Optimal timing of radical cystectomy in T1 high-grade bladder cancer

Lymphovascular invasion predicts poor prognosis in high-grade pT1 bladder cancer patients who underwent transurethral resection in one piece

Background

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in high-grade clinical T1 bladder cancer is usually considered a poor prognostic factor, but it is often difficult to achieve correct staging of T1 bladder cancer and diagnose the presence of LVI because of the inadequacy of conventional transurethral resection specimens. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prognostic value of LVI in patients with correctly staged high-grade pathological T1 (pT1) bladder cancer who initially underwent transurethral resection in one piece (TURBO).

Methods

Eighty-six high-grade pT1 bladder cancer patients who underwent TURBO were enrolled. Risk of tumor understaging was avoided by examining the vertical resection margin of the TURBO specimen. Immunohistochemical staining using D2-40 and CD31 was performed to confirm LVI. We examined the association of LVI with other clinicopathological factors and the impact of LVI on progression-free survival and cancer-specific survival.

Results

The median follow-up period was 49 months (range, 6-142). In all patients, the tumors were accurately staged as pT1 at initial TURBO. LVI was detected in 15 patients (17%) and was significantly associated with tumor growth pattern (P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified LVI as the only independent predictor for reduced progression-free survival (HR, 4.48; 95% CI, 1.45-13.90; P = 0.009) and cancer-specific survival (HR, 4.35; 95% CI, 1.17-16.24; P = 0.029).

Conclusions

The presence of LVI in TURBO specimens independently predicts poor clinical outcomes in patients with high-grade pT1 bladder cancer. This information may help urologists to counsel their patients when deciding whether to choose a bladder-preserving strategy or radical cystectomy.

MDM2 SNP309 promoter polymorphism and p53 mutations in urinary bladder carcinoma stage T1

Background

Urinary bladder carcinoma stage T1 is an unpredictable disease that in some cases has a good prognosis with only local or no recurrence, but in others can appear as a more aggressive tumor with progression to more advanced stages. The aim here was to investigate stage T1 tumors regarding MDM2 promoter SNP309 polymorphism, mutations in the p53 gene, and expression of p53 and p16 measured by immunohistochemistry, and subsequently relate these changes to tumor recurrence and progression. We examined a cohort of patients with primary stage T1 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and their tumors.

Methods

After re-evaluation of the original slides and exclusions, the study population comprised 141 patients, all with primary stage T1 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. The hospital records were screened for clinical parameters and information concerning presence of histologically proven recurrence and progression. The paraffin-embedded tumor material was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Any mutations found in the p53 gene were studied by single-strand conformation analysis and Sanger sequencing. The MDM2 SNP309 polymorphism was investigated by pyrosequencing. Multivariate analyses concerning association with prognosis were performed, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted for a combination of changes and time to progression.

Results

Of the 141 patients, 82 had at least one MDM2 SNP309 G allele, and 53 had a mutation in the p53 gene, but neither of those anomalies was associated with a worse prognosis. A mutation in the p53 gene was associated with immunohistochemically visualized p53 protein expression at a cut-off value of 50%. In the group with p53 mutation Kaplan-Meier analysis showed higher rate of progression and shorter time to progression in patients with immunohistochemically abnormal p16 expression compared to them with normal p16 expression (p = 0.038).

Conclusions

MDM2 SNP309 promoter polymorphism and mutations in p53 were not associated with worse prognosis in this cohort of patients with primary stage T1 urinary bladder carcinoma. However, patients with abnormal p16 expression and a mutated p53 gene had a higher rate of and a shorter time to progression, and p53 gene mutation was associated with an abnormal immunohistochemistry for p53 at a cut-off of 50%.

Positive urine cytology and carcinoma in situ prior to second transurethral resection of the bladder correlate with positive second resection histology and the need for subsequent cystectomy

OBJECTIVE

A second transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) is recommended for high-grade bladder cancer (BC) yet yields negative results in over half of the cases. Aim of this study was to identify prognostic indicators of a positive second TURB or the need for a subsequent cystectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study cohort consisted of 101 patients with high-risk BC (T1G2-3, TaG3, Carcinoma in situ) who underwent second TURB after complete first resection. Age, gender, stage, grade, carcinoma in situ (Cis), tumour number, size, localization, surgeon experience and bladder wash cytology before the second TURB were considered as potential prognostic factors of positive histology at second TURB or the need for subsequent cystectomy.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 23.8 months. The study cohort was comprised of 82 males and 17 females. Cytology on bladder wash urine was performed in 85/101 patients and in 39 was negative; 55.5 % of second TURB specimens were negative. The rate of upstaging to ≥T2 was 4.9 %. Cis (OR 8.4; 95 % CI 1.3-54.2; p = 0.03) and positive cytology (OR 6.8; 95 % CI 2.3-19.9; p = <0.01) were independent prognostic factors of a residual tumour in the second TURB. Cytology also correlated with clinical need for cystectomy in the follow-up (HR 6.5; 95 % CI 1.3-30.5; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

CIS and positive cytology prior to second TURB increased the risk of a positive second TURB specimen. A positive cytology also increases the risk of the subsequent need for cystectomy.