Sirolimus does not absolutely abolish the occurrence/recurrence of urothelial carcinoma in renal transplant recipients

Risk factors, management, and survival of bladder cancer after kidney transplantation

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Kidney transplantation is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer; however guidelines have not been established on the management of bladder cancer after kidney transplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature review using PubMed was performed in accordance with the PRISMA statement to identify studies concerning the prevalence and survival of bladder cancer after kidney transplantation. The risk factors and management of bladder cancer after kidney transplantation were also reviewed and discussed.

RESULTS

A total of 41 studies, published between 1996 and 2018, reporting primary data on bladder cancer after kidney transplantation were identified. Marked heterogeneity in bladder cancer prevalence, time to diagnosis, non-muscle invasive/muscle-invasive bladder cancer prevalence, and survival was noted. Four studies, published between 2003 and 2017, reporting primary data on bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) after kidney transplantation were identified. Disease-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival were similar between BCG studies (75-100%).

CONCLUSIONS

Carcinogen exposure that led to ESRD, BKV, HPV, immunosuppressive agents, and the immunosuppressed state likely contribute to the increased risk of bladder cancer after renal transplantation. Non-muscle invasive disease should be treated with transurethral resection. BCG can be safely used in transplant recipients and likely improves the disease course. Muscle-invasive disease should be treated with radical cystectomy, with special consideration to the dissection and urinary diversion choice. Chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors can be safely used in regionally advanced bladder cancer with potential benefit. mTOR inhibitors may reduce the risk of developing bladder cancer, and immunosuppression medications should be reduced if malignancy develops.

Risk factors, management, and survival of bladder cancer after kidney transplantation

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Kidney transplantation is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer; however guidelines have not been established on the management of bladder cancer after kidney transplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature review using PubMed was performed in accordance with the PRISMA statement to identify studies concerning the prevalence and survival of bladder cancer after kidney transplantation. The risk factors and management of bladder cancer after kidney transplantation were also reviewed and discussed.

RESULTS

A total of 41 studies, published between 1996 and 2018, reporting primary data on bladder cancer after kidney transplantation were identified. Marked heterogeneity in bladder cancer prevalence, time to diagnosis, non-muscle invasive/muscle-invasive bladder cancer prevalence, and survival was noted. Four studies, published between 2003 and 2017, reporting primary data on bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) after kidney transplantation were identified. Disease-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival were similar between BCG studies (75-100%).

CONCLUSIONS

Carcinogen exposure that led to ESRD, BKV, HPV, immunosuppressive agents, and the immunosuppressed state likely contribute to the increased risk of bladder cancer after renal transplantation. Non-muscle invasive disease should be treated with transurethral resection. BCG can be safely used in transplant recipients and likely improves the disease course. Muscle-invasive disease should be treated with radical cystectomy, with special consideration to the dissection and urinary diversion choice. Chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors can be safely used in regionally advanced bladder cancer with potential benefit. mTOR inhibitors may reduce the risk of developing bladder cancer, and immunosuppression medications should be reduced if malignancy develops.

Treatment options and predictive factors for recurrence and cancer-specific mortality in bladder cancer after renal transplantation: A multi-institutional analysis

OBJECTIVES

Bladder cancer (BC) in the transplanted population can represent a challenge owing to the immunosuppressed state of patients and the higher rate of comorbidities. The objective was to analyze the treatment of BC after renal transplant (RT), focusing on the mode of presentation, diagnosis, treatment options and predictive factors for recurrence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted an observational prospective study with a retrospective analysis of 88 patients with BC after RT at 10 European centers. Clinical and oncologic data were collected, and indications and results of adjuvant treatment reviewed. The Kaplan-Meier method and uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 10,000 RTs were performed. Diagnosis of BC occurred at a median of 73 months after RT. Median follow-up was 126 months. Seventy-one patients (81.6%) had non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, of whom 29 (40.8%) received adjuvant treatment; of these, six (20.6%) received bacillus Calmette-Guérin and 20 (68.9%) mitomycin C. At univariate analysis, patients who received bacillus Calmette-Guérin had a significantly lower recurrence rate (P=.043). At multivariate analysis, a switch from immunosuppression to mTOR inhibitors significantly reduced the risk of recurrence (HR 0.24, 95% CI: 0.053-0.997, P=.049) while presence of multiple tumors increased it (HR 6.31, 95% CI: 1.78-22.3, P=.004). Globally, 26 patients (29.88%) underwent cystectomy. No major complications were recorded. Overall mortality (OM) was 32.2% (28 patients); the cancer-specific mortality was 13.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant bacillus Calmette-Guérin significantly reduces the risk of recurrence, as does switch to mTOR inhibitors. Multiple tumors increase the risk.

Targeting Hsp90 in urothelial carcinoma

Urothelial carcinoma, or transitional cell carcinoma, is the most common urologic malignancy that carries significant morbidity, mortality, recurrence risk and associated health care costs. Despite use of current chemotherapies and immunotherapies, long-term remission in patients with muscle-invasive or metastatic disease remains low, and disease recurrence is common. The molecular chaperone Heat Shock Protein-90 (Hsp90) may offer an ideal treatment target, as it is a critical signaling hub in urothelial carcinoma pathogenesis and potentiates chemoradiation. Preclinical testing with Hsp90 inhibitors has demonstrated reduced proliferation, enhanced apoptosis and synergism with chemotherapies and radiation. Despite promising preclinical data, clinical trials utilizing Hsp90 inhibitors for other malignancies had modest efficacy. Therefore, we propose that Hsp90 inhibition would best serve as an adjuvant treatment in advanced muscle-invasive or metastatic bladder cancers to potentiate other therapies. An overview of bladder cancer biology, current treatments, molecular targeted therapies, and the role for Hsp90 inhibitors in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma is the focus of this review.

Orthotopic bladder substitute in renal transplant recipients: experience with Studer technique and literature review

Renal transplant recipients with high-risk bladder cancer following cystectomy need a urinary diversion preserving the renal function and possibly maintaining body image, while still offering the best oncological outcome. The aim of this report is to describe our experience of radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal neobladder with Studer technique in this population, and to review the literature. We performed radical cystectomy and Studer ileal neobladder in four male patients (median age 67 years) after median time of 9.5 years following renal transplantation. Pathology revealed pT1HGN+ transitional cell carcinoma in one case, pT1HGN0 in two and pT3aHGN0 in one. Two patients presenting aggressive disease (N+ and pT3a) died of tumour progression after 20 and 14 months, respectively, while the other two are alive after 56 and 36 months of follow-up with no evidence of disease, stable serum creatinine (2.29 and 1.6 mg/dl) and mild metabolic acidosis. Day and night-time urinary continence were satisfactory in all patients. Good functional outcomes have been reported in the 20 cases of ileal orthotopic neobladder with different techniques published so far and the global experience of 24 cases with a median follow-up of 39 months documents a cancer specific survival of 62.5%.

Renal clear cell carcinoma emerging in a transplanted kidney 3 years after return to dialysis. Case report and review of the literature

We present a female patient with end-stage renal disease who was referred to the emergency department with sudden, excruciating pain over the right lower abdomen and flank. Radiologic evaluation following admission revealed a mass, solid in nature, located at the upper pole of the transplanted kidney. The patient was treated with empiric antibiotics and analgesics, and her symptoms subsided over the course of the week. Based on the clinical course and radiological findings, a self-limiting, spontaneous haemorrhage was thought to be the cause of the patient's symptoms. Nevertheless, background malignancy could not be ruled out. Therefore, an interval, elective graft nephrectomy was scheduled. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of renal clear cell carcinoma.