underlying both the efficacy of and resistance to nadofaragene. Nadofaragene leverages the cytotoxic, anti-angiogenic, and immune-modulatory roles of interferon to effectively treat NMIBC that is resistant to BCG. Ongoing studies of resistance mechanisms and prognostic biomarkers have been promising; these will ultimately improve patient selection and allow for the modulation of factors in the tumor or immune microenvironment to further increase therapeutic response.

Abstract 2462: Live attenuated Salmonella ZH9 as novel microbial immunotherapy for the treatment of bladder cancer

Abstract Microbial immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been the standard-of-care for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) for over 30 years. Today, global demand for BCG exceeds supply, leaving many patients untreated. BCG is associated with high disease recurrence and presents high treatment burden for patients. There remains therefore significant unmet need for novel therapeutic approaches for NMIBC and we sought to establish the utility of the live-attenuated Salmonella enterica Typhi ZH9 as a more effective microbial immunotherapy. Efficacy of ZH9 was established in orthotopic, syngeneic, mouse MB49 tumor models in which animals were treated in the bladder via catheterization, with or without prior subcutaneous immune priming. Immune responses were measured by flow cytometry and Nanostring transcriptomic analyses of bladder tissues. An intravesical dose of ZH9 after orthotopic MB49 tumour inoculation demonstrated significant survival benefit compared to both vehicle control and equivalent colony forming unit (CFU) BCG treatments. Repeat, weekly dosing studies showed a single administration of ZH9 was sufficient for maximum efficacy. To explore the durability of protection, surviving intravesical ZH9 treated animals were rechallenged, demonstrating protection from both bladder and subcutaneous MB49 tumors suggestive of lasting local and systemic anti-tumor immunity. Flow cytometry analysis of bladders showed that intravesical ZH9 treatment resulted in cellular immune response characterised by recruitment of NK cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells with an activated, cross-presenting phenotype, in all cases of greater magnitude than after treatment with an equivalent dose of BCG. Based on observations that pre-existing immunity to BCG has been associated with improved outcomes to intravesical BCG therapy in NMIBC, we explored whether systemic priming with ZH9 benefits local bladder therapy. Systemic prime with ZH9 followed by a single intravesical dose of ZH9 showed a trend for improved survival and will be explored in the clinical setting. This systemic immune priming effect was associated with enhanced local bladder immune cell infiltrates and the upregulation of more than 150 immune response genes in the bladder compared to intravesical therapy alone. These data form the basis of preclinical package accepted by the FDA for a Phase 1/1b study evaluating the safety, pharmacology, and clinical effect of ZH9 treatment in patients with NMIBC, currently recruiting patients. The investigation includes thorough translational and biomarker studies to delve into the mechanism of action of ZH9 and explore patient stratification approaches. By easing the treatment burden on patients, lowering healthcare costs, and featuring a scalable manufacturing process, ZH9 has the potential to revolutionize the treatment paradigm in NMIBC and reshape the patient journey. Citation Format: Nicholas Glanville, Oluwatobiloba Oke, Claudia Prevosto, Alexandra Sevko, Andrew Scott, Sonia Domingos-Pereira, Lenka Polak, Denise Nardelli-Haefliger, Livija Deban. Live attenuated Salmonella ZH9 as novel microbial immunotherapy for the treatment of bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2462.

Clinical features and oncological outcomes of bladder cancer microsatellite instability.

Excellent anticancer effect for solid tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI)-high by anti-PD-1 antibody has been reported. In this study, we investigated the clinical impact of MSI status in bladder cancer. This study included 205 Japanese patients who underwent transurethral resection for bladder cancer between 2005 and 2021. The prevalence rates of microsatellite stable (MSS), MSI-low (MSI-L), and MSI-high (MSI-H) were determined using molecular testing. We examined the association of MSI status (MSS versus MSI-L/H) with clinicopathological characteristics and oncological outcomes. MSI-L/H tumors were associated with higher T-category in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Additionally, MSI-L/H tumors were associated with a higher risk of intravesical recurrence in NMIBC patients treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) but not with non-BCG therapy. This study suggested that the MSI status might serve as a predictive marker for intravesical recurrence after BCG intravesical therapy in NMIBC and highlighted an unmet need for an alternative treatment in patients with MSI-L/H tumors.

How to reduce bacillus Calmette-Guérin discontinuation in patients with severe functional impairment.

BackgroundSevere functional impairment is often considered a contraindication to intravesical therapy for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). A tailored intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) procedure was evaluated in high-risk (HR)-NMIBC patients with severe functional impairment.Materials and methodsPatients with a Katz Index score of 2 or less and an initial diagnosis of HR-NMIBC with atraumatic insertion of a Foley-type indwelling catheter, bladder emptying, and BCG instillation were prospectively treated; after 2 hours, the bladder was emptied and the catheter was removed (group A).After propensity score matching, 52 patients in group A were compared with that of 52 consecutive patients in group B using a retrospective database, with similar baseline/oncological characteristics and treated with standard intermittent catheterization. Moreover, groups A and B were compared with that of 130 consecutive patients (group C) retrospectively evaluated, with similar oncological characteristics but with a Katz Index score of 3 or greater and treated with standard intermittent catheterization.ResultsThe discontinuation rates were 11.5%, 35%, and 9% in groups A, B, and C, respectively (A vs. B, log-rank score 42.52 [p < 0.05]; B vs. C, 107.6 [p < 0.05]; A vs. C, 3.45 [p > 0.05]). The overall adverse event rates were 38.5%, 57.7%, and 39.2%, respectively (A vs. B, p = 0.04; B vs. C, 0.03; A vs. C, 0.92). The rates of severe adverse events were 1.9%, 1.9%, and 1.5%, respectively, without statistically significant differences. The cumulative HR disease-free survival rates were 63.4%, 48%, and 69.2%, respectively (A vs. B, log-rank score 154.9 [p < 0.05]; B vs. C, 415 [p < 0.05]; A vs. C, 244 [p < 0.05]).ConclusionsA tailored intravesical instillation procedure may reduce BCG discontinuation and adverse effects.

Long-term follow-up of intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel as rescue therapy for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer.

573 Background: Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the first-line treatment for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Unfortunately, disease recurrence/progression is common and associated with increased risk of death from bladder cancer. While radical cystectomy remains the preferred treatment for BCG unresponsive NMIBC, many patients are either unwilling or unfit to undergo surgery. Previous retrospective studies have demonstrated the efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) for treating NMIBC after BCG failure. However, the long-term outcomes of this cohort are unknown. We report 5-year survival outcomes of patients treated with intravesical Gem/Doce after BCG failure. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients at our institution who were treated with Gem/Doce for high-risk NMIBC after BCG failure between 2009 and 2017. Patients received six weekly intravesical Gem/Doce instillations. Initial responders received monthly maintenance instillations for 2 years. Surveillance was performed according to American Urological Association guidelines. Survival time was measured from start of Gem/Doce induction. Outcomes included high-grade recurrence-free survival (HG-RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), cystectomy-free survival (CFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Recurrence was defined as pathologically confirmed tumor relapse in the bladder or prostatic urethra. Progression was defined as recurrence of disease with stage T2 or greater, cystectomy or death due to bladder cancer. Survival probabilities were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: A total of 97 patients with a median age of 73 years were treated with Gem/Doce after BCG failure. Median follow-up was 49 months. BCG failure was further stratified as BCG unresponsive (35%), BCG relapsing (38%), BCG intolerant (11%) or unspecified (16%). 71% and 21% of patients had carcinoma in-situ and high-grade T1 disease, respectively. Complete response at initial surveillance was 74% and median duration of response was 26 months. Overall HG-RFS at 1, 2 and 5 years was 60%, 51% and 31%, respectively. HG-RFS was similar among BCG unresponsive patients and the overall cohort (see table). During follow-up, 18 patients (19%) underwent radical cystectomy and 28 patients (29%) experienced disease progression. PFS, CFS, CSS and OS at 5 years was 68%, 75%, 91% and 64%, respectively. Conclusions: Intravesical Gem/Doce for high-risk NMIBC after BCG failure offers long-term efficacy and substantial durability of response with a high likelihood of bladder preservation at five years after induction. Future prospective trials assessing Gem/Doce are warranted.[Table: see text]

A prospective, single-center, phase II randomized controlled trial to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of exercise during intravesical therapy for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer.

TPS600 Background: Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) accounts for about 75% of newly diagnosed bladder cancers. The treatment for NMIBC initially involves transurethral resection of the bladder tumor followed by six weeks of induction intravesical therapy. NMIBC has a high rate of recurrence (31-78%) and progression (15%). Moreover, bladder cancer and its treatments may affect patient functioning, quality of life, and increase the risk of cardiovascular mortality. Exercise is a safe and effective intervention for many cancer patients groups, however, no studies have examined exercise during intravesical therapy for NMIBC. Bladder cancer and exeRcise trAining during intraVesical thErapy (BRAVE) is the first phase II randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of exercise for NMIBC patients during intravesical therapy. An exploratory aim is to track the short-term bladder cancer recurrence and progression rates for each trial arm. Methods: BRAVE has a target sample size of 66 men or women diagnosed with NMIBC undergoing intravesical therapy with chemotherapy or immunotherapy agents. Participants are being randomly assigned to usual care or exercise intervention, which consists of three supervised, high-intensity interval training sessions/week for 12-weeks. Safety is being evaluated by any adverse events during the physical fitness assessments or exercise sessions. Feasibility will be evaluated by eligibility, recruitment, adherence, and attrition rates. Preliminary efficacy endpoints are cardiorespiratory fitness assessed by peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) at 6-week (post-intravesical therapy) and 3-month surveillance cystoscopy; and complete response (CR), defined as negative cytology, imaging, and cystoscopy and, when indicated, a negative biopsy. CR will be assessed at 3-month and one-year surveillance cystoscopy follow-up. Statistical analyses will follow the intention-to-treat approach. Analysis of covariance will compare between-group VO2peak differences at post-intervention (pre-cystoscopy). Study enrolment started May 24, 2021 and is ongoing. As of October 4, 2021, we have screened 17 NMIBC patients scheduled for intravesical therapy for eligibility; 16 (94%) were ineligible for medical (n = 11), language (n = 3), or location (n = 2) reasons. All the medical reasons included severe cardiovascular diseases. One eligible patient declined due to travel distance to the facility. In the face of a slower-than-expected recruitment rate, eligibility was extended to patients in the maintenance phases of treatment for NMIBC, where patients receive three weekly instillations of intravesical therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT04593862.

Abstract 588: Characterization of oncolytic peptides for local bladder cancer therapy

Abstract Background: Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, with over 80,000 new cases diagnosed each year. While patients often initially respond positively to treatment, it has been found that nearly 75% of patients diagnosed with high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) will develop a recurrence within ten years. Treatment options for recurrent NMIBC are severely lacking. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are naturally occurring molecules that kill bacteria by forming membrane pores and lysing the cells. While these molecules have been explored for their use in oncology as oncolytic peptides, their low potency and limited therapeutic index have hindered further development. However, intravesical delivery of oncolytic peptides for NMIBC could minimize the current issues by enabling high concentrations at the site of action while limiting systemic exposure. The aim of this research project was to identify potent and selective oncolytic peptides and investigate their functional activity in vitro. Methods: T24 (bladder transitional cell carcinoma) and HUC (normal urothelial cells) were purchased from ATCC and ScienCell, respectively. Bladder cancer organoid models were acquired from Dr. Shen's laboratory (Columbia University). Proliferation and cytotoxicity measurements were conducted with alamarBlue (Thermo Fisher), CellTiter-Glo 3D (Promega) and xCELLigence RTCA (ACEA Biosciences). Results: We screened a library of ~40 known AMPs for antiproliferative activity in T24 bladder cancer cells, as well as normal human urothelial cells (HUCs). Based on the results of this experiment, six hits were identified and selected for further characterization. These hits were validated in two patient derived organoid models. While results from the phenotypic screen showed lack of selectivity against HUCs, we further investigated the kinetics of cell death to determine the utility of these molecules as intravesical therapies with short residence time within the bladder. It was determined that Temporin-L exhibited the most rapid kinetics of cell death of the six peptide hits analyzed. Furthermore, washout studies revealed that Temporin-L is capable of quickly killing cancer cells with a lasting effect. Conclusion: We identified several reference oncolytic peptides capable of killing bladder cancer cells. Of these peptides, Temporin-L exhibited unique characteristics in its kinetics of cell death and the potential for it to provide temporal selectivity over normal cells. These unique properties may be advantageous in local intravesical therapy for NMIBC due to the availability to control concentration and duration of exposure. Citation Format: Amy Klova, Hiroe Tariga, Suijin Yang, Anastasia Velentza, Jacek Stalewski, Adeela Kamal, Scott McDonnell. Characterization of oncolytic peptides for local bladder cancer therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 588.

Genome-wide association study on genetic variations associated with treatment failure after intravesical bacillus Calmette–Guérin therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

e17000 Background: Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) instillation is a key therapy to manage non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, intravesical BCG therapy fails in approximately half of patients, leading to recurrence and progression. We aimed to reveal the genetic variations associated with treatment failure after intravesical BCG therapy for NMIBC. Methods: This study included 91 Japanese patients treated with BCG instillation for NMIBC. Genomic DNA was obtained from patient whole blood samples, and a genome-wide association study and genotyping for target regions were performed. The association between genetic variation and treatment failure was analyzed by genome-wide association in 44 patients as the discovery cohort. As a validation study, candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined among 47 patients in the distinct cohort. Results: The genome-wide association study indicated 19 candidate SNPs associated with BCG failure. Consistent results were obtained in six of these SNPs in the validation cohort. Following the combinational use of validated SNPs, 2-gene (rs73520681 and rs61094339) and 4-gene (rs4250, rs11894207, rs73520681, and rs61094339) models successfully predicted treatment failure after intravesical BCG therapy. Conclusions: This study showed that several SNPs were associated with outcome after intravesical BCG therapy in a Japanese population with NMIBC. The combinational use of these SNPs may have value in clinical applications, although this should be confirmed in future studies.

Germline DNA copy number polymorphism to predict the efficacy of BCG therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

431 Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) intravesical instillation is the most effective immunotherapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), however there are few reliable markers to elucidate the efficacy of BCG therapy. Germline copy number polymorphisms (CNPs) are expected to affect various diseases including human malignancies, but the significance of CNPs in NMIBC treated with BCG therapy remains unclear. FAM81A located on 15q22.2 was reported as one of tumor-associated ETS shared target genes in prostate cancer. PCSK6 located on 15q26.3 was reported to regulate proliferation and tumor progression in several cancers. The purpose of this study is to determine the prognostic value of CNPs for NMIBC treated with BCG therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report to confirm CNPs as a potential biomarker for assessing the efficacy of immunotherapy. Methods: Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was performed to search for candidate whole genome-wide CNPs related to NMIBC susceptibility. Next, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was carried out to evaluate the effect of BCG therapy for 57 Japanese patients with NMIBC treated with BCG intravesical instillation. Results: Eleven CNPs were associated with NMIBC risk in array CGH. FAM81A and PCSK6 copy number according to those CNPs examined showed significant relationship with disease progression in NMIBC treated with BCG. The means of the relative copy numbers of patients with CNP and those without it were 1.58 and 2.10 for FAM81A ( P &lt; 0.0001), and 1.06 and 1.80 for PCSK6 ( P &lt; 0.0001), respectively. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that FAM81A ( P = 0.0022), and PCSK6 ( P = 0.0147) copy number had a significant effect on progression-free survival. In multivariate analyses, FAM81A copy number was an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival ( P = 0.0419, RR = 7.59, 95% CI, 1.07–153.42). The combination of FAM81A or PCSK6 CNP was the most significant prognostic biomarker to predict the efficacy of BCG therapy for NMIBC ( P = 0.0002). Conclusions: Germline DNA CNPs may be a potential new biomarker for estimating the efficacy of BCG therapy in Japanese patients with NMIBC.

Intravesical Treatment with Electro-Mediated Administration of Mytomicin C as Prophylaxis for Intermediate and High-Risk Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Retrospective Multicenter Study

Background: Topical therapy of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is based on immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and chemotherapy administered by passive instillation, but an active drug administration achieves a better concentration of the drugs in the bladder. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of electromotive drug administration (EMDA) of mitomycin C (EMDA/MMC) in intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC patients 6 months after the end of induction treatment. Materials and Methods: Sixty-five patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed NMIBC, with a complete transurethral resection of all visible tumors underwent EMDA/MMC. Primary endpoint was the proportion of responders at 3 or 6 months. Results: Data on follow-up were available for 62 subjects at 3 months and 45 at 6 months. EMDA was effective in intermediate- and high-risk patients: because of the small number of cases no conclusions can be drawn on the efficacy in the low-risk group. No difference in the response to treatment between intermediate- (83.3%) and high-risk (84%) patients could be seen. Conclusions: EMDA/MMC is a useful technique for an effective and safe treatment of primary and recurrent NMIBC, and a valuable therapeutic option in intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC patients.

The impact of gender on oncologic outcomes of bladder cancer.

The purpose of this article is to review the current literature on the impact of gender on oncologic outcomes of bladder cancer (BCa). Women are more likely to experience disease recurrence, progression, and/or death across all disease states. Furthermore, women are less likely to respond to intravesical therapy for nonmuscle invasive BCa. These disparities are explained by several hypotheses such as differential exposure to environmental carcinogens, hormonal factors, and/or disease management. Additionally, it has been shown that women suffer from delays in diagnosis because of inefficiencies in healthcare delivery. On genomic analyses, women were found to be more likely to harbor basal subtypes of BCa compared with men. A steadily growing body of evidence reveals that women present with more advanced BCa and have stage-for-stage worse outcome compared with men. The underlying mechanisms for this gender difference are multifactorial. Further studies are needed to elucidate the molecular underpinning of this gender-gap and subsequently explore potential novel gender-specific management strategies.

Clinical Research on the Postoperative Recurrence of Non Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Background: Bladder cancer is a common malignant tumor in the urinary system, in which non muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is the most common. The recurrence rate of the patients after operation is high, which has a serious impact on the physical and mental health of the patients. Therefore, how to reduce the recurrence rate of NMIBC patients is the focus of clinical research.&#x0D; Objectives: To study the recurrent factor of NMIBC after surgery for promotion of therapeutic efficacy.&#x0D; Methods: Retrospective analysis of one hundred patients of carcinoma of urinary bladder were consecutively enrolled and data on gender, age, tumor stage, tumor grade, tumor size, tumor configuration, multiplicity, date of surgery, tumor histology, recurrence history, resident area, frequency of tumor recurrence, follow-up history as screening target to analyze by Cox proportional-risk model, and screen dependent factor which can be used to predict tumor recurrent risk after surgery.&#x0D; Results: Tumor size, tumor stage, tumor grade, frequency of tumor recurrence, multiplicity and history of regular follow-up are related to NMIBC recurrence after surgery.&#x0D; Conclusion: Aggregate analysis of these factors can evaluate recurrent risk of NMIBC and it is significant to the therapy of NMIBC.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma following intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer: Results from a multi-institutional retrospective study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic indicators for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) following intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). MethodsData from 402 patients who received intravesical BCG therapy between January 1990 and November 2011 were collected from 10 institutes. The median follow-up interval from transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by BCG treatment was 50.0 months (IQR: 31.8–77.0). Of these patients, 186 (46.3%) had intravesical recurrence during the follow-up period after BCG therapy. ResultsThirty patients (7.5%) were diagnosed with UTUC after BCG therapy. The 10-year recurrence-free survival rates for UTUC (RFS-UTUC) was 87.5%. In univariate and multivariate analyses, the independent predicting factors for UTUC were intravesical recurrence (P = 0.016) and tumor morphology at TURBT before BCG (P = 0.045). The 10-year RFS-UTUC of patients with intravesical recurrence and others, were 80.6% and 95.0%, respectively. The 10-year RFS-UTUC of patients with papillary pedunculated tumors and nonpapillary or nonpedunculated were 96.1% and 84.6%, respectively. ConclusionsThe frequency of UTUC in patients with NMIBC after BCG therapy is not negligible. Two independent predicting factors (intravesical recurrence and nonpapillary nonpedunculated at TURBT before BCG) were identified for UTUC. These results might be useful to predict UTUC after BCG therapy for NMIBC.

Oncological outcomes of intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel for select patients with high grade recurrent NMIBC.

4546 Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) unresponsive patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) who prefer bladder preservation over Radical Cystectomy (RC) or are poor surgical candidates may be offered intravesical therapies. 2nd line intravesical Gemcitabine (GEM) combined with Docetaxel (DOCE) has been offered at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH). Our objective was to evaluate JHH experience with GEM/DOCE, and specifically to address appropriate endpoints for 2nd-line therapies in NMIBC. Methods: 33 patients who received full induction courses of GEM/DOCE since 2011, per the protocol adapted from Michael O’Donnell at U. Iowa, were identified in the IRB-approved JHH NMIBC database. Multivariable logistic regression determined factors associated with LG and HG recurrence. Cox proportional hazard models evaluated risk factors for disease free survival (DFS) and HG recurrence-free survival (HG-RFS). Results: Median DFS was 6.5 months with 42% 1-year and 24% 2-year DFS. Median HG-RFS was 17.1 months with 56% 1-year and 42% 2- year HG-RFS. Median HG-RFS among patients who initiated GEM/DOCE with HG pathology was 15.7 months, with 51% 1-year HG-RFS and 34% 2-year HG-RFS. Within initial HG-NMIBC presentation, 46% (13/28) had HG recurrence. 80% (4/5) of patients with initial LgTa had LG recurrence and 20% (1/5) had HG recurrence. There were no significant predictors for HG-RFS or DFS. There were 5 LG recurrences, and 16 HG recurrences, with 6 progressions among these. 7 patients underwent RC at a median of 14.9 months. Conclusions: GEM/DOCE is a well-tolerated alternative to immediate RC for highly selected patients with HG-NMIBC. As anticipated, including LG recurrence as an endpoint made GEM/DOCE appear less efficacious. However, since standard of care for LG recurrence is further intravesical therapy and recurrence does not result in worse cancer outcomes, it may not be an appropriate endpoint. Future studies of 2nd line therapies for NMIBC should identify endpoints based on clinically meaningful outcomes of interest.

A Single Intravesical Instillation of VAX014 Inhibits Orthotopic Superficial Bladder Tumor Implantation to Increase Survival.

VAX014 minicells (VAX014) have been previously characterized as an integrin-specific oncolytic biotherapeutic agent. The present study was designed to evaluate the potential of VAX014 as an immediate post-operative intravesical adjuvant therapy in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The ability of VAX014 to kill a panel of dissociated urothelial carcinoma cell lines was tested in vitro. In vivo experiments were conducted using a single intravesical dose of VAX014 in the anti-implantation variation of the MB49 syngeneic orthotopic bladder cancer model with tumor implantation and overall survival rates serving as study endpoints. VAX014 rapidly killed dissociated urothelial carcinoma cells, while single dose in vivo pharmacology studies demonstrated the dose-dependent ability of VAX014 to prevent tumor implantation and development, ultimately resulting in a significant survival advantage compared to controls. These results suggest that VAX014 holds potential as an immediate post-operative adjuvant therapy in NMIBC.

The clinical value of PSA increase during intravesical adjuvant therapy for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA), Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) increase after intravesical BCG has been reported. The need of prostate biopsy in these patients is object of debate. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of intravesical therapy on PSA after transurethral resection (TUR) of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Patients undergoing intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy for NMIBC were entered. PSA was measured before TUR, before the first and after the sixth instillation, 30 and 90 days after the last instillation. Patients with PSA ≥4 ng/ml or palpable prostate nodule were excluded. Out of 130 patients, 105 were evaluable. PSA increase (mean: 7.15 ng/ml) was detected after TUR and before intravesical therapy in 14 patients (13.3%). Of the remaining 91 patients, 65 (71.4%) received chemotherapy and 26 (28.6%) BCG. Median PSA before and during therapy was 1.80 and 1.97 ng/ml, with a 36% median increase in 66 patients (72.5%) (p = 0.13). No statistically significant difference emerged between chemotherapy and BCG (p = 0.22). PSA higher than 4 ng/ml was detected in six (6.3%) and two (2.1%) patients after chemotherapy and BCG, respectively, and was no more evident at 90 days. PSA increase due to intravesical therapy is rare and usually not clinically significant. PSA rising above 4 ng/ml during intravesical treatment was evident only in 8% of patients. PSA before TUR should be available and considered as the basal value. Elevated PSA detected during therapy should be monitored and biopsy proposed only if persisting more than 3 months after the end.

B24 - Long-term risk of upper urinary tract recurrence after organ-preserving therapy of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer

B24 - Long-term risk of upper urinary tract recurrence after organ-preserving therapy of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer

Editorial Comment

For the urologic oncology community, the massive unmet need for therapeutics in bladder cancer throughout the disease spectrum is widely recognized. For patients with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), this issue is best illustrated by the following: 3 drug approvals in 30 years, in contrast to 5 new drugs approved for castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer in the last 3 years. There are many reasons for this dismal performance, including limited interest by big (and little) pharma and a rather poor track record of completion of clinical trials in urothelial cancer. NMIBC is inherently problematic to study in the context of clinical trials in no small part because of a lack of consensus on trial end points both from a clearly clinical and regulatory perspective. The present report summarizes the work at a joint Food and Drug Administration and American Urological Association meeting, whose goal was to reach some consensus on potential trial designs and end points, to “jump start” efforts for the development of novel therapeutics. The focus, appropriately, was on both high-risk NMIBC and BCG-refractory carcinoma in situ (CIS). For the latter setting, there appeared to be broad consensus that there is no standard comparator for a randomized trial, and perhaps of more importance, that an initial complete response rate of 40%-50% at 6 months and a durable response rate of at least 30% for 18-24 months, with the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval excluding 20% could be clinically meaningful – which I interpret to mean as a potentially approvable endpoint. With respect to trial design for patients with high-risk NMIBC, there was consensus that the preferred primary endpoint for these trials should be time to event, using failure to achieve a complete response in patients with CIS and recurrence in patients with CIS or papillary disease as the events. This joint effort of the American Urological Association and Food and Drug Administration is encouraging but requires follow-up action from the urologic oncology community to “encourage” our colleagues in pharma to explore this area of unmet need with renewed enthusiasm, especially given a potential window of opportunity for drug development in trials with end points that are more broadly accepted, which could potentially lead to regulatory approval. Clinical Trial Design for the Development of New Therapies for Nonmuscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: Report of a Food and Drug Administration and American Urological Association Public WorkshopUrologyVol. 83Issue 2PreviewTo summarize the discussion at a public workshop, cosponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Urological Association, reviewing potential trial designs for the development of new therapies for non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). There have been only 3 drug approvals for NMIBC in the last 30 years, and product development for this disease has been stymied by difficulties in trial design and patient accrual. Full-Text PDF