Correlation of Likert scores III–V with increasingly worse pathology in radical prostatectomy specimens significant only for men aged <60 or PSAD >0.15, with age <60 as good as PSAD <0.15 at discriminating lower risk in Likert III

Objectives:

This study aimed to compare Likert scores with radical prostatectomy specimens.

Methods:

This study examined 443 men with validated pre-biopsy magnetic resonance imaging results and used cross-tabulation and chi-square significance testing with National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk categories.

Results:

The mean prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 10, and the mean age was 64 years. Comparing Likert III to Likert V and Likert IV to Likert V, both (each p=0.02) were significantly associated with higher prostate cancer risk groups, but Likert III versus Likert IV was not ( p=0.1). Within the subgroup PSA density (PSAD) <0.15 ( n=140), the correlation of Likert score and final pathological risk group was lost ( p=0.5), but it was not lost within the subgroup PSAD >0.15 ( n=281; p=0.045 III vs. IV only and p=0.055 overall). Within the subgroup age <60 ( n=104), the correlation of Likert score and final pathological risk group was significant ( p=0.006 for III vs. IV and p=0.04 overall), whereas within the subgroup age >60 ( n=339) this significant difference was lost ( p=0.34). Further subgroup analysis within Likert III ( n=86) found that men <60 ( n=22) had neither high-grade (G3 or G4 or G5) nor very high-risk disease. There were only two high-risk cases, both of which were G2T3a (2/22; 10%). In men with Likert III and PSAD <0.15 ( n=31), there were seven high-risk and two very high-risk cases (9/31; 25%). This difference was not significant ( p=0.31)

Conclusion:

With these two findings, we recommend that men <60 with Likert III can be counselled like men with Likert III and PSAD <0.15, that they are unlikely to have unfavourable or high-risk disease and that they may wish to avoid biopsy or treatment.

Level of evidence:

Level 1b.

Necrosis predicts benefit from hypoxia-modifying therapy in patients with high risk bladder cancer enrolled in a phase III randomised trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Addition of carbogen and nicotinamide (hypoxia-modifying agents) to radiotherapy improves the survival of patients with high risk bladder cancer. The study investigated whether histopathological tumour features and putative hypoxia markers predicted benefit from hypoxia modification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples were available from 231 patients with high grade and invasive bladder carcinoma from the BCON phase III trial of radiotherapy (RT) alone or with carbogen and nicotinamide (RT+CON). Histopathological tumour features examined were: necrosis, growth pattern, growing margin, and tumour/stroma ratio. Hypoxia markers carbonic anhydrase-IX and glucose transporter-1 were examined using tissue microarrays.

RESULTS

Necrosis was the only independent prognostic indicator (P=0.04). Necrosis also predicted benefit from hypoxia modification. Five-year overall survival was 48% (RT) versus 39% (RT+CON) (P=0.32) in patients without necrosis and 34% (RT) versus 56% (RT+CON) (P=0.004) in patients with necrosis. There was a significant treatment by necrosis strata interaction (P=0.001 adjusted). Necrosis was an independent predictor of benefit from RT+CON versus RT (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.43, 95% CI 0.25-0.73, P=0.002). This trend was not observed when there was no necrosis (HR: 1.64, 95% CI 0.95-2.85, P=0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Necrosis predicts benefit from hypoxia modification in patients with high risk bladder cancer and should be used to select patients; it is simple to identify and easy to incorporate into routine histopathological examination.

Abstract LB-450: Necrosis predicts benefit from hypoxia-modifying therapy in urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder

To investigate the ability of tumor necrosis to predict benefit following radiotherapy with and without hypoxia-modifying treatment in high grade urothelial cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Background: There is no predictive marker of hypoxia-modifying therapy in cancer patients in routine clinical use. Methods: We identified 231 patients who participated in the BCON phase III randomised trial comparing radical radiotherapy (RT) with and without carbogen and nicotinamide (CON) in patients with urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder who were suitable for this retrospective study. Tumor necrosis was scored on whole tissue sections as absent or present. Results: Tumor necrosis was identified in 121 of the 231 patients (52%). 5-year overall survival estimates were 41% for the RT arm and 48% for the CON arm (log rank p=0.14). When stratified using tumor necrosis, the 5-year overall survival estimates were 48% (RT) and 39% (CON) (log rank p =0.32) in patients with no evident tumor necrosis, and 34% (RT) and 56% (CON) (log rank p=0.004) in patients with tumor necrosis. Multivariate analyses showed that the presence of tumor necrosis was a significant predictor of benefit from CON with the risk of dying 57% lower compared to RT alone (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.25-0.73, p=0.002). This trend was not observed when there is no evident tumour necrosis (HR 1.64, 95% CI 0.95-2.85, p=0.08). Test for heterogeneity in treatment effect by necrosis strata (p=0.007 unadjusted, p=0.001 adjusted). Conclusions: Tumor necrosis significantly predicts benefit from radiotherapy with hypoxia-modifying treatment. Independent validation in a prospective trial is warranted.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-450. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-450

An investigation into the prognostic significance of necrosis and hypoxia in high grade and invasive bladder cancer

PURPOSE

We investigated hypoxia and necrosis in high grade and invasive bladder cancer, and related this to prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective observational study of 98 primary cystectomy specimens scored for necrosis, and the hypoxia associated markers carbonic anhydrase IX, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and 2 alpha, and Bcl2/adenovirus EIB 19 kDa interacting protein 3. Tumor tissue array was used with cores taken from representative and perinecrotic tumor regions. Necrosis was scored on whole sections as absent, less than 5 mm (comedo) or more than 5 mm (gross).

RESULTS

Of the 98 cases analyzed followup data were available on 91. Median followup was 22 months (IQR 8-35). Stage was T0/1 to T4 in 18, 20, 41 and 12 cases, respectively. The prevalence of necrosis in bladder cancer was high and it increased with stage (17%, 30%, 70% and 71% at stages T0/1 to T4, respectively). Necrosis was significantly associated with stage (p = 0.0001) and nodal status (p = 0.016). Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha showed no association with stage, grade or nodal status. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and carbonic anhydrase IX showed a significant association with necrosis, whereas hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha and Bcl2/adenovirus EIB 19 kDa interacting protein 3 did not. Stage (p <0.0001), necrosis (p <0.0001) and intense hypoxia-inducible factor 1 positivity (p = 0.048) were the only significant prognostic factors on univariate analysis. Stage (HR 3.29, 95% CI 1.80-6.04, p <0.001) and necrosis (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.05-3.51, p = 0.04) were independent prognostic factors on multivariate analysis, while hypoxia-inducible factor 1 lost significance (HR 1.36, 95% CI 0.98-1.88, p = 0.07). Node status was only reported in 45% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Necrosis (the presence and amount) in high grade and invasive bladder cancer is an independent prognostic risk factor.

Comparison of hypoxia transcriptome in vitro with in vivo gene expression in human bladder cancer

Hypoxia-inducible genes have been linked to the aggressive phenotype of cancer. However, nearly all work on hypoxia-regulated genes has been conducted in vitro on cell lines. We investigated the hypoxia transcriptome in primary human bladder cancer using cDNA microarrays to compare genes induced by hypoxia in vitro in bladder cancer cell line EJ28 with genes upregulated in 39 bladder tumour specimens (27 superficial and 12 invasive). We correlated array mRNA fold changes with carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA IX) staining of tumours as a surrogate marker of hypoxia. Of 6000 genes, 32 were hypoxia inducible in vitro more than two-fold, five of which were novel, including lactate transporter SLC16A3 and RNAse 4. Eight of 32 hypoxia-inducible genes in vitro were also upregulated on the vivo array. Vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA was upregulated two-fold by hypoxia and 2–18-fold in 31 out of 39 tumours. Glucose transporter 1 was also upregulated on both arrays mRNA, and fold changes on the in vivo array significantly correlated with CA IX staining of tumours (P=0.008). However, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 mRNA was the most strongly differentially expressed gene in both arrays and this confirmed its upregulation in urine of bladder cancer patients (n=157, P<0.01). This study defines genes suitable for an in vivo hypoxia ‘profile’, shows the heterogeneity of the hypoxia response and describes new hypoxia-regulated genes.

Phase I trial of intravesical Suramin in recurrent superficial transitional cell bladder carcinoma

Suramin is an antitrypanosomal agent with antineoplastic activity, but with serious systemic side effects. We administered Suramin intravesically to determine a concentration with low toxicity but with evidence of a pharmacodynamic effect, to recommend a dose level for phase II trials. This was an open-labelled, nonrandomised dose-escalation phase I study. In all, 12 patients with a history of recurrent superficial bladder cancer were grouped into four dose levels (10–150 mg ml⁻¹ in 60 ml saline). Six catheter instillations at weekly intervals were used. Cystoscopy and biopsy were performed before and 3 months after the start of treatment. Suramin was assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and urinary protein profile using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionisation mass spectroscopy (SELDI). Minimal systemic absorption of Suramin was found at the highest dose of 150 mg ml⁻¹. Urinary VEGF was affected by Suramin at doses above 50 mg ml⁻¹, corresponding to the estimated threshold of saturation of Suramin binding to urine albumin. SELDI showed a specific disappearance of urinary protein peaks during treatment. Intravesical Suramin shows lack of toxicity and low systemic absorption. The results of this phase I trial support expanded clinical trials of efficacy at a dose of 100 mg ml⁻¹ intravesically.