Contemporary Management Of Stage T1 Transitional Cell Carcinoma Of The Bladder:

Predicting outcome in minimally invasive (T1a and T1b) urothelial bladder carcinoma using a panel of biomarkers: a high throughput tissue microarray analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the protein expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 (FGFR3), hamartin, 14-3-3sigma, Aurora-A, and E-cadherin using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a series of human bladder carcinomas and to evaluate their value in distinguishing T1a from T1b tumours and in predicting their behaviour, as T1 urothelial bladder tumours present great diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to pathologists and clinicians.

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tissue microarrays were constructed from 94 patients (Ta 20, T1a 31, T1b 14, and T2 29 patients) using tissue obtained at first disease presentation.

RESULTS

FGFR3 and 14-3-3sigma were the only markers that were significantly associated with tumour grade and 14-3-3sigma was significantly associated with tumour stage. Furthermore, none of these markers could help in distinguishing T1a from T1b tumours. After adjusting for the E-cadherin expression, FGFR3 expression was a significant factor in predicting the time to recurrence in T1a/T1b. Furthermore, among all the clinical variables, grade and depth of invasion were the only ones that had a significant value in predicting T1a/T1b tumour progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Even though the staging of T1 to T1a/T1b is not a common practice and it is not included in the Tumour-Node-Metastasis classification, our data clearly confirmed the importance of a proper sub-staging of T1 tumours whenever feasible.

Intravesical Gemcitabine in BCG-Refractory T1G3 Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this pilot study is to analyze the safety and short-term efficacy of gemcitabine (GEM) as salvage intravesical therapy in a very selected population of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-resistant T1G3 patients.

METHODS

9 recurrent BCG-refractory pT1G3 patients, unsuitable for radical treatment, were treated with GEM, and compared with 10 pT1G3 patients previously treated with at least two courses of transurethral resection plus BGC, with further conservative endovesical BCG administration.

RESULTS

Both intravesical administrations of GEM and BCG were generally well tolerated: no severe adverse events were reported. Of the 9 patients treated with GEM, 3 were recurrence-free after 13, 17 and 21 months and 7 kept an intact bladder, with an overall survival rate of 9 of 9. Among 10 patients treated with BCG instillation, 1 was recurrence-free after 27 months and 6 kept their bladders, with a survival rate of 8 of 10.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience confirms the high risk of tumor recurrence and progression of BCG-refractory pT1G3 transitional cell carcinoma. In this case, further BCG courses seem to be unsuitable, resulting in a high risk of tumor progression and mortality. The use of GEM in BCG-refractory pT1G3 patients has to be considered experimental until multicentric randomized studies with adequate follow-up are able to confirm the preliminary results of this pilot study.

Prognostic Factors in a Recent Series of Patients Treated with Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer

OBJECTIVE

To identify the clinical and pathological prognostic factors in a homogeneous series of patients with bladder cancer who had undergone radical cystectomy in the late 1990s.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 156 patients who had undergone radical cystectomy and iliac-obturator lymphadenectomy for bladder carcinoma at our department between 1995 and 2001.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 39.71 +/- 26.2 months. The 5-year overall and cancer-specific survival rates were 47.2 and 54.7%, respectively. Upper urinary tract obstruction (p = 0.03), clinical stage of both the primary tumor (p = 0.0001) and loco-regional lymph nodes (p = 0.04), pathological stage (2002 TNM) of the primary tumor (p < 0.0001), pathological loco-regional lymph node involvement (p < 0.0001), and vascular embolization (p = 0.005) were significant on univariate analysis. Pathological lymph node involvement (p = 0.001) and both pathological (p = 0.022) and clinical stages of the primary tumor (p = 0.002) turned out to be independent predictors of cancer-specific survival.

CONCLUSION

Pathological lymph node involvement, clinical and pathological stage of the primary tumor were the cancer-specific, survival-independent, predictors in our series. Our multivariate analysis data identified pT3-4 and pN+ patients as those with the worst prognosis.

Quantitative molecular urinary cytology by fluorescence in situ hybridization: a tool for tailoring surveillance of patients with superficial bladder cancer?

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether it is possible to stratify patients with superficial bladder cancer into low- and high-risk groups for tumour recurrence/progression based on the chromosomal pattern detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in one urine cytology specimen used for follow-up testing.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Voided urine samples from 47 consecutive patients with urinary tract neoplasms (13 with no history of urothelial malignancy and 34 under follow-up after complete transurethral resection of superficial urothelial carcinoma of the bladder) were evaluated by liquid-based cytology (ThinPrep(R), CYTYC Corp., Boxborough, MA, USA) and UroVysion FISH (Vysis-Abbott, Downers Grove, IL).

RESULTS

Of the 34 patients under surveillance, the UroVysion test was negative in four, 17 had loss of 9p21 sequences either alone or combined with low-frequency trisomy/ies or tetrasomy/ies of chromosomes 3, 7 and 17 in single cells (low-risk FISH), and 13 also had complex aneusomies of the remaining chromosomes (high-risk FISH). One of the four FISH-negative neoplasms, four of the 17 low-risk FISH cases and five of the 11 informative high-risk FISH-positive patients developed recurrence. Progression occurred only in patients with high-risk FISH results, showing high-frequency complex chromosomal polysomies (four of 11).

CONCLUSION

The results from this pilot study indicate that the UroVysion FISH test may help to individually assess the clinical behaviour of superficial bladder cancer, based on the chromosomal pattern of exfoliated tumour cells in follow-up urinary cytology. It might be of use to identify those patients likely to progress at earlier and curable stages of disease, and lengthen the surveillance period in those with persistent or recurrent low-risk disease.

Lymph node metastases in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer are correlated with the number of transurethral resections and tumour upstaging at radical cystectomy

The first paper in this section, from Mainz, attempts to identify the clinical variables associated with the prevalence of lymph node metastases in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The authors found that delay in cystectomy in this potentially dangerous type of tumour is to be avoided, with a higher incidence of lymph node metastases as the number of transurethral resections increases. A paper from Austria shows that in renal carcinoma the pT1 subdivision is associated with differences in conventional histopathology and expression of biomarkers.

OBJECTIVE

To identify clinical variables associated with the prevalence of lymph node metastases (LNMs) in patients with non-muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder treated with radical cystectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Of 866 patients treated by radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy between 1989 and 2002, 219 had non-muscle invasive TCC of the bladder. A retrospective evaluation of these patients included univariate and multivariate analyses of sex, age, number of transurethral resections of the bladder tumour (TURBTs), interval between first TURBT and cystectomy, adjuvant therapy, maximum histopathological tumour stage and grade at TURBT, and tumour upstaging in the cystectomy specimen.

RESULTS

LNMs were diagnosed in 33 patients (15%). After multivariate analysis modelling, the number of TURBTs and tumour upstaging in the cystectomy specimen were correlated with the prevalence of LNMs at cystectomy. The number of TURBTs increased the prevalence of LNMs from 8% in patients with one TURBT to 24% in those with two to four TURBTs. Tumour upstaging in the cystectomy specimen increased the prevalence of LNMs from 4% to 36%.

CONCLUSION

Inappropriate delay and inadequate staging of high-grade non-muscle invasive TCC of the bladder are to be avoided. The present multivariate analysis showed that the number of TURBTs and tumour upstaging in the cystectomy specimen correlated with an increased prevalence of LNMs.

Clinical study of bladder cancer: Proteinuria as a predictor of recurrence and efficacy of intravesical bacille Calmette-Guerin therapy

AIM

We studied the clinical characteristics of bladder cancer, with special attention to the clinical and pathological variables that affect tumor stage, relapse and efficacy of intravesical therapy.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of 152 patients of the Saiseikai Central Hospital who had been diagnosed as having bladder cancer between 1981 and 2001.

RESULTS

The age of the patients ranged from 24 to 88 years, with a median of 63.5 years. The median follow up was 52.4 months (range, 0.5-259.5 months). There was no difference in the incidence of gross hematuria as a presenting symptom among the patients with invasive cancer, superficial cancer and carcinoma in situ (CIS). However, the incidence of urinary frequency and painful urination did differ significantly between patients. Although patients with invasive cancer had a longer time to hospital visit than those with superficial cancer, this time difference was not statistically significant. Presence of proteinuria, multifocality and intravesical bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy were the significant predictors of relapse after transurethral resection (TUR). Presence of proteinuria was shown to adversely affect the efficacy of intravesical BCG therapy. In the BCG-treated group, 3-year relapse-free survival was 78.4% for patients without proteinuria and 40.0% for those with proteinuria; this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.0277).

CONCLUSIONS

Time to hospital visit did not influence the pathological stage of cancer in patients included in the present study. Presence of proteinuria, multifocality and BCG therapy were the significant predictors of relapse after TUR. Presence of proteinuria was shown to adversely affect the efficacy of intravesical BCG therapy. Proteinuria might be helpful in predicting tumor relapse and efficacy of intravesical BCG therapy in clinical settings, along with other markers.

The optimum timing of radical cystectomy for patients with recurrent high-risk superficial bladder tumour

OBJECTIVE

To establish the optimum time of radical cystectomy (RC) for patients with recurrent high-risk superficial bladder tumours after the failure of intravesical therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Among 318 patients with transitional cell carcinoma treated with RC and with no neoadjuvant therapy, there were 46 with clinical stage Ta, T1 or Tis refractory to transurethral resection associated with intravesical therapy. These patients had at least one of: (i) high-risk superficial bladder tumours after failure of two consecutive induction courses of intravesical therapy; (ii) superficial bladder tumours with prostatic stromal invasion; (iii) superficial bladder tumours with mucosa/ducts involvement after failure of one course of intravesical therapy; (iv) uncontrolled superficial tumours with transurethral resection associated or not with intravesical therapy. Progression and cause-specific survival of these patients were compared to those with muscle-invasive tumours. Univariate and multivariate analyses of predictive factors for cause-specific survival were also used in patients with superficial tumours. The incidence of significant prognostic factors was compared in both superficial and muscle-invasive tumours, as were the progression pattern and survival.

RESULTS

The progression-free and cause-specific survival of patients with superficial tumours was 54% and 67%, respectively, with no significant difference from those with muscle-invasive tumours. In multivariate analysis, positive lymph-nodes and prostatic stromal invasion were significant and independent variables for survival. The incidence of positive lymph nodes was 15% vs 30% (P < 0.05) and of stromal invasion was 32% vs 1.5% (P < 0.001) in patients with superficial and muscle-invasive tumours, respectively. Accounting for the progression pattern in patients with superficial tumours, extravesical urothelial recurrence prevailed over local or distant recurrences (30% vs 15%), whereas in patients with muscle-invasive tumours the opposite occurred (5% vs 33%, respectively). The cause-specific survival of patients with superficial tumour and prostatic stromal invasion was one of three, and in those who developed extravesical urothelial recurrence was 28.5%.

CONCLUSION

In patients with recurrent high-risk superficial bladder cancer after intravesical therapy, our criteria for RC were inappropriate, and patients had a survival rate similar to those with muscle-invasive tumours. RC might have been used too late, as there was a high incidence of prostatic stromal invasion and extravesical urothelial recurrence after RC. Both events seem to be responsible of the low cause-specific survival. Predictive factors for progression are needed to indicate early RC in patients with recurrent high-risk superficial tumours. From a previous analysis the pathological pattern of the clinical lack of response (T1, G3, bladder carcinoma in situ and prostate involvement) to intravesical therapy evaluated at 3 months might be important for predicting progression, and an early RC at that time might be useful.

Sufficient prophylactic efficacy with minor adverse effects by intravesical instillation of low-dose bacillus Calmette-Guérin for superficial bladder cancer recurrence

BACKGROUND

Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the most efficient strategy for prophylaxis of superficial bladder cancer recurrence. Adverse effects of BCG are major obstacles, but the reduction of BCG dose could minimize these effects. The efficacy and adverse effects of half-dose (40 mg) BCG, Tokyo 172 strain, were prospectively evaluated.

METHODS

A total of 93 patients with superficial bladder cancer (pTa or pT1) were sequentially assigned to receive either 40 or 80 mg of BCG after transurethral resection. BCG was administered weekly for 6 weeks postoperatively. Eighty patients observed longer than 12 months after BCG therapy (41, 40 mg group; 39, 80 mg group) were analyzed.

RESULTS

BCG therapy course was completed in 71 patients. Tumor recurrence was recognized in 11 of 40 patients in the 40 mg group and in 5 of 31 patients in the 80 mg group. There was no significant difference in tumor recurrence rate between the two groups (P = 0.547). BCG therapy was withdrawn in 1 patient in the 40 mg group and in 8 patients in the 80 mg-group because of BCG-related adverse effects. The morbidity of BCG-related toxicity was significantly higher in the 80 mg group.

CONCLUSION

Half-dose of BCG Tokyo 172 strain had a similar efficacy and its toxicity was significantly lower compared to the standard dose. Thus, half-dose of this strain might be suitable, at least for initial BCG therapy, for the prophylaxis of bladder cancer recurrence. Further study would be necessary to clarify the efficacy of low-dose instillation in high-risk patients.