Urothelial cancer: a narrative review of the role of novel immunotherapeutic agents with particular reference to the management of non-muscle-invasive disease

Expression of VISTA on tumor-infiltrating immune cells correlated with short intravesical recurrence in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is an immune checkpoint molecule expressed in hematopoietic cells, granulocytes, macrophages, and monocytes. However, few studies to date have investigated VISTA expression, especially its clinical utility, in bladder cancer. The present retrospective study aimed to examine VISTA, programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and CD45 expression by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining of archived pathological tissue samples from 159 patients with primary bladder cancer. The correlation between VISTA expression in immune cells (ICs) and clinicopathologic variables including PD-L1 expression in ICs was examined. Briefly, the rates of VISTA-positive ICs and VISTA-positive tumor cells were 67.9% (108/159) and 30.8% (49/159), respectively. The VISTA expression in ICs of patients with bladder cancer, including those with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), was positively correlated with tumor stage, grade, size, and multiplicity. The VISTA expression in ICs was stronger in bladder cancer cases with PD-L1-positive ICs than in those with PD-L1-negative ICs (p < 0.001). The mean intravesical recurrence-free survival was shorter in NMIBC cases with VISTA-positive ICs than in those with VISTA-negative ICs (34.0 vs 39.9 months, p = 0.03, log-rank test). In this first study to investigate VISTA expression in bladder cancer, these results implicate VISTA as a potential immunotherapeutic target and immunologic biomarker in bladder cancer.

Midterm follow-up (3 years) confirms and extends short-term results of intravesical gemcitabine as bladder-preserving treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer after BCG failure

BACKGROUND

There is a high demand for bladder sparing therapies in patients who do not respond to bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).

OBJECTIVE

To report the mid-term results of intravesical gemcitabine in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients, who failed BCG and who were unwilling to undergo radical cystectomy (RC).

MATERIAL & METHODS

This is an extended confirmatory open-label, single-arm study, which enrolled consecutive patients who failed BCG or were BCG intolerant and unwilling to undergo the RC (histologically confirmed Tis (CIS), T1 high grade or multifocal Ta high grade of the urinary bladder). Intravesical gemcitabine was administered once a week for 6 consecutive weeks and once a month for 12 months. The primary outcome was disease-free survival (DFS) defined as the lack of tumor on cystoscopy and negative urine cytology. The secondary endpoint was safety, defined according a grading of side effects. overall survival, progression-free survival and DFS were described with Kaplan-Meier method at 12, 24, and 36 months.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Overall 46 patients were enrolled. The mean follow-up was 40 months. The DFS was 69.05% at the end of induction phase and 32.69% at 36 months. The progression-free survival at 36 months was 65.38%. The overall survival and cancer specific survival were 66.97% (95% confidence interval 47.25%-80.70%) and 78.71% (95% confidence interval 59.16%-89.66%), respectively. There was no life-threatening event or treatment related death (grade 4 or 5). The most common mild and moderate adverse events reported were urinary symptoms (lower urinary tract symptoms) and fatigue (G1-G2).

CONCLUSION

Intravesical gemcitabine seemed to represent a valid and safe alternative at 3 years follow-up for patients who failed BCG and were unwilling to undergo RC.

Current status and future perspectives of immunotherapy in bladder cancer treatment

The treatment strategy of bladder cancer has evolved not only through the traditional modalities of surgery and chemotherapy but also by immunotherapy over the past several decades. Immunotherapies such as intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines and immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs) are sometimes used for treating patients with bladder cancer, especially those who develop resistance to conventional first-line treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, it is a limited number of individuals that see clinical benefits from this approach, and complicating matters more is that many of these patients suffer severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs). If current momentum continues to result in improved response rates and managed irAEs, immunotherapy could be poised to revolutionize the landscape of urothelial carcinoma therapeutics.

Intravesical gemcitabine as bladder‐preserving treatment for BCG unresponsive non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer. Results from a single‐arm, open‐label study

Background

There is an unmet alternative medical therapy for BCG unresponsive patients.

Objective

To report efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine in NMIBC patients, who failed a previous course of BCG, or intolerant, and unwilling to undergo radical cystectomy (RC).

Material and methods

This is an open‐label, single‐arm study, which enrolled patients showing a failure or were intolerant to BCG and unwilling to undergo the RC. Intravesical gemcitabine was administered once a week for six consecutive weeks and once a month for 12 months. The primary outcome was DFS defined as the lack of a tumor on cystoscopy and negative urine cytology. Secondary endpoint was safety defined according a grading of side effects. OS, PFS, and DFS were described with Kaplan–Meier method at 12 and 24 months.

Results and limitations

Overall 36 patients were enrolled. The median follow‐up was 27 months. The DFS was 68.75% at the end of induction phase and 44.44% and 31.66% at 12 and 24 months of, respectively. The PFS was 43.75%. The OS and CSS were 77.9% (95% CI 58.78%‐88.92%) and 80.68% (95% CI 61.49%‐90.96%), respectively. There was no life threatening event or treatment‐related death (grade 4 or 5). The most common mild and moderate adverse events reported were urinary symptoms (LUTS) and fatigue (G1‐G2).

Conclusion

Patients who presented an unresponsive‐BCG recurrent NMIBC and unwilling to receive a RC, could benefit from intravesical gemcitabine as salvage organ‐sparing treatment.

The natural history of untreated muscle-invasive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

To describe the natural history of untreated muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and compare the oncological outcomes of treated and untreated patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We utilised a database encompassing all patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer in Stockholm, Sweden between 1995 and 1996. The median follow-up for survivors was 14.4 years. Overall, 538 patients were diagnosed with bladder cancer of whom 126 had clinically localised MIBC. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received radical cystectomy or radiation therapy, and those who did not receive any form of treatment. Multivariable Cox or competing-risks regressions were adopted to predict metastasis, overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific mortality (CSM), when appropriate. Analyses were adjusted for age at diagnosis, sex, tumour stage, clinical N stage, and treatment.

RESULTS

In all, 64 (51%) patients did not receive any definitive local treatment. In the untreated group, the median (interquartile range) age at diagnosis was 79 (63-83) vs 69 (63-74) years in the treated group (P < 0.001). Overall, 109 patients died during follow-up. At 6 months after diagnosis, 38% of the untreated patients had developed metastatic disease and 41% had CSM. The 5-year OS rate for untreated and treated patients was 5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1, 12%) vs 48% (95% CI 36, 60%), respectively. Patients not receiving any treatment had a 5-year cumulative incidence of CSM of 86% (95% CI 75, 94%) vs 48% (95% CI 36, 60%) for treated patients. Untreated patients had a higher risk of progression to metastatic disease (hazard ratio [HR] 2.40, 95% CI 1.28, 4.51; P = 0.006), death from any cause (HR 2.63, 95% CI 1.65, 4.19; P < 0.001) and CSM (subdistribution HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.24, 3.30; P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Untreated patients with MIBC are at very high risk of near-term CSM. These findings may help balance the risks vs benefits of integrating curative intent therapy particularly in older patients with MIBC.