Trends in stage-specific incidence rates for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in the United States: 1988 to 2006

Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries

This article presents global cancer statistics by world region for the year 2022 based on updated estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). There were close to 20 million new cases of cancer in the year 2022 (including nonmelanoma skin cancers [NMSCs]) alongside 9.7 million deaths from cancer (including NMSC). The estimates suggest that approximately one in five men or women develop cancer in a lifetime, whereas around one in nine men and one in 12 women die from it. Lung cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer in 2022, responsible for almost 2.5 million new cases, or one in eight cancers worldwide (12.4% of all cancers globally), followed by cancers of the female breast (11.6%), colorectum (9.6%), prostate (7.3%), and stomach (4.9%). Lung cancer was also the leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths (18.7%), followed by colorectal (9.3%), liver (7.8%), female breast (6.9%), and stomach (6.8%) cancers. Breast cancer and lung cancer were the most frequent cancers in women and men, respectively (both cases and deaths). Incidence rates (including NMSC) varied from four-fold to five-fold across world regions, from over 500 in Australia/New Zealand (507.9 per 100,000) to under 100 in Western Africa (97.1 per 100,000) among men, and from over 400 in Australia/New Zealand (410.5 per 100,000) to close to 100 in South-Central Asia (103.3 per 100,000) among women. The authors examine the geographic variability across 20 world regions for the 10 leading cancer types, discussing recent trends, the underlying determinants, and the prospects for global cancer prevention and control. With demographics-based predictions indicating that the number of new cases of cancer will reach 35 million by 2050, investments in prevention, including the targeting of key risk factors for cancer (including smoking, overweight and obesity, and infection), could avert millions of future cancer diagnoses and save many lives worldwide, bringing huge economic as well as societal dividends to countries over the forthcoming decades.

Enhancing RECK Expression Through miR-21 Inhibition: A Promising Strategy for Bladder Carcinoma Control

Bladder carcinoma (BC) is the tenth most frequent malignancy worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite recent treatment advances, high-grade BC and muscle-invasive BC present with significant progression and recurrence rates, urging the need for alternative treatments. The microRNA-21 (miR-21) has superexpression in many malignancies and is associated with cellular invasion and progression. One of its mechanisms of action is the regulation of RECK, a tumor suppressor gene responsible for inhibiting metalloproteinases, including MMP9. In a high-grade urothelial cancer cell line, we aimed to assess if miR-21 downregulation would promote RECK expression and decrease MMP9 expression. We also evaluated cellular migration and proliferation potential by inhibition of this pathway. In a T24 cell line, we inhibited miR-21 expression by transfection of a specific microRNA inhibitor (anti-miR-21). There were also control and scramble groups, the last with a negative microRNA transfected. After the procedure, we performed a genetic expression analysis of miR-21, RECK, and MMP9 through qPCR. Migration, proliferation, and protein expression were evaluated via wound healing assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence.After anti-miR-21 transfection, miR-21 expression decreased with RECK upregulation and MMP9 downregulation. The immunofluorescence assay showed a significant increase in RECK protein expression (p < 0.0001) and a decrease in MMP9 protein expression (p = 0.0101). The anti-miR-21 transfection significantly reduced cellular migration in the wound healing assay (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, in the colony formation assay, the anti-miR-21 group demonstrated reduced cellular proliferation (p = 0.0008), also revealed in the cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry (p = 0.0038). Our results corroborate the hypothesis that miR-21 is associated with BC cellular migration and proliferation, revealing its potential as a new effective treatment for this pathology.

Practical Guide to VI-RADS: MRI Protocols, Lesion Characterization, and Pitfalls

Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer (BC), accounting for approximately 90% of all cases. Evaluating the depth of tumor invasion in the bladder wall (tumor staging) is essential for determining the treatment and prognosis in patients with BC. Neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical cystectomy is the most common treatment of localized muscle-invasive BC (MIBC). Therefore, it is vital to differentiate non-MIBC from MIBC. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is the reference standard to determine the extent of tumor invasion into the bladder wall through tissue sampling. However, this diagnostic and therapeutic method may not adequately sample the muscularis propria, leading to a higher risk of residual disease, early recurrence, and tumor understaging in approximately 50% of patients during the initial TURBT. Multiparametric MRI can overcome some of the limitations of TURBT when evaluating BC, particularly regarding tumor staging. In this context, the Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) classification was developed to establish standards for bladder multiparametric MRI and interpretation. It uses a 5-point scale to assess the likelihood of detrusor muscle invasion. T2-weighted MR images are particularly useful as an initial guide, especially for categories 1-3, while the presence of muscular invasion is determined with diffusion-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences. Diffusion-weighted imaging takes precedence as the dominant method when optimal image quality is achieved. The presence of a stalk or a thickened inner layer and no evidence of interruption of the signal intensity of the muscular layer are central for predicting a low likelihood of muscle invasion. ©RSNA, 2024 Test Your Knowledge questions for this article are available in the supplemental material. See the invited commentary by Hoegger in this issue.

FGFR inhibition augments anti-PD-1 efficacy in murine FGFR3-mutant bladder cancer by abrogating immunosuppression

The combination of targeted therapy with immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) is an area of intense interest. We studied the interaction of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibition with ICI in urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder, in which FGFR3 is altered in 50% of cases. Using an FGFR3-driven, Trp53-mutant genetically engineered murine model (UPFL), we demonstrate that UPFL tumors recapitulate the histology and molecular subtype of their FGFR3-altered human counterparts. Additionally, UPFL1 allografts exhibit hyperprogression to ICI associated with an expansion of T regulatory cells (Tregs). Erdafitinib blocked Treg proliferation in vitro, while in vivo ICI-induced Treg expansion was fully abrogated by FGFR inhibition. Combined erdafitinib and ICI resulted in high therapeutic efficacy. In aggregate, our work establishes that, in mice, co-alteration of FGFR3 and Trp53 results in high-grade, non-muscle-invasive UC and presents a previously underappreciated role for FGFR inhibition in blocking ICI-induced Treg expansion.

Overexpression of MicroRNA-138 Affects the Proliferation and Invasion of Urothelial Carcinoma Cells by Suppressing SOX9 Expression

SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) is important for sexual differentiation, chondrogenic differentiation, and cell proliferation in cancer. It acts as a target molecule of microRNA (miR)-138 in various tumors and is associated with tumor development and growth. In this study, we analyzed the functions of miR-138 and SOX9 in urothelial carcinoma. SOX9 was highly expressed in invasive urothelial carcinoma tissues. miR-138 precursor transfection of T24 and UMUC2 cells significantly decreased SOX9 expression, indicating that SOX9 is a miR-138 target in urothelial carcinoma. Moreover, miR-138 precursor or SOX9 small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection decreased the proliferation of urothelial carcinoma cell lines. To further confirm that miR-138-SOX9 signaling is involved in cell proliferation and invasion, urothelial carcinoma cells were transfected with the miR-138 precursor or SOX9 siRNA. This transfection reduced the proliferation and invasion of cells via the promotion of autophagy and apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. These results suggest that miR-138-SOX9 signaling modulates the growth and invasive potential of urothelial carcinoma cells.

Are we on track for diagnosing high-grade urothelial carcinoma with a minimum quantity of five malignant cells in lower tract specimens? Critical analysis of The Paris System Quantitation Criteria

BACKGROUND

The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS) has gained universal acceptance as the standard for reporting urine cytology requiring at least 5-10 malignant cells to diagnose high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) in lower and upper urinary tract specimens, respectively. These quantitation criteria are still subject to discussion, and this study specifically aims to validate the quantitation criterion of HGUC in lower urinary tract.

DESIGN

The authors reviewed two cohorts of lower urinary tract cases. The first cohort consisted of 100 liquid-based ThinPrep slides with the diagnosis of HGUC having positive histology on concurrent or follow-up biopsies within 3 months. The second cohort was 36 HGUC cases with negative histology on concurrent biopsies and within 3 months. The number of high-grade cells (HGCs) meeting the TPS qualitative criteria were counted under the light microscope driven in a grid-like manner.

RESULTS

The first 100 urine samples showed five cases (5.0%) with three HGCs, three cases (3.0%) had four HGCs, five cases (5.0%) showed five HGCs, and 25 cases (25.0%) had between 6-10 HGCs. The risk of high-grade malignancy (ROHM) in cases with five or more HGCs was 100%, whereas those with three HGCs was 60.0%. The second cohort of HGUC was considered "positive" despite a negative histology.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that quantitation is an essential key to diagnose HGUC. The current TPS criterion of a minimum of five malignant cells in lower tract is robust with a ROHM of 100%. Diagnosing HGUC with less than five HGCs runs the risk of lowering the ROHM.

[Risk modeling based on HER-2 related genes for bladder cancer survival prognosis assessment]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-related genes (HRGs) and survival prognosis of bladder cancer and to construct a predictive model for survival prognosis of bladder cancer patients based on HRGs.

METHODS

HRGs in bladder cancer were found by downloading bladder tumor tissue mRNA sequencing data and clinical data from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), downloading HER-2 related genes from the molecular signatures database (MsigDB), and crossing the two databases. Further identifying HRGs associated with bladder cancer survival (P < 0.05) by using single and multi-factor Cox regression analysis and constructing HRGs risk score model (HRSM), the bladder cancer patients were categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups accor-ding to the median risk score. Survival analysis of the patients in high- and low-risk groups was conducted using R language and correlation of HRGs with clinical characteristics. A multi-factor Cox regression analysis was used to verify the independent factors affecting the prognosis of the patients with bladder cancer. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of HRSM was calculated, and a nomogram was constructed for survival prediction of the bladder cancer patients. Analysis of HRSM and patient immune cell infiltration correlation was made using the TIMER database.

RESULTS

A total of 13 HRGs associated with patient survival were identified in this study. Five genes (BTC, CDC37, EGF, PTPRR and EREG) were selected for HRSM by multi-factor Cox regression analysis. The 5-year survival rate of the bladder cancer patients in the high-risk group was significantly lower than that of the patients in the low-risk group. High expression of PTPRR was found to be significantly and negatively correlated with tumor grade and stage by clinical correlation analysis, while EREG was found to be the opposite; Increased expression of EGF was associated with high grade, however, the high expression ofCDC37showed the opposite result. And no significant correlation was found between BTC expression and clinical features. Correlation analysis of HRSM with immune cells revealed a positive correlation between risk score and infiltration of dendritic cells, CD8+T cells, CD4+T cells, neutrophils and macrophages.

CONCLUSION

HRGs have an important role in the prognosis of bladder cancer patients and may serve as new predictive biomarkers and potential targets for treatment.

Proteomics Profiling of Bladder Cancer Tissues from Early to Advanced Stages Reveals NNMT and GALK1 as Biomarkers for Early Detection and Prognosis of BCa

The high recurrence rate and invasive diagnostic and monitoring methods in bladder cancer (BCa) clinical management require the development of new non-invasive molecular tools for early detection, particularly for low-grade and low-stage BCa as well as for risk stratification. By using an in-solution digestion method and label-free data-independent LC-MS/MS coupled with ion mobility, we profiled the BCa tissues from initiation to advanced stages and confidently identified and quantified 1619 proteins (≥2 peptides). A statistically significant difference in abundance (Anova ≤ 0.05) showed 494 proteins. Significant correlation with stage with steady up or down with BCa stages showed 15 proteins. Testing of NNMT, GALK1, and HTRA1 in urine samples showed excellent diagnostic potential for NNMT and GALK1 with AUC of 1.000 (95% CI: 1.000-1.000; p < 0.0001) and 0.801 (95% CI: 0.655-0.947; p < 0.0001), respectively. NNMT and GALK1 also showed very good potential in discriminating non-invasive low-grade from invasive high-grade BCa with AUC of 0.763 (95% CI: 0.606-0.921; p = 0.001) and 0.801 (95% CI: 0.653-0.950; p < 0.0001), respectively. The combination of NNMT and GALK1 increased prognostic accuracy (AUC = 0.813). Our results broaden the range of potential novel candidates for non-invasive BCa diagnosis and prognosis.

Identification of hub genes in bladder transitional cell carcinoma through ceRNA network construction integrated with gene network analysis

Bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC) forms more than 90% of bladder cancer cases. It brings challenges to the early diagnosis and therapy of BTCC, due to lack of efficient screening biomarkers. We used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) combined competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network construction depending on TCGA datasets to investigate potential hub genes and regulatory pathways associated with occurrence and progression of BTCC. We further used real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to validate the relative expression genes correlated with BTCC. By WGCNA, the gene co-expression module with 11 genes was found corelated with BTCC tumour stage and prognosis after survival analyses. Ultimately, we put 100 highly stage-related genes into the above constructed ceRNA network and then constructed another new network. Among them, all elements in AC112721.1/LINC00473/AC128709.1-hsa-mir-195-RECK and LINC00460-hsa-mir-429-ZFPM2 axes were simultaneously corelated with overall survival. RT-PCR showed that AKAP12 was downregulated in tumour tissues. The hub genes screened out in the present study may provide ideals for further treatment on BTCC.

Development and Multicenter Case-Control Validation of Urinary Comprehensive Genomic Profiling for Urothelial Carcinoma Diagnosis, Surveillance, and Risk-Prediction

PURPOSE

Urinary comprehensive genomic profiling (uCGP) uses next-generation sequencing to identify mutations associated with urothelial carcinoma and has the potential to improve patient outcomes by noninvasively diagnosing disease, predicting grade and stage, and estimating recurrence risk.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

This is a multicenter case-control study using banked urine specimens collected from patients undergoing initial diagnosis/hematuria workup or urothelial carcinoma surveillance. A total of 581 samples were analyzed by uCGP: 333 for disease classification and grading algorithm development, and 248 for blinded validation. uCGP testing was done using the UroAmp platform, which identifies five classes of mutation: single-nucleotide variants, copy-number variants, small insertion-deletions, copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity, and aneuploidy. UroAmp algorithms predicting urothelial carcinoma tumor presence, grade, and recurrence risk were compared with cytology, cystoscopy, and pathology.

RESULTS

uCGP algorithms had a validation sensitivity/specificity of 95%/90% for initial cancer diagnosis in patients with hematuria and demonstrated a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%. A positive diagnostic likelihood ratio (DLR) of 9.2 and a negative DLR of 0.05 demonstrate the ability to risk-stratify patients presenting with hematuria. In surveillance patients, binary urothelial carcinoma classification demonstrated an NPV of 91%. uCGP recurrence-risk prediction significantly prognosticated future recurrence (hazard ratio, 6.2), whereas clinical risk factors did not. uCGP demonstrated positive predictive value (PPV) comparable with cytology (45% vs. 42%) with much higher sensitivity (79% vs. 25%). Finally, molecular grade predictions had a PPV of 88% and a specificity of 95%.

CONCLUSIONS

uCGP enables noninvasive, accurate urothelial carcinoma diagnosis and risk stratification in both hematuria and urothelial carcinoma surveillance patients.

Muscle invasive bladder cancer: where is the field headed?

INTRODUCTION

The standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy or upfront radical cystectomy for cisplatin-ineligible patients. In those who are ineligible for or refuse radical cystectomy, trimodal therapy with chemoradiation is offered. However, with the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and antibody-drug conjugates such as enfortumab vedotin in the metastatic setting, several trials are implementing these drugs in the neoadjuvant setting for cisplatin ineligible patients. Indeed, nivolumab is approved as adjuvant therapy for high-risk muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma.

AREAS COVERED

Clinical trials using ICI, ICI/ICI, and ICI/chemotherapy combination therapies in the perioperative setting have been completed. These clinical trials have demonstrated that neoadjuvant ICI are safe and have encouraging pCR, making them promising treatment options. Neoadjuvant enfortumab vedotin alone and in combination with pembrolizumab is also being studied, and preliminarily to have promising activity. ICI is also being combined with radiation therapy (RT) and early data indicate that ICI combined with RT or chemo-RT may be safe with promising activity.

EXPERT OPINION

Biomarkers are urgently needed to identify appropriate treatment options for individual patients. The use of novel treatment approaches and biomarkers will help shape the future of precision therapy for MIBC and enable bladder preservation.

Individualized prognosis stratification in muscle invasive bladder cancer: A pairwise TP53-derived transcriptome signature

TP53 is the most frequently mutated gene in muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and there are two gene signatures regarding TP53 developed for MIBC prognosis. However, they are limited to immune genes only and unable to be used individually across platforms due to their quantitative manners. We used 827 gene expression profiles from seven MIBC cohorts with varied platforms to build a pairwise TP53-derived transcriptome signature, 13 gene pairs (13-GPs). Since the 13-GPs model is a single sample prognostic predictor, it can be applied individually in practice and is applicable to any gene-expression platforms without specific normalization requirements. Survival difference between high-risk and low-risk patients stratified by the 13-GPs test was statistically significant (HR range: 2.26-2.76, all P < .0001). Discovery and validation sets showed that the 13-GPs was an independent prognostic factor after adjusting other clinical features (HR range: 2.21-2.82, all P < .05). Moreover, it was a potential supplement to the consensus molecular classification of MIBC to further stratify the LumP subtype (patients with better prognoses). High- and low-risk patients by the 13-GPs model presented distinct immune microenvironment and DDR mutation rates, suggesting that it might have the potential for immunotherapy. Being a general approach to other cancer types, this study demonstrated how we integrated gene variants with pairwise gene panels to build a single sample prognostic test in translational oncology.

PemBla: A Phase 1 study of intravesical pembrolizumab in recurrent non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the anti-PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab as a potential agent for use in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) by conducting a Phase 1 safety run-in study to assess the safety and tolerability of intravesical pembrolizumab after transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT).

Patients and methods

Eligible patients had recurrent NMIBC for which adjuvant treatment post TURBT was a reasonable treatment option, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) 0-1 and adequate end-organ function. Pembrolizumab was administered by intravesical instillation once weekly for a total of six doses. Intra-patient dose escalation was performed in three paired patient cohorts with doses starting at 50 mg and increasing through 100 mg to a maximum of 200 mg. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03 with dose limiting toxicity (DLT) defined as a clinically significant, drug-related, Grade 4 haematological or Grade 3 or higher non-haematological toxicity occurring within 7 days of administration of the first treatment at a given dose for that patient.

Results

Six patients were treated with no DLTs seen during dose escalation. Drug-related AEs were of low grade and included dysuria and fatigue. All patients completed six doses of treatment as planned. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assays did not detect any pembrolizumab in the serum following repeated intravesical administration, and no changes in peripheral immune cell populations were observed.

Conclusions

Administration of intravesical pembrolizumab was well tolerated and did not raise any safety concerns in patients with NMIBC following TURBT. There was no evidence of systemic absorption or systemic immune effects following intravesical administration. Further studies are required to assess whether intravesical administration has anti-tumour activity.

Evaluation of toxicities for intravesical drugs in phase 1 bladder cancer trials

BACKGROUND

Improving clinical trial design is important for optimizing approval of safe and effective drugs. Phase 1 clinical trials seek to determine phase 2 doses by investigating predefined dose-limiting toxicities. Traditional definitions of dose-limiting toxicity may not be applicable to intravesical therapies for bladder cancer. This study compared the frequency of dose-limiting toxicities and serious adverse events in bladder cancer trials for intravesical therapies to other routes of administration.

METHODS

Studies were abstracted from ClinicalTrials.gov and reconciled with a PubMed search. Primary and secondary end points were predefined before data abstraction, and the primary end point was subject-level dose-limiting toxicity rate. Fisher exact tests were performed with p < .05 designated as significant.

RESULTS

Eighteen intravesical studies and 24 studies with other routes of administration (the per os/intravenous/intramuscular [PO/IV/IM] group) were identified. Dose-limiting toxicities were reported in 38.9% of intravesical studies, affecting 3.29% of subjects, compared with 30.0% of PO/IV/IM studies representing 4.19% of subjects (p = .52 for study-level and p = .60 for subject-level comparisons). Serious adverse events occurred in 53.9% of intravesical studies in 10.3% of subjects versus 91.0% of studies reporting serious adverse events affecting 41.4% of subjects in the PO/IV/IM group (p = .03 for subject-level and p < .0001 for study-level comparisons).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no difference in subject-level dose-limiting toxicity rate between intravesical and PO/IV/IM bladder cancer trials. The serious adverse event rate was lower in the intravesical group. Heterogeneity of dose-limiting toxicity definition may affect interpretation of toxicity in phase 1 bladder cancer clinical trials studying different routes of administration.

LAY SUMMARY

Bladder cancer is a common cancer type that may be treated with therapies that are instilled into the bladder and act locally, called intravesical therapies. This study used publicly available regulatory data from early phase clinical trials to determine whether measures of tolerability used in clinical trials are applicable to intravesical therapies for bladder cancer.

Fascial dehiscence after radical cystectomy: Is abdominal exploration mandatory?

BACKGROUND

Fascial dehiscence after radical cystectomy may have serious clinical implications. To optimize its management, we sought to describe accompanying intraabdominal findings of post-cystectomy dehiscence repair and determine whether a thorough intraabdominal exploration during its operation is mandatory.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a multi-institutional cohort of patients who underwent open radical cystectomy between 2005 and 2020. Patients who underwent exploratory surgery due to fascial dehiscence within 30 days post-cystectomy were included in the analysis. Data collected included demographic characteristics, the clinical presentation of dehiscence, associated laboratory findings, imaging results, surgical parameters, operative findings, and clinical implications. Potential predictors of accompanying intraabdominal complications were investigated.

RESULTS

Of 1301 consecutive patients that underwent cystectomy, 27 (2%) had dehiscence repair during a median of 7 days post-surgery. Seven patients (26%) had accompanying intraabdominal pathologies, including urine leaks, a fecal leak, and an internal hernia in 5 (19%), 1 (4%), and 1 (4%) patients, respectively. Accompanying intraabdominal findings were associated with longer hospital stay [20 (IQR 17, 23) vs. 41 (IQR 29, 47) days, P = 0.03] and later dehiscence identification (postoperative day 7 [IQR 5, 9] vs. 10 [IQR 6, 15], P = 0.03). However, the rate of post-exploration complications was similar in both groups. A history of ischemic heart disease was the only predictor for accompanying intraabdominal pathologies (67% vs. 24%; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of patients undergoing post-cystectomy fascial dehiscence repair may have unrecognized accompanying surgical complications without prior clinical suspicion. While cardiovascular disease is a risk factor for accompanying findings, meticulous abdominal inspection is imperative in all patients during dehiscence repair. Identification and repair during the surgical intervention may prevent further adverse, possibly life-threatening consequences with minimal risk for iatrogenic injury.

Data-driven approach to implementation mapping for the selection of implementation strategies: a case example for risk-aligned bladder cancer surveillance

BACKGROUND

Implementation Mapping is an organized method to select implementation strategies. However, there are 73 Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) strategies. Thus, it is difficult for implementation scientists to map all potential strategies to the determinants of their chosen implementation science framework. Prior work using Implementation Mapping employed advisory panels to select implementation strategies. This article presents a data-driven approach to implementation mapping, in which we systematically evaluated all 73 ERIC strategies using the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases (TICD) framework. We illustrate our approach using implementation of risk-aligned bladder cancer surveillance as a case example.

METHODS

We developed objectives based on previously collected qualitative data organized by TICD determinants, i.e., what needs to be changed to achieve more risk-aligned surveillance. Next, we evaluated all 73 ERIC strategies, excluding those that were not applicable to our clinical setting. The remaining strategies were mapped to the objectives using data visualization techniques to make sense of the large matrices. Finally, we selected strategies with high impact, based on (1) broad scope, defined as a strategy addressing more than the median number of objectives, (2) requiring low or moderate time commitment from clinical teams, and (3) evidence of effectiveness from the literature.

RESULTS

We identified 63 unique objectives. Of the 73 ERIC strategies, 45 were excluded because they were not applicable to our clinical setting (e.g., not feasible within the confines of the setting, not appropriate for the context). Thus, 28 ERIC strategies were mapped to the 63 objectives. Strategies addressed 0 to 26 objectives (median 10.5). Of the 28 ERIC strategies, 10 required low and 8 moderate time commitments from clinical teams. We selected 9 strategies based on high impact, each with a clearly documented rationale for selection.

CONCLUSIONS

We enhanced Implementation Mapping via a data-driven approach to the selection of implementation strategies. Our approach provides a practical method for other implementation scientists to use when selecting implementation strategies and has the advantage of favoring data-driven strategy selection over expert opinion.

High mannose level in bladder cancer enhances type 1 fimbria–mediated attachment of uropathogenic E. coli

Bladder cancer is the 4^th leading cancer in men. Tumor resection followed by bladder instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the primary treatment for high-risk patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) to prevent recurrence and progression to muscle-invasive disease. This treatment, however, lacks efficiency and causes severe adverse effects. Mannose residues are expressed on bladder surfaces and their levels were indicated to be higher in bladder cancer. Intravesical instillations of a recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) overexpressing the mannose-sensitive hemagglutination fimbriae (PA-MSHA), and of a mannose-specific lectin-drug conjugate showed efficiency against NMIBC in murine models of bladder cancer. Urothelial mannosylation facilitates bladder colonization by Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) via the interaction with the FimH mannose lectin, positioned at the tip of type 1 fimbria. A recombinant BCG strain overexpressing FimH on its outer surface, exhibited higher attachment and internalization to bladder cancer cells and increased effectivity in treating bladder cancer in mice. Investigating the pattern of mannose expression in NMIBC is important for improving treatment. Here, using tissue microarrays containing multiple normal and cancerous bladder samples, and lectins, we confirm that human bladder cancer cells express high mannose levels. Using UPEC mutants lacking or overexpressing type 1 fimbria, we also demonstrate that tumor-induced hypermannosylation increases type 1 fimbria mediated UPEC attachment to human and mouse bladder cancer. Our results provide an explanation for the effectiveness of PA-MSHA and the FimH-overexpressing BCG and support the hypothesis that mannose-targeted therapy holds potential for improving bladder cancer treatment.

[Optimal surveillance intensity of cystoscopy in intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the optimal cystoscopic frequency for intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

METHODS

Patients with intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor in Peking University People's Hospital from January 2001 to October 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. Their clinical, pathological and follow-up data were collected. In postoperative 2-year period, the patients were underwent cystoscopy every 3 to 6 months. Depending on recurrence and progression of the patients, we hypothesized three strategies of surveillance intensity in the first 2 years after surgery: model 1: 3-month intervals, model 2: 6-month intervals, and model 3: 12-month intervals. The differences in the numbers and time of delayed detection of recurrence and progression were compared among the three models.

RESULTS

A total of 185 patients were enrolled, including 144 males (77.8%) and 41 females (22.2%). The median age was 68 (59-76) years. There were 118 cases (63.8%) with single tumor and 67 cases (36.2%) with multiple tumor. Of the patients 179 (96.8%) had stage Ta and 6 (3.2%) had stage T1. There were 108 cases (58.4%) with high-grade disease and 77 cases (41.6%) with low-grade disease. During the follow-up period of the first 2 years, 52 patients (28.1%) had recurrence, 133 cases (71.9%) had no recurrence, 11 cases (5.9%) had progression and 174 cases (94.1%) had no progression. Compared with model 1, 29 (55.8%) delayed detection of recurrence in model 2 vs. 41 (78.8%) delayed detection of recurrence in model 3, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.012). The median delayed time of detecting recurrence was 1.00 months in model 1, 1.99 months in model 2 and 4.19 months in model 3, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between mode 1 and model 3 (P=0.001), and between model 2 and model 3 (P=0.013). Compared with model 1, 5 (45.4%) delayed detection of progression in model 2 vs. 8 (72.7%) delayed detection of progression in model 3, and the difference was not statistically significant. The median delayed time of detecting progression was 1.00 month in model 1, 2.00 months in model 2 and 3.00 months in model 3, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference among them.

CONCLUSION

Although providing slightly slower detection of tumor recurrence and progression, compared with 3-month intervals of cystoscopy, 6-month intervals do not result in serious adverse outcomes and reduce cost and pain of the patients, which is feasible in intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Bladder tumour resection weight as a prognostic factor for recurrence and progression in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder treated with BCG

INTRODUCTION

Predicting outcomes of patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) is critical. Here, we evaluate whether bladder tumor resection weight might serve as a prognostic factor for recurrence and progression of HR-NMIBC patients treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).

METHODS

In this retrospective, single-centre study in the UK, we analysed a consecutive cohort of HR-NMIBC patients who have received adequate intravesical BCG immunotherapy between 2009 and 2019. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association of resection weight and established predictors with recurrence and progression.

RESULTS

A total of 187 HR-NMIBC patients were analysed. The median resection weight was 1.4g (range: 0.2-28.5g). Within a median follow-up of 41 months, 58 (31%) tumors recurred and 19 (10%) progressed. Fifty-four patients (29%) died from any cause and 16 (9%) died from bladder cancer. Both the risk of recurrence (P = .007) and progression (P = .019) increased with rising resection weight. On the multivariable analysis, a resection weight of ≥ 2g and ≥ 3g conferred a 4.35-fold and a 9.03-fold increased risk of bladder cancer recurrence (P < .001) and progression (P < .001), respectively. The addition of resection weight improved the C index of multivariable standard prognostic models to a clinically significant extent (+ 3.8% for recurrence, + 4.3% for progression).

CONCLUSION

In our HR-NMIBC patient cohort treated with BCG, bladder tumor resection weight was associated with disease recurrence and progression. Its addition improves discrimination of standard prognostic factors. Measurement may therefore be considered for routine clinical practice.

Bacteria for Treatment: Microbiome in Bladder Cancer

The human body contains a variety of microbes. The distribution of microbes varies from organ to organ. Sequencing and bioinformatics techniques have revolutionized microbial research. Although previously considered to be sterile, the urinary bladder contains various microbes. Several studies have used urine and bladder tissues to reveal the microbiome of the urinary bladder. Lactic acid-producing bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus, are particularly beneficial for human health and are linked to bladder cancer. This review highlights the analysis protocols for microbiome research, the studies undertaken to date, and the microbes with therapeutic potential in bladder cancer.

Unveiling the Molecular Mechanisms Driving the Capsaicin-Induced Immunomodulatory Effects on PD-L1 Expression in Bladder and Renal Cancer Cell Lines

Simple Summary

Over time, capsaicin (CPS) has been considered both a potential anti-cancer and pro-cancer molecule. Hence, the diversity of CPS functioning has already been established. Now, exploration of its application with immunotherapies might open up a new avenue in cancer therapy. Herein, the application of CPS as an immunoadjuvant to overcome the tumor’s immune-escaping mechanisms or to increase immune checkpoint therapy has been approached. In bladder cancer, the interaction of CPS with its receptor TRPV1 increases PD-L1 expression, promoting a tumorigenic effect and also providing a target for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. On the contrary, in renal cell carcinoma, CPS downregulates PD-L1 expression in a TRPV1-independent manner, suggesting a potential application of CPS as an immune-adjuvant in this type of cancer.

Abstract

The blockade of the PD-L1/PD-1 immune checkpoint has promising efficacy in cancer treatment. However, few patients with bladder cancer (BC) or renal cell carcinoma (RCC) respond to this approach. Thus, it is important to implement a strategy to stimulate the immune anti-tumor response. In this scenario, our study evaluated the effects of a low capsaicin (CPS) dose in BC and RCC cell lines. Western blot, qRT-PCR and confocal microscopy were used to assess PD-L1 mRNA and protein expression. Alterations to the cellular oxidative status and changes to the antioxidant NME4 levels, mRNA modulation of cytokines, growth factors, transcriptional factors and oncogene, and the activation of Stat1/Stat3 pathways were examined using Western blot, cytofluorimetry and qRT-PCR profiling assays. In BC, CPS triggers an altered stress oxidative-mediated DNA double-strand break response and increases the PD-L1 expression. On the contrary, in RCC, CPS, by stimulating an efficient DNA damage repair response, thus triggering protein carbonylation, reduces the PD-L1 expression. Overall, our results show that CPS mediates a multi-faceted approach. In modulating PD-L1 expression, there is a rationale for CPS exploitation as a stimulus that increases BC cells’ response to immunotherapy or as an immune adjuvant to improve the efficacy of the conventional therapy in RCC patients.

Geography Should Not Be an "Oncologic Destiny" for Urothelial Cancer: Improving Access to Care by Removing Local, Regional, and International Barriers

Urothelial cancer care is particularly susceptible to geographical health disparity given its complex nature, requiring access to several specialists such as a urologist, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a surgical oncologist, and multidisciplinary care teams. Furthermore, other barriers to care access in underserved areas include travel burden, longer wait times, late-stage disease at the time of diagnosis, cost, type of treatment, less enrollment in clinical trials, lack of follow-up among cancer survivors, and less research funding in this area. Here, we discuss the impact of geographical location on access to urothelial cancer care, management decisions, and outcomes and we reflect on how to address geographical disparities in care delivery.

Prediction of the Immune Phenotypes of Bladder Cancer Patients for Precision Oncology

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common urinary malignancy; however accurate diagnosis and prediction of recurrence after therapies remain elusive. This study aimed to develop a biosignature of immunotherapy-based responses using gene expression data. Publicly available BC datasets were collected, and machine learning (ML) approaches were applied to identify a novel biosignature to differentiate patient subgroups. Immune phenotyping of BC in the IMvigor210 dataset included three subtypes: inflamed, excluded, and desert immune. Immune phenotypes were analyzed with gene expressions using traditional but powerful classification methods such as random forests, Deep Neural Networks (DNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM) together with boosting and feature selection methods. Specifically, DNN yielded the highest area under the curve (AUC) with precision and recall (PR) curves and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for each phenotype ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively) resulting in the identification of gene expression features useful for immune phenotype classification. Our results suggest significant potential to further develop and utilize machine learning algorithms for analysis of BC and its precaution. In conclusion, the findings from this study present a novel gene expression assay that can accurately discriminate BC patients from controls. Upon further validation in independent cohorts, this gene signature could be developed into a predictive test that can support clinical evaluation and patient care.

Trends in the cause of death among patients with bladder cancer in the US SEER population, 1992-2018

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BC) survival has shown no significant improvement. This study investigated the trends in the common causes of death among patients with BC to improve the management and survival of BC.

METHOD

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) (1992-2018) database was utilized to get the data of BC patients. We presented the proportion of six common causes of death in BC patients. We calculated the annual incidence of death due to the six most common causes and analyzed temporal trends in mortality rates using joinpoint regression. The competitive risk model was utilized to analyze the risk factors for death of BC and other causes.

RESULTS

198037 BC patients were enrolled. BC was the most common cause of death (30.62%), followed by other cancers (22.22%), circulatory diseases (20.28%), non-disease causes (11.58%), other non-cancer diseases (8.29%), and respiratory diseases (7.01%). However, the proportion of cases dying from BC gradually decreased from 44.87% in 1992-1996 to 26.74% in 2012-2018. The proportion of deaths due to BC decreased gradually with survival time from diagnosis. Age-standardized temporal trends present an initial increase in BC-specific and other-cause mortality rates. Advanced stage and older age were the most influential risk factors for BC-specific and other-cause death, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Although BC was still the leading cause of death, other causes, especially other cancers and circulatory diseases, gradually became more critical. The management of other comorbid conditions will be a crucial part of the treatment for BC patients, especially for those with prolonged survival and NMIBC tumors.

Registration of Urothelial Tumours in Cancer Registries: How to Improve and Make It More Useful?

Due to the differences in the definition, criteria of inclusion and coding of urothelial tumours (UTs), data of different cancer registries (CRs) are not comparable. The aim of this work is to study current practices of registration of UT in the European CR of the GRELL countries in order to propose new registration rules to correctly describe incidence and survival of progressive tumours like UT. A questionnaire was sent to 91 CRs to assess whether non-invasive (NI)UT, multiple UTs, UTs occurring outside or before the operating period and time between UTs are currently considered in tumour recording and reporting. All participating CRs (n = 42) record a NI bladder UT in sole occurrence. In case of progressive bladder UT, 98% of the CRs record at least one NIUT but 19% don’t record the invasive progression. 17% of the CRs don’t record an invasive pelvic tumour that occurs after a NI bladder UT. 19% of the CRs don’t record an invasive bladder UT that followed a NI tumour occurring outside the zone or period of time. The recording of two synchronous UTs is carried out with a grouping topography for 36% of the CRs. The same analysis conducted on the reporting of the incidence of UT also shows heterogeneity. We conclude that there is an urgent need to define clear rules for the registration of UT.

Survival in bladder and upper urinary tract cancers in Finland and Sweden through 50 years

Survival has improved in bladder cancer but few studies have considered extended periods or covered populations for which medical care is essentially free of charge. We analyzed survival in urothelial cancer (UC, of which vast majority are bladder cancers) in Finland and Sweden over a 50-year period (1967–2016) using data from the NORDCAN database. Finland and Sweden are neighboring countries with largely similar health care systems but higher economic resources and health care expenditure in Sweden. We present results on 1- and 5-year relative survival rates, and additionally provide a novel measure, the difference between 1- and 5-year relative survival, indicating how well survival was maintained between these two periods. Over the 50-year period the median diagnostic age has increased by several years and the incidence in the very old patients has increased vastly. Relative 1- year survival rates increased until early 1990s in both countries, and with minor gains later reaching about 90% in men and 85% in women. Although 5-year survival also developed favorably until early 1990s, subsequent gains were small. Over time, age specific differences in male 1-year survival narrowed but remained wide in 5-year survival. For women, age differences were larger than for men. The limitations of the study were lack of information on treatment and stage. In conclusion, challenges are to improve 5-year survival, to reduce the gender gap and to target specific care to the most common patient group, those of 70 years at diagnosis. The most effective methods to achieve survival gains are to target control of tobacco use, emphasis on early diagnosis with prompt action at hematuria, upfront curative treatment and awareness of high relapse requiring regular cystoscopy follow up.

Clinical behavior and survival outcome of urothelial bladder cancer in young adults

Background:

Bladder cancer (BC) is rare in young adults and therefore natural history of BC is still debatable. This study aimed to determine clinical behavior and prognosis of BC in patients <40 years.

Materials and Methods:

We reviewed patients (<40 years) managed with urothelial BC from 2003 to 2019. Patients with nonurothelial histology were excluded. Clinical behavior and prognosis such as recurrence, progression, and survival were assessed. The recurrence is defined as a newly diagnosed occurrence of BC at previous or new site(s). Cancer progression is defined as an increase in staging or grade.

Results:

Fifty-five patients inclusive of 45 males and 10 females with a median age of 30.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 25.0–33.0) years were included. The median follow-up was 3.5 (IQR: 1.5–7.0) years. Fifty-one (92.72%) patients were diagnosed with nonmuscle-invasive BC while four (7.27%) patients were diagnosed with muscle-invasive disease. Three out of four patients with muscle-invasive BC died of metastatic disease. According to stage and grade, there were 42 (76.36%) Ta, 9 (16.36%) T1 and 4 (7.27%) having T2 stage while 41 (74.54%) low grade and 14 (25.45%) were having high grade disease. Thirty-six (65.45%) patients remained stable, 13 (26.63%) patients progressed, and 6 (10.90%) patients regressed to lower stage and grade. Higher stage and grade (P = 0.0431) and tumor size >3 cm (P = 0.0454) were significant for recurrence, and higher stage and grade (P = 0.0012) and tumor size >3 cm (P = 0.0055) were associated with tumor progression.

Conclusion:

BC in younger adults is mostly low stage and low grade. We should be vigilant in patients with higher stage and grade as it is related with recurrence, progression, and metastatic disease.

Prognostic value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in histological variants of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Purpose

Many studies identified that the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (PNLR) was associated with patient prognosis in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We hypothesized that PNLR could be prognostic in patients with histological variants of NMIBC (VH-NMIBC).

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study included patients with VH-NMIBC admitted at our center between January 2009 and May 2019. The best cut-off value of NLR was measured by the receiver operating characteristic curve and Youden index. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression models were employed to evaluate the association between PNLR and disease prognosis, including recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 243 patients with VH-NMIBC were enrolled in our study. According to the Kaplan-Meier method results, patients with PNLR ≥2.2 were associated with poor RFS (p<0.001), PFS (p<0.001), CSS (p<0.001), and OS (p<0.001). Multivariable analyses indicated that PNLR ≥ 2.2 was an independent prognostic factor of RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI, 1.57–1.83; p<0.001), PFS (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.70–3.21; p<0.001), CCS (HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.96–4.18; p< 0.001), and OS (HR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.96–4.07; p<0.001).

Conclusions

This study identified that PNLR ≥2.2 was usually associated with a poor prognosis for patients with VH-NMIBC.

Demethoxycurcumin induces apoptosis in HER2 overexpressing bladder cancer cells through degradation of HER2 and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract and arising from the epithelial lining of the urinary bladder. Resistance to cytotoxic therapies is associated with overexpression of oncogenic proteins; including HER2, and Akt in chemotherapy resistance of bladder cancer. Various studies demonstrated that curcuminoids, the most important active phenolic compounds of turmeric (Curcuma longa), have anti-tumor activities in a wide range of human malignant cell lines. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin) could repress the expression of HER2 in HER2-overexpressing bladder cancer cells. Among the test compounds, DMC significantly suppressed the expression of HER2, and preferentially inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HER2-overexpressing bladder cancer cells. DMC decreases HER2 level through inhibiting the interaction of HER2 and Hsp90. Our study also indicated that DMC showed additive activity in combination with chemotherapeutic agents, including paclitaxel and cisplatin. These findings show that DMC should be developed further as a new antitumor drug candidate for treatment of HER2-overexpressing bladder cancer.

The Evolving Clinical Management of Genitourinary Cancers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has become an unprecedented global health emergency, with fatal outcomes among adults of all ages throughout the world. There is a high incidence of infection and mortality among cancer patients with evidence to support that patients diagnosed with cancer and SARS-CoV-2 have an increased likelihood of a poor outcome. Clinically relevant changes imposed as a result of the pandemic, are either primary, due to changes in timing or therapeutic modality; or secondary, due to altered cooperative effects on disease progression or therapeutic outcomes. However, studies on the clinical management of patients with genitourinary cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic are limited and do little to differentiate primary or secondary impacts of COVID-19. Here, we provide a review of the epidemiology and biological consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection in GU cancer patients as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and management of these patients, and the use and development of novel and innovative diagnostic tests, therapies, and technology. This article also discusses the biomedical advances to control the virus and evolving challenges in the management of prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, and penile cancers at all stages of the patient journey during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein links hypercholesterolemia and bladder cancer aggressiveness by promoting cancer stemness

Hypercholesterolemia is a prevalent metabolic disorder that has been implicated in the development of steroid-targeted cancers. However, the link between hypercholesterolemia and urinary bladder cancer (UBC), a non-steroid-targeted cancer, remains unresolved. Here we show that diet- and Ldlr deficiency-induced hypercholesterolemia enhances both UBC stemness and progression. Inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption by Ezetimibe reversed diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and cancer stemness. As a key component in hypercholesterolemic sera, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), but not native low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol or metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol, increased cancer stemness through its receptor CD36. Depletion of CD36, ectopic expression of an ox-LDL binding-disabled mutant form of CD36(K164A), and the neutralization of ox-LDL and CD36 via neutralizing antibodies all reversed ox-LDL-induced cancer stemness. Mechanistically, ox-LDL enhanced the interaction of CD36 and JAK2, inducing phosphorylation of JAK2 and subsequently activating STAT3 signaling, which was not mediated by JAK1 or Src in UBC cells. Finally, ox-LDL levels in serum predicted poor prognosis, and the ox-LDLhigh signature predicted worse survival in UBC patients. These findings indicate that ox-LDL links hypercholesterolemia with UBC progression by enhancing cancer stemness. Lowering serum ox-LDL or targeting the CD36/JAK2/STAT3 axis might serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for UBCs with hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, elevated ox-LDL may serve as a biomarker for UBC.

Clinician's commentary: Atypia in urinary tract cytology specimens

At the 18th International Congress of Cytology in Paris in 2013, the "Paris Group" created standardized reporting system/criteria for urine cytopathology. This reporting system provided evidence-based criteria for all the urine cytopathologic diagnosis in aims to avoid atypia being used a "waste basket." The addition of standard classification system greatly helps minimizing atypia diagnosis; however, clinicians, specifically, urologist, are still left without a clear set of guidelines for how to approach atypia. Prospective collaborate work with cytopathologists and urologist can help solve the dreaded atypia cytology pathological report and provide a framework and guidelines on management, providing better care to our patients.

Incidence trends and survival prediction of urothelial cancer of the bladder: a population-based study

Background

The aim of this study is to determine the incidence trends of urothelial cancer of the bladder (UCB) and to develop a nomogram for predicting the cancer-specific survival (CSS) of postsurgery UCB at a population-based level based on the SEER database.

Methods

The age-adjusted incidence of UCB diagnosed from 1975 to 2016 was extracted, and its annual percentage change was calculated and joinpoint regression analysis was performed. A nomogram was constructed for predicting the CSS in individual cases based on independent predictors. The predictive performance of the nomogram was evaluated using the consistency index (C-index), net reclassification index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), a calibration plot and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.

Results

The incidence of UCB showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing from 1975 to 2016. However, the overall incidence increased over that time period. The age at diagnosis, ethnic group, insurance status, marital status, differentiated grade, AJCC stage, regional lymph nodes removed status, chemotherapy status, and tumor size were independent prognostic factors for postsurgery UCB. The nomogram constructed based on these independent factors performed well, with a C-index of 0.823 and a close fit to the calibration curve. Its prediction ability for CSS of postsurgery UCB is better than that of the existing AJCC system, with NRI and IDI values greater than 0 and ROC curves exhibiting good performance for 3, 5, and 8 years of follow-up.

Conclusions

The nomogram constructed in this study might be suitable for clinical use in improving the clinical predictive accuracy of the long-term survival for postsurgery UCB.

Health-related quality of life in bladder cancer patients: general and cancer-specific instruments. Part 1

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Although survival outcomes are the primary outcomes to determine the effectiveness of treatment options, quality of life (QoL) is gaining in importance in addition to classic oncological outcomes. The present review aims to state and critically assess the challenges in health-related QoL (HRQoL) assessment especially in bladder cancer (BC) patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

General QoL-instruments do not address concerns specific to cancer patients or BC patients. Domains, such as sexual functioning, embarrassment, self-consciousness, psychological distress, and urinary incontinence, are not adequately covered by any of the available instruments. With these QoL-instruments becoming increasingly specialized, the general aspects of QoL and possible unanticipated adverse effects are no longer likely to be accurately assessed. Sex-specific requirements have not been properly addressed by these QoL-instruments. HRQoL is reported to be lower in the elderly population, which may be due to their associated comorbidities and limitations, rather than treatment-related issues.

SUMMARY

Due to their specifications, BC-specific instruments need to be used together with general QoL instruments to assess overall well being and disease- and treatment-specific QoL. Assessment of age-specific HRQoL is essential to understanding the QoL burden in each age group. QoL assessment calls for more detailed sex-specific questions to accurately address the HRQoL dimensions in men and women alike.

Discovering Therapeutic Protein Targets for Bladder Cancer Using Proteomic Data Analysis

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer accounts for almost 54% of urinary system cancer and is the second most frequent cause of death in genitourinary malignancies after prostate cancer. About 70% of bladder tumors are non-muscle-invasive, and the rest are muscle-invasive. Recurrence of the tumor is the common feature of bladder cancer. Chemotherapy is a conventional treatment for MIBC, but it cannot improve the survival rate of these patients sufficiently. Therefore, researchers must develop new therapies. Antibody-based therapy is one of the most important strategies for the treatment of solid tumors. Selecting a suitable target is the most critical step for this strategy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to detect therapeutic cell surface antigen targets in bladder cancer using data obtained by proteomic studies.

METHODS

Isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis had identified 131 overexpressed proteins in baldder cancer tissue and reverse-phase proteomic array (RPPA) analysis had been done for 343 tumor tissues and 208 antibodies. All identified proteins from two studies (131+208 proteins) were collected and duplicates were removed (331 unique proteins). Gene ontology study was performed using gene ontology (GO) and protein analysis through evolutionary relationships (PANTHER) databases. The Human Protein Atlas database was used to search the protein class and subcellular location of membrane proteins obtained from the PANTHER analysis.

RESULTS

Membrane proteins that could be suitable therapeutic targets for bladder cancer were selected. These included: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Her2, Kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), HSP90, Transferrin receptor (TFRC), Activin A Receptor Like Type 1 (ACVRL1), and cadherin 2 (CDH2). Monoclonal antibodies against these proteins or their inhibitors were used for the treatment of different cancers in preclinical and clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

These monoclonal antibodies and inhibitor molecules and also their combination can be used for the treatment of bladder cancer.

Survival and Characteristics of Bladder Cancer: Analysis of the Malaysian National Cancer Registry

Background: Bladder cancer ranked ninth of principal male cancer in Malaysia. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and survival of bladder cancer patients in Malaysia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted by obtaining records in the Malaysian National Cancer Registry. Patients aged 15 years old and above with diagnosis date between 2007 and 2011 were included. Death was updated until 31 December 2016. Five-year observed survival and median survival time were determined by the life table method and Kaplan–Meier estimate method. Results: Among 1828 cases, the mean (SD) age of diagnosis was 64.9 (12.5) years. The patients were predominantly men (78.7%), Malay ethnicity (49.4%) and transitional cell carcinoma (78.2%). Only 14.8% of patients were at stage I. The overall five-year observed survival and median survival time was 36.9% (95% CI: 34.6, 39.1) and 27.3 months (95% CI: 23.6, 31.0). The highest five-year observed survival recorded at stage I (67.6%, 95% CI: 62.0, 73.3) and markedly worsen at stage II (34.3%, 95% CI: 27.9, 40.8), III (25.7%, 95% CI: 18.7, 32.6) and IV (12.2%, 95% CI: 8.1, 16.3). Conclusions: Survival of bladder cancer patients in Malaysia was lower with advancing stage. The cancer control programme should be enhanced to improve survival.

Geriatric conditions and treatment burden following diagnosis of non-muscle- invasive bladder cancer in older adults: A population-based analysis

INTRODUCTION

Treatment burden is emerging as an important patient-centered outcome for older adults with cancer who concurrently manage geriatric conditions. Our objective was to evaluate the contribution of geriatric conditions to treatment burden in older adults with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

METHODS

We identified 73,395 Medicare beneficiaries age 66+ diagnosed with NMIBC (Stage <II) in SEER-Medicare (2001-2014). The primary outcome was treatment burden, defined as health system contact days in the year following NMIBC diagnosis. Explanatory variables were the following geriatric conditions: multimorbidity (≥ 2 chronic conditions), functional dependency, falls, depression, cognitive impairment, weight loss, and urinary incontinence. We used negative binomial regression to model the association between individual geriatric conditions and treatment burden while adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS

At baseline, 64% had multimorbidity and median 3 conditions (IQR 0-5). Prevalence of other geriatric conditions ranged from 5.9%-15.2%. Adjusted mean health system contact was 8.9 days (95% CI 8.6-9.2). Multimorbidity had the largest effect size (adjusted mean 11.8 contact days (95% CI 8.3-8.8)). Each additional chronic condition conferred a 13% increased average number of health system contact (adjusted IRR 1.132, 95% CI 1.129-1.135). Regardless of number of chronic conditions, rural patients consistently had more treatment burden than urban counterparts.

DISCUSSION

In this population-based cohort of older NMIBC patients, multimorbidity and rurality were strongly associated with treatment burden in the year following NMIBC diagnosis. These findings highlight the need for interventions that reduce treatment burden due to geriatric conditions among the growing population of older adults with cancer, particularly in rural areas.

Using the SEER-Medicare Data to Assess Incident Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and Bladder Cancer Cases Missed by Cancer Registries

The growing use of oral systemic therapies and transition of some cancer treatments to the outpatient setting makes capturing all cancer case patients more difficult. We aim to develop algorithms to identify potentially missed incident case patients and estimate impact on incidence rates. We reviewed claims from SEER-Medicare 5% noncancer control patient sample to identify potentially missed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and bladder case patients based on diagnosis codes, cancer-related treatments, and oncology consultations. Observed rates of definite missed CML and definite and probable missed bladder case patients were calculated and the impact of missed case patients of these two cancers on SEER 65+ incidence rates were estimated. From 2008 to 2015, the algorithm estimated 781 definite CML case patients missed, increasing the number by 10.7%. From 2007 to 2015, the algorithm estimated 4629 definite and 5772 probable bladder case patients missed, increasing the number by 3.8% to 8.1%. Our algorithms offer potential methods for identifying missed case patients and validating the completeness of cancer registries.

Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries

This article provides an update on the global cancer burden using the GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates of cancer incidence and mortality produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Worldwide, an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases (18.1 million excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) and almost 10.0 million cancer deaths (9.9 million excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) occurred in 2020. Female breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer, with an estimated 2.3 million new cases (11.7%), followed by lung (11.4%), colorectal (10.0 %), prostate (7.3%), and stomach (5.6%) cancers. Lung cancer remained the leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths (18%), followed by colorectal (9.4%), liver (8.3%), stomach (7.7%), and female breast (6.9%) cancers. Overall incidence was from 2-fold to 3-fold higher in transitioned versus transitioning countries for both sexes, whereas mortality varied <2-fold for men and little for women. Death rates for female breast and cervical cancers, however, were considerably higher in transitioning versus transitioned countries (15.0 vs 12.8 per 100,000 and 12.4 vs 5.2 per 100,000, respectively). The global cancer burden is expected to be 28.4 million cases in 2040, a 47% rise from 2020, with a larger increase in transitioning (64% to 95%) versus transitioned (32% to 56%) countries due to demographic changes, although this may be further exacerbated by increasing risk factors associated with globalization and a growing economy. Efforts to build a sustainable infrastructure for the dissemination of cancer prevention measures and provision of cancer care in transitioning countries is critical for global cancer control.

The Interplay between Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Angiogenesis in Bladder Cancer Development

In 2018, 550,000 people were diagnosed with bladder cancer (BC), of which nearly 200,000 people died. Moreover, men are 4 times more likely than women to be diagnosed with BC. The risk factors include exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals, especially tobacco smoke, benzidine and genetic factors. Despite numerous studies, the molecular basis of BC development remains unclear. A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammation, oxidant-antioxidant imbalance and angiogenesis disorders may play a significant role in the development and progression of bladder cancer. The patients with bladder cancer were characterised by an increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the products of lipid peroxidation, proinflammatory cytokines and proangiogenic factors as compared to controls. Furthermore, it was shown that polymorphisms localised in genes associated with these pathways may modulate the risk of BC. Interestingly, ROS overproduction may induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which finally activated angiogenesis. Moreover, the available literature shows that both inflammation and oxidative stress may lead to activation of angiogenesis and tumour progression in BC patients.

Differential gene expression profile between progressive and de novo muscle invasive bladder cancer and its prognostic implication

This study aimed to ascertain gene expression profile differences between progressive muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and de novo MIBC, and to identify prognostic biomarkers to improve patients’ treatment. Retrospective multicenter study in which 212 MIBC patients who underwent radical cystectomy between 2000 and 2019 were included. Gene expression profiles were determined in 26 samples using Illumina microarrays. The expression levels of 94 genes were studied by quantitative PCR in an independent set of 186 MIBC patients. In a median follow-up of 16 months, 46.7% patients developed tumor progression after cystectomy. In our series, progressive MIBC patients show a worse tumor progression (p = 0.024) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) (p = 0.049) than the de novo group. A total of 480 genes were found to be differently expressed between both groups. Differential expression of 24 out of the 94 selected genes was found in an independent cohort. RBPMC2 and DSC3 were found as independent prognostic biomarkers of tumor progression and CALD1 and LCOR were identified as prognostic biomarkers of CSS between both groups. In conclusion, progressive and de novo MIBC patients show different clinical outcome and gene expression profiles. Gene expression patterns may contribute to predict high-risk of progression to distant metastasis or CSS.

25-Year Trends in Stage-Specific Incidence Rates for Bladder Cancer in a Large Statewide Registry

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer (BC) is a common genitourinary malignancy with over 80,000 new cases diagnosed annually and over 17,000 associated deaths. OBJECTIVE: We review 25-years of BC incidence (1993-2017) within the state of Pennsylvania to better define incidence, geographic distribution, and trends over time. METHODS: The Pennsylvania Cancer Registry was reviewed for statewide and component county age-adjusted BC incidence rates and stage distribution. Chloropleth maps plotting statewide and county-specific incidence rates across time were created using the GeoDa statistical package. RESULTS: 93,476 cases of BC were recorded in Pennsylvania from 1993 to 2017. Age-adjusted annual rates of BC over the study interval were stable at 24.5 patients per 100,000 (range, 22.7–25.6). However, annual rates of distant disease increased from 0.5 to 1.1 patients per 100,000 (p < 0.001) with an average percent change increase of 6.6% over the study interval. The annual percent distribution of distant disease doubled from 2.3% to 5.1% (p < 0.001) with a greater increase in women compared to men. Chloropleth maps highlighted growing “hot spots” of bladder cancer incidence in the northwestern, northeastern, and southeastern portions of the state. CONCLUSIONS: While BC incidence in the state of Pennsylvania has remained relatively stable over the past 25 years, a concerning increase in distant disease was observed. Geospatial investigation implicates higher risk regions. Further studies are necessary to delineate the underlying etiologies for these observations.

An overview of patients with urothelial bladder cancer over the past two decades: a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) study

Background

To explore the overall trends of incidence rate (IR), mortality and survival outcomes of patients with urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) over the past two decades.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with UBC from 1993 to 2012 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) 18 database. Baseline characteristics and treatment types of included patients were collected retrospectively. Moreover, the age-adjusted IRs and annual percent changes (APCs) were obtained. Afterwards, we calculated the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for bladder cancer (BC), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality by comparing UBC cases with the general population. Finally, survival outcomes of UBC patients were analyzed and compared.

Results

A total of 220,405 UBC patients were identified, including 167,036 (75.79%) male patients and 53,369 (24.21%) female patients, with an average age of 70.84 years old. Most patients were White (89.85%), with older age (71.67%, >65 years old), lower T stage diseases (78.11%, < T2) and lower median household income (55.37%). When compared with patients diagnosed between 1993 and 2002, those diagnosed between 2003 and 2012 had older age (mean: 71.15 vs. 70.16 years old, P<0.001), higher proportion of men (76.22% vs. 74.83%, P<0.001) and lower median household income (56.69% vs. 52.50%, P<0.01). Overall, the IR of UBC increased slightly before 2003 and maintained a stable trend of about 20 per 100,000 person-years after 2003. Additionally, CVD was recognized as an important cause of death (COD) of UBC patients. UBC patients were 44.5 times more likely to die of CVD when compared with the general population. Furthermore, the 3-, 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates were 0.709, 0.609 and 0.421, and 0.861, 0.831 and 0.789, respectively. Finally, survival outcomes between patients diagnosed in the two periods (1993–2002 vs. 2003–2012) were not significantly different.

Conclusions

The IR of UBC increased slightly before 2003 and remained stable after 2003. UBC patients had higher CVD burden than the general population. Hence, cardiovascular health should be emphasized to reduce mortality after UBC diagnosis. Lastly, survival outcomes of UBC patients in the last two decades showed no significant difference.

Predicting risk of multiple levels of recurrence and progression after initial diagnosis of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer in a multisite, community-based cohort

BACKGROUND

Nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has heterogeneous recurrence and progression outcomes. Available risk calculators estimate recurrence and progression but do not predict the recurrence stage or grade, which may influence downstream treatment. The objective of this study was to predict risk-stratified NMIBC recurrence and progression based on recurrence tumor classification and grade.

METHODS

In total, 2956 patients with NMIBC (<T2) who were diagnosed at Kaiser Permanente Northwest and Geisinger from 1994 to 2015 were identified. Recurrences were annotated for tumor classification and grade. Four risk-stratified outcomes were created based on the tumor classification and grade of the recurrence: 1) any recurrence, 2) intermediate-risk recurrence (Ta high grade, carcinoma in situ, T1 low grade) or higher, 3) high-risk recurrence (T1 high grade) or progression (clinical T2), and 4) progression. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compute 1-year and 5-year risk estimates for each outcome based on initial tumor classification and grade.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 29.4 months, there were 1062 recurrences (35.9%), including 111 progressions (3.8%). The adjusted hazard of high-risk recurrence or progression increased, depending on initial tumor classification and grade: The adjusted hazard ratio was 2.60 (95% CI, 1.62-4.15) for Ta high-grade tumors, 4.74 (95% CI, 3.01-7.47) for tumor in situ or Ta with carcinoma in situ, and 7.14 (95% CI, 4.97-10.26) T1 high-grade tumors. Using Ta high-grade tumors as an example, the 1-year and 5-year predicted rates of adjusted risk of a high-risk recurrence or progression were 4.4% and 7.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The 1-year and 5-year predicted risk of high-risk recurrences and progression increased with higher tumor classification and grade at diagnosis. These granular risk estimates may further inform risk-stratified treatment and surveillance for patients with NMIBC.

Survival of Patients with Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Cancer of the Bladder with Residual Disease at Time of Cystectomy: A Comparative Survival Analysis of Treatment Modalities in the National Cancer Database

PURPOSE: Data have indicated that residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) may be associated with poor outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Analyze differences in overall survival (OS) of patients with residual MIBC treated with NAC + Radical cystectomy (RC), RC alone, or RC + Adjuvant Chemotherapy(AC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients who underwent RC alone, NAC + RC, or RC + AC for MIBC stage cT2-4aN0M0 from 2004-2015. Covariates were balanced using propensity score (PS) weighting. Time to death was evaluated from diagnosis. Weighted cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were created to analyze differences in OS. RESULTS: 8,288 patients were included for analysis, 1,899 (23%) received NAC + RC, 5,529 (67%) received RC alone, and 860 (10%) received RC + AC. Patients were sub-stratified based on pathological staging (≤pT2 or >pT2) and compared against treatment with RC alone. In the ≤pT2 cohort, NAC + RC was associated with a decreased risk of death (HR:0.85, 95% CI:0.79–0.91) and RC + AC was associated with an increased risk of death (HR:1.46, 95% CI:1.34–1.60, both p < 0.001) compared to RC alone. In the >pT2 cohort, these associations reversed, with an increased risk of death seen in the NAC + RC group (HR:1.11, 95% CI:1.05–1.18) and a decreased risk of death in the RC + AC group (HR:0.74, 95% CI:0.7–0.77, both p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with >ypT2 disease after NAC experienced a significant increased risk of death when compared to pathological stage-matched patients who underwent RC alone or RC + AC. Biomarkers predictive of NAC resistance may be important to optimize NAC usage and establish treatment algorithms.

Open radical cystectomy is a reliable surgery with acceptable complication rates in elderly male patients: a retrospective, tertiary hospital-based study

Objective: This study aims to evaluate safety of radical cystectomy (RS)+pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND)+ileal conduit urinary diversion (ICUD) in male patients aged >65 years versus ≤65 years.Materials and Methods: Eighty-five male patients who underwent RS + PLND + ICUD for bladder cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to age: ≤65 years (Group 1, n = 40) versus >65 years (Group 2, n = 45). Data including baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, length of hospital stay, and complications within 90 days of surgery, and Grade ≤ II and Grade ≥ III complications according to the Clavien-Dindo (C-D) classification were recorded. Groups were compared in terms of demographic features and development of complications within 90 day after surgery statistically.Results: The median length of hospital stay was statistically significantly longer in Group 2 than Group 1 [10 (7-17) days vs. 9 (6-14) days, respectively; p < .05]. There was no statistically significant difference in the rehospitalization rate within 90 days of surgery between the groups (p > .05).Conclusion: Our study results suggest that RS + PLND + ICUD is a safe procedure in male patients aged ≥65 years.

Trends in Treatment Strategies and Comparison of Outcomes in Lymph Node Positive Bladder Cancer: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database

OBJECTIVE

To utilize a national dataset to compare outcomes and demonstrate trends in treatment for lymph node positive bladder cancer (N+ BC).

METHODS

The National Cancer Database (2006-2014) was queried for cT2-4N1-3M0 N+ BC patients treated with radical cystectomy alone (RC), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), chemoradiation (CRT), chemotherapy alone (CT), or no definitive treatment (NT). Survival by treatment was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox-proportional hazards regression. Pathologic down-staging was analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. A univariable logistic regression model of treatment by year identified treatment trends.

RESULTS

Among 3241 patients (cN1, 46%; cN2, 44%; cN3 10%), the majority underwent combined chemotherapy and RC (NAC, 418; AC, 591; RC, 567; CRT, 392; CT, 1068; NT, 205). Overall survival did not differ between NAC and AC, but both had improved survival compared to RC. All other treatment groups had worse survival outcomes compared to NAC. Down-staging to pT0 (adjusted odds ratio = 26.39) and pN0 (adjusted odds ratio = 6.88) was higher for NAC than RC. Utilization of NAC has increased, AC and RC has declined, and CRT and NT is unchanged.

CONCLUSION

Combined chemotherapy and RC demonstrates best survival outcomes for N+ BC, with complete pathologic response to pT0N0 after NAC associated with a 5-year overall survival rate of ∼85%. However, there is no significant difference between NAC and AC. CRT is associated with worse oncologic outcomes compared to RC with perioperative chemotherapy, but improved survival compared to RC or CT.

[Immunotherapy in bladder cancer-quo vadis? Update on current trials and developments]

BACKGROUND

Great advances have been made for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma by the introduction of checkpoint inhibitors (CPI). Single-agent immunotherapy with CPIs has been approved for patients with metastatic or locally advanced inoperable urothelial carcinoma who have either progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy or who are cisplatin-ineligible. For cisplatin-ineligible patients, approval is restricted to patients with high programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. For patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) or patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who receive curative therapy, no CPIs have received approval in Germany.

OBJECTIVES

To provide an overview of the current landscape of immunotherapy in patients with urothelial carcinoma.

METHODS

Summary of the therapeutic landscape and resulting challenges based on currently published data using a PubMed search.

RESULTS

In the treatment of metastatic or inoperable urothelial carcinoma, CPIs represent standard treatment. Depending on the results of currently performed trials, an extension of its use to the perioperative setting (neoadjuvant/adjuvant) and to patients with Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) unresponsive NMIBC in the near future is currently being discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Immuno-oncologic treatment using CPIs has become an integral part of the management of patients with advanced bladder cancer. For biomarker-based patient selection and combination therapies, there is an urgent need for further investigations within clinical trial protocols.