Impact of Clinical Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in the Era of Robot Assisted Radical Cystectomy: Results of a Single-Center Experience

Impacts of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Perioperative Outcomes in Patients with Bladder Cancer Treated with Radical Cystectomy: A Single High-Volume Center Experience

(1) Background: Less than 30% of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and reasons for underuse remain unclear. One potential explanation is the concern for the increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of NAC on the risk of detrimental perioperative outcomes in patients with MIBC treated with radical cystectomy (RC). (2) Methods: We identified patients receiving RC for MIBC (T2-4a N0 M0) from 2016 to 2022. Moreover, 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was applied between RC alone versus RC plus NAC, and our analysis tested the association between NAC status and peri-operative outcomes. (3) Results: Among the 317 patients treated with RC for identified MIBC, 98 (31%) received NAC. Patients treated with NAC were younger (median yr. 64 vs. 71; p < 0.001), with a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (3 vs. 4; p > 0.001), and received more frequently continent urinary diversion (61 vs. 32%, p < 0.001). About 43% of patients in each group were treated with robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with totally intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD). After PSM, no differences were detected for the outcomes considered. (4) Conclusions: NAC is not associated with a higher rate of perioperative complications, including patients who received RARC with ICUD.

Three versus four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The optimal cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of three and four cycles of NAC in the treatment of MIBC through a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant studies were systematically collected and reviewed in PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science Databases, and the Cochrane Library. Relative ratios (RRs), Hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate outcome measures. Studies comparing the pathological response and prognosis of three versus four cycles of NAC for MIBC were included.

RESULTS

Five studies were included in this meta-analysis, including 2190 patients, of whom 1016 underwent three cycles of NAC and 1174 underwent four cycles of NAC. All studies were retrospective cohort studies. We found that 4 cycles of NAC had significantly better cancer-specific survival than 3 cycles (HR = 1.31, 95%CI,1.03-1.67, p = 0.029). There was no significant difference in overall survival between patients who received 3 and 4 cycles of chemotherapy (HR = 1.18, 95%CI = 0.83-1.69, p = 0.345). Similarly, no significant difference was observed in pathological objective response (RR = 0.95, 95%CI= 0.81-1.11, p = 0.515) and complete response rates (RR = 0.87, 95%CI = 0.69-1.11, p = 0.256) in MIBC after 3 or 4 cycles of NAC.

CONCLUSIONS

Three and four cycles of NAC had similar pathological responses and prognosis for MIBC, although the cancer-specific survival rate of four cycles was better than that of three cycles.

Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy with Modified Vesica Ileale Padovana (VIP) Neobladder Configuration Using a Hybrid Approach: Initial Experience

PURPOSE

We developed a new technique to fold a neobladder (NB) simply by using a modified Vesica Ileale Padovana (VIP) with a hybrid approach. We provide a step-by-step description of our technique as it was used in this initial experience.

METHODS

A total of 10 male patients with a median age of 66 years underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with an orthotopic NB via a hybrid approach from March 2022 to February 2023. After the isolation of the bladder and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, Wallace plate creation was performed, and the robot was undocked. We extracorporeally performed the removal of the specimen and a side-to-side ileoileal anastomosis, and then the VIP NB posterior plate was rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise using a 45 cm detubularized ileum. The robot was redocked; then, circumferential urethra-ileal anastomosis, side-to-middle anterior wall closure, and ureteric afferent limb anastomosis were performed.

RESULTS

The median estimated blood loss was 524 mL, and the mean operative time was 496 min. Patients had a high continence rate, and no high-grade complications were observed.

CONCLUSION

The NB configuration using the modified VIP method for a hybrid approach is a feasible surgical technique to minimize the movement of robotic forceps. In particular, it may be more useful in Asian individuals with narrow pelvises.

Real-Time Urethral and Ureteral Assessment during Radical Cystectomy Using Ex-Vivo Optical Imaging: A Novel Technique for the Evaluation of Fresh Unfixed Surgical Margins

Background: Our study aims to assess the feasibility and the reproducibility of fluorescent confocal microscopy (FCM) real-time assessment of urethral and ureteral margins during open radical cystectomy (ORC) for bladder cancer (BCa). Methods: From May 2020 to January 2022, 46 patients underwent ORC with intraoperative FCM evaluation. Each specimen was intraoperatively stained for histopathological analysis using FCM, analyzed as a frozen section (FSA), and sent for traditional H&E examination. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and the negative predictive value (NPV) of FCM and FSA were assessed and compared with H&E for urethral and ureteral margins separately. Results: The agreement was evaluated through Cohen’s κ statistic. Urethral diagnostic agreement between FCM and FSA showed a κ = 0.776 (p < 0.001), while between FCM and H&E, the agreement was κ = 0.691 (p < 0.001). With regard to ureteral margins, an overall agreement of κ = 0.712 (p < 0.001) between FCM and FSA and of κ = 0.481 (p < 0.001) between FCM and H&E was found. Conclusions: FCM proved to be a safe, feasible, and reproducible method for the intraoperative assessment of urethral and ureteral margins during ORC. Compared to standard FSA, FCM showed adequate diagnostic performance in detecting urethral and ureteral malignant involvement.

Combined Modality Bladder-Sparing Therapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: How (Should) We Do It? A Narrative Review

Organ-sparing combined-modality treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer remains underutilized despite high-quality evidence regarding its efficacy, safety, and preservation of quality of life. It may be offered to patients unwilling to undergo radical cystectomy, as well as those unfit for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. The treatment plan should be tailored to each patient's characteristics, with more intensive protocols offered to patients who are fit for surgery but opt for organ-sparing. After a thorough, debulking transurethral resection of the tumor and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the response evaluation should trigger further management with either chemoradiation or early cystectomy in non-responders. A hypofractionated, continuous radiotherapy regimen of 55 Gy in 20 fractions with concurrent radiosensitizing chemotherapy with gemcitabine, cisplatin, or 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C is currently preferred based on clinical trials. The response should be evaluated with repeated transurethral resections of the tumor bed and abdominopelvic-computed tomography after chemoradiation, with quarterly assessments during the first year. Salvage cystectomy should be offered to patients fit for surgery who failed to respond to treatment or developed a muscle-invasive recurrence. Non-muscle-invasive bladder recurrences and upper tract tumors should be treated in line with guidelines for respective primary tumors. Multiparametric magnetic resonance can be used for tumor staging and response monitoring, as it may distinguish disease recurrence from treatment-induced inflammation and fibrosis.

Prevalence and outcomes of transurethral resection versus radical cystectomy for muscle-infiltrating bladder cancer in the United States: A population-based cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Although radical cystectomy is considered as the first choice for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), there are also concerns regarding the cost of long-term morbidity, loss of body image, and compromised quality of life. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is a candidate for bladder sparing treatments, but its viability as a substitute for radical cystectomy is questionable. Therefore, we conducted this population-based study to investigate the prevalence of TURBT in the treatments of T2-stage MIBC in the United States, and to compare its therapeutic efficiency with that of radical cystectomy.

METHODS

Information on patients with T2-stage bladder cancer (BC) between 2000 and 2017 was extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. The overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) of patients with different interventions were fitted.

RESULTS

A total of 22,074 patients with T2-stage MIBC were enrolled, of whom 14,021 reached the main endpoint. Only 28% of the patients with T2-stage MIBC chose radical cystectomy as the initial surgical treatment, while TURBT was applied as the primary surgical treatment in 66.6% of the patients. The TURBT rate increased significantly with age at cancer diagnosis (40-44 years, 45.5% to > 85 years, 90.9%). The survival rate of patients undergoing TURBT was significantly lower than for those undergoing radical cystectomy (median OS: 1.5 versus 9.7 years; median DSS: 2.7 years versus not reached). Upon multivariable Cox analyses, the OS (HR: 2.34; p < 0.001) and DSS (HR: 2.68; p < 0.001) of TURBT were found to be significantly worse than those of radical cystectomy.

CONCLUSION

Two-thirds of the patients with T2-stage MIBC were treated by TURBT in the United States. However, the long-term follow-up data indicate that the therapeutic efficiency of current TURBT techniques is far less effective than that of radical cystectomy. Further studies are urgently needed to devise the best management strategy for T2 stage bladder cancer.

Treatment trends for muscle-invasive bladder cancer in Germany from 2006 to 2019

Purpose

To examine national treatment trends of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) in Germany with a special focus on radical cystectomy (RC).

Patients and methods

Population-based data were derived from the nationwide hospital billing database of the German Federal Statistical Office and institution-related information from the reimbursement.INFO tool based on hospitals’ quality reports from 2006 to 2019. Additionally, we used the German National Center for Cancer Registry data to analyze all cases of bladder cancer with stage ≥ T2 who received RC, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination from 2006 to 2017.

Results

The annual number of RC cases in Germany increased by 28% from 5627 cases in 2006 to 7292 cases in 2019 (p = 0.001). The proportion of patients undergoing RC remained constant at about 75% in all age groups between 2006 and 2017 (p = 0.3). Relative to all performed RC, the proportion of patients > 75 years increased from 25% in 2006 to 38% in 2019 (p = 0.03). The proportion of patients receiving a combination of RC and chemotherapy increased from 9% in 2006 to 13% in 2017 (p = 0.005). In 2006, 8 of 299 urology departments (2.7%) performed more than 50 RCs per year, which increased to 17 of 360 (4.7%) in 2019. In 2019, 107 departments (29%) performed 25–49 RCs and 236 (66%) departments performed < 25 RCs.

Conclusion

In Germany, three out of four patients with MIBC receive RC and the proportion of patients > 75 years is increasing. The combination of surgery and chemotherapy is increasingly used. With overall increasing case numbers, there is a slight tendency towards centralization.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00345-022-04017-z.

Preoperative Metabolic Syndrome and HDL-C Level Predict the Prognosis of Patients Following Radical Cystectomy: A Propensity Score Matching Study

Objective

To investigate the prognostic significance of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in patients with bladder cancer (BCa) treated with radical cystectomy (RC).

Methods

A total of 335 BCa patients who underwent RC between 2004 and 2019 at Peking University Third Hospital (PUTH) were analyzed retrospectively. The Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test was performed to assess overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were conducted to identify the prognostic factors of OS and PFS before and after propensity score matching (PSM).

Results

Enrolled patients were allocated into two groups according to the presence or absence of MetS (n=84 MetS vs n=251 non-MetS), and 82 new matched pairs were identified to balance the baseline characteristics after 1:1 PSM. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, MetS was associated with better OS (P=0.031) than the group without MetS. In addition, a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 was associated with better OS (P=0.011) and PFS (P=0.031), while low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was associated with worse OS (P=0.033) and PFS (P=0.010). In all patients, multivariate Cox analysis showed that hemoglobin, pathologic tumor stage and lymph node status were identified as independent prognostic factors for both OS and PFS, while age, MetS and HDL-C were independent prognostic factors only for OS. Reproducible results of multivariate analysis can still be observed in propensity matched patients. The results of further subgroup analysis revealed that the association of MetS with increased OS (P=0.043) and BMI ≥25 with increased OS (P=0.015) and PFS (P=0.029) was observed in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients.

Conclusions

MetS was independently associated with better OS in BCa patients after RC, and HDL-C was the only component of MetS that was independently associated with worse OS. MetS and HDL-C may become reliable prognostic biomarkers of OS in BCa patients after RC to provide individualized prognostication and assist in the formulation of clinical treatment strategies.