Definitions, End Points, and Clinical Trial Designs for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Recommendations From the International Bladder Cancer Group

Temporal dynamics of immune cell patterns in bladder cancer patients receiving Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

BACKGROUND

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is capable of enhancing the infiltration of immune cells into the tumour. However the temporal dynamics of immune cell patterns in patients receiving BCG instillation remains unclear.

METHODS

Ninety-six patients who underwent intravesical BCG therapy, comprising 46 responders and 50 non-responders, were retrospectively enroled to explore the evolving immune landscape. This study involved a detailed examination of sequential samples collected before, during, and after BCG treatment to assess BCG's influence on the immune microenvironment, employing techniques such as immunohistochemistry, fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry, and mass spectrometry techniques.

RESULTS

Our study found that initial BCG instillation leads to enhanced immune cell infiltration, correlating with treatment efficacy, with responders exhibiting more pronounced increases. Non-responders experience a rise in immune cell infiltration and PD-L1 expression during the first instillation, which returns to baseline after treatment. In non-responders, BCG re-challenge fail to further increase immune cell infiltration into the tumour or improve patient outcomes. Strikingly, proteomics data revealed that GBP1 expression was induced by BCG treatment in non-responders.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated the induction of tumour PD-L1 expression by BCG in non-responders, and therefore provide insights for the combination of BCG and anti-PD1/anti-PD-L1 therapy.

Adherence to First-Line Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Therapy in the Context of Guideline Recommendations for US Patients With High-Risk Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) can reduce recurrence and delay progression among patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), but is associated with a substantial emotional, physical, and social burden. Objectives: This study evaluated the adequacy of first-line intravesical BCG treatment among high-risk NMIBC patients in the United States, including the subgroup with carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the bladder. Methods: Adults with high-risk NMIBC treated with BCG were selected from de-identified MarketScan® Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid Databases (1/1/2010-2/28/2021). Adequacy of BCG induction and maintenance was evaluated from the first BCG claim until the end of the patient's observation, using a previously published claims-based algorithm (induction: ≥5 instillations within 70 days; induction and maintenance: ≥7 instillations within 274 days of first instillation) and a definition based on the landmark Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) trial (induction: ≥5 instillations without gaps >7 days; followed by ≥2 instillations at month 3, 6, and every 6 months thereafter). Proportions of patients with adequate BCG induction and maintenance were reported overall and compared between those with and without CIS. Results: Of 5803 high-risk NMIBC patients treated with first-line BCG (mean age, 67.3 years; 20.6% female), 930 (16.0%) had CIS. After first-line BCG, 56.6% received another treatment. Although 86.9% had adequate BCG induction based on the claims-based algorithm (SWOG, 73.6%), only 41.5% had adequate BCG induction and maintenance (SWOG, 1.6%). Similar trends were observed for patients with and without CIS, with higher adherence to guidelines for patients with CIS (adequate induction using claims-based algorithm: 90.3% vs 86.2%; adequate induction and maintenance: 50.8% vs 39.7%, all P < .001). A greater proportion of CIS patients than non-CIS patients had cystectomy (CIS, 14.4%, non-CIS, 8.5%; P < .001) after first-line BCG. Discussion: Among patients with NMIBC treated with first-line intravesical BCG, most received adequate BCG induction but less than half had adequate BCG maintenance. BCG treatment was also inadequate for patients with CIS, with only half of patients receiving adequate BCG maintenance and a higher proportion undergoing cystectomy following first-line BCG. Conclusions: Results emphasize the need for additional treatment options for patients with NMIBC.

Understanding the long‐term impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer outcomes: 12‐Month follow‐up data from the international, prospective COVIDSurg Cancer study

Objective

The objective of this study was to report the 12‐month oncological outcomes for patients with non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) within the prospective, international COVIDSurg Cancer study.

Patients and methods

Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years and scheduled for elective surgical management of NMIBC with curative intent (transurethral resection of bladder tumour [TURBT] or bladder biopsy) from 21 January to 14 April 2020. The primary outcome was disease recurrence within 12 months of previous elective TURBT/bladder biopsy. Secondary outcomes included disease progression within 12 months of previous elective TURBT/bladder biopsy, site‐declared delay to surgery from diagnosis as a consequence of COVID‐19 and deviation in standard care due to COVID‐19. Comparisons were made to cohorts from the pre‐pandemic era.

Results

Bladder cancer accounted for 2.2% (n = 446) of patients in the COVIDSurg Cancer study, with data contributed by 27 centres across 12 countries internationally. Within this included cohort, 229 patients had NMIBC and 12‐month follow‐up data available. On application of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria, 47.2% were classified as having high‐risk disease. Overall disease recurrence and progression rates were 29.3% and 9.7% at 12 months, respectively. In purely high‐risk pre‐pandemic cohorts, the International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) estimates a recurrence rate of 25% at 12 months, and the European Association of Urology (EAU) NMIBC 2021 scoring model estimates a 12‐month progression rate of 3.5%. As a consequence of the COVID‐19 pandemic, 10.9% of patients had site‐declared delay to TURBT/bladder biopsy; 7.4% did not undergo intravesical therapy or had early discontinuation of this; 9.2% did not undergo early repeat resection for high‐risk disease; and 18.3% had a delay to cystoscopic follow‐up surveillance.

Conclusions

This prospective study indicates that there were widespread deviations in usual care for NMIBC during the pandemic and that 12‐month oncological outcomes appear to be impaired compared to published pre‐pandemic outcomes.

Tumor immune microenvironment dynamics and outcomes of prognosis in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Agents that target PD-1 and PD-L1 have been developed in the treatment of bladder cancer (BC). However, the diversity of immune cell infiltration in non-muscle-invasive BC (NMIBC) and the dynamics of the microenvironment as it progresses to muscle-invasive/metastatic disease remains unknown. To assess tumor immune activity, hierarchical clustering was applied to 159 BC samples based on cellular positivity for the defined immune cellular markers (CD3/CD4/CD8/FOXP3/CD20/PD-1/PD-L1/LAG3/TIGIT), divided into two clusters. There was a "hot cluster" (25%) consisting of patients with a high expression of these markers and a "cold cluster" (75%) comprising those without. The expression of CD39, CD44, CD68, CD163, IDO1, and Ki67 was significantly higher in tumors in the hot cluster. Immunologically, high-grade T1 tumors were significantly hotter, whereas tumors that had progressed to muscle invasion turned cold. However, a certain number of high-grade NMIBC patients were in the cold cluster, and these patients had a significantly higher risk of disease progression. Using an externally available TCGA dataset, RB1 and TP53 alterations were more frequently observed in TCGA hot cluster; rather FGFR3, KDM6A, and KMT2A alterations were common in TCGA cold/intermediate cluster. Analyses of recurrent tumors after BCG therapy revealed that tumor immune activity was widely maintained before and after treatment, and high FGFR3 expression was detected after recurrence in tumors initially classified into the cold cluster. Collectively, we revealed the dynamics of the tumor microenvironment in BC as a whole and identified candidate molecules as therapeutic targets for recurrent NMIBC, e.g., after BCG therapy.

Radiotherapy Combined with a Radiosensitizer for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive Non-muscle-invasive Carcinoma In Situ Bladder Cancer: An Open-label, Single-arm, Multicenter, Phase 2 European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Trial

Radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection and urinary diversion is the standard of care for patients with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, many patients are unwilling or unable to undergo such major surgery associated with high morbidity and a negative impact on quality of life. Chemoradiotherapy is an established treatment option for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, it has not been investigated adequately in NMIBC until now. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 2235 study (NCT06310369) is designed as a multicenter, prospective, international, phase 2 trial of moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with a radiosensitizer in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) who are not eligible for or declined to undergo radical cystectomy. Patients who have received nadofaragene firadenovec or TAR-200 are eligible. The primary endpoint is the 6-mo complete response (CR) rate defined by the absence of CIS proven by a control biopsy of the bladder. The secondary endpoints include overall survival, progression-free survival, durability of CR, grade 3-4 adverse events rate, patients' quality of life, and organ preservation rate. PATIENT SUMMARY: Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guérin is the standard treatment of non-muscle-invasive, also coined as superficial, bladder cancer. In case the cancer recurs, even superficially, there is no other proven treatment than a radical cystectomy-the surgical removal of the bladder. Although the surgical technique has improved dramatically over the past few years, it remains contraindicated in patients with severe comorbidities. In addition, because it affects the quality of life, patients may reject this option. This study will assess the efficacy of external beam radiotherapy, a robust alternative to surgery in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Radiotherapy will be administered 5 d a week for 4 wk. It will be associated with a "radiosensitizer," an intravenous or oral drug, during the radiotherapy treatment. The study will measure the proportion of patients remaining recurrence free at 6 mo and thereafter. It will also evaluate the safety of the treatment and its impact on quality of life.

Lights and Shadows of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-exposed and BCG-unresponsive Definitions: A Practical Overview

According to the current definitions of recurrence of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer after bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), patients in the BCG-exposed and late relapse categories might benefit from further instillations. Patients with BCG-unresponsive disease could be included in clinical trials, but otherwise radical cystectomy is the preferred treatment. BCG-intolerant disease still represents an area of debate, with limited evidence regarding the best treatment for these patients.

Risk of Progression of High-grade Primary T1 Non-muscle-invasive Bladder cancer in a Contemporary Cohort

Patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) receive bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillations to reduce the risk of progression. For patients with very high-risk NMIBC, immediate radical cystectomy may be considered, as patients who experience disease progression despite BCG treatment have a worse prognosis. However, guideline-recommended stratification for the risk of progression is based on data from patients who were not exposed to BCG. We evaluated the risk of progression in a contemporary cohort of patients with primary high-grade/grade 3 (HG/G3) T1 NMIBC (n = 1268) who received at least one BCG instillation and underwent at least one cystoscopic evaluation. The primary endpoint was the 1-yr risk of progression for all patients and for the subgroup that received adequate BCG, defined as at least five induction instillations and at least two instillations provided as a second BCG course within 6 mo. Progression was defined as detrusor muscle invasion or lymph node or distant metastasis. The 1-yr risk of progression was 6.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.2-8.0) for patients with primary HG/G3 T1 NMIBC who started BCG treatment, and 4.6% (95% CI 3.3-6.4) 1 yr after the first instillation of the second BCG course for patients who received adequate BCG (n = 746). In conclusion, the contemporary risk of progression for patients with HG/G3 T1 NMIBC who receive BCG appears to be low, especially for patients who receive adequate BCG treatment. PATIENT SUMMARY: Our study shows that for patients with a high-grade bladder tumor who received in-bladder BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guérin), the risk of disease progression was 6.5% at 1 yr after their first BCG instillation. For patients who continued with BCG maintenance treatments, the risk of progression was 4.6% after the first BCG maintenance instillation.

Bladder-sparing Therapy for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: International Bladder Cancer Group Recommendations for Optimal Sequencing and Patient Selection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

There has been a recent surge in the development of agents for bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive (BCG-U) non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Critical assessment of these agents and practical recommendations for optimal selection of patients and therapies are urgently needed, especially in the absence of randomized trials on bladder-sparing treatment (BST) options.

METHODS

A global committee of bladder cancer experts was assembled to develop recommendations on BST for BCG-U NMIBC. Working groups reviewed the literature and developed draft recommendations, which were then voted on by International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) members using a modified Delphi process. During a live meeting in August 2023, voting results and supporting evidence were presented, and recommendations were refined on the basis of meeting discussions. Final recommendations achieved >75% agreement during the meeting, and some were further refined via web conferences and e-mail discussions.

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS

There is currently no single optimal agent for patients with BCG-U disease who seek to avoid radical cystectomy (RC). BST selection should be personalized, taking into account individual patient characteristics and preferences, tumor attributes, and efficacy/toxicity data for the agents available. For patients with BCG-U carcinoma in situ (CIS), gemcitabine/docetaxel (GEM/DOCE), nadofaragene firadenovec (NFF), and nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln (NAI) + BCG are recommended; because of its systemic toxicity, pembrolizumab should only be offered after other options are exhausted. For patients with BCG-U papillary-only tumors, GEM/DOCE, NFF, NAI + BCG, single-agent chemotherapy, hyperthermic mitomycin C, and pembrolizumab are recommended. Given the modest efficacy of available options, clinical trial participation is encouraged. For unapproved agents with reported data, IBCG recommendations await the final results of pivotal trials.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The IBCG consensus recommendations provide practical guidance on BST for BCG-U NMIBC.

European Association of Urology Guidelines on Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (TaT1 and Carcinoma In Situ)-A Summary of the 2024 Guidelines Update

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

This publication represents a summary of the updated 2024 European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), TaT1, and carcinoma in situ. The information presented herein is limited to urothelial carcinoma, unless specified otherwise. The aim is to provide practical recommendations on the clinical management of NMIBC with a focus on clinical presentation.

METHODS

For the 2024 guidelines on NMIBC, new and relevant evidence was identified, collated, and appraised via a structured assessment of the literature. Databases searched included Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Libraries. Recommendations within the guidelines were developed by the panel to prioritise clinically important care decisions. The strength of each recommendation was determined according to a balance between desirable and undesirable consequences of alternative management strategies, the quality of the evidence (including the certainty of estimates), and the nature and variability of patient values and preferences.

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS

Key recommendations emphasise the importance of thorough diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for patients with NMIBC. The guidelines stress the importance of defining patients' risk stratification and treating them appropriately.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

This overview of the 2024 EAU guidelines offers valuable insights into risk factors, diagnosis, classification, prognostic factors, treatment, and follow-up of NMIBC. These guidelines are designed for effective integration into clinical practice.

Prediction of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer recurrence using deep learning of pathology image

We aimed to build a deep learning-based pathomics model to predict the early recurrence of non-muscle-infiltrating bladder cancer (NMIBC) in this work. A total of 147 patients from Xuzhou Central Hospital were enrolled as the training cohort, and 63 patients from Suqian Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were enrolled as the test cohort. Based on two consecutive phases of patch level prediction and WSI-level predictione, we built a pathomics model, with the initial model developed in the training cohort and subjected to transfer learning, and then the test cohort was validated for generalization. The features extracted from the visualization model were used for model interpretation. After migration learning, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the deep learning-based pathomics model in the test cohort was 0.860 (95% CI 0.752-0.969), with good agreement between the migration training cohort and the test cohort in predicting recurrence, and the predicted values matched well with the observed values, with p values of 0.667766 and 0.140233 for the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, respectively. The good clinical application was observed using a decision curve analysis method. We developed a deep learning-based pathomics model showed promising performance in predicting recurrence within one year in NMIBC patients. Including 10 state prediction NMIBC recurrence group pathology features be visualized, which may be used to facilitate personalized management of NMIBC patients to avoid ineffective or unnecessary treatment for the benefit of patients.

Oncolytic adenoviral therapy plus pembrolizumab in BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: the phase 2 CORE-001 trial

Cretostimogene grenadenorepvec is a serotype-5 oncolytic adenovirus designed to selectively replicate in cancer cells with retinoblastoma pathway alterations, previously tested as monotherapy in bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-experienced non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In this phase 2 study, we assessed the potential synergistic efficacy between intravesical cretostimogene and systemic pembrolizumab in patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Thirty-five patients were treated with intravesical cretostimogene with systemic pembrolizumab. Induction cretostimogene was administered weekly for 6 weeks followed by three weekly maintenance infusions at months 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 in patients maintaining complete response (CR). Patients with persistent CIS/high-grade Ta at the 3-month assessment were eligible for re-induction. Pembrolizumab was administered for up to 24 months. The primary endpoint was CR at 12 months as assessed by cystoscopy, urine cytology, cross-sectional imaging and mandatory bladder mapping biopsies. Secondary endpoints included CR at any time, duration of response, progression-free survival and safety. The CR rate in the intention-to-treat population at 12 months was 57.1% (20 out of 35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 40.7-73.5%), meeting the primary endpoint. A total of 29 out of 35 patients (82.9%, 95% CI 70.4-95.3%) derived a CR at 3 months. With a median follow-up of 26.5 months, the median duration of response has not been reached (95% CI 15.7 to not reached). The CR rate at 24 months was 51.4% (18 out of 35) (95% CI 34.9-68.0%). No patient progressed to muscle-invasive bladder cancer in this trial. Adverse events attributed to cretostimogene were low grade, self-limiting and predominantly limited to bladder-related symptoms. A total of 5 out of 35 patients (14.3%) developed grade 3 treatment-related adverse effects. There was no evidence of overlapping or synergistic toxicities. Combination intravesical cretostimogene and systemic pembrolizumab demonstrated enduring efficacy. With a toxicity profile similar to its monotherapy components, this combination may shift the benefit-to-risk ratio for patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04387461 .

BCG and bladder cancer. Forty-eight years after Morales report

Although BCG use as an anticancer drug was nearly abandoned due to the poor results in most tumors, in 1976 Morales reported a relevant reduction in recurrence with intravesical BCG in few patients affected by NMIBC. Since then BCG was globally accepted as an empirical and effective therapy in treating Tis and preventing recurrence of intermediate and high risk NMIBC. Forty-eight years after Morales' report, although some open questions remain object of debate, we have been able to find answers to many doubts improving BCG activity and toxicity. We better select patients undergoing BCG and many trials have indicated the best dosage and schedule. Moreover, we are able to better identify the patient unresponsive to BCG who might benefit of a timely radical cystectomy. We are also aware of the difficulties and toxicities that can be encountered with BCG use in every-day clinical practice. Research is ongoing to obtain genetically modified BCG to increase its efficacy and reduce toxicity. Moreover, the combination of BCG with other immunotherapeutic drugs given intravesically or systemically, first immune checkpoint inhibitors, is under study to obtain a response in patients unresponsive or intolerant to BCG. Almost 50 years after Morales publication, intravesical BCG remains an inalienable tool against NMIBC.

Contemporary Treatment of NMIBC-Is It Time to Move on from BCG?

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) encompasses approximately three-quarters of all bladder cancer (BC) diagnoses. Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been the long-standing gold standard treatment for patients following endoscopic resection. However, despite reasonable efficacy, recurrence rates are still suboptimal, and this, combined with treatment tolerability and BCG shortages, has prompted an investigation into alternative treatment modalities. Advances in this landscape have been predominantly for patients with BCG-unresponsive disease, and there are currently four FDA-approved treatments for these patients. More recently, trials have emerged looking for alternatives to BCG for patients who are treatment-naïve. We performed a literature search via PubMed to find recent publications on alternatives to BCG, as well as a search on clinicaltrials.gov and recent conference presentations for ongoing clinical trials. Studies have shown that combination intravesical chemotherapy, combination intravesical therapy with BCG, and combination intravenous therapy with BCG preliminarily have good efficacy and safety profiles in this disease space. Ongoing trials are underway, and we anticipate as these studies mature, there will be a shift in NMIBC treatment regimens.

Developments in conservative treatment for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

INTRODUCTION

To reduce the risk of disease recurrence and progression of intermediate and high-risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancers (NMIBCs), intravesical adjuvant treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) represents the standard of care, although up to 50% of patients will eventually recur and up to 20% of them will progress to Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC). Radical Cystectomy (RC) is the treatment of choice in this setting; however, this represents a major and morbid surgery, thus meaning that not all NMIBCs patient could undergo or may refuse this procedure or may refuse. The search for effective bladder sparing strategies in NMIBCs BCG-unresponsive patients is a hot topic in the urologic field.

AREAS COVERED

We aimed to review the most important bladder-preserving strategies for BCG unresponsive disease, from those used in the past, even though rarely used nowadays (intravesical chemotherapy with single agents), to current available therapies (e.g. intravesical instillation with Gemcitabine-Docetaxel), and to future upcoming treatments (Oportuzumab Monatox).

EXPERT OPINION

At present, bladder-preserving treatments in BCG-unresponsive patients are represented by the use of intravesical instillations, systemic immunotherapies, both with good short-term and modest mid-term efficacy, and numerous clinical trials ongoing, with encouraging initial results, in which patients could be recruited.

Intravesical thermochemotherapy in the treatment of high-risk and very high-risk non-muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer: a single-arm study

AIM

Intravesical thermochemotherapy, also known as HIVEC (Hyperthermic Intra-VEsical Chemotherapy), represents an alternative adjuvant topical treatment for non-muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer (NMIBC). High-risk (HR) and very HR tumors carry a substantial risk of recurrence and progression. In this study, we present our own results using HIVEC as an alternative to unavailable Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in the treatment of such groups of patients.

METHODS

During the period of November 2014-June 2022, a total of 47 patients with HR and very HR NMIBC underwent treatment with HIVEC after transurethral resection. They were given an induction of 6 instillations with/without a maintenance. The aim was to evaluate the time to recurrence, event-free survival (recurrence or progression), as measured by Kaplan-Meier analysis, the effect of maintenance treatment and other factors on survival (log-rank test and multivariable Cox regression analysis), and complications.

RESULTS

The median follow-up for patients who did not experience an event was 32 months. The median time to HR (high grade and/or T1 tumor) recurrence in those who recurred was 15 months. The survival rate without HR recurrence at 12, 24, and 48 months was 84, 70, and 59%, respectively. Progression was detected in 10.6% of patients, which translated to 89% of patients living without progression after 24 months. Maintenance treatment (defined as more than six instillations) and presence of CIS significantly correlated with risk of HR recurrence (Hazard ratio 0.34 and 3.12, respectively). One female patient underwent salvage cystectomy due to contractory bladder, and 19.1% of patients experienced transient lower urinary tract symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Based on our experience, HIVEC represents an adequate and safe alternative treatment for HR and very HR NMIBC in situations where BCG is not available or radical cystectomy is not an option for the patient. However, high-quality data from prospective randomized studies are still lacking, and thus, thermochemotherapy should still be regarded as an experimental treatment modality.

Photodynamic Diagnosis and Therapy in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) possesses distinct molecular profiles that influence progression depending on its biological nature and delivered treatment intensity. Muscle-invasive BC (MIBC) and non-MIBC (NMIBC) demonstrate great intrinsic heterogeneity regarding different prognoses, survival, progression, and treatment outcomes. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is the standard of care in treating NMIBC and serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes despite the prevalent recurrence and progression among many patients. In particular, flat urothelial carcinoma in situ and urothelial carcinoma with lamina propria invasion are the major precursors of MIBC. A new-generation photosensitizer, 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), demonstrates high tumor specificity by illuminating the tumor lesion with a specific wavelength of light to produce fluorescence and has been studied for photodynamic diagnosis to detect precise tumor areas by TURBT. Additionally, it has been applied for treatment by producing its cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, as well as screening for urological carcinomas by excreting porphyrin in the blood and urine. Moreover, 5-ALA may contribute to screening before and after TURBT in NMIBC. Here, we summarize the updated evidence and ongoing research on photodynamic technology for NMIBC, providing insight into the potential for improving patient outcomes.

Bibliometric insights into drug resistance in bladder cancer: Two decades of progress (1999-2022)

Aims

To provide a comprehensive bibliometric overview of drug resistance in bladder cancer (BC) from 1999 to 2022, aiming to illuminate its historical progression and guide future investigative avenues.

Methods

Literature on BC drug resistance between 1999 and 2022 was sourced from the Web of Science. Visual analyses were executed using Vosviewer and Citespace software, focusing on contributions by countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords.

Results

From 2727 publications, a marked growth in BC drug resistance studies was discerned over the two decades. Prominent among all institutions is the University of Texas System. The majority of top-ranked journals were American. In authorship significance, McConkey DJ led in publications, while Bellmunt J dominated in citations. Research topics predominantly spanned cancer demographics, drug efficacy evaluations, molecular features, oncology subtypes, and individualized treatment strategies, with a notable contemporary emphasis on molecular mechanisms behind drug resistance and nuances of ICIs.

Conclusions

Our bibliometric analysis charts the landscape of BC drug resistance research from 1999 to 2022. While the study of resistance mechanisms has been robust, there's an evident need for deeper exploration into the molecular intricacies and the potential of ICIs and targeted therapeutic strategies.

Novel Delivery Systems and Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Therapeutic options for patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) have traditionally been limited to intravesical immunotherapy or chemotherapy. A considerable number of new options have been investigated in recent years. Our aim was to review the efficacy and toxicity of novel therapeutic options (results already reported or currently under investigation) for patients with NMIBC.

METHODS

We assessed the efficacy of various novel therapeutic options by examining key endpoints in diverse settings, including recurrence, progression, overall survival, disease-specific survival, and complete response. We identified the principal advantages and limitations for each option. Safety was predominantly evaluated as the incidence of grade ≥3 adverse events. Our investigation focused on evidence from scientific articles and congress abstracts published in English within the past 5 yr.

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS

To date, pembrolizumab, nadofaragene firadenovec, and the combination of BCG with N-803 have received US Food and Drug administration approval for the treatment of BCG-unresponsive carcinoma in situ of the bladder (with or without papillary tumours). Five phase 3 trials are recruiting BCG-naïve patients with high-risk NMIBC. There is increasing interest in an ablative rather than an adjuvant approach for patients with intermediate-risk NMIBC.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Novel drugs and device-assisted drug delivery systems are on the verge of changing the treatment of NMIBC. Novel intravesical options seem to have the same efficacy with fewer adverse events in comparison to systemic therapies.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We reviewed new therapy options for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Two agents (pembrolizumab and nadofaragene firadenovec) have been approved to date. Ongoing trials are assessing direct delivery of drugs in solution into the bladder. This route seems to have similar efficacy and fewer side effects than intravenous immunotherapy.

Pembrolizumab monotherapy for high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer without carcinoma in situ and unresponsive to BCG (KEYNOTE-057): a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND

The KEYNOTE-057 trial evaluated activity and safety of pembrolizumab in patients with BCG-unresponsive high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who were ineligible for or declined radical cystectomy. In cohort A (patients with carcinoma in situ, with or without papillary tumours) of the KEYNOTE-057 study, pembrolizumab monotherapy led to a complete response rate of 41% at 3 months, and 46% of responders maintained a response lasting at least 12 months. Here, we evaluate pembrolizumab monotherapy in cohort B of patients with papillary tumours without carcinoma in situ.

METHODS

KEYNOTE-057 is a single-arm, phase 2 study in 54 sites (hospitals and cancer centres) in 14 countries. Cohort B eligible patients were aged 18 years and older, had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, and had BCG-unresponsive high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with papillary tumours (high-grade Ta or any-grade T1) without carcinoma in situ. Transurethral resection of bladder tumour within 12 weeks of first pembrolizumab dose was required. Patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks for a maximum of 35 cycles. Primary endpoint was 12-month disease-free survival of high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer or progressive disease as assessed by cystoscopy, cytology, and central pathology and radiology review. Activity was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of the study drug and had a baseline evaluation. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of the study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02625961, and is ongoing.

FINDINGS

Between April 12, 2016, and June 17, 2021, 132 patients (104 [79%] men and 28 [21%] women) who had received a median of ten (IQR 9-15) previous BCG instillations were enrolled into cohort B of the study. Patients received a median of 10 cycles (IQR 6-27) of pembrolizumab. At data cutoff date, Oct 20, 2022, median follow-up was 45·4 months (IQR 36·4-59·3) and five (4%) of 132 patients remained on treatment. The 12-month disease-free survival was 43·5% (95% CI 34·9-51·9). Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 97 (73%) of 132 patients; 19 (14%) had a grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse event; the most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events were colitis (in three [2%] patients) and diarrhoea (in two [2%]). 17 (13%) of 132 patients experienced serious treatment-related adverse events, of which colitis (three patients [2%]) was most common. No treatment-related deaths occurred.

INTERPRETATION

Pembrolizumab monotherapy showed antitumour activity and manageable toxicity in patients with BCG-unresponsive high-risk Ta or T1 bladder cancer without carcinoma in situ and could potentially be a suitable treatment option for patients who decline or are ineligible for radical cystectomy. Findings will need to be confirmed in a randomised controlled trial.

FUNDING

Merck Sharp & Dohme.

A Territory-wide Study Investigating the Dose and Efficacy of Different Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Strains in Patients with Intermediate- and High-risk Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND

Current European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines support adjuvant intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment after Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURB) for intermediate- or high-risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) patients, aiming to reduce the risk of tumor recurrence. The quality of data, however, does not allow definitive conclusions on whether different strains and dosages of BCG have different efficacies on long-term survival outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term survival outcomes of different strains and dosages of BCG in patients with NMIBC.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

All NMIBC patients treated with intravesical BCG therapy from 2001 to 2020 were identified using a territory-wide database in Hong Kong.

INTERVENTION

BCG strains and dosages (Connaught strain 81 mg, Connaught strain 27 mg, Tokyo strain 80 mg, and Danish strain 30 mg) were retrieved from medical records.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Overall Survival (OS), Cancer-Specific Survival (CSS), Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS), and Progression-Free Survival (PFS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to adjust potential confounding factors, and to estimate Hazard Ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of different BCG strains. A further subgroup analysis on adequate versus inadequate BCG treatment was performed.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

A total of 2602 NMIBC patients treated with intravesical BCG were identified. Among them, 1291 (49.6%) received Connaught strain 81 mg, 199 (7.6%) received Connaught strain 27 mg, 1014 (39.0%) received Tokyo strain, and 98 (3.8%) received Danish strain. The median follow-up was 11.0 years. No statistically significant differences in OS, CSS, RFS, and PFS were detected among the different groups. At the multivariable analysis, the Connaught strain 27 mg group was inferior to the Connaught strain 81 mg group in terms of OS (HR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05-1.51), CSS (HR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.08-2.66), and PFS (HR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.20-2.88). Adequate BCG treatment was associated with improved OS (HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.73-0.92), CSS (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.47-0.86), RFS (HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.70-0.92), and PFS (HR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.39-0.68). Among patients treated with adequate BCG, at the multivariable analysis the Connaught strain 27 mg group showed worse results than the Connaught strain 81 mg group in terms of CSS (HR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.07-3.51). Compared with the Connaught strain 81 mg group, both Tokyo and Danish strains had similar survival outcomes in the whole cohort and the adequate BCG treatment subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that adequate BCG remains the most important factor in optimizing survival outcomes in patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC. No significant differences in survival outcomes were observed between full-dose Connaught, Tokyo, and Danish strains. Reduced-dose Connaught strain was associated with the worst survival outcomes.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We evaluated the efficacy of different strains and dosages of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in patients with intermediate- or high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the past two decades in Hong Kong. We conclude no significant differences in long-term survival outcomes in terms of full-dose Connaught, Tokyo, and Danish strains, while reduced-dose Connaught strain was inferior to the full-dose group. Adequate BCG treatment benefits long-term survival.

Multidisciplinary consensus document on the current treatment of bacille Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder tumor

Radical cystectomy is the current treatment of choice for patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder tumor (NMIBC). However, the high comorbidity of this surgery and its effects on the quality of life of patients require the investigation and implementation of bladder-sparing treatment options. These must be evaluated individually by the uro-oncology committee based on the characteristics of the BCG failure, type of tumor, patient preferences and treatment options available in each center. Based on FDA-required oncologic outcomes (6-month complete response rate for CIS: 50%; duration of response in responders for CIS and papillary: 30% at 12 months and 25% at 18 months), there is not currently a strong preference for one treatment over another, although the intravesical route seems to offer less toxicity. This work summarizes the evidence on the management of BCG-unresponsive NMIBC based on current scientific evidence and provides consensus recommendations on the most appropriate treatment.

Long-term efficacy and safety of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Moreau Polish substrain in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

Introduction

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Moreau is under-represented in literature and comparisons with other BCG strains are rare.

Material and methods

We conducted a retrospective data analysis in patients with intermediate or high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) to assess effectiveness and safety of BCG Moreau Polish substrain to BCG RIVM. The primary objective was to describe the real-world effectiveness of BCG Moreau in the treatment of patients with NMIBC in terms of recurrence free survival (RFS) 2 years post-treatment initiation compared to BCG RIVM.

Results

The database to be analysed comprised of 967 patients with NMIBC. The primary endpoint was met since BCG Moreau was non-inferior to BCG RIVM in terms of RFS [HR: 0.920 (95%CI: 0.725; 1.168)]. There was no statistically significant difference in all secondary endpoints including time to recurrence, progression-free survival, time to progression, and overall survival. The safety profile of BCG Moreau Polish substrain was consistent with side effects and frequency of complications observed with BCG RIVM and study reports in the literature.

Conclusions

BCG Moreau was effective and safe in the treatment of patients with intermediate- or high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. There was no statistically significant difference in treatment outcome between BCG Moreau and BCG RIVM strains based on real-world data.

Understanding the role of transmembrane 9 superfamily member 1 in bladder cancer pathogenesis

In this editorial we comment on the article by Wei et al, published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Oncology. The authors investigated the role of Transmembrane 9 superfamily member 1 (TM9SF1) protein in bladder cancer (BC) carcinogenesis. Lentiviral vectors were used to achieve silencing or overexpression of TM9SF1 gene in three BC cell lines. These cell lines were then subject to cell counting kit 8, wound-healing assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells were increased in cell lines subjected to TM9SF1 overexpression. TM9SF1 silencing inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of BC cells. The authors conclude that TM9SF1 may be an oncogene in bladder cancer pathogenesis.

Experimental and New Approaches for Bladder Preservation in Intermediate and High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)

About 75% of bladder cancers are detected as non-muscle invasive. High-risk patients have high progression risk. Although the standard is transurethral resection of bladder tumor plus full dose intravesical BCG for one to 3 years, due to the high risk of progression, radical cystectomy may be considered in specific cases. Although radical cystectomy is still the best approach for high-grade NMIBC from an oncological perspective, its high morbidity and impact on quality of life motivate studies of new strategies that may reduce the need for cystectomy. We carried out a mini-review whose objectives were: 1 - to identify bladder-sparing alternatives that are being studied as possible treatment for patients with intermediate and high-risk NMIBC; 2 - understand the evidence that exists regarding success rate, follow-up, and side effects of different strategies. Several studies have sought alternatives for bladder preservation, including immunotherapy, intravesical chemotherapy, chemo-hyperthermia, antibody-drug conjugates, viral genetic therapy, and others with promising results. The selection of an optimal therapy for high-risk NMIBC that can reduce the need for cystectomy, with low toxicity and high efficacy, is of paramount importance and remains an issue, however, several known medications are being tested as bladder-preserving alternatives in this scenario and have shown promise in studies.

Clinical features and oncological outcomes of bladder cancer microsatellite instability

OBJECTIVES

Excellent anticancer effect for solid tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI)-high by anti-PD-1 antibody has been reported. In this study, we investigated the clinical impact of MSI status in bladder cancer.

METHODS

This study included 205 Japanese patients who underwent transurethral resection for bladder cancer between 2005 and 2021. The prevalence rates of microsatellite stable (MSS), MSI-low (MSI-L), and MSI-high (MSI-H) were determined using molecular testing. We examined the association of MSI status (MSS versus MSI-L/H) with clinicopathological characteristics and oncological outcomes.

RESULTS

MSI-L/H tumors were associated with higher T-category in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Additionally, MSI-L/H tumors were associated with a higher risk of intravesical recurrence in NMIBC patients treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) but not with non-BCG therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that the MSI status might serve as a predictive marker for intravesical recurrence after BCG intravesical therapy in NMIBC and highlighted an unmet need for an alternative treatment in patients with MSI-L/H tumors.

Treatment patterns and prognosis in patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-exposed high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a real-world data analysis

PURPOSE

The International Bladder Cancer Group designated the subgroup that is resistant to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) but does not meet the criteria for BCG-unresponsive NMIBC as "BCG-exposed high-risk NMIBC" to guide optimal trial design. We aimed to investigate the treatment patterns and prognoses of patients with BCG-exposed NMIBC.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 3283 patients who received intravesical BCG therapy for NMIBC at 14 participating institutions between January 2000 and December 2019. Patients meeting the criteria for BCG-exposed and BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, as defined by the Food and Drug Administration and International Bladder Cancer Group, were selected. To compare treatment patterns and outcomes, high-risk recurrence occurring more than 24 months after the last dose of BCG was defined as "BCG-treated NMIBC." In addition, we compared prognoses between BCG rechallenge and early cystectomy in patients with BCG-exposed NMIBC.

RESULTS

Of 3283 patients, 108 (3.3%), 150 (4.6%), and 391 (11.9%) were classified as having BCG-exposed, unresponsive, and treated NMIBC, respectively. BCG-exposed NMIBC demonstrated intermediate survival curves for intravesical recurrence-free and progression-free survival, falling between those of BCG-unresponsive and treated NMIBC. Among patients with BCG-exposed NMIBC, 48 (44.4%) received BCG rechallenge, which was the most commonly performed treatment, and 19 (17.6%) underwent early cystectomy. No significant differences were observed between BCG rechallenge and early cystectomy in patients with BCG-exposed NMIBC.

CONCLUSIONS

The newly proposed definition of BCG-exposed NMIBC may serve as a valuable disease subgroup for distinguishing significant gray areas, except in cases of BCG-unresponsive NMIBC.

Effect of Bacille Calmette-Guérin for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer After Prostate Radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the impact of prior prostate radiation therapy (RT) on the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy response in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

OBJECTIVE

We hypothesized that the damaging radiation effects on the bladder could negatively influence BCG efficacy.

METHODS

Men with a history of high-risk NMIBC were identified within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database. All patients completed adequate BCG defined as at least 5 plus 2 treatments completed within 12 months. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: with prior RT for prostate cancer and without prior RT before the diagnosis of NMIBC. The primary endpoint was a 5-year composite for progression defined as disease progression requiring systemic chemotherapy, checkpoint inhibitors, radical or partial cystectomy, or cancer-specific death.

RESULTS

We identified 3,466 patients with NMIBC, including 145 with prior RT for prostate cancer. Five-year progression occurred in 471 patients (13.6%). Patients with prior RT were older than patients without prior RT (77.0 vs 75.0 years; P < .001). The distribution of T stage was significantly different at diagnosis between the RT and non-RT groups (RT: Ta, 44.8%; Tis, 18.6%; T1, 36.6%; without RT: Ta, 40.9%; Tis, 10.8%; T1, 48.3%; P = .002). No difference in the risk of total progression was observed between patients with and without prior RT (P = .67). Similarly, no difference was observed after multivariable adjustment (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.61-1.58; P = .95).

CONCLUSION

For patients with NMIBC who undergo adequate BCG treatment, prior RT for prostate cancer was not associated with worse 5-year progression-free survival.

Time to progression is the main predictor of survival in patients with high-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer: Results from a machine learning-based analysis of a large multi-institutional database

BACKGROUND

In patients affected by high-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) progression to muscle invasive status is considered as the main indicator of local treatment failure. We aimed to investigate the effect of progression and time to progression on overall survival (OS) and to investigate their validity as surrogate endpoints.

METHODS

A total of 1,510 patients from 18 different institutions treated for T1 high grade NMIBC, followed by a secondary transurethral resection and BCG intravesical instillation. We relied on random survival forest (RSF) to rank covariates based on OS prediction. Cox's regression models were used to quantify the effect of covariates on mortality.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 49.0 months, 485 (32.1%) patients progressed to MIBC, while 163 (10.8%) patients died. The median time to progression was 82 (95%CI: 78.0-93.0) months. In RSF time-to-progression and age were the most predictive covariates of OS. The survival tree defined 5 groups of risk. In multivariable Cox's regression models accounting for progression status as time-dependent covariate, shorter time to progression (as continuous covariate) was associated with longer OS (HR: 9.0, 95%CI: 3.0-6.7; P < 0.001). Virtually same results after time to progression stratification (time to progression ≥10.5 months as reference).

CONCLUSION

Time to progression is the main predictor of OS in patients with high risk NMIBC treated with BCG and might be considered a coprimary endpoint. In addition, models including time to progression could be considered for patients' stratification in clinical practice and at the time of clinical trials design.

Immune Cell Infiltration Types as Biomarkers for the Recurrence Diagnosis and Prognosis of Bladder Cancer

This study aimed to investigate the role of infiltrating immune cell types in diagnosing and predicting bladder cancer recurrence. This study mainly applied some algorithms, including Estimate the Proportion of Immune and Cancer Cells (EPIC), support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), random forest out-of-bag (RF-OOB) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox regression analysis. We found six immune infiltrating cell types significantly associated with recurrence prognosis and two independent clinical prognostic factors. Infiltrating immune cell types (IICTs) based on the prognostic immune risk score (pIRS) models may provide significant biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognostic prediction of bladder cancer recurrence.

Elafibranor emerged as a potential chemotherapeutic drug for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

Intravesical infusion of chemotherapeutics is highly recommended by several clinical guidelines for treating nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, cytotoxic chemotherapeutics can cause a series of side effects, which greatly limits their application. Herein, a starvation therapy strategy was proposed, and elafibranor (ELA) was validated as a safe chemotherapeutic for NMIBC. The results showed that 20 μM ELA was sufficient to inhibit the proliferation and migration of bladder cancer cells and increase the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, 2 mg/kg ELA treatment blocked the growth of primary tumors in an immunodeficient model by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis and improved the survival time of immunocompetent model mice. ELA treatment up to 10 mg/kg met the general safety requirements. We also established a patient-derived conditional reprogramming cell (CRC) model to assess the clinical translational potential of ELA. The antitumor effect and antitumor specificity of ELA treatment were confirmed. This work not only identified a promising chemotherapeutic for NMIBC but also provided a potential methodological system for drug discovery.

Achieving Benchmarks for National Quality Indicators Reduces Recurrence and Progression in Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND

Noncompliance with evidence-based interventions and guidelines contributes to significant and variable recurrence and progression in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The implementation of a quality performance indicator (QPI) programme in Scotland's National Health Service (NHS) aimed to improve cancer outcomes and reduce nationwide variance.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of hospitals achieving benchmarks for two specific QPIs on time to recurrence and progression in NMIBC.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

QPIs for bladder cancer (BC) were enforced nationally in April 2014. NHS health boards collected prospective data on all new BC patients. Prospectively recorded surveillance data were pooled from 12 collaborating centres.

INTERVENTION

QPIs of interest were (1) hospitals achieving detrusor muscle (DM) sampling target at initial transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) and (2) use of single instillation of mitomycin C after TURBT (SI-MMC).

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The primary and secondary endpoints were time to recurrence and progression, respectively. Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariable regression analyses were performed.

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS

Between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2017, we diagnosed 3899 patients with new BC, of which 2688 were NMIBC . With a median follow up of 60.3 mo, hospitals achieving the DM sampling target had a 5.4% lower recurrence rate at 5 yr than hospitals not achieving this target (442/1136 [38.9%] vs 677/1528 [44.3%], 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-9.2, p = 0.005). SI-MMC was associated with a 20.4% lower recurrence rate (634/1791 [35.4%] vs 469/840 [55.8%], 95% CI = 16.4-24.5, p < 0.001). On Cox multivariable regression, meeting the DM target and SI-MMC were associated with significant improvement in recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 0.81, 95% CI = 0.73-0.91, p = 0.0002 and HR 0.66, 95% CI = 0.59-0.74, p < 0.004, respectively) as well as progression-free survival (HR 0.62, 95% CI = 0.45-0.84, p = 0.002 and HR 0.65, 95% CI = 0.49-0.87, p = 0.004, respectively). We did not have a national multicentre pre-QPI control.

CONCLUSIONS

Within a national QPI programme, meeting targets for sampling DM and SI-MMC in the real world were independently associated with delays to recurrence and progression in NMIBC patients.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Following the first 3 yr of implementing a novel quality performance indicator programme in Scotland, we evaluated compliance and outcomes in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In 2688 patients followed up for 5 yr, we found that achieving targets for sampling detrusor muscle and the single instillation of mitomycin C during and after transurethral resection of bladder tumour, respectively, were associated with delays in cancer recurrence and progression.

Clinical use of nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which is restricted to the mucosa (stage Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS)) or submucosa (stage T1), comprises 75% of bladder cancer diagnoses. Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy is the standard-of-care initial treatment for high-risk NMIBC; however, a significant proportion of patients have BCG-unresponsive disease. While radical cystectomy is a definitive treatment in this setting, not all patients are willing or able to undergo this complex procedure associated with morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life. Bladder-preserving options for patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC represent an unmet need in this patient population. Nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg (Adstiladrin) is a nonreplicating adenoviral vector-based gene therapy indicated for the treatment of adult patients with high-risk BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS with or without papillary tumors. The antitumor efficacy of nadofaragene firadenovec is driven by its local delivery of copies of the gene encoding for interferon alpha-2b (IFNα-2b) to urothelial cells. In the phase III CS-003 study, over half of participants with CIS exhibited a complete response by month 3 after instillation, with minimal serious adverse events. The favorable efficacy and safety profile, clinical utility, novel mechanism of action, and every 3-month dosing schedule give nadofaragene firadenovec a unique role in the treatment of high-risk BCG-unresponsive NMIBC. This review provides a practical approach to the effective clinical use of nadofaragene firadenovec regarding pre-instillation visit arrangements, storage, handling, instillation procedures, and post-instillation procedures. Implementation of these recommendations will ensure efficient real-world use of nadofaragene firadenovec and the development of useful training materials and relevant standard operating procedures to help support a clinic's treatment for patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS. Video Abstract https://vimeo.com/user17898099/review/953723559/e18af7ec43.

Analysing cause of death during follow-up for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: is there a role for watchful waiting?

INTRODUCTION

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients often require multiple invasive procedures during follow-up. Surveillance guidelines do not adjust for increasing frailty or competing comorbidity. We aim to evaluate the influence of these factors on the natural history of NMIBC and whether this may have implications for appropriate follow-up schedules.

METHODS

NMIBC patients who died in a 3-year period while on cystoscopic surveillance were identified. Frailty was assessed using the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS): 1-3, no frailty; 4, vulnerable; 5-9, mild/severe frailty. Similarly, three-tier categorisations were performed for comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index) and for anaesthetic risk (American Society of Anesthesiologists' [ASA] score).

RESULTS

Of the 69 patients, 26 were categorised as no frailty, 20 as vulnerable and 13 as frail. There was no difference in the proportions of those with higher risk NMIBC between the categories. Increasing frailty was associated with reduced overall survival (median 59, 29 and 13 months; p < 0.05) but not recurrence-free survival (p = 0.98) or progression-free survival (p = 0.58). Similar results were obtained using the Charlson Comorbidity Index or ASA score. No frail patients with low/intermediate-risk NMIBC had clinically significant disease progression prior to death. Frail patients with CFS ≥ 4 were found to have similar complications due to bladder cancer itself (p = 0.48) yet almost three times as many complications following cystoscopic procedures during follow-up (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

For frail patients with low risk of progression, protocol-driven cystoscopic surveillance may not improve survival and watchful waiting may be more appropriate. Further investigation is required to determine the feasibility of this approach.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy is safe and effective in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients with immunomodulating conditions

INTRODUCTION

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the most effective therapy available to treat high-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients. However, for patients with immunomodulating conditions BCG is a relative contraindication due to efficacy and safety concerns. To our knowledge, no population-level study evaluating the efficacy and safety profile of BCG for immunomodulated patients exists.

METHODS

NMIBC patients aged 66 years or older were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) - Medicare database from 1975-2013. All patients completed adequate BCG (at least 5 plus 2 treatments completed within 12 months of diagnosis). Two groups were defined: an immunomodulated population identified by immunomodulating conditions such as solid-organ transplantation, HIV, and autoimmune conditions, and an immunocompetent group. The primary endpoint was 5-year progression-free survival defined as progression to systemic chemotherapy, checkpoint inhibitors, radical or partial cystectomy, metastasis, or cancer-specific death. A safety analysis was performed as a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

In a total of 4,277 patients with NMIBC who completed adequate BCG, 606 (14.2%) were immunomodulated. The immunomodulated group was older at diagnosis (P < 0.001), more likely to be female (P < 0.001), more likely to live in a metropolitan area (P < 0.001), and had higher Charlson comorbidity scores (P < 0.001). There were no differences in progression to chemotherapy (P = 0.17), checkpoint inhibitors (P > 0.99), radical cystectomy (P = 0.40), partial cystectomy (P = 0.93), metastasis (P = 0.19), cancer-specific death (P = 0.18) or 5-year total bladder cancer progression (P = 0.30) between the groups. For the safety analysis, rates of disseminated BCG were similar between immunomodulated and immunocompetent patients (0.7% vs. <1.8%, P = 0.51). On multivariable analysis 5-year total bladder cancer progression (HR 1.07 [CI 0.88-1.30]) was similar between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Rates of bladder cancer progression and disseminated BCG complications 5-years after BCG therapy were similar regardless of immunomodulation status. These findings suggest that BCG intravesical therapy can be offered to immunomodulated patients with high-risk NMIBC although theoretical infectious complication risks remain.

Impact of age >70 years on oncological outcomes in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of age on oncological outcomes in a large contemporary cohort of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) treated with adequate Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed an Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective study analysing patients with NMIBC treated with adequate BCG at our institution from 2000 to 2020. Adequate BCG was defined as per United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines as being receipt of at least five of six induction BCG instillations with a minimum of two additional doses (of planned maintenance or of re-induction) of BCG instillations within a span of 6 months. The study's primary outcome was to determine if age >70 years was associated with progression to MIBC cancer or distant metastasis. The cumulative incidence method and the competing-risk regression analyses were used to investigate the association of advanced age (>70 years) with progression, high-grade (HG) recurrence and cancer-specific mortality (CSM).

RESULTS

Overall, data from 632 patients were analysed: 355 patients (56.2%) were aged ≤70 years and 277 (43.8%) were >70 years. Age >70 years did not adversely affect either cumulative incidence of progression or HG recurrence (P = 0.067 and P = 0.644, respectively). On competing-risk regression analyses, age >70 years did not emerge as an independent predictor of progression or HG recurrence (sub-standardised hazard ratio [SHR] 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-2.81, P = 0.134; and SHR 1.05, 95% CI 0.77-1.44, P = 0.749). Not unexpectedly, patients in the older group did have higher overall mortality (P < 0.001) but not CSM (P = 0.057).

CONCLUSION

Age >70 years was not associated with adverse oncological outcomes in a large contemporary cohort of patients receiving adequate intravesical BCG for NMIBC. BCG should not be withheld from older patients seeking for bladder sparing options.

OncoTherad® (MRB-CFI-1) Nanoimmunotherapy: A Promising Strategy to Treat Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-Unresponsive Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Crosstalk among T-Cell CX3CR1, Immune Checkpoints, and the Toll-Like Receptor 4 Signaling Pathway

This study assessed the safety and efficacy of OncoTherad® (MRB-CFI-1) nanoimmunotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and explored its mechanisms of action in a bladder cancer microenvironment. A single-arm phase I/II study was conducted with 44 patients with NMIBC who were unresponsive to BCG treatment. Primary outcomes were pathological complete response (pCR) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Secondary outcomes comprised response duration and therapy safety. Patients' mean age was 65 years; 59.1% of them were refractory, 31.8% relapsed, and 9.1% were intolerant to BCG. Moreover, the pCR rate after 24 months reached 72.7% (95% CI), whereas the mean RFS reached 21.4 months. Mean response duration in the pCR group was 14.3 months. No patient developed muscle-invasive or metastatic disease during treatment. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 77.3% of patients, mostly grade 1-2 events. OncoTherad® activated the innate immune system through toll-like receptor 4, leading to increased interferon signaling. This activation played a crucial role in activating CX3CR1+ CD8 T cells, decreasing immune checkpoint molecules, and reversing immunosuppression in the bladder microenvironment. OncoTherad® has proved to be a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, besides showing likely advantages in tumor relapse prevention processes.

Definitions, End Points, and Clinical Trial Designs for Bladder Cancer: Recommendations From the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer and the International Bladder Cancer Group

PURPOSE

There is a significant unmet need for new and efficacious therapies in urothelial cancer (UC). To provide recommendations on appropriate clinical trial designs across disease settings in UC, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) and the International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) convened a multidisciplinary, international consensus panel.

METHODS

Through open communication and scientific debate in small- and whole-group settings, surveying, and responses to clinical questionnaires, the consensus panel developed recommendations on optimal definitions of the disease state, end points, trial design, evaluations, sample size calculations, and pathology considerations for definitive studies in low- and intermediate-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), high-risk NMIBC, muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, and metastatic UC. The expert panel also solicited input on the recommendations through presentations and public discussion during an open session at the 2021 Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) Think Tank (held virtually).

RESULTS

The consensus panel developed a set of stage-specific bladder cancer clinical trial design recommendations, which are summarized in the table that accompanies this text.

CONCLUSION

These recommendations developed by the SITC-IBCG Bladder Cancer Clinical Trial Design consensus panel will encourage uniformity among studies and facilitate drug development in this disease.

HER2 positivity predicts BCG unresponsiveness and adaptive immune cell exhaustion in EORTC risk-stratified cohort of bladder cancer

Introduction

Predicting the response to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy in high-risk patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is crucial, as failure may necessitate interventions, such as radical cystectomy or salvage therapy. With the recent classification of genetic class 2a (which has HER2 protein abundance as its signature mutation of ERBB2), evaluating its prognostic role and relationship with BCG response could yield important results.

Methods

This retrospective study included 160 patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors at Gangneung Asan Hospital between 2000 and 2013 and were stratified based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk criteria. In addition, we analyzed a subset of 67 patients who had received BCG induction therapy to identify factors predictive of BCG treatment response. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the impact of clinicopathological factors, HER2 positivity, and EORTC risk on recurrence, progression, survival, and BCG response. Each variable's prognostic significance was determined using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. The tumor microenvironments (TMEs) were evaluated in relation to HER2 and EORTC risk.

Results

Patients with HER2+ had a higher median age, a greater prevalence of high-grade tumors, and more frequent recurrences. The univariate analysis demonstrated that the HER2+, intermediate (vs. low-risk) high (vs. low-risk), and EORTC recurrence risk groups were significantly associated with recurrence. In patients treated with BCG, only the HER2+ status predicted recurrence. In the univariate analysis for progression, age, high EORTC progression risk (vs. low-to-intermediate), HER2+, and programmed death-ligand 1 positive (PD-L1+) were significant factors. In multivariate analyses for progression, age, high EORTC progression risk, and PD-L1+ were significant factors for progression. HER2 expression was associated with the TME, influencing the proportion of PD-L1+ cells, as well as other markers of PD-1, CD8, and Ki67.

Conclusion

The HER2+ status may be related to genetic characteristics that appear more frequently in older age, which suggests a potential for predicting the recurrence and response to BCG treatment. Additionally, analyzing TME trends of aggressive adaptive immune response characterized by HER2 expression provides insight into recurrence and BCG response mechanisms.

Oncological Outcomes for Patients with European Association of Urology Very High-risk Non-muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin or Early Radical Cystectomy

BACKGROUND

European Urology Association (EAU) guidelines recommend immediate radical cystectomy (early RC) for patients with very high-risk (VHR) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) recommended only for those who refuse or are unfit for RC.

OBJECTIVE

To describe oncological outcomes following BCG or early RC in a contemporary cohort of patients with VHR NMIBC (EAU criteria).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Patients diagnosed with VHR NMIBC between 2000 and 2020 were identified from our institutional NMIBC registry.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM). Secondary outcomes were the progression rate and high-grade recurrence (HGR) rate for patients receiving BCG.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

We identified 235 patients with VHR NMIBC, of whom 157 (67%) received BCG and 78 (33%) underwent early RC. The median follow-up was 52.8 mo. OS and CSM rates were 80.2% and 5.3% in the BCG group, and 88.1% and 4.9% in the early RC group, respectively with no significant difference in OS (p = 0.6) or CSM (p = 0.8) between the two groups. Among the patients treated with BCG, 5-yr HGR and progression rates were 41.9% and 17.4%, respectively; 39 patients (25%) underwent delayed RC after BCG. No significant difference in CSM emerged when comparing patients treated with delayed RC (after BCG) with those undergoing early RC (p = 0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that intravesical BCG can be offered to patients as a resonable alternative to early RC for selected patients with VHR NMIBC.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We evaluated outcomes for patients with very high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) treated with BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) versus early surgical removal of the bladder and found no differences in survival. We conclude that BCG could be offered to selected patients with this type of bladder cancer as a reasonable alternative to early bladder removal.

Protocol of the Comparison of Intravesical Therapy and Surgery as Treatment Options (CISTO) study: a pragmatic, prospective multicenter observational cohort study of recurrent high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer poses a significant public health burden, with high recurrence and progression rates in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Current treatment options include bladder-sparing therapies (BST) and radical cystectomy, both with associated risks and benefits. However, evidence supporting optimal management decisions for patients with recurrent high-grade NMIBC remains limited, leading to uncertainty for patients and clinicians. The CISTO (Comparison of Intravesical Therapy and Surgery as Treatment Options) Study aims to address this critical knowledge gap by comparing outcomes between patients undergoing BST and radical cystectomy.

METHODS

The CISTO Study is a pragmatic, prospective observational cohort trial across 36 academic and community urology practices in the US. The study will enroll 572 patients with a diagnosis of recurrent high-grade NMIBC who select management with either BST or radical cystectomy. The primary outcome is health-related quality of life (QOL) at 12 months as measured with the EORTC-QLQ-C30. Secondary outcomes include bladder cancer-specific QOL, progression-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and financial toxicity. The study will also assess patient preferences for treatment outcomes. Statistical analyses will employ targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) to address treatment selection bias and confounding by indication.

DISCUSSION

The CISTO Study is powered to detect clinically important differences in QOL and cancer-specific survival between the two treatment approaches. By including a diverse patient population, the study also aims to assess outcomes across the following patient characteristics: age, gender, race, burden of comorbid health conditions, cancer severity, caregiver status, social determinants of health, and rurality. Treatment outcomes may also vary by patient preferences, health literacy, and baseline QOL. The CISTO Study will fill a crucial evidence gap in the management of recurrent high-grade NMIBC, providing evidence-based guidance for patients and clinicians in choosing between BST and radical cystectomy. The CISTO study will provide an evidence-based approach to identifying the right treatment for the right patient at the right time in the challenging clinical setting of recurrent high-grade NMIBC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03933826. Registered on May 1, 2019.

Efficacy of hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC) in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer after BCG failure

PURPOSE

To evaluate hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC) efficacy regarding 1-year disease-free survival (RFS) rate and bladder preservation rate in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who fail bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy.

METHODS

This is a multicenter retrospective series from a national database (7 expert centers). Between January 2016 and October 2021, patients treated with HIVEC for NMIBC who failed BCG have been included in our study. These patients had a theoretical indication for cystectomy but were ineligible for surgery or refused it.

RESULTS

A total of 116 patients treated with HIVEC and with a follow-up > 6 months were included in this study and retrospectively analyzed. The median follow-up was 20.6 months. The 12 month-RFS (recurrence-free survival) rate was 62.9%. The bladder preservation rate was 87.1%. Fifteen patients (12.9%) progressed to muscle infiltration, three of them having a metastatic disease at the time of progression. Predictive factors of progression were T1 stage, high grade and very high-risk tumors according to the EORTC classification.

CONCLUSION

Chemohyperthermia using HIVEC achieved an RFS rate of 62.9% at 1 year and enabled a bladder preservation rate of 87.1%. However, the risk of progression to muscle-invasive disease is not negligible, particularly for patients with very high-risk tumors. In these patients who fail BCG, cystectomy should remain the standard of care and HIVEC may be discussed cautiously for patients who are not eligible for surgery and well informed of the risk of progression.

Advancing Patient-Centered Outcomes and Equity in Clinical Trials for BCG-Unresponsive Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

This Viewpoint encourages investigators to move beyond FDA guidance toward patient-centered therapies and health equity for BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer.

Sequential intravesical gemcitabine/docetaxel provides a durable remission in recurrent high-risk NMIBC following BCG therapy

PURPOSE

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the standard of care for high-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), but half of patients develop disease recurrence. Intravesical regimens for BCG unresponsive NMIBC are limited. We report the safety, efficacy, and differential response of sequential gemcitabine/docetaxel (gem/doce) depending on BCG failure classification.

METHODS

Multi-institutional retrospective analysis of patients treated with induction intravesical gem/doce (≥5/6 instillations) for recurrent high-risk NMIBC after BCG therapy from May 2018 to December 2021. Maintenance therapy was provided to those without high-grade (HG) recurrence on surveillance cystoscopy. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analyses were utilized to assess survival and risk factors for disease recurrence.

RESULTS

Our cohort included 102 patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC. Median age was 72 years and median follow-up was 18 months. Six-, 12-, and 24-month high-grade recurrence-free survival was 78%, 65%, and 49%, respectively. Twenty patients underwent radical cystectomy (median 15.5 months from induction). Six patients progressed to muscle invasive disease. Fifty-seven percent of patients experienced mild/moderate adverse effects (AE), but only 6.9% experienced a delay in treatment schedule. Most common AE were urinary frequency/urgency (41%) and dysuria (21%). Patients with BCG refractory disease were more likely to develop HG recurrence when compared to patients with BCG relapsing disease (HR 2.14; 95% CI 1.02-4.49).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with recurrence after BCG therapy, sequential intravesical gem/doce is an effective and well-tolerated alternative to early cystectomy. Patients with BCG relapsing disease are more likely to respond to additional intravesical gem/doce. Further investigation with a prospective trial is imperative.

Recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: Evidence update of surgical concept, risk stratification, and BCG-treated disease

In the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), disease progression and long-term control are determined by the intensity of delivered treatment and surveillance and the cancer cells' biological nature. This requires risk stratification-based postoperative management, such as intravesical instillation of chemotherapy drugs, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and radical cystectomy. Advancements in mechanical engineering, molecular biology, and surgical skills have evolved the clinical management of NMIBC. In this review, we describe the updated evidence and perspectives regarding the following aspects: (1) advancements in surgical concepts, techniques, and devices for transurethral resection of the bladder tumor; (2) advancements in risk stratification tools for NMIBC; and (3) advancements in treatment strategies for BCG-treated NMIBC. Repeat transurethral resection, en-bloc transurethral resection, and enhanced tumor visualization, including photodynamic diagnosis and narrow-band imaging, help reduce residual cancer cells, provide accurate diagnosis and staging, and sensitive detection, which are the first essential steps for cancer cure. Risk stratification should always be updated and improved because the treatment strategy changes over time. The BCG-treated disease concept has recently diversified to include BCG failure, resistance, refractory, unresponsiveness, exposure, and intolerance. A BCG-unresponsive disease is an extremely aggressive subset unlikely to respond to a rechallenge with BCG. Numerous ongoing clinical trials aim to develop a future bladder-sparing approach for very high-risk BCG-naïve NMIBC and BCG-unresponsive NMIBC. The key to improving the quality of patient care lies in the continuous efforts to overcome the clinical limitations of bedside management.