Characteristics of Female Non–Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer in Taiwan: Association with Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma and End-Stage Renal Disease

NTRK3 exhibits a pro-oncogenic function in upper tract urothelial carcinomas

Neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (NTRK3) has pleiotropic functions: it acts not only as an oncogene in breast and gastric cancers but also as a dependence receptor in tumor suppressor genes in colon cancer and neuroblastomas. However, the role of NTRK3 in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is not well documented. This study investigated the association between NTRK3 expression and outcomes in UTUC patients and validated the results in tests on UTUC cell lines. A total of 118 UTUC cancer tissue samples were examined to evaluate the expression of NTRK3. Survival curves were generated using Kaplan-Meier estimates, and Cox regression models were used for investigating survival outcomes. Higher NTRK3 expression was correlated with worse progression-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival. Moreover, the results of an Ingenuity Pathway Analysis suggested that NTRK3 may interact with the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway to promote cancer. NTRK3 downregulation in BFTC909 cells through shRNA reduced cellular migration, invasion, and activity in the AKT-mTOR pathway. Furthermore, the overexpression of NTRK3 in UM-UC-14 cells promoted AKT-mTOR pathway activity, cellular migration, and cell invasion. From these observations, we concluded that NTRK3 may contribute to aggressive behaviors in UTUC by facilitating cell migration and invasion through its interaction with the AKT-mTOR pathway and the expression of NTRK3 is a potential predictor of clinical outcomes in cases of UTUC.

The impact of smoking on recurrence and progression of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Although smoking is a well-recognized causative factor of urothelial bladder cancer and accounts for 50% of cases, less is known about the prognostic significance of smoking on non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) prognosis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of smoking on the risk of NMIBC recurrence and progression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We systematically searched Medline, Web of Science and Scopus databases for original articles published before October 2021 regarding the effect of smoking on NMIBC recurrence and progression. Information about smoking status and the number of events or odds ratio or hazard ratio for event-free survival must have been reported to include the study in the analysis. Quality In Prognosis Studies tool was utilized for the risk of bias assessment.

RESULTS

We selected 64 eligible studies, including 28 617 patients with NMIBC with available data on smoking status. In a meta-analysis of 28 studies with 7885 patients, we found that smokers (current/former) were at higher risk for recurrence (OR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.34-2.09; P < 0.0001) compared to never smokers. Subgroup analysis of 2967 patients revealed that current smokers were at a 1.24 higher risk of recurrence (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.02-1.50; P = 0.03) compared to former smokers. A meta-analysis of the hazard ratio revealed that smokers are at higher risk of recurrence (HR = 1.31; 95%CI 1.15-1.48; P < 0.0001) and progression (HR = 1.18; 95%CI 1.08-1.29; P < 0.001) compared to never smokers. Detrimental prognostic effect of smoking on progression, but not for recurrence risk was also noted in the subgroup analysis of high-risk patients (HR = 1.30; 95%CI 1.09-1.55; P = 0.004) and BCG-treated ones (HR = 1.15; 95%CI 1.06-1.25; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and a history of smoking have a worse prognosis regarding recurrence-free and progression-free survival compared to non-smokers.

Genetically supported causality between benign prostate hyperplasia and urinary bladder neoplasms: A mendelian randomization study

Background: Observational studies have suggested a possible association between benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and bladder cancer (BLCA). However, these studies are prone to errors and limitations or confounding factors, making them unsuitable for assessing the causal relationship between BPH and BLCA.

Objective: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed to determine a possible association between genetically predicted BPH and the risk of BLCA.

Methods: A two-sample MR analysis was performed utilizing the Integrative Epidemiology Unit genome-wide association (GWAS) database of the Medical Research Council, United Kingdom A series of control steps, including five primary methods, were performed to identify the most suitable instrumental variables (IVs) for MR analysis. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to avoid statistical errors, including heterogeneity and pleiotropic bias.

Results: Genetic variants associated with BPH (P &lt; 5 × 10–8) and BLCA (P &lt; 5 × 10–6) were identified as instrumental variables and assessed using GWAS summary data (BPH, 4,670 cases vs. 458,340 controls; BLCA, 1,279 cases vs. 372,016 controls). BPH exhibited a positive effect on the occurrence of BLCA (inverse variance weighted (IVW), odds ratio (OR) = 1.095, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.030–1.165, p = 0.003), but there was no causal effect for BLCA on BPH (IVW, OR = 1.092, 95% CI = 0.814–1.465, p = 0.554).

Conclusion: Genetically predicted BPH was associated with a higher risk of BLCA in all histological subtypes. In contrast, the evidence was not significant to back the causality of genetically induced BLCA on BPH. These findings indicate that BPH plays a key role in developing BLCA in the European population. Further studies are needed to uncover the underlying mechanisms.

Gender and Age Differences of Genitourinary Cancers Among Chronic Dialysis Patients in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

To investigate the age and gender differences among chronic dialysis patients who developed genitourinary cancers in Taiwan.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Incident hemodialysis patients aged 20 years or older were selected for retrospective cohort study from the National Health Insurance Research Database between 2002 and 2015, and the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database between 2007 and 2015. A two-step approach was employed to find the respective matched controls of non-dialysis patients. Finally, 65,450 dialysis patients and 261,800 non-dialysis patients were matched for further analysis. New diagnosis of genitourinary cancers during follow-up was the primary outcome of interest.

RESULTS

Dialysis was significantly associated with increased risk of all types of genitourinary cancers (P < .001), substantially within the first two years after dialysis initiation. Cox proportional hazard analysis showed a significantly increased hazard ratio (HR 6.58, 95% CI 6.05-7.16) among dialysis patients after multivariate adjustment, and the highest risk was bladder cancer (HR 7.85, 95% CI 6.97-8.84). Subgroup analysis showed younger dialysis patients (20-49 years old) had the highest risk of genitourinary cancer, especially females, in this subgroup with the highest risk of bladder cancer (HR 58.08, 95% CI 13.88-243.06).

CONCLUSION

The risks of all site-specific genitourinary cancers were increased in chronic dialysis patients, especially in younger females. Developing different screening strategies for these high-risk patients is necessary.

MICRO ABSTRACT

This study compared the effect of sex, age and dialysis duration on the susceptibility to develop genitourinary cancers in dialysis patients through the national health database linkage in Taiwan. We matched 65,450 dialysis patients and 261,800 non-dialysis patients for further analysis. Younger and female dialysis patients were at higher risk of kidney and bladder cancers.

Native Kidney Hydronephrosis Is Associated with Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma in Post-Kidney Transplantation Patients

Background: Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is the most common malignancy occurring after kidney transplantation (KT) in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between native kidney hydronephrosis and UTUC in post-KT patients. Methods: From 2003 to 2018, we conducted a retrospective cohort study that enrolled 1005 post-KT patients, 67 of whom were subsequently diagnosed with UTUC. We divided patients into two groups based on whether or not they had UTUC. Multivariate analysis and Kaplan-Meier plot were used to evaluate if native kidney hydronephrosis was associated with post-KT UTUC. Results: The total cohort consisted of 612 men (60.9%) and 393 women (39.1%) with a mean age of 48.2 ± 12.0 at KT. The mean follow-up time was 118.6 ± 70.2 months, and mean time from KT to UTUC was 7.53 years. There was a significant gender difference with a female predominance among the UTUC patients (73.1% versus 26.9%, p < 0.001). Native kidney hydronephrosis occurred more frequently in the UTUC group (68.7% versus 4.8%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that native kidney hydronephrosis and female gender were significantly associated with UTUC with odds ratios of 35.32 (95% CI, 17.99–69.36; p < 0.001) and 3.37 (95% CI, 1.55–7.29; p = 0.002), respectively. UTUC in the post-KT patients also showed aggressive pathological characteristics and a tendency toward bilateral lesions (41.8%). Conclusions: Native kidney hydronephrosis is significantly associated with post-KT UTUC patients in Taiwan. Native kidney hydronephrosis may be a deciding factor for standard nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff excision in selected patients. Nevertheless, almost half of the patients with kidney hydronephrosis do not present with UTUC at the end of our study.

Association of Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphism with bladder Cancer susceptibility

BACKGROUND

We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between the glutathione S-transferase μ1 (GSTM1)- and glutathione S-transferase θ1 (GSTT1)- null genotypes and susceptibility to bladder cancer.

METHODS

We identified association reports from the databases of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and the China Biological Medicine Database (CBM disc) on July 1, 2017 and synthesized eligible investigations. Results were expressed using odds ratios (ORs) for dichotomous data, and we also calculated 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

In this meta-analysis, we found that the GSTM1-null genotype was associated with bladder cancer risk in the overall population, and individually in whites, Africans and Asians (overall population: OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.31-1.48, P<0.00001; whites: OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.26-1.54, P<0.00001; Africans: OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.16-2.05, P = 0.003; Asians: OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.33-1.59, P<0.00001). The GSTT1-null genotype was associated with bladder cancer risk in the overall population, but not in whites, in Africans or Asians (overall population: OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.22, P = 0.03; whites: OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.99-1.36, P = 0.07; Africans: OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.65-1.76, P = 0.79; Asians: OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.91-1.22, P = 0.51). Interestingly, a dual-null GSTM1-GSTT1 genotype was associated with bladder cancer risk in the overall population and in Asians (overall population: OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.15-1.92, P = 0.002; Asians: OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.15-2.28, P = 0.006). In conclusion, the GSTM1-null, GSTT1-null and dual-null GSTM1-GSTT1 genotypes might be associated with the onset of bladder cancer, but additional genetic-epidemiological studies should be conducted to explore this association further.

Prevention of bladder cancer incidence and recurrence: tobacco use

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the current knowledge about smoking carcinogenesis in bladder cancer (BCa), individual susceptibility and impact of smoking on incidence and outcomes of nonmuscle invasive BCa (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive BCa (MIBC). To assess the impact of smoking cessation on oncological outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Smoking pattern, intensity, and duration are responsible for an increased risk of developing BCa and for worse tumor features at presentation. Tobacco consumption is associated with a higher risk of recurrence in NMIBC and with an impaired intravesical therapy efficacy. To date, the impact of smoking on oncological outcomes after radical surgery remains unclear.

SUMMARY

Smoking cessation decreases the risk of BCa and may also allow benefits on treatment outcomes. Nonetheless, the magnitude of the effect remains unclear and prospective series with the specific aim of weighing smoking cessation on outcomes are needed. Because even a 5-min counseling in the urology setting may be sufficient to significantly enhance smoking cessation rates, adequate knowledge of links between tobacco and BCa, from its molecular pathophysiology and its harms to benefits of cessation is paramount for urologists and for everyday clinical practice.

Association of benign prostatic hyperplasia and subsequent risk of bladder cancer: an Asian population cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Few studies discussed the link between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and bladder cancer. We performed this cohort study to investigate whether there is an association between BPH and subsequent risk of bladder cancer.

METHODS

We identified 35,092 study subjects including 17546 BPH patients and 17546 comparisons from the National Health Insurance database. The comparison cohort was frequency matched with age and index-year. We measured subsequent bladder cancer rates (per 1000 person-years) in two cohorts. Attributable risks (ARs) was calculated based on the bladder cancer rates in two cohorts. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for bladder cancer were estimated via Cox proportional hazard regression.

RESULTS

BPH patients had a higher bladder cancer rate than comparisons (AR = 0.81 per 1000 person-years) and exhibited 4.69- and 4.11-fold increases in bladder cancer risk in the crude and adjusted Cox models, respectively (95% CIs = 4.15-6.99 and 2.70-6.26). The AR was highest in patients aged 65-74 years old (AR = 1.33). BPH patients with chronic kidney disease were at an elevated bladder cancer risk. Regarding the association between bladder cancer and transurethral prostatectomy (TURP), BPH patients who underwent TURP were at a higher risk of bladder cancer (AR = 1.69; HR = 6.17, 95% CI = 3.68-10.3) than those who did not (AR = 0.69; HR = 3.73, 95% CI = 2.43-5.74).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, BPH patients were found to have an increased risk of subsequent bladder cancer. Based on the limitations of retrospective nature, further studies are needed.

Interplay between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UUC): foe or friend?

Although upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UUC) is curable through nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy, progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and CKD-related mortality have been highlighted as clinical challenges in recent years owing to the loss of a large number of nephrons. While CKD can promote the development of UUC, other risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, advanced age, and anemia can facilitate the progression of CKD. Conversely, CKD is especially prevalent in UUC patients. However, the relationship between CKD and UUC, mechanisms for CKD causing UUC, and gender disparity of UUC of CKD patients have so far not been well-reviewed. As UUC gradually grows, the cancer can be a physical obstacle in the urinary tract. It will cause an increased tract pressure, subsequently resulting in the dysfunction of both nephrons and kidney. At the molecular level, reduced level of oxidative stress was observed in female UUC patients. Furthermore, radical nephrectomy therapy for UUC patients accelerates the progress of chronic kidney dysfunction. Incidentally, the remedies for CKD containing aristolochic acid (AA) are carcinogenic. Our present review offers a comprehensive look at the relationship between CKD and UUC from multiple perspectives. Early and precise identification of progression of CKD and UUC will benefit the patients at high-risk of CKD or UUC, which will also be instructive in directing timely and effective therapeutic interventions whenever necessary. It may also shed light on unveiling the underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis of UUC, preventing CKD progression, and prolonging the patients' overall survival.

Significant Role of Lifetime Cigarette Smoking in Worsening Bladder Cancer and Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Prognosis: A Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Although cigarette smoking is a well established risk factor for urothelial cancer, its role in urothelial cancer prognosis is still undetermined. In this meta-analysis we quantify the role of lifetime smoking history in bladder cancer recurrence, progression and survival by pooling available data on nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer, muscle invasive bladder cancer and upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 24 studies, comprising data from 13,114 patients with bladder cancer and 2,259 patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma, were included in this meta-analysis. Publication bias was addressed through Egger's test, and the heterogeneity among studies was assessed by the I(2) test statistic and subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

Current smokers at diagnosis are at increased risk for local recurrence in nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09-1.46) and smokers with muscle invasive bladder cancer have an increased risk of dying of bladder cancer (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.44). In the upper tract urothelial carcinoma population smokers have an increased risk of recurrence in the operative bed (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.19-1.95) and of death from upper tract urothelial carcinoma (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.13-1.92). We did not identify significant heterogeneity among included studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The body of evidence is limited due to the absence of prospective studies. However, the results from this meta-analysis unambiguously support the hypothesis that lifetime cigarette smokers are at increased risk for a more malignant type of urothelial carcinoma associated with a worse prognosis.

Shorter hemodialysis duration is a risk factor for the recurrence of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

PURPOSE

To investigate the association of hemodialysis duration with the recurrence of urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder and overall survival in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

52 bladder cancer patients who underwent MHD at the Xiangya Hospital of The Central South University between 2001 and 2011 were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into three groups according to hemodialysis duration, and patient mortality and tumor recurrence rates were analyzed. The association of hemodialysis duration with occurrence and recurrence of UC of the bladder was analyzed by Cox regression analysis. Survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Out of 6266 chronic hemodialysis patients, 52 patients had UC of the bladder after the initiation of hemodialysis for 6 months. The mean age at hemodialysis onset was 55 years (IQR 36, 71). The major complaints were painless gross hematuria and urethral bloody discharge. Tumors were generally large and multifocal. The standardized incidence ratio of UC of the bladder was 43.9 compared with general population, and it was higher in women (76.7) and in the age group 61-65 years (186.6). The mean hemodialysis duration before the diagnosis of bladder cancer was 32 months. 30 (57.7 %) patients received hemodialysis no more than 3 years, 10 (19.2 %) patients received hemodialysis between 3 and 6 years, and 12 (23.1 %) patients received hemodialysis for more than 6 years.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative shorter hemodialysis duration is a risk factor for the occurrence and recurrence of UC of the bladder in patients undergoing MHD.

A review on thiazolidinediones and bladder cancer in human studies

There is a concern of an increased risk of bladder cancer associated with the use of thiazolidinediones, a class of oral glucose-lowering drugs commonly used in patients with type 2 diabetes with a mechanism of improving insulin resistance. Human studies on related issues are reviewed, followed by a discussion on potential concerns on the causal inference in current studies. Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone are discussed separately, and findings from different geographical regions are presented. Randomized controlled trials designed for primarily answering such a cancer link are lacking, and evidence from clinical trials with available data for evaluating the association may not be informative. Observational studies have been reported with the use of population-based administrative databases, single-hospital records, drug adverse event reporting system, and case series collection. Meta-analysis has also been performed by six different groups of investigators. These studies showed a signal of higher risk of bladder cancer associated with pioglitazone, especially at a higher cumulative dose or after prolonged exposure; however, a weaker signal or null association is observed with rosiglitazone. In addition, there are some concerns on the causal inference, which may be related to the use of secondary databases, biases in sampling, differential detection, and confounding by indications. Lack of full control of smoking and potential biases related to study designs and statistical approaches such as prevalent user bias and immortal time bias may be major limitations in some studies. Overlapping populations and opposing conclusions in studies using the same databases may be of concern and weaken the reported conclusions of the studies. Because randomized controlled trials are expensive and unethical in providing an answer to this cancer issue, observational studies are expected to be the main source in providing an answer in the future. Furthermore, international comparison studies using well-designed and uniform methodology to clarify the risk in specific sexes, ethnicities, and other subgroups and to evaluate the interaction with other environmental risk factors or medications will be helpful to identify patients at risk.

Increased risk of urothelial cancer in young and middle aged patients with end-stage renal disease

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) may increase the likelihood of malignancy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of increased urothelial cancer (UC) risk in patients with ESRD in Taiwan by a population-based study.

METHODS

The standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for UC among a registered cohort of ESRD in Taiwan during 1997-2002 were calculated using reimbursement data obtained from the Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI), with the incidence rates of UC in the general population as the reference.

RESULTS

During the study period we identified 58,739 patients with ESRD, 20,939 patients with UC, and 1305 patients with ERSD and UC. Among the 1305 patients with both diseases, 687 developed UC after ESRD had been diagnosed. Using the general population as the reference group, SIRs were 12.9 [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 12.0-13.9) for all UC cases, 13.9 (95% CI: 12.4-15.0) for bladder cancer, 11.9 (95% CI: 8.6-16.0) for renal cell carcinoma, and 11.6 (95% CI: 10.1-13.1) for upper tract urothelial cancer.

CONCLUSION

Patients with ESRD are at increased risk for UC in Taiwan, especially women age 50 years and younger. Early and lifelong surveillance of UC is recommended after diagnosis of ESRD.

Prognostic value of C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence indicates that components of the systemic inflammatory response, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), have been associated with prognosis of various cancers. We aimed to elucidate whether CRP and NLR could serve as potential surrogate markers for response and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

The study population consisted of 318 consecutive patients with HCC. CRP and NLR were measured at baseline with follow-up measurements.

RESULTS

With the mean follow-up of 13.9 months, the median survival time was 13.8 months. Child-Pugh class, tumor size > 5 cm, tumor multiplicity, presence of portal vein thrombosis, α-fetoprotein > 200 ng/mL, CRP > 6.3 mg/L and NLR > 2.3 were identified as independent factors for worse survival of HCC (all p < 0.05). Patients with elevated CRP (> 6.3 mg/L) and elevated NLR (> 2.3) had a significantly shorter overall survival than those with low CRP and low NLR (all p < 0.001). The combined use of CRP and NLR provided incremental prognostic information. With significant inter-correlations, levels of CRP and NLR escalated with aggravating Child-Pugh class from A to C or progressing tumor stage from I to IV. CRP and NLR on baseline and serial measurements were well predictive of treatment response (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

CRP and NLR are independent indicators for survival in HCC patients, reflecting tumor burden and hepatic reserve. Their role in predicting tumor response and survival is more enhanced when used in combination. This study suggests that CRP and NLR are important prognostic biomarkers for HCC.

Sex differences in the development of malignancies among end-stage renal disease patients: a nationwide population-based follow-up study in Taiwan

Increasing evidence indicates that end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with the morbidity of cancer. However, whether different dialysis modality and sex effect modify the cancer risks in ESRD patients remains unclear. A total of 3,570 newly diagnosed ESRD patients and 14,280 controls matched for age, sex, index month, and index year were recruited from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. The ESRD status was ascertained from the registry of catastrophic illness patients. The incidence of cancer was identified through cross-referencing with the National Cancer Registry System. The Cox proportional hazards model and the Kaplan–Meier method were used for analyses. A similar twofold increase in cancer risk was observed among ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) after adjusting for other potential risk factors. Patients with the highest cancer risk, approximately fourfold increased risk, were those received renal transplants. Urothelial carcinoma (UC) had the highest incidence in HD and PD patients. However, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) had the highest incidence in the renal transplantation (RT) group. In addition, female patients undergoing RT or PD had a higher incidence of RCC and UC, respectively. Male patients under HD had both higher incidence of RCC and UC. In conclusion, different dialysis modality could modify the cancer risks in ESRD patients. We also found sex effect on genitourinary malignancy when they are under different dialysis modality.

Long-term outcome of radical cystectomy in ESDR patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma

PURPOSE

The prevalence of urothelial carcinoma is high in dialysis patients. Radical cystectomy is an invasive procedure for patients with recurrent, multiple, or invasive bladder cancer. However, the prognosis of radical cystectomy in dialysis patients has rarely been reported. This study investigates the long-term outcome of radical cystectomy in dialysis patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical data of 193 dialysis patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma were reviewed. Among them, 45 patients received radical cystectomy. Thirty-two patients who received radical cystectomy with concurrent nephroureterectomy were in a stable chronic dialysis condition. In contrast, we performed radical cystectomy without concurrent nephroureterectomy for patients (N = 13) at high surgical risk, such as tumors combined with infection, or hemodynamically unstable. Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

The overall survival rates were 86.7, 80.0, 62.2, 44.4, and 35.6% at 3-months, 6-months, 1-year, 3-years, and 5-years, respectively. Patients who received concurrent nephroureterectomy had a higher mortality rate (13%) than radical cystectomy alone (0.0%) under operative 3 months. However, the patients who received concurrent nephroureterectomy had a higher 5-year survival rate than the group without concurrent nephroureterectomy (43.7 vs. 15.4%). The causes of death included dialysis complications (N = 19, 42.1%), infection (N = 7, 36.8%), and disease metastasis (N = 4, 21.1%).

CONCLUSION

Dialysis patients in a stable chronic dialysis condition with recurrent or invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma could have survival benefits in receiving concurrent nephroureterectomy.

Age-related risk of mortality from bladder cancer in diabetic patients: a 12-year follow-up of a national cohort in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

To compare bladder cancer mortality between diabetic patients and the general population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Yearly sex-specific mortality rates for age 25-64, 65-74, and > or =75 years in Taiwanese general population for 1995-2006 were calculated; 113,347 diabetic men and 131,573 diabetic women aged > or =25 years recruited in 1995-1998 were followed prospectively.

RESULTS

In the general population, 4,943 men and 2,291 women died of bladder cancer, and aging was associated with increased risk. Although the trend of crude mortality was increasing in either sex, the trend of age-standardized rates had been steady. The average crude and age-standardized mortality rates were 5.35 and 5.98 (per 100,000 population), respectively, for men; and were 2.63 and 3.02 for women. A total of 224 diabetic men and 126 diabetic women died of bladder cancer with crude mortality of 26.0 and 11.9 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The relative risk of bladder cancer mortality (95% confidence interval) for diabetic patients was 2.18 (1.75-2.72), 2.50 (2.06-3.04), and 5.95 (4.57-7.74), in men, and 1.34 (0.96-1.89), 2.48 (1.92-3.19), and 7.44 (5.46-10.15), in women, for ages > or =75, 65-74, and 25-64 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetic patients had a higher risk of bladder cancer mortality, which is more remarkable in the younger population.