Biomarkers predicting oncological outcomes of high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Low Cubilin/Myeloperoxidase ratio as a promising biomarker for prognosis of high-grade T1 bladder cancer

PURPOSE

T1 bladder cancer is known for its high progression and recurrence rates. Identifying aggressive tumours at the non-muscle-invasive stage is crucial to allow early interventions and subsequently increase patient survival. This study aimed to investigate the potential of the cubilin/myeloperoxidase (CUBN/MPO) ratio as a high-grade T1 bladder cancer biomarker.

METHODS

Urine samples were collected from 30 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the tumour with high-grade T1 bladder cancer (June 2015 to December 2019) before surgery. The urinary proteome was analysed using high-resolution mass spectrometry and the CUBN/MPO ratio was calculated. The primary outcome was the recurrence during the follow-up (around 31.5 months after resection). Univariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curves were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Patients with a low CUBN/MPO ratio exhibited upregulated MPO and/or downregulated CUBN. This group of patients had a higher incidence of disease recurrence and progression. Low CUBN/MPO ratio was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of recurrence, progression, and death. It is worth noting that this study was exploratory and conducted on a small sample size, so further research is needed to validate these findings in larger cohorts.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the potential of the CUBN/MPO ratio as a prognostic biomarker for high-grade T1 bladder cancer.

The application value of multi-parameter cystoscope in improving the accuracy of preoperative bladder cancer grading

PURPOSE

To develop and validate a preoperative cystoscopic-based predictive model for predicting postoperative high-grade bladder cancer (BCa), which could be used to guide the surgical selection and postoperative treatment strategies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively recruited 366 patients with cystoscopy biopsy for pathology and morphology evaluation between October 2010 and January 2021. A binary logistic regression model was used to assess the risk factors for postoperative high-grade BCa. Diagnostic performance was analyzed by plotting receiver operating characteristic curve and calculating area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity. From January 2021 to July 2021, we collected 105 BCa prospectively to validate the model's accuracy.

RESULTS

A total of 366 individuals who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) or radical cystectomy following cystoscopy biopsy were included for analysis. 261 (71.3%) had a biopsy pathology grade that was consistent with postoperative pathology grade. We discovered five cystoscopic parameters, including tumor diameter, site, non-pedicled, high-grade biopsy pathology, morphology, were associated with high-grade BCa. The established multi-parameter logistic regression model ("JSPH" model) revealed AUC was 0.917 (P < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity were 86.2% and 84.0%, respectively. And the consistency of pre- and post-operative high-grade pathology was improved from biopsy-based 70.5% to JSPH model-based 85.2%. In a 105-patients prospective validation cohort, the consistency of pre- and post-operative high-grade pathology was increased from 63.1 to 84.2% after incorporation into JSPH model for prediction.

CONCLUSION

The cystoscopic parameters based "JSPH model" is accurate at predicting postoperative pathological high-grade tumors prior to operations.

Risk Stratification for the Rate and Location of Residual Bladder Tumor for the Decision of Re-Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor

Introduction

To assess the rate and location of residual tumor in re-transurethral resection of bladder tumor (re-TURBT) and develop a risk stratification tool to assist clinicians in making treatment decisions.

Patients and Methods

The data of 144 patients with high-risk bladder cancer who received re-TURBT were retrospectively reviewed. The rate and location of residual tumors was recorded. Logistic regression was performed to explore risk factors for residual tumors, and a risk classification tool was developed.

Results

Among the 144 patients, the rates of residual tumor and tumor location at the base of the primary tumor were 22.2% and 10.4%, respectively. Non-urothelial carcinoma subspecialist, piecemeal resection and the absence of detrusor muscle in the first specimen were defined as risk factors. Patients were categorized into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups according to the number of risk factors. The rate of residual tumor in the high-risk group was significantly higher than that in the low- and intermediate-risk groups (50% vs. 7.8%, P=0.001; 50% vs. 18.6%, P=0.002). Moreover, high-risk patients benefitted more from a second resection at the base of the primary tumor due to the high rate of residual tumor located at this site than low- and intermediate-risk patients (23.5% vs. 2.0%, P=0.002; 23.5% vs. 10.2%, P=0.083).

Conclusions

Risk stratification based on the subspecialist category, operative method, and presence or absence of detrusor muscle in the first specimen could help identify patients who benefit from re-TURBT and second resection the base of the primary tumor.

Xpert bladder cancer monitor in surveillance of bladder cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

There is a need for sensitive and specific biomarkers for detecting recurrences in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) on surveillance. Xpert bladder cancer (BC) monitor is the latest rapid in vitro qualitative test that detects expression of 5 mRNAs using a GeneXpert instrument. The primary aim of this review was to systematically review and pool the data regarding the diagnostic performance of Xpert BC in patients with NMIBC.

METHODS

Systematic literature search using 4 electronic databases (PubMed, EMbase, Scopus and Web of science) was performed. Pooled sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were estimated using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Standard Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines were followed and the study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021249762).

RESULTS

In this review, 11 prospective studies with 2,896 patients were included. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for Xpert BC were 73% (95% confidence interval (CI) 65%-80%) and 77% (95% CI 69%-84%) respectively. Area under curve (AUC) for Xpert BC monitor was 0.81 (0.78-0.84) respectively. Subgroup analysis from 7 studies for patients with high-grade recurrence revealed sensitivity, specificity and AUC of 0.86 (0.77-0.92), 0.78 (0.75-0.81) and 0.87 (0.84-0.90) respectively. Similar analysis for patients with low-grade recurrence revealed sensitivity, specificity and AUC of 0.58 (0.47-0.68), 0.79 (0.75-0.82) and 0.79 (0.75-0.82) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Xpert BC monitor has overall acceptable diagnostic accuracy. Sensitivity is higher for high-grade disease for detecting recurrences in patients with NMIBC on surveillance.

The Prognostic Value of FGFR3 Expression in Patients with T1 Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Purpose

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) alterations are frequent in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), although current data regarding the prognostic and therapeutic relevance are inconsistent. We analyzed the prognostic role of FGFR3 mRNA expression in stage T1 NMIBC.

Patients and Methods

The mRNA expression of FGFR3 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) was measured by RT-qPCR in 80 patients with stage T1 NMIBC treated with transurethral resection of the bladder and correlated with clinical data and KRT5 and KRT20 expression, used as surrogate markers for basal and luminal subtypes, respectively.

Results

FGFR3 and CDKN2A transcript levels were not correlated. FGFR3 expression was associated with the expression of KRT5 (p=0.002) and KRT20 (p < 0.001). CDKN2A expression was negatively correlated with KRT5 (p=0.030). In Kaplan–Meier analysis and univariable Cox regression analysis, high FGFR3 expression was associated with significantly reduced recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR=3.78; p < 0.001) and improved overall survival (OS) (HR=0.50; p=0.043), while high CDKN2A expression was associated with reduced OS (HR=2.34; p=0.034). Patient age was the only clinicopathological parameter associated with reduced OS (HR=2.29; p=0.022). No parameter was an independent prognostic factor in multivariable analysis. Next, we stratified the patients depending on their lineage differentiation. In univariable analysis, the prognostic effect of FGFR3 and CDKN2A was observed primarily in patients demonstrating high expression of KRT5 or KRT20, whereas high FGFR3 expression was associated with significantly reduced RFS, irrespective of instillation therapy.

Conclusion

Stage T1 NMIBC patients with high FGFR3 expression show shorter RFS but better OS than patients with low FGFR3 expression.

Low Expression of Keratin17 is Related to Poor Prognosis in Bladder Cancer

Objective

To investigate the association between KRT17 and the prognosis in bladder cancer patients.

Methods

The clinical data of 101 patients with bladder cancer from May 2013 to May 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. At the same time, the expression of KRT17 and its correlation with clinicopathological factors were examined by immunohistochemistry. We search the prognostic value of KRT17 in bladder cancer from the cancer genome map (TCGA) online database. To explore the possible cellular mechanism, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used. The patients were divided into two groups: high expression of KRT17 and low expression of KRT17. The patients were followed up for 5 years to observe the survival. Kaplan–Meier method and Log rank test were used for univariate survival analysis, and Cox regression analysis was used for multivariate analysis. Finally, a nomogram was constructed on this basis for internal verification.

Results

Among the 101 patients, 46 (45.5%) were in the KRT17 low expression group and 55 (54.5%) in the high KRT17 expression group. After 5 years of follow-up, 79 patients survived with a survival rate of 78.2% and 22 patients died with a mortality rate of 21.8%. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that OS and PFS of patients with high expression of KRT17 were significantly higher than those of patients with low expression of KRT17 (p<0.001, p=0.005). Cox multivariate analysis showed that KRT17 expression was an independent risk factor for tumor progression (p=0.019). And tumor size, vascular tumor thrombus, and T stage also affected tumor progression (p<0.05). In the internal validation, the c-index of nomogram was 0.898 (95% CI: 0.854–0.941).

Conclusion

The decreased expression of KRT17 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with bladder cancer. KRT17 can be used as a novel predictive biomarker to provide a new therapeutic target for bladder cancer patients.

Association of statin use and oncological outcomes in patients with first diagnosis of T1 high grade non-muscle invasive urothelial bladder cancer: results from a multicenter study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to test the hypothesis that the immune-modulatory effect of statins may improve survival outcomes in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We focused on a cohort of patients diagnosed with high risk NMIBC, that were treated with intravesical BCG immunotherapy.

METHODS

We included patients at first diagnosis of T1 high grade NMIBC after transurethral resection of bladder (TURB). All procedures were performed at 18 different tertiary institutions between January 2002 and December 2012. Univariable and multivariable models were used to test differences in terms of residual tumor, disease recurrence, disease progression and overall mortality (OM) rates.

RESULTS

Overall, 1510 patients with T1 high grade NMIBC at TURB were included in our analyses. Of these, 402 (26.6%) were statin users. At multivariable analysis, statin use was associated with a higher rate of high-grade BC at re-TURB (OR: 1.37, 95%CI: 1.04-1.78; P=0.022), while at follow-up it was not independently associated with OM (HR: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.50-1.03; P=0.068) and disease progression rates (HR: 0.97, 95%CI: 0.79-1.19; P=0.753). Conversely, statin use has been shown to be independently associated with a lower risk of recurrence (HR:0.80, 95%CI: 0.67-0.95; P=0.009). The median recurrence-free survival was 47 (95%CI 40-49) months for those classified as non-statin users vs. 53 (95%CI 48-68) months in those classified as statin users.

CONCLUSIONS

Statin daily intake do not compromise oncological outcomes in high risk NMIBC patients treated with BCG. Moreover, statin may have a beneficial effect on recurrence rates in this cohort of patients.

Bladder Cancer at the time of COVID-19 Outbreak

The COVID-19 outbreak has led to the deferral of a great number of surgeries in an attempt to reduce transmission of infection, free up hospital beds, intensive care and anaesthetists, and limit aerosol-generating procedures. Guidelines and suggestions have been provided to categorize Urological diseases into risk groups and recommendations are available on procedures that can be or cannot be deferred. We aim to summarise updates on diagnosis, treatment and follow up of bladder cancer during the COVID-19 outbreaks.