Novel Inflammation-Based Prognostic Score for Predicting Survival in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

First-line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Versus Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor With Chemotherapy for Cisplatin-ineligible Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: Evidence From a Real-world, Multicenter Analysis

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely used for first-line cisplatin-ineligible patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). However, whether to use ICIs as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy is still uncertain. We retrospectively analyzed cisplatin-ineligible patients with mUC who underwent first-line ICI monotherapy or ICI plus chemotherapy at 2 medical centers in Taiwan from 2016 to 2021. We calculated the objective response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS) using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model for multivariable analysis. In total, 130 patients were enrolled and categorized into 2 groups: an ICI monotherapy group [immunotherapy (IO), n=101] and an ICI plus noncisplatin chemotherapy group [immunotherapy and chemotherapy (IC), n=29]. The median OS of patients in the IO and IC groups was 19.5 and 9.7 months ( P =0.33). Among patients with high programmed cell death ligand-1-expressing tumors, the median OS was significantly prolonged in the IO group compared with the IC group (not reached vs. 6.3 mo, P =0.02). First-line ICI monotherapy demonstrated robust antitumor activity in cisplatin-ineligible patients with mUC. Combining noncisplatin chemotherapy with ICI did not improve clinical outcomes.

Baseline Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score Associated with Survival in Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

The modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), a clinical tool that incorporates albumin and C-reactive protein, has proven useful in the prognostication of multiple cancers. Several immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been approved for the treatment of metastatic urothelial cell carcinoma (mUC), but a prognostic biomarker is needed. We investigated the impact of mGPS on survival outcomes in patients with mUC receiving ICIs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with mUC treated with ICIs (programmed cell death protein 1 or programmed cell death ligand 1 inhibitors) at Winship Cancer Institute from 2015 to 2018. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were measured from the start date of ICI until death or clinical or radiographic progression, respectively. mGPS was defined as a summary score with one point given for C-reactive protein >10 mg/L and/or albumin <3.5 g/dL. Univariate (UVA) and multivariate (MVA) analyses were carried out using Cox proportional hazard model. These outcomes were also assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 53 patients were included with a median follow-up 27.1 months. The median age was 70 years, with 84.9% male and 20.8% Black. Baseline mGPS was 0 in 43.4%, 1 in 28.3% and 2 in 28.3%. Increased mGPS at the time of ICI initiation was associated with poorer OS and PFS in UVA, MVA, and Kaplan-Meier analyses.

CONCLUSION

The mGPS may be a useful prognostic tool in patients with mUC when treatment with ICI is under consideration. These results warrant a larger study for validation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The ideal prognostic tool for use in a busy clinical practice is easy-to-use, cost-effective, and capable of accurately predicting clinical outcomes. There is currently no universally accepted risk score in metastatic urothelial cell carcinoma (mUC), particularly in the immunotherapy era. The modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) incorporates albumin and C-reactive protein and may reflect underlying chronic inflammation, a known risk factor for resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This study found that baseline mGPS is associated with survival outcomes in patients with mUC treated with ICIs and may help clinicians to prognosticate for their patients beginning immunotherapy.

Role of Systemic Inflammatory Response Markers in Urothelial Carcinoma

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) can occur in various parts of the urinary tract and occurs in different stages and grades. The disease recurs frequently and is monitored through a series of invasive tests, such as cystoscopy or ureteroscopy, over the lifetime of an individual. Although many researchers have attempted to stratify the risks of UC, with the majority being based on cancer characteristics and host factors such as performance status, a risk classification system has yet to be fully developed. Cancer affects various parts of the body through the systemic immune response, including changes in hormones, the number and ratio of white blood cells and platelets, and C-reactive protein (CRP) or albumin levels under the influence of neuroendocrine metabolism, hematopoietic function, and protein and energy metabolism, respectively. Herein, we reviewed various systemic inflammatory response markers (SIRs) related to UC, including CRP, albumin-globulin ratio, albumin, Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), modified GPS, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-lymphocyte ratio. Our aim was to summarize the role of various SIRs in the treatment of patients with UC.

Meta-analysis of multiple hematological biomarkers as prognostic predictors of survival in bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Accumulating emerging studies have demonstrated that systemic inflammation can obviously affect tumor occurrence and progression. Nevertheless, the prognostic value of hematological inflammation biomarkers in bladder cancer is controversial. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the key hematological biomarkers with various clinical outcomes in bladder cancer.

METHODS

We used online databases PUBMED and EMBASE to search relevant studies published prior to August 2019. After collecting the basic characteristics and prognostic data from the studies included, overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were used as primary results. Subgroup analyses were performed according to ethnicity, the number of samples, survival outcomes, the value of cut-off, follow-up time and metastasis stage.

RESULTS

Thirty-three independent studies with 17,087 bladder cancer patients were added in the present analysis. The collected results showed that the increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was associated with a poor OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32-1.67, P < .00001), CSS (HR = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.35-2.18, P < .0001) and PFS (HR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.38-1.83, P < .00001). Additionally, the elevated platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was related to a poor OS (HR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.07-1.54, P = .007), CSS (HR = 1.14, 95%CI = 0.98-1.34, P = .02) and PFS (HR = 1.2, 95%CI: 1.08-1.34, P = .0008). Moreover, a decreased lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio was associated with a poor OS (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.70-0.84, P = .001), CSS (HR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.70-0.84). An elevated modified Glasgow prognostic score was also associated with a poor OS (HR = 2.71, 95%CI: 1.08-2.82, P = .003), CSS (HR = 1.50, 95%CI: 0.56-4.05) and PFS (HR = 1.52, 95%CI: 1.23-1.88, P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicated that the pretreatment hematological biomarkers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, and modified Glasgow prognostic score) were predicative biomarkers of prognosis in bladder cancer patients. Further research is needed to conduct further prospective and multicenter studies to confirm our findings.

Clinical Significance of Pre-treated Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in the Management of Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: We performed a study-level meta-analysis to summarize the current evidence on the correlation between pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) and oncological outcomes in each type of management for urothelial carcinoma. Method: All articles published until February 2017 in PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE database were collected and reviewed. The current evidence on correlations between pretreatment NLR and oncological outcomes in each type of management for urothelial carcinoma, including transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), radical cystectomy (RCx), chemotherapy (CTx), and nephroureterectomy (NUx), were summarized. Results: Thirty-eight studies containing clinical information on 16,379 patients were analyzed in this study. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated after weighing each study. Heterogeneity among the studies and publication bias were assessed. Pretreatment NLR was significantly associated with muscle invasiveness (OR: 4.27), recurrence free survival (RFS, HR: 2.32), and progression-free survival (PFS, HR: 2.45) in TURBT patients. In the RCx patients, high NLR was negatively associated with both disease status (extravesical extension and lymph-node positivity, OR: 1.14 and 1.43, respectively) and oncological outcomes [overall survival (OS), PFS], and cancer specific survival (CSS, HR: 1.18, 1.12, and 1.35, respectively). Pretreatment NLR was negatively correlated with pathologic downstaging (OR: 0.79) and positively correlated with PFS (HR: 1.30) and OS (HR: 1.44) in CTx patients. For patients who underwent NUx, pretreatment NLR was significantly associated with OS (HR: 1.72), PFS (HR: 1.63), and CSS (HR: 1.68). Conclusions: Pretreatment NLR is a useful biomarker for disease aggressiveness, oncological outcome, and treatment response in the management of patients with urothelial carcinoma. More evidence is needed to clarify these results.

[PREDICTIVE AND PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF PRE-TREATMENT LYMPHOCYTE COUNT IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA TREATED WITH PLATINUM-BASED FIRST-LINE CHEMOTHERAPY]

(Purpose) Pre-treatment low lymphocyte count may result from cytokine secretion by the tumor microenvironment, in association with aggressive tumor biology. We sought to establish the prognostic impact of the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in advanced urothelial carcinoma. (Patients and method) We retrospectively reviewed 63 patients with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who were treated with platinum-based first-line systemic chemotherapy between January 2011 and April 2018. We evaluated the importance of the ALC in patients who underwent systematic chemotherapy. (Results) Thirty-eight patients (60%) died from urothelial carcinoma, with a median follow-up interval of 12.2 months. The median overall survival (OS) duration was 15.3 months. The mean ALC in the stable and progressive disease group was lower than that in the complete and partial response group (1,312 /μL and 1,666 /μL, respectively, p=0.004). The ALC of 1,460 /μL was determined as the cut-off on Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The log-rank test revealed that the lymphocytopenia group (ALC <1,460 /μL) showed significantly poorer prognoses than the non-lymphocytopenia group (p=0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that lymphocytopenia was an independent poor prognostic factor (hazard ratios of 3.46, p=0.002). (Conclusions) Pre-treatment low lymphocyte count is an independent poor prognostic factor in patients with urothelial carcinoma who underwent platinum-based first-line systemic chemotherapy.

Nomogram predicting extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma based on commonly available clinical data

Background and Aim

Extrahepatic metastasis (EHM) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leads to a worse prognosis. We aimed to develop a nomogram based on noninvasive pretreatment clinical data to predict EHM of HCC sooner.

Methods

Three cohorts containing 1820, 479, and 988 HCC patients were enrolled from three hospitals in different regions in Taiwan and served as the training and validation cohorts. Pretreatment clinical data were analyzed by Cox regression modeling for independent risk factors of EHM.

Results

Platelet count ≥ 200 × 10³/μL, serum alfa-fetoprotein ≥ 100 ng/dL, tumor size ≥ 3 cm, tumor number > 1, and macrovascular invasion were independent risk factors for EHM and were used to develop a nomogram. This nomogram had concordance indices of 0.733 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.688-0.778) and 0.739 (95% CI: 0.692-0.787) for the prediction of EHM during a 5-year follow-up duration in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. A nomogram score > 61 implied a high risk of EHM (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.83; 95% CI: 2.77-5.31, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

We have developed a nomogram that could accurately predict EHM of HCC and be readily available for formulating individualized treatment for all individual HCC patients to improve therapeutic efficacy.

Role of systemic inflammatory response markers in urological malignancy

The systemic inflammatory response is associated with survival in patients with a variety of cancers. This inflammatory response is measured in the peripheral blood, and can be monitored using two categories of indices: concentration of specific serum proteins (albumin, C-reactive protein) and differential blood cell count (neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets). Furthermore, combinations of these indices, such as the Glasgow Prognostic Score, which consists of the serum C-reactive protein and albumin level; the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; and the prognostic nutritional index, which is based on peripheral blood lymphocyte count and serum albumin level, have also been evaluated and compared in cancer research. To date, there are hundreds of studies that have shown the prognostic value of systemic inflammatory response markers in patients with urological cancer. Most studies have evaluated the prognostic and predictive role of the pretreatment value of the markers, although some have focused on the role of the post-treatment value at specific points during the clinical course. The advantages of systemic inflammatory response markers are that they are easily measurable and inexpensive in the clinical setting. However, it is important to consider how clinicians use these markers in clinical practice. The present review provides a concise overview regarding systemic inflammatory markers in urological cancers, specifically C-reactive protein, Glasgow Prognostic Score/modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and prognostic nutritional index.