Outcome of radical cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer

Management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the elderly

Bladder cancer is rare in patients below the age of 50 years, and most patients are in their 60s and 70s. Radical cystectomy is the preferred approach for patients with localized disease in most European countries and the USA, and evidence is growing in favor of neoadjuvant, platinum-based chemotherapy for patients at high risk of local and systemic relapse. Transurethral resection (TUR) followed by radiotherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy appears to be a reasonable alternative, particularly in the UK and Canada. However, the elderly pose several treatment dilemmas, including the increased risk of perioperative complications, the management of orthotopic neobladder or different types of urinary diversion, as well as the higher risk of adverse events caused by pelvic radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy. Multidimensional parameters such as biologic prognostic factors, performance status, functional independence, comorbidities and cognitive function of the patient should be collected in order to tailor treatment to the patient's life expectancy and preferences. Optimized integration of TUR followed by bladder removal (or radiotherapy), with or without adjunctive chemotherapy, can be recommended for otherwise healthy patients. Palliative measures, such as TUR followed by external radiotherapy alone or monochemotherapy, should be reserved for partially impaired patients with moderate comorbidities, in order to maximize the balance of benefits and toxicities. This review summarizes recent data concerning surgery, radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy for bladder cancer in the elderly, and discusses pros and cons of the currently available therapeutic options.

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide therapy for bladder cancer: recent advances and future prospects

Despite remarkable progress in therapeutic options for the management of bladder cancer, it remains a challenge for urologists to achieve successful outcomes in the treatment of both superficial and invasive bladder cancers. In this review, recent advances in the field of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide therapy targeting several genes playing functionally important roles in the progression and recurrence of bladder cancer are summarized. Data showing the synergistic antitumor activities of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide therapy, combined with several treatments, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation and other molecular targeting therapies, are also presented. Finally, the future direction of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide therapy in the therapeutic strategy of bladder cancer is discussed. These findings may help clarify the significance of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide therapy as an attractive alternative to conventional strategies.

The management of lymph node metastasis from bladder cancer

AIM

The presence of pelvic lymph node metastasis from bladder cancer has traditionally been associated with a very poor prognosis. The aim of this paper is to review the literature with regard to the management of patients with nodal disease, particularly gross nodal metastasis and suggest a strategy for management of these patients.

METHODS

We performed a literature search in the PubMed database and the reference lists of relevant papers describing the management of locally advanced bladder cancer.

FINDINGS

There are no randomised studies relating specifically to the management of nodal metastasis in bladder cancer. It is clear however that a significant number of patients with micrometastatic nodal disease may be cured. Few studies exist which address the management of patients with gross nodal disease and consist of series from a limited number of institutions. In patients with gross nodal disease detected pre-operatively or at the time of surgery, a multimodality approach consisting of surgery, chemotherapy and possibly radiotherapy seems appropriate. The prognosis of such patients relates to the pathological stage of the primary tumour and the degree of lymph node involvement. In addition a good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy may identify patients who are likely to survive longer.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis for patients with gross nodal disease from bladder cancer is poor although cure may be possible in a small number of patients. In such cases a multimodality approach is appropriate and management decisions should be made on an individual patient basis.

A meta-analysis of randomised trials suggests a survival benefit for combined radiotherapy and radical cystectomy compared with radical radiotherapy for invasive bladder cancer: are these data relevant to modern practice?

OBJECTIVE

Treatment options for muscle-invasive bladder cancer include radical cystectomy or radical radiotherapy, and the prevailing choice varies by country. The ideal treatment would be a bladder-preserving therapy without compromising survival. The objective of this review was to compare the overall survival after radical surgery (cystectomy) with radical radiotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Medline, EMBASE, Cancerlit, Healthstar and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness. Authors of unpublished data were contacted. Randomised trials comparing surgery (alone or with preoperative radiotherapy) with radiotherapy were eligible for assessment. Three reviewers assessed trial quality based on the Cochrane Guidelines. Data were extracted from the text of the article or extrapolated from the Kaplan-Meier plot. The Peto odds ratio was determined to compare the overall survival and disease-specific survival. Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis and treatment actually received.

RESULTS

No randomised trials comparing surgery alone with radiotherapy alone were identified. Three randomised trials comparing preoperative radiotherapy followed by radical cystectomy (surgery) versus radical radiotherapy with salvage cystectomy (radical radiotherapy) were eligible for assessment. These trials represented a total of 439 patients, 221 randomised to surgery and 218 to radical radiotherapy. Three trials were combined for the overall survival results, and one was evaluable for the disease-specific survival analysis. The mean overall survival (intention-to-treat analysis) at 3 and 5 years were 45% and 36% for surgery, and 28% and 20% for radiotherapy, respectively. Peto odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) analysis consistently favoured surgery in terms of overall survival. The results were significantly in favour of surgery at 3 years (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.30-2.82) and at 5 years (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.22 -2.82). On a treatment-received basis, the results were significantly in favour of surgery at 3 years (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.17-2.90) and 5 years (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.39-3.38) for overall survival, and at 3 years (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.06-3.65) for disease-specific survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis of this review suggests that there is an overall survival benefit with combined preoperative radiotherapy plus radical surgery compared with radical radiotherapy plus salvage cystectomy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, it must be considered that only three trials were included for analysis, the patient numbers were small and that many patients did not receive the treatment they were randomised to. It must also be noted that many improvements in radiotherapy and surgery have taken place since the initiation of these trials; therefore, the data may not be readily extrapolated to modern practice. Ideally, a new trial comparing modern bladder-sparing therapy with the latest surgical approach to this disease is required.

Radical cystectomy for bladder cancer today--a homogeneous series without neoadjuvant therapy

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of pelvic lymph node dissection and radical cystectomy for transitional cell cancer of the bladder on recurrence-free and overall survival, pelvic recurrences, and metastatic patterns in a homogeneous group.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A consecutive series of patients undergoing pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical cystectomy between 1985 and 2000 was analyzed. All patients were staged N0, M0 preoperatively, and no patient received neoadjuvant radio/chemotherapy. Pathologic characteristics based on the 1997 tumor-node-metastasis system, recurrence-free/overall survival, and metastatic patterns were determined.

RESULTS

Five hundred seven patients (age 66 +/- 12 years) with a mean follow-up time of 45 months (range, 0.1 to 176 months) were analyzed. Five-year recurrence-free and overall survival were, respectively, 73% and 62% for patients with organ-confined, lymph node-negative tumors (n = 217; < or = pT2, pN0) and 56% and 49% for non-organ-confined, lymph node-negative tumors (n = 166; > pT2, pN0). Positive lymph nodes were found in 124 (24%) patients who had a 5-year recurrence-free (33%) or overall (26%) survival. Isolated local recurrences were observed in 3% of patients with organ-confined tumors (< or = pT2, pN0), 11% with non-organ-confined tumors (> pT2, pN0), and 13% with positive lymph nodes (any pT, pN+). Distant metastases developed in 25% of patients with organ-confined tumors, 37% with non-organ-confined tumors, and 51% with positive lymph nodes.

CONCLUSION

Despite negative preoperative staging, pelvic lymphadenectomy and cystectomy for bladder cancer reveal a high percentage of unsuspected nodal metastases (24%) that have a 25% chance for long-term survival. This procedure also ensures a low pelvic recurrence rate even in lymph node-positive patients, and patients with locally advanced cancer have a 56% probability of 5-year recurrence-free survival.