Preoperative whole pelvis verus true pelvis irradiation and/or cystectomy for bladder cancer

The role of radiotherapy in urinary bladder cancer: current status

The role of radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of urinary bladder cancer has undergone several modifications along the last decades. In the beginning, definitive RT was used as treatment in an attempt to preserve the urinary bladder; however, the results were poor compared to those of radical surgery. Recently, many protocols have been developed supporting the use of multi-modality therapy, and the concept of organ preservation began to be reconsidered. Although phase III randomized clinical studies comparing radical cystectomy with bladder preservation therapies do not exist, the conservative treatment may present low toxicity and high indexes of complete response for selected patients. The aim of this study was to review the literature on the subject in order to situate RT in the current treatment of urinary bladder cancer.

Clinical significance of DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction and their relation to p53 protein, c-erbB-2 protein and HCG in operable muscle-invasive bladder cancer

DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF), determined by flow cytometry were studied in 118 patients with muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder, scheduled for cystectomy after pre-operative radiotherapy (20 Gy/1 week) with or without systemic cisplatin-based neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The correlation between these parameters and immunohistochemically demonstrated p53, c-erbB-2 and HCG was also investigated. There were 16 DNA diploid and 102 DNA non-diploid tumours. DNA ploidy was not related to the T (all 118 patients) or pN (58 patients) category, occurrence of stage reduction or cancer-related 5 years survival. Patients with high SPF tumours tended, however, to have a better prognosis than those with low SPF TCC reaching the level of significance (P < 0.05) for those patients who had high SPF tumours and received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Fifty-one of the tumours were p53 positive. p53 positive tumours were significantly more often found in TCC with low SPFs than in those with high SPFs. Respectively 12 and 9% of the tumours were HCG and c-erbB-2 positive, without correlation to DNA ploidy or SPF. We conclude that DNA ploidy does not represent a prognostic parameter in muscle-invasive operable bladder carcinomas. A high SPF, determined by FCM, may be helpful to identify patients with chemotherapy-sensitive TCC of the urinary bladder.

A standard dose of radiation for "microscopic disease" is not appropriate

Elective irradiation of sites of potential occult tumor spread is often part of a patient's radiation therapy program. The required radiation dose (D) depends on the probability that occult disease exists (P(occ)), the number of sites at risk (A), the number of tumor clonogens present (Ni), their radiation sensitivity, and the desired control rate. An exponential model of cell survival is used to quantify the importance of these factors. Control Probability = [1 - Pocc x (1 - e-Ni x (SF2)D/2)]A; SF2 = surviving fraction after 2 Gy. Implications for clinical radiation therapy include: 1. Since the number of clonogens in an occult site may vary from 10 degrees to 10(8), Ni is the major determinant of the required dose. The intrinsic radiation sensitivity of the clonogens (SF2) is also extremely important in determining the dose. Other factors are less influential since they vary less. 2. The variability of Ni (8 logs) is larger than the variation in cell number seen with gross disease (1 cm3 versus 1000 cm3, 3 logs). When Ni approximately 10(8), the required dose approaches that needed for small volume gross disease (10(9) cells, 1 cm3). 3. The dose prescribed to elective sites should reflect the risk of occult disease based on the primary tumor site, stage, and grade. 4. Regions where clinicoradiologic evaluation is difficult (e.g., pelvis and obese neck) require higher doses because macroscopic tumor deposits may exist. 5. Relatively low doses (10 to 30 Gy) are often thought to be inadequate for microscopic tumor. However, similar doses have been reported to sterilize microscopic tumor in ovarian, rectal, bladder, breast, and head and neck carcinomas. Relatively low doses should not be discounted since they may be useful in select cases when normal tissue tolerances and/or previous irradiation treatment limit the radiation dose.

Bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is largely a preventable disease; epidemiologic studies indicate that the majority of cases occur as a result of cigarette smoking or occupational exposures. The impact of screening high-risk populations is uncertain, but prompt and early diagnosis is essential for optimal therapeutic results. The management of different stages of disease varies greatly and is currently in a state of evolution. The majority of cancers are superficial, of low malignant potential, and can generally be treated cystoscopically. Few studies have addressed whether intravesical therapy will prevent high-risk patients with superficial disease from developing muscle invasion or distant metastases. Controversy exists as to optimal management of patients with invasive cancers. Improvements in technique and methodologies of urinary diversion have made cystectomy more tolerable for patients. Although cystectomy remains the "gold standard," probably not all patients require it. The careful selection of those patients whose bladders can be preserved is currently being evaluated. Combination chemotherapy for patients with metastatic bladder cancer is very active, appears to prolong survival, and may offer durable remissions to some patients. Whether chemotherapy will permit greater numbers of patients with invasive bladder cancer to be cured and bladders preserved remains to be determined.

Bladder cancer. Advances in laboratory innovations and clinical management, with emphasis on innovations allowing bladder-sparing approaches for patients with invasive tumors

In the present decade important progress has been made in the understanding of the biology and management of bladder cancer. Experimental laboratory models and new investigative tools have revealed potentially important prognostic markers and have led to an improved understanding of the histogenesis of the disease. Advances in the management of superficial bladder cancer (intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy, improved urinary cytology, laser technology, flexible fiberoptic cystoscopy, and photodynamic therapy) have, in some subgroups, improved tumor control while decreasing patient complications. For invasive bladder cancer (invasive of bladder muscle or beyond) improved techniques of cystectomy and radiotherapy have reduced the complications of treatment and may have contributed small but important improvements in cure. A major improvement in the last decade has occurred in objective remission rates with chemotherapy for patients with metastatic bladder cancer. From 20% to 40% of patients achieve a complete remission, and 10% to 20% may survive for more than 3 years. Randomized Phase III trials are currently in progress and must be completed to define the true role of multidrug chemotherapy in patients with metastatic disease and to validate data from the regimens of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and vincristine (CMV) and methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (M-VAC) before any of these approaches to treatment can be considered of proven benefit. Preliminary data from the Massachusetts General Hospital are presented of a potentially effective approach to select patients with invasive tumor for successful bladder preservation. In this approach transurethral debulking surgery is combined with upfront CMV chemotherapy plus cisplatin and 4000 cGy. If tumor is found on cystoscopic reevaluation with biopsy and cytology immediately following cisplatin and 4000 cGy, cystectomy is performed; if not, consolidation by a radiation boost to 6480 cGy plus cisplatin is given. The approach is fairly well tolerated, allows cystectomy without undue complications, has yielded a 88% complete response rate in patients selected for bladder preservation, and resulted in 90% of patients free of distant metastases with follow-up ranging from 6 to 30 months. A randomized Phase III trial with and without neoadjuvant MCV chemotherapy for selective bladder preservation is now under way and accruing well.

Role of planned preoperative irradiation in the management of clinical stage B2-C (T3) bladder carcinoma in the 1980s

In recent years the role of planned preoperative irradiation in the management of clinical stage B2-C (T3) bladder cancer has been questioned by a number of investigators. Much of the confusion regarding the efficacy of combined therapy results from studies that compare the results of treatment of pathological stage B2-C patients treated by cystectomy alone versus clinical stage B2-C patients treated by preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy. Such comparisons are biased because of 1) the exclusion of a large number of pathological stage D patients from cystectomy-alone series and their inclusion in preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy series and 2) the inclusion in the cystectomy-alone series of patients whose clinical stages were less than or equal to T2. The purpose of this paper is to compare the results of treatment in patients with clinical stage B2-C bladder carcinoma following radical cystectomy alone versus preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy. This article reviews the rationale for administering preoperative irradiation, the effect of preoperative irradiation on the pathological specimen (including down-staging, the effect on regional lymph nodes, and radioresponsiveness according to tumor configuration, i.e., papillary vs. solid), the impact of preoperative irradiation on pelvic recurrence and 5-year survival, and the effect of preoperative irradiation on operative and postoperative complications. This paper cites all known literature on the subject in the English language. Data comparing 5-year survival results of radical cystectomy alone versus preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy are analyzed in three different ways: a) retrospective comparisons of historical results, b) comparison of contemporaneous "modern-day" (1960-1980) series comprising 1185 patients who received either radical cystectomy alone or preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy, and c) review of the results of six randomized trials. Preoperative results are also analyzed according to dose level (2,000 cGy versus 4,000 cGy vs. 4,500-5,000 cGy). The data presented indicate that the addition of preoperative irradiation to cystectomy for clinical stage B2-C (T3) bladder cancer adds approximately 15-20 percentage points to the 5-year survival, leading to a survival figure that is approximately half again that achieved by cystectomy alone.

Planned preoperative irradiation in the management of clinical stage B2-C (T3) bladder carcinoma

In recent years the role of planned preoperative irradiation in the management of clinical Stage B2-C (T3) bladder cancer has been questioned by a number of investigators. Much of the confusion regarding the efficacy of combined therapy results from studies that compare the results of treatment of pathological Stage B2-C patients treated by cystectomy alone versus clinical Stage B2-C patients treated by preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy. Such comparisons are biased because of (1) the exclusion of a large number of Stage D patients from cystectomy-alone series and their inclusion in preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy series and (2) the inclusion in the cystectomy-alone series of patients whose clinical stages were less than or equal to T2. The purpose of this paper is to compare the results of treatment in patients with clinical Stage B2-C bladder carcinoma following radical cystectomy alone versus preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy. This article reviews the rationale for administering preoperative irradiation, the effect of preoperative irradiation on the pathological specimen (including down-staging, the effect on regional lymph nodes, and radioresponsiveness according to tumor configuration, i.e., papillary vs. solid), the impact of preoperative irradiation on pelvic recurrence and 5-year survival, and the effect of preoperative irradiation on operative and postoperative complications. This paper cites all known literature on the subject in the English language. Data comparing 5-year survival results between radical cystectomy alone versus preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy are analyzed in three different ways: (a) retrospective comparisons of historical results, (b) review of the results of 6 randomized trials, and (c) comparison of concomitantly treated "modern-day" (1960-1980) series treated by either radical cystectomy alone versus preoperative irradiation plus cystectomy in 1185 patients. Preoperative results are also analyzed according to dose level (2000 rad versus 4000 rad versus 4500-5000 rad). The data presented indicate that the addition of preoperative irradiation to cystectomy for clinical Stage B2-C (T3) bladder cancer adds approximately 15 to 20 percentage points to the 5-year survival, leading to a survival figure that is approximately half-again that achieved by cystectomy alone.

Treatment of bladder cancer with interstitial iridium-192 implantation and external beam irradiation

Although interstitial implantation of invasive carcinoma of the bladder has been shown to be an effective treatment in Europe, there has been little experience with this method in the U.S. During the past 6 years, 14 patients at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with single bladder tumors less than 5 cm and no evidence of carcinoma in situ on random bladder biopsies have been treated by a combination of external beam radiation and iridium wire implant. The iridium wire is inserted by an afterloading technique following tumor exposure via suprapubic cystotomy. Following delivery of the prescribed dose, the sources are removed percutaneously. Three patients with recurrent or high grade T1 lesions and 11 patients with T2-T3A lesions have been treated. With a median follow-up of 22 months (range 17 to 65 months), 9 patients are currently NED, 4 patients have died of disease, and 1 patient has died of intercurrent disease. There have been two isolated bladder recurrences, both non-invasive, one having been treated with cystectomy and one being treated locally. In addition, one patient developed regional failure, two developed distant metastases only, and one developed local recurrence following distant failure. The 2-year actuarial local control rate is 84%, with an overall 2-year actuarial survival of 66%. Complications have been minimal. Bladder implantation by this method is technically simple and produces excellent local control with acceptable morbidity.

A comparison of preoperative radiotherapy regimens for bladder carcinoma. The University of Pennsylvania experience

Between 1976 and 1985, 155 patients from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Fox Chase Cancer Center were divided into groups, each of which was treated with one of three preoperative radiotherapy regimens to be followed by cystectomy. Patients initially were treated with 4000 cGy during 4 weeks followed by cystectomy (16 patients). Beginning in 1978, patients received 2000 cGy in 1 week prior to surgery (70 patients). Since 1982, 40 patients were treated with 500 cGy on the day prior to surgery with postoperative radiation therapy reserved for patients with either involved margins of resection, advanced stage or high grade. A fourth group of 20 patients was either not offered or refused preoperative radiation. Nine patients received only postoperative radiation therapy. The 5-year actuarial disease-free survival for pathologic Stages B2, C, and D lesions (T3-4, N0-2), was 63% for those who had received high-dose radiation versus 21% for those that had low-dose or no radiation. Patients with advanced pathologic stage disease who had received greater than 2000 cGy had a reduced rate of local failure (11% versus 27% for those who had received less treatment). Patients with abnormal upper tracts as shown on the intravenous pyelograms (IVP) had a reduced 5-year determinate survival of 23% versus 65% for patients with normal upper tracts. This condition did not independently affect survival, but rather reflected advanced stage. Patients with abnormal creatinine levels had a decreased survival that was independent of stage. Computed tomography was found to have low sensitivity for determining extravesical extension (39%) and metastatic lymphadenopathy (12%). Patients with clinical Stage B2 and C disease (T3) that were downstaged had a 63% 5-year survival versus 18% of those that were not downstaged. The incidence of both ureteroenteral strictures and stomal complications was found to be higher in the 2000 cGy group than in those patients treated with the other regimens. The overall incidence of complications in that group was also significantly greater. We conclude that there is a continuing role for adjuvant radiotherapy in invasive bladder carcinoma to improve both pelvic control and survival. The 500 cGy radiotherapy "sandwich" regimen was equal in terms of pelvic control and survival to the other regimens and showed less overall morbidity. The 2000 cGy regimen was associated with the greatest incidence of morbidity and did not substantially improve pelvic control.

Flow cytometric DNA measurements in paraffin-embedded bladder carcinoma tissue before and after precystectomy radiotherapy

From 1976 through 1983, 48 patients with T2/T3 bladder carcinomas were treated with pre-operative radiotherapy (46 Gy) and total cystectomy. DNA histograms were recorded by flow cytometry (FCM) from all pre-treatment paraffin-embedded tumour biopsies and, if still present after radiotherapy, from tumour tissue from the cystectomy specimen. Five patients were excluded from the study because no DNA histograms could be recorded due to extensive destruction of the cell nuclei during preparation. Thus, 43 patients are completely evaluable. Before the start of radiotherapy, 32 bladder carcinomas were interpreted as non-diploid, whereas 11 were diploid. Non-diploidy of the pre-treatment biopsy was associated with radiotherapy-induced stage reduction (p = 0.13). The survival rates in patients with diploid and non-diploid tumours were 65% and 45% respectively at 4 years (p = 0.13). Although not statistically significant, our results suggest that DNA-FCM may provide clinically relevant information about the tumour biology and response to radiotherapy concerning bladder carcinomas.

Preoperative irradiation with and without chemotherapy as adjunct to radical cystectomy

Between 1949 and 1974, 449 patients with bladder cancer were treated by radical cystectomy alone or after three planned preoperative radiation regimens in sequential studies at MSKCC. In these clinical studies integrated irradiation and surgery seems to have improved local disease control and survival rates, especially in deeply invasive bladder cancers.

Lucy Wortham James Lecture. Subclinical disease

A number of patients with cancer later develop metastases in the draining lymphatics, which initially were clinically negative. These occult deposits represent subclinical disease in lymphatic areas accessible to palpation, like the neck, axillae, and groin. The concept applies also to the microscopic disease left in an area after a surgical procedure is known to have removed all gross cancer, yet some patients later develop a recurrence. The term "subclinical disease" refers only to disease in a specific anatomic area, based on clinical facts. Radiobiological parameters account for the fact that subclinical disease requires less irradiation to be eradicated than gross cancer. The concept has two main applications, elective irradiation of clinically negative peripheral lymphatics and locoregional irradiation combined with surgery, which are determined by site and disease. The concept of subclinical disease also has implications for chemotherapy, which bear a direct relationship between chemotherapy both with radiation therapy and surgery.

Radiotherapy of T4 bladder carcinoma

A 16% 5-year crude survival was observed in 159 irradiated patients with T4NXMO bladder carcinoma. The presence of a T4a tumour and a good performance status were important prognostic parameters. The combination of radiotherapy and weekly injections of 5-FUra (12 mg/kg) resulted in a significant 2-year survival increase. New regimens of combined radiotherapy/chemotherapy should be developed for patients with T4NXMO bladder carcinoma. The palliation effect of radiotherapy should further be evaluated, preferably in prospective studies comparing radiotherapy with other types of palliation treatment.

Cancer of the urinary bladder category T2, T3, (NxMo) treated by interstitial radium implant: second report

Three-hundred-twenty-eight patients with bladder cancer category T2NxMo and 63 patients with category T3NxMo have been treated by 3 times 3.5 Gy external irradiation followed by a radium implant. Overall 5- and 10-year survival in the T2 category are 56%. In the T3 category they are 39% and 13%, respectively. The intercurrent death (i.e. without evidence of bladder malignancy) corrected actuarial survival percentage in the T2 category is 75% at 5 years and 69% at 10 years. The corresponding percentages in the T3 category are 62% and 59%. Prognosis is worsened by the following factors: more than 1 diagnostic transurethral resection, a pathological intravenous pyelography, non-papillary structure and poor degree of differentiation of the growth. Prognosis in category T3, as compared with category T2, is worse because of the prevalence of bad prognosticators in this T3 category. Therapeutic adaptation to these findings might improve prognosis in the future.