Are EORTC risk tables suitable for Chinese patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer?

Salvage Therapies for Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: Who Will Respond to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin? Predictors and Nomograms

The best predictors of response to intravesical immunotherapy are tumor grade and stage, tumor recurrence pattern, nomograms, panels of urinary cytokines, and fluorescent in situ hybridization patterns of urine cytology examinations. Future investigations on predictors of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin efficacy are needed to better select those patients who will really benefit from a conservative treatment. Hardly any of the proposed nomograms were designed to precisely predict the outcome of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy. A new nomogram for NMIBC recurrence and progression based on all non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer subgroups would include factors already proven in cancer prognosis and prediction.

A review on the accuracy of bladder cancer detection methods

Background and purpose: Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumour in the urinary system, with a high incidence and recurrence rate. While the incidence of bladder cancer has been rising in recent years, the prevalence of bladder carcinoma is showing an increasing tendency in the younger age group. There are several methods to detect bladder cancer, but different methods have varying degrees of accuracy which intrinsically depends on the method's sensitivity and specificity. Our aim was to comprehensively summarize the current detection methods for bladder cancer based on the available literature, and at the same time, to find the best combination of different effective methods which can produce a high degree of accuracy in detecting the presence of cancerous cells in the bladder. Materials and Methods: We used key word retrieval method for searching related references in English that had been indexed in PubMed and Medline. Results and Discussion: This paper discussed the different detection methods and their sensitivities/specificities as well as the advantages and disadvantages. We summarized the best identified cancer cell detection methods with higher sensitivity/specificity. Conclusion: The results of this review can positively help to identify accurate methods for detecting bladder cancer and highlight areas to be further improved for future research work.

Novel nomograms to predict recurrence and progression in primary non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: validation of predictive efficacy in comparison with European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer scoring system

PURPOSE

To develop and validate novel nomograms to predict recurrence and progression after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in Korean patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 970 newly diagnosed NMIBC patients after TURBT between 2000 and 2013 in a single institution. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazard models to identify the significant predictors of recurrence and progression, which resulted in the construction of the nomograms predicting the 5-year probability of recurrence and progression. We internally validated the nomograms using the area under the receiver-operating characteristics' curves and calibration plots. In addition, the clinical usefulness of each nomogram was assessed and compared with that of the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-scoring system using decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

The significant factors related to recurrence were gross hematuria at diagnosis, previous or concomitant upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), pT1 tumor, high tumor grade, multiple tumors, and intravesical therapy. The significant predictors of progression were previous or concomitant UTUC, pT1 tumor, high tumor grade, carcinoma in situ, and lymphovascular invasion. The 5-year predictive accuracy of each nomogram was 65% for recurrence and 70% for progression, respectively. Compared with the EORTC-scoring system, the nomograms were generally well calibrated. On DCA, each nomogram presented better net benefit gains than did the EORTC-scoring system across a wide range of threshold probabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our novel nomograms are not completely accurate, but they show a reasonable level of discriminative ability, adequate calibration, and meaningful net benefit gain for the prediction of recurrence and progression after TURBT in Korean NMIBC patients. Additional external validation will be required to generalize the nomograms which we developed.

Risk Stratification Tools and Prognostic Models in Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: A Critical Assessment from the European Association of Urology Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Guidelines Panel

CONTEXT

This review focuses on the most widely used risk stratification and prediction tools for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical use and relevance of risk stratification and prediction tools to enhance clinical decision making and counselling of patients with NMIBC.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The most frequent, currently used risk stratification tools and prognostic models for NMIBC patients were identified by the members of the European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Panel on NMIBC.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The 2006 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk tables are the most widely used and validated tools for risk stratification and prognosis prediction in NMIBC patients. The EAU risk categories constitute a simple alternative to the EORTC risk tables and can be used for comparable risk stratification. In the subgroup of NMIBC patients treated with a short maintenance schedule of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the Club Urológico Español de Tratamiento Oncológico (CUETO) scoring model is more accurate than the EORTC risk tables. Both the EORTC risk tables and the CUETO scoring model overestimate the recurrence and progression risks in patients treated according to current guidelines. The new concept of conditional recurrence and progression estimates is very promising during follow-up but should be validated.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk stratification and prognostic models enable outcome comparisons and standardisation of treatment and follow-up. At present, none of the available risk stratification and prognostic models reflects current standards of treatment. The EORTC risk tables and CUETO scoring model should be updated with previously unavailable data and recalculated.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease. A risk-based therapeutic approach is recommended. We present available risk stratification and prediction tools and the degree of their validation with the aim to increase their use in everyday clinical practice.

EORTC risk tables are more suitable for Chinese patients with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer than AUA risk stratification

BACKGROUND

Patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) need accurate estimations of the risk of recurrence and progression. Physicians can offer individualized therapy after identifying high-risk tumors. In our study, we compared the applicability of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk tables and American Urological Association (AUA) risk stratification in Chinese patients with NMIBC.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 301 patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) between October 2000 and July 2009 at Huashan Hospital of Fudan University and analyzed their parameters. The recurrence and progression rates at 1 and 5 years postoperatively were calculated along with 95% confidence intervals. We compared them with results obtained from the EORTC risk tables and AUA risk stratification. P values <.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The median patient age was 67 years (21-92 years) and the median follow-up duration was 46 months (2-151 months). We used EORTC risk tables to classify patients into 3 groups, depending on whether they suffered recurrence or progression after TURBT. Kaplan-Meier curves showed significant differences among the 3 recurrence-free survival (RFS) levels (P < .0001, log-rank test) and among the 3 progression-free survival (PFS) levels (P < .0001, log-rank test). AUA risk stratification showed the same results. Both classifications were suitable to predict recurrence and progression in Chinese patients. However, for high-risk patients in both series, Kaplan-Meier curves showed significant differences between RFS levels (P < .0001, log-rank test) and between PFS levels (P < .0001, log-rank test). EORTC risk tables were stricter and AUA was more sensitive in assigning patients to a high-risk group.

CONCLUSION

EORTC risk tables are better than AUA risk stratification for predicting recurrence and progression in Chinese patients with NMIBC, especially among high-risk patients.

External validation of EORTC risk scores to predict recurrence after transurethral resection of brazilian patients with non -muscle invasive bladder cancer stages Ta and T1

Validate the EORTC risk tables in Brazilian patients with NMIBC.

METHODS

205 patients were analyzed. The 6 parameters analyzed were: histologic grading, pathologic stage, size and number of tumors, previous recurrence rate and concomitant CIS. The time for first recurrence (TFR), risk score and probability of re¬currence were calculated and compared to the probabilities obtained from EORTC risk tables. C-index was calculated and accuracy of EORTC tables was analyzed.

RESULTS

pTa was presented in 91 (44.4%) patients and pT1 in 114 (55.6%). Ninety-seven (47.3%) patients had solitary tumor, and 108 (52.7%) multiple tumors. One hundred and three (50.2%) patients had tumors smaller than 3 cm and 102 (40.8%) had bigger than 3 cm. Concomitant CIS was observed in 21 (10.2%) patients. Low grade was presented in 95 (46.3%) patients, and high grade in 110 (53.7%). Intravesical therapy was utilized in 105 (56.1%) patients. Recurrence was observed in 117 (57.1%) patients and the mean TFR was 14,2 ± 7,3 months. C-index was 0,72 for 1 year and 0,7 for 5 years. The re¬currence risk was 28,8% in 1 year and 57,1% in 5 years, independently of the scoring risk. In our population, the EORTC risk tables overestimated the risk of recurrence in 1 year and underestimated in 5 years.

CONCLUSION

The validation of the EORTC risk tables in Brazilian patients with NMIBC was satisfactory and should be stimulated to predict recurrence, although these may overestimated the risk of recurrence in 1 year and underestimated in 5 years.

EORTC Risk Model to Predict Progression in Patients With Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Is It Safe to Use in Clinical Practice?

PURPOSE

To evaluate the validation of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk tables to predict progression in Brazilian patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred five consecutively and prospectively selected patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection were analyzed during 12 years. Six parameters were analyzed: tumor grade, size, and number, pT stage, previous recurrence rate, and carcinoma-in-situ. Time to progression, risk score, and progression probabilities were calculated and compared to probabilities obtained from the EORTC model. The C index was calculated, and accuracy was analyzed for external validation.

RESULTS

A total of 152 patients had complete follow-up data, 36 died, and 17 were lost to follow-up. One hundred thirty-seven patients had primary tumors and 68 had recurrent tumors. Progression to muscle-invasive disease occurred in 42 patients (20.5%). Significant characteristics related to progression were male gender, pT1 stage, lesion size ≥ 3 cm, high grade of disease, and no combined intravesical therapy. Mean time to progression was 26.9 months; the 1-year progression rate was 3.4% and the 5-year rate was 19.1%. The C index was 0.86 at 1 year and 0.78 at 5 years. For calibration, 1- and 5-year progression rates were lower than the values predicted by EORTC risk tables, mainly in high-risk groups. Although the EORTC model overestimated the short- and long-term risk of progression, an overlapping of the confidence intervals between both populations was detected.

CONCLUSION

The EORTC model successfully stratified progression risks in a Brazilian cohort, although it overestimated progression rates. This scoring system is useful in predicting progression of NMIBC; however, updating new risk markers is essential to improve risk classification and prediction of progression.

The evaluation of the risk factors for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) recurrence after transurethral resection (TURBt) in Chinese population

OBJECTIVE

The risk factors of bladder cancer recurrence after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBt) were poorly understood, especially in Chinese population. This study evaluated the potential risk factors of recurrence based on a Chinese population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 698 patients that received TURBt procedure in our institute from 2000 to 2012 were recruited in this study. Clinical information was collected. The patients were followed up according to the schedule recommended by Chinese guideline.

RESULTS

A total of 583 males (83.5%) and 115 females (16.5%) were enrolled in our study. The median follow-up duration was 51.5 months. Gender, chief complain, tumor size, number of lesions, histological grade and chemotherapeutic agents were found significantly associated with patients' short-term recurrence (less than 1 year) (All p<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, tumor size, number of lesions, histological grade and chemotherapeutic agents were significantly related to patients' short-term recurrence (less than 1 year) (All p<0.05). A multivariate model based on tumor size, number of lesions, histological grade and chemotherapeutic agents had an AUC of 0.697, which significantly improved the prediction utility for bladder cancer short-term recurrence (less than 1 year) than any single factor In the multivariate Cox regression, tumor size greater than 3 cm, multifocal lesions, worsen histological grade and non-urothelial carcinoma was related to time to recurrence (TR).

CONCLUSION

Patients with larger tumor size, multifocal number of lesions, higher tumor grade and who received chemotherapeutic agents other than Epirubicin and Pirarubicin might have higher risks of recurrence less than 1 year. Tumor size, number of lesions, pathology and histological grade might be associated with TR. As Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is currently not approved for bladder cancer in China, Epirubicin and Pirarubicin might be considered prior to other chemotherapy medications when providing post-operative instillation of chemotherapy.

External validation of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment scoring models to predict recurrence and progression in Japanese patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin

OBJECTIVE

To validate two prediction models (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment) for recurrence and progression of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in Japanese patients who underwent bacillus Calmette-Guérin instillation therapy.

METHODS

From March 1985 to April 2007, data were analyzed from 366 patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor followed by bacillus Calmette-Guérin instillation therapy. The ability of two scoring models to predict recurrence and progression was assessed by concordance index.

RESULTS

For recurrence probability, the concordance index of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment models was 0.514 and 0.576, respectively, which was lower than that (0.604) of a selected single prognostic factor (age) by our multivariate analysis. For progression probability, the concordance index of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment models was 0.693 and 0.764, respectively, which was higher than that (0.633) of a selected single factor (T stage) by our multivariate analysis. The Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment scoring system resulted in better stratification of tumor recurrence and progression when compared with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer model, probably because more patients underwent bacillus Calmette-Guérin treatment in the Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment cohort than in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment scoring system is a good predictor of tumor recurrence and progression in Japanese patients who underwent bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy. A large prospective study is warranted to confirm the efficacy of this system.