Long-term results following thoracotomy for metastatic bladder cancer

[Resection of Solitary Lung Metastasis of Urinary Tract Transitional Cell Cancer Can Prolong Survival in Selected Patients]

There are only a few small published studies on pulmonary metastasectomy for urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). In this study, we examined the long-term outcome and the prognostic survival factors associated with pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract TCC, as based on our centre's 20-year experience. Between 2000 and 2020, curative pulmonary metastasectomy was performed in 18 patients (14 males and 4 females). Clinical, demographical and surgical data were retrospectively analysed. The disease-free interval between treatment of the primary tumour and pulmonary metastasectomy ranged from one to 48 months. Survival analysis was conducted with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 84.7% and 52.9%, respectively. Resection of solitary metastases was a positive and independent factor for survival (p = 0.04). Pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract TCC is associated with a favourable outcome and solitary metastasis is associated with long-term survival. Surgical resection of solitary pulmonary metastasis and repeated lung metastasectomy by pulmonary recurrence from a urinary tract TCC is feasible in selected patients.

Pulmonary metastases in urogenital cancers: Surgical treatment and outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Metastasis is remaining one of the major problems in cancer treatment. Like many other malignancies, urogenital tumors originating from kidney, prostate, testes, and bladder tend to metastasize to the lungs. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the operative results and prognosis of pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with primary urogenital tumors.

METHODS

This study was approved by the local ethical committee. We retrospectively analyzed the surgical and oncological results of patients who underwent lung resections for urogenital cancer metastases in our department between 2002 and 2018. Demographic data and clinicopathological features were extracted from the medical records. Survival outcomes according to cancer subtypes and early postoperative results of VATS and thoracotomy were analyzed.

RESULTS

22 out of 126 patients referred for pulmonary metastasectomy to our department had metastases from urogenital tumors. These patients consisted of 17 males and five females. Their metastasis originated from renal cell carcinoma (RCC; n=9), bladder tumor (n=7), testis tumors (n=4), and prostate cancer (n=2). There was no intraoperative complication. Postoperative complications were seen in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although pulmonary metastasectomy in various types of tumors is well known and documented, the data is limited for metastases of urogenital cancers in the literature. Despite the limitations of this study, we aim to document our promising results of pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with primary urogenital tumors and wanted to emphasize the role of minimally invasive approaches.

[Locally advanced or oligometastatic bladder cancer-role of local treatment of the primary tumor and metastases]

Hintergrund

Das muskelinvasive Blasenkarzinom stellt in seiner Behandlung eine besondere Herausforderung dar, da die Therapie mit signifikanten Nebenwirkungen und Komplikationsraten einhergeht, insbesondere bei Patienten mit relevanten Begleiterkrankungen. Im metastasierten Stadium besteht der Therapiezweck in der Palliation, wobei das Vorliegen einer Oligometastasierung eine gesonderte Rolle einnimmt. In diesem Stadium kann auch die Therapie des Primärtumors relevant sein, wenn die Metastasen neben einer systemischen Therapie ebenso lokal behandelt werden können – insbesondere auch in Hinblick auf die über die letzten Jahre die Therapielandschaft erweiternden neuen medikamentösen Möglichkeiten.

Ziel der Arbeit

In diesem Reviewartikel sollen die Einflüsse einer definitiven Therapie des Primärtumors bei Patienten mit oligometastasiertem Urothelkarzinom der Harnblase dargelegt werden.

Material und Methoden

Basierend auf einer nicht-systemischen Literaturrecherche soll ein Überblick über bestehende Ergebnisse zur Therapie des oligometastasierten Blasenkarzinoms in Hinblick auf den Einfluss der Therapie des Primärtumors geben, wobei die Daten meist auf retrospektiven Studien und Metaanalysen bestehen.

Schlussfolgerung

Eine Lokaltherapie des Primärtumors im Rahmen eines multimodalen Therapiekonzepts kann bei selektionierten Patienten mit lymphogen metastasiertem und oligometastasiertem Blasenkarzinom einen positiven Einfluss auf Überleben, Lebensqualität und Vermeidung von Lokalkomplikationen nehmen, wobei für die Wahl der lokalen Therapie dieselben Kriterien angewendet werden sollten wie im nicht-metastasierten Stadium.

Utilization and outcomes of metastasectomy for patients with metastatic urothelial cancer: An analysis of the national cancer database

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection of oligometastatic disease has been shown to be associated with an improved survival in other malignancies, though its role is not established in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). We sought to examine utilization trends of metastasectomy in mUC and associated outcomes using the NCDB database.

METHODS

We queried the NCDB from 2004 to 2016 for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma who had undergone metastasectomy. The annual utilization trend of metastasectomy was evaluated by linear regression. We compared overall survival (OS) between propensity score matched patients who had undergone metastasectomy and those who had not using two-sided log-rank and Cox regression models. We also performed sensitivity analyses on subcohorts of mUC.

RESULTS

The utilization rate of metastasectomy in mUC was 7% and did not change significantly over time. Patients who received metastasectomy on average were younger, had >cT3 disease, had radical surgery to the primary tumor, and received systemic therapy. After propensity score matching, metastasectomy was not associated with an OS benefit for mUC patients (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.07; P=0.38). Stratified subgroup analysis based on systemic therapy, radical surgery to primary tumor, clinical N stage, and primary location of disease did not show an OS benefit of metastasectomy.

CONCLUSION

Metastasectomy is uncommonly used, though utilization has persisted over more than a decade. Despite selection biases and residual confounding favoring patients undergoing metastasectomy, we found similar OS among these individuals and those who did not undergo metastasectomy.

Metastasis-directed radiation therapy after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

PURPOSE

Metastasis-directed radiation therapy (MDRT) may improve oncologic and quality of life outcomes in patients with metastatic cancer, but data on its use in metastatic bladder cancer is severely limited. We sought to review our institutional experience with MDRT in patients with metastatic bladder cancer following radical cystectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed records of patients who underwent radical cystectomy and subsequent MDRT at our institution between 2009 and 2020. Baseline demographic and clinical/pathologic factors were collected, as were details of treatment including systemic therapy and MDRT. Cases were categorized by treatment intent as consolidative (intended to prolong survival) and palliative (intended only to relieve symptoms). Response to treatment, survival, and toxicity outcomes were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 52 patients underwent MDRT following radical cystectomy. MDRT was categorized as consolidative in 40% of cases and palliative in 60%. Toxicity (CTCAE Grade ≥ 2) was reported in 15% of patients, none of which exceeded Grade 3. Most patients undergoing consolidative MDRT were treated with SBRT techniques (76%) and a majority (67%) received concurrent treatment with an immuno-oncology agent. Among patients treated with consolidative intent, 2-year progression-free and overall survival were 19% and 60%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

MDRT is safe and well-tolerated by a majority of patients. A majority of patients treated with consolidative intent survived ≥ 2 years from treatment.

Metastases of Urothelium Carcinoma: Differential Diagnosis, Resection, and Survival

BACKGROUND

 Due to its very aggressive nature and low survival chances, the metastasized urothelium carcinoma poses a challenge in regard to therapy. The gold-standard chemotherapy is platinum based. The therapy options are considered controversial, including new systemic therapies. In this respect, surgical therapies, as already established for pulmonary metastases of other tumor entities play an increasingly important role. The consumption of nicotine is a risk factor not only for urothelium carcinoma but also for a pulmonary carcinoma. Thus, we examined the frequency of a second carcinoma in this cohort.

METHODS

 We retrospectively examined patients who had a differential diagnosis of pulmonary metastases, as well as those patients who underwent a surgery due to pulmonary metastases of a urothelium carcinoma between 1999 and 2015.

RESULTS

 A total of 139 patients came to our clinic with the differential diagnosis of pulmonary metastases of a urothelium carcinoma. The most common diagnosis was pulmonary carcinoma (53%). Thirty-one patients underwent surgeries due to pulmonary metastases of a urothelium carcinoma. The median survival was 53 months and the 5-year survival was 51%. With the univariate analysis, only the relapse-free interval of more than 10 months was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

 There is a high coincidence of urothelial carcinoma and lung carcinoma. A histological confirmation should be endeavored. Selected patients undergoing a pulmonary metastasis resection have a survival advantage during the multimodal treatment of pulmonary metastasized urothelial carcinomas. For a definitive recommendation, randomized trials including a uniform multimodal therapy regimen and higher numbers of patients are necessary.

Role of Multimodal Treatment in Urothelial Carcinoma Spinal Metastasis: 15 Patients' Experiences in a Single Center

Purpose

Spinal metastasis from urothelial carcinoma (UC) is relatively uncommon. The aim of the present study is to explore the clinicopathological features, surgical treatments and outcomes of this rare disease.

Patients and Methods

Fifteen patients with UC spinal metastasis who received surgery in our center between 2009 and 2018 were retrospectively investigated. Clinical data, treatment options, and outcomes were analyzed.

Results

For the 15 patients (9 men and 6 women), the primary tumors were located in the upper urothelial tract in ten and lower urothelial tract in five. UC mainly metastasized to the lumbar spine in seven cases, followed by the thoracic spine in five. Pathologic fracture and soft tissue mass with dura mater compression were observed in 66.7% and 93.3% cases, respectively. Palliative resection was performed in nine cases and excisional resection in six. Eleven patients received postoperative chemotherapy, including three with a preoperative ECOG score >2. Bisphosphonates were administered in all patients. Pain was relieved remarkably in all patients, and both the neurological function and general status were improved significantly after surgery. The median overall survival was 14 months. Log rank test showed that patients receiving postoperative chemotherapy survived longer than those without chemotherapy (p=0.037). WHO grade 3 was also correlated with poorer prognosis (p=0.012).

Conclusion

Pathological fracture and soft tissue mass with dura mater compression is frequently observed on radiological images in patients with UC spinal metastasis. Surgery is useful to prevent deterioration of performance status and improve quality of life, which provide an opportunity for further systematic therapy. Multimodal treatments, including surgery, postoperative chemotherapy and bisphosphonates are recommended. WHO grade 2 and receiving postoperative chemotherapy were favorable prognostic factors for the overall survival of patients with UC spinal metastasis.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in the Management of Oligometastatic and Oligoprogressive Bladder Cancer and Other Urothelial Malignancies

AIMS

Bladder cancer represents the most common type of urothelial carcinoma, with a median overall survival of 12.5-15 months in the case of metastatic disease. We evaluated the role of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the management oligometastatic urothelial cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data on patients with a maximum of five metastases were collected from three institutions. Concomitant systemic therapy was allowed. End points were the local control of treated metastases, distant progression-free survival (PFS), overall PFS and overall survival.

RESULTS

Data for 82 lesions and 61 patients were included. The primary tumour was located in the bladder in 82% of patients, followed by kidney pelvis (11.5%). The most common treated site was lung (40.2%). Twenty-nine (47.5%) and 14 (23%) patients received systemic therapy before and during SBRT, respectively. The median BED10 value was 78.7 Gy. The median follow-up was 17.2 months. Rates of local control at 1 and 2 years were 92% and 88.9%, respectively, with correlation with systemic therapy before SBRT (hazard ratio 2.62, P = 0.034). Overall PFS at 1 and 2 years was 47.9% and 38.1%, respectively. The number of metastases was a predictive factor (hazard ratio 2.65, P = 0.008). The median overall survival was 25.6 months. Total dose (hazard ratio 0.93, P = 0.003) and BED10 (hazard ratio 0.97, P = 0.006) were correlated with overall survival. No grade ≥2 adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

SBRT represents an effective and safe treatment in metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Prospective randomised trials are necessary to better evaluate the benefit on delaying the onset of new systemic therapies.

Predictors of use and overall survival for patients undergoing metastasectomy for bladder cancer in a national cohort

OBJECTIVES

To determine the use of surgical resection of metastatic disease in a large national sample and its association with overall survival.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with metastatic bladder cancer (2004-2016). Overall survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox analyses. The associations between covariates and use of metastasectomy were assessed with multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of the 16 382 patients with metastatic bladder cancer included, 6.8% underwent metastasectomy. Its use increased over time (4.7% in 2004 to 6.6% in 2016; per year odds ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.04, P = 0.019). Median survival was 7.0 months for patients who received metastasectomy and 5.1 months for those who did not (hazard ratio 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.79-0.91, P < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, metastasectomy predicted longer survival in patients with lung (hazard ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.61-0.88, P = 0.001) or brain metastases (hazard ratio 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.96, P = 0.035) and in patients with variant histology (hazard ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.69-0.93, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

In a national sample, the use of metastasectomy for bladder cancer is low. Furthermore, metastasectomy is associated with longer survival overall and in multiple subgroups. However, these results should be validated in future studies.

The Role of Metastasectomy in Urothelial Carcinoma: Where Are We in 2020?

Systemic therapy is the mainstay of treatment for metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC). Responses to first-line platinum-based therapy tend to be short-lived with potential toxicity. Despite the approval of checkpoint inhibitors, the long-term prognosis for patients with metastatic UC remains dismal. Herein we report the case of a patient with a solitary pulmonary metastatic lesion of urothelial origin as the only site of metastatic disease who remained free of disease for more than 2 years without systemic therapy after metastasectomy. We review the literature discussing the role of combined surgical and medical management of oligometastatic UC. As our case illustrates, a growing body of evidence suggests a potential role for a multimodal approach in patients with oligometastatic UC.

Long-term survival of a patient with pulmonary metastatic urothelial carcinoma following metastasectomy

Cisplatin-based systemic chemotherapy is the gold standard for the treatment of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC), which is a chemosensitive cancer. However, long-term survival has been deemed disappointing. We describe here a case of UC with solitary pulmonary metastasis who had successfully achieved long-term disease-free survival by combination of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and pulmonary metastasectomy. From the finding of this article, we propose that adjuvant chemotherapy may be considered as a viable option after metastasectomy in low volume pulmonary metastatic UC patients.

Role of surgical consolidation in metastatic urothelial carcinoma

Since the development of systemic combination chemotherapy, postchemotherapy extirpation has been performed in selected patients mainly with locally advanced and/or initially unresectable bladder cancer, and, in very selected patients, surgical consolidation for visceral metastases has also been performed. The purpose of this article was to review and summarize the current evidence for the role of surgical consolidation in metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Role of Radical Cystectomy in Non-Organ Confined Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review

Background:

Currently, a diagnosis of non-organ confined bladder cancer (NOCBCa) confers a grave prognosis. The mainstay of treatment consists of systemic chemotherapy. However, it must be recognized that NOCBCa is a heterogeneous disease state with important clinical distinctions. While surgical extirpation has traditionally been regarded as overly aggressive for all NOCBCa patients, its utility as part of a multimodal treatment strategy in various clinical scenarios has not been thoroughly investigated.

Objective:

To perform a review of the literature regarding the role of radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection (RC-LND) in the setting of NOCBCa.

Methods:

Medline, and Pubmed electronic database were queried for English language articles from January 1990 to Nov 2016 on RC-LND for cT4, lymph node positive, and metastatic urothelial cancer. NOCBCa was separated into four distinct clinical scenarios: 1. Locally advanced/unresectable disease (cT4bN0M0); 2. Occult pelvic nodal disease (pN+) (cTxN0M0 and pTxN1-3Mx); 3. Clinical node positive disease (cN+) (cTxN1-3M0); and 4. Distant metastatic disease (TxNxM1). Evidence for the role of RC-LND in each of these clinical scenarios was summarized.

Results:

cT4b may be more effectively treated by presurgical chemotherapy (PSC) than other forms of NOCBCa. Although clinical response predicted improved survival, surgical factors, such as surgical margin status may also play a role in determining outcomes. In well selected patients, 5-year CSS may reach 60% after consolidative RC-LND. Survival in patients found to have pathologic nodal metastases without PSC was dictated not only by the histologically verified metastatic nodal disease burden, but also by the meticulousness of the lymph node dissection. In these patients, adjuvant chemotherapy may improve survival. On the other hand, in patients undergoing RC-LND after PSC, pathologic complete response (pCR) was the strongest predictor of improved CSS. The results of population based studies have suggested a therapeutic role by consolidative RC-LND in both patients with cN+ and metastatic BCa (mBCa). For the cN+ population, 5-year OS was 31% in patients undergoing RC-LND after PSC vs. 14% in those receiving chemotherapy alone. Similarly, consolidative intensive local therapy improved OS by approximately 5 months in patients with mBCa. Metastasectomy has also been shown to be effective in small retrospective series and may especially be useful in patients with solitary pulmonary lesions.

Conclusions:

Extirpative treatment of the primary tumor may be an important step in the management of de novo NOCBCa. The current retrospective and population based studies have demonstrated improved survival outcomes in patients with NOCBCa following RC-LND, especially in those with favorable response to PSC. With the advent of minimally invasive surgery and the enhanced post-surgical recovery protocols, RC-LND has not only been demonstrated to be feasible, but also tolerable in the setting of advanced BCa. Well designed, prospective trials are needed to definitively assess the value of surgical extirpation for NOCBCa patients.

Brain metastasis from renal urothelial carcinoma successfully treated by metastasectomy

Upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) arises from the urothelial lining of the urinary tract. UTUC spreads in several different ways including direct invasion, lymphatic spread, and hematogeneous metastases. Regional lymph nodes are commonly the initial site of metastasis, followed by the liver, lung, and bone. Brain metastasis is uncommon in patients with urothelial carcinoma. Here, we report an uncommon case of kidney urothelial carcinoma with brain metastasis in a 55-year-old woman presenting with dysarthria with right side limb weakness. The patient recovered well after resection of the brain lesion without any sequelae after 1 year of follow-up.

Prognostic value of site-specific metastases and therapeutic roles of surgery for patients with metastatic bladder cancer: a population-based study

Background

We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of site-specific metastases in patients with metastatic bladder cancer and analyze the roles that surgeries play in the treatment of this malignancy.

Materials and methods

A population-based retrospective study using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results dataset was performed and metastatic bladder cancer patients were classified according to the sites of metastases (bone, brain, liver, lung and distant lymph nodes). Kaplan–Meier analysis with log-rank test was used for survival comparisons. Multivariate Cox regression model was employed to analyze the effect of distant metastatic sites on overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Results

A total of 1862 patients with metastatic bladder cancer from 2010 to 2014 were identified. Bone, lung and distant lymph nodes were the most common metastatic sites. Patients with bone, brain, liver and lung involvement had worse OS and CSS compared to patients without the corresponding sites of metastases. Multivariate analysis showed that bone, brain, liver and lung metastases were independent prognostic factors for both OS and CSS, while distant node metastasis was not. Moreover, patients with a single metastatic site had more favorable OS (p<0.001) and CSS (p<0.001) than patients with multisite metastases. Among single-site metastatic patients, distant nodes and liver metastases represented the best and the worst prognosis, respectively. Moreover, radical cystectomy was an independent predictor for better OS and CSS, while in patients with liver metastasis and multiple metastatic sites, RC did not bring benefits. Besides, in patients with a single metastatic site, metastasectomy seemed to be associated with favorable OS (p=0.042), especially for patients with age <65 years (p=0.006) and for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients (p=0.031).

Conclusion

Distant metastatic sites have differential impact on survival outcomes in patients with metastatic bladder cancer. Surgeries, including radical cystectomy and metastasectomy, might still lead to survival benefits for highly selected patients.

Pulmonary metastasectomy: an overview

Metastasectomy is the most frequent surgical resection undertaken by thoracic surgeons, being the lung the second common site of metastases. The present oncological criteria for pulmonary metastasectomy are: (I) the primary cancer need to be controlled or controllable; (II) no extrathoracic metastasis-that is not controlled or controllable-exists; (III) all of the tumor must be resectable, with adequate pulmonary reserve; (IV) there are no alternative medical treatment options with lower morbidity. General favourable prognostic features in patients with pulmonary metastases are: (I) one or few metastases; (II) long disease free interval; (III) normal CEA levels in colorectal cancers. Negative predictive features in patients candidate to pulmonary metastasectomies are: (I) active primary cancer; (II) extrathoracic metastases; (III) inability to obtain surgical radicality; (IV) mediastinal lymphatic spread. The lack of controlled trials and studies limited by short follow-up and small cohorts did not allow to overcome some skepticism; moreover, the heterogeneity of these patients in terms of demographic, biologic and histologic characteristics represents a clear limit even in the largest series. On the basis of present knowledge, without results coming from on-going randomized trials, radical resection, histology, and disease free interval seem to be independent prognostic factors identifying a cohort of patients maximally benefitting from lung metastasectomy.

Survival after Metastasectomy for Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy is standard treatment for metastatic urothelial carcinoma; however, the vast majority of patients experience disease progression. As systemic therapy alone is rarely curative for the treatment of metastatic urothelial cancer, not only are new therapies needed but also refinement of general treatment principles. Herein, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the role of metastasectomy in metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature regarding local treatment for metastatic urothelial carcinoma. An online electronic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was performed to identify peer-reviewed articles. All procedures were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Information was then extracted including number of patients, gender, the site of the primary urothelial tumor, site of metastasis, chemotherapy before or after metastasectomy, overall survival (OS), and disease specific survival (DSS) after metastasectomy. A meta-analysis was performed with those studies with sufficient survival data to obtain pooled overall survival. The article quality was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook “risk of bias” tool.

Results: Seventeen out of 3963 articles were eligible for review between 1990–2015, including a total of 412 patients. The mean time to recurrence after metastasectomy was 14.25 months. The overall survival from time of metastasectomy ranged from 2 to 60 months. Pooled analyses of studies reported survival data revealed an improved overall survival for patients treated with metastasectomy compared with non-surgical treatment of metastatic lesions (HR 0.63; 95% CI, 0.49–0.81). All, except for three studies, were retrospective and non-randomized, leading to a high risk of bias associated with patient selection, patient attrition, and reporting. Such high potential of selection bias may lead to higher OS than expected. Additionally, treatment and outcome details reported across studies was highly variable.

Conclusions: Limited conclusions can be drawn from the available literature exploring the role of metastasectomy in the management of metastatic urothelial cancer due to lack of uniform reporting elements and multiple sources of bias particularly related to a lack of prospective randomized trials. As a subset of patients treated with metastasectomy achieve durable disease control, this approach may be considered for select patients.

[When is surgical resection of the primary tumor indicated in metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and what is the scientific rationale?]

Cisplatin-based polychemotherapy is still the standard therapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma, although disease progression is often noted at an early time point even in patients with response. In recent years, cytoreductive surgery has been gaining increasing interest in many tumor entities in the setting of metastatic disease to improve patients outcome, but urothelial carcinoma is not regarded as a candidate for such a multimodal therapy approach. However, several retrospective studies suggest a survival benefit of radical cystectomy and/or metastasectomy for well-selected patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Prognostically relevant parameters for consolidative cystectomy/metastasectomy after chemotherapy seem to be a distinct response to inductive chemotherapy and limited metastatic spread (regional lymph node, single lung metastasis).

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma topical issue 2016: treatment of metastatic cancer

PURPOSE

To review the management of metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) including recent advances in targeted and immune therapies as an update to the 2014 joint international consultation on UTUC, co-sponsored by the Société Internationale d'Urologie and International Consultation on Urological Diseases.

METHODS

A PubMed database search was performed between January 2013 and May 2016 related to the treatment of metastatic UTUC, and 54 studies were selected for inclusion.

RESULTS

The management of patients with metastatic UTUC is primarily an extrapolation from evidence guiding the management of metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. The first-line therapy for metastatic UTUC is platinum-based combination chemotherapy. Standard second-line therapies are limited and ineffective. Patients with UTUC who progress following platinum-based chemotherapy are encouraged to participate in clinical trials. Recent advances in genomic profiling present exciting opportunities to guide the use of targeted therapy. Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has demonstrated extremely promising results. Retrospective studies provide support for post-chemotherapy surgery in appropriately selected patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The management of metastatic UTUC requires a multi-disciplinary approach. New insights from genomic profiling using targeted therapies, novel immunotherapies, and surgery represent promising avenues for further therapeutic exploration.

Pulmonary Metastasectomy Could Prolong Overall Survival in Select Cases of Metastatic Urinary Tract Cancer

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of metastasectomy for urinary tract carcinoma (UTC) and to determine prognostic factors that affect survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from a total of 30 patients with metastatic UTC who underwent a metastasectomy between February 2000 and July 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Time to disease progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) from metastasectomy, and potential prognostic factors were evaluated.

RESULTS

The lung was the most frequent site of metastasectomy (n = 24) followed by the liver (n = 3) and lymph nodes (n = 3). With a median follow-up duration of 54.2 months, the median TTP was 15.2 months and the median OS was 30.0 months (95% confidence interval, 15.1-42.9) with a 3-year survival rate of 41%. In multivariate analysis, initial stage IV disease (P = .047), pure urothelial pathology (P = .034), and nonpulmonary metastasectomy (P = .040) were independent prognostic factors for a shorter TTP. Nonpulmonary metastasectomy was an independent factor affecting OS (P = .001).

CONCLUSION

A metastasectomy has the potential to contribute to better oncologic outcome in select patients with metastatic UTC, especially those with a single rather than multiple and pulmonary rather than nonpulmonary metastases due to recurrent rather than initially metastatic urinary tract cancer.

Pulmonary and chest wall metastasectomy in urogenital tumors: a single center experience and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary metastases are often found in advanced malignancies. Urogenital malignancies originating from kidney, prostate, testes, and bladder all metastasize preferentially to the lungs.

OBJECTIVES

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the results of pulmonary and chest wall metastasectomy in patients with primary urogenital Tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy in Ghaem Hospital from 1996 to 2011 were examined. Thirteen out of 79 patients referred for pulmonary metastasectomy to a single thoracic surgeon had metastases from urogenital tumors; two cases with metastasis from urogenital tumors were inoperable. We reviewed their demographic data and also clinicopathological features. Disease free interval (DFI) was defined as the time between the first curative surgery and the appearance of the signs and symptoms of pulmonary metastasis.

RESULTS

Among 11 patients who underwent surgery consisted of eight males and three females. Their metastasis originated from testis tumors (n = 5), renal cell carcinoma (RCC; n = 4), bladder tumor (n = 1), and prostate cancer (n = 1). Their mean age was 41.27 years (range, 21-67). The mean age of the patients with RCC and testis tumor at the time of diagnosing metastasis was 54 and 24.8 years, respectively. There were two other patients (a 62-year-old female and a 54-year-old male) with pleural effusion due to metastatic RCC whose tumor was inoperable because of their poor general condition and hence, were referred for chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary metastasectomy is feasible in selected cases.

Postchemotherapy lymphadenectomy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma: long-term efficacy and implications for trial design

BACKGROUND

The contribution of postchemotherapy pelvic (PLND) or retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RPLND) on survival in patients with advanced and metastatic UC is still unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between September 1986 and May 2012, 157 patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC received first-line chemotherapy consisting of mMVAC (modified methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin), according to our policy. Patients with subdiaphragmatic nodal disease and/or local recurrence only and who experienced at least stable disease (SD) were selected. Fifty-nine patients were identified, 28 of whom underwent surgery, 31 started consolidation chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy or observation. The prognostic effect of candidate factors on survival was evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 14 PLND and 14 RPLND patients were identified after they had achieved a complete response (CR; n = 7) or a partial response (PR) and SD (n = 21). Median follow-up was 88 months (interquartile range, 24-211 months). Median PFS was 18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 11-not estimated) and 11 (95% CI, 5-19) months, respectively, in favor of the surgical cohort and curves were statistically different (log-rank test, P = .009). In multivariate analysis, postchemotherapy surgery was significantly prognostic for PFS and OS and response to chemotherapy (PR and SD vs. CR) was prognostic for PFS and trended to significance for OS. A model including these 2 factors showed bootstrap-corrected Harrel C statistics for PFS and OS of 0.65 and 0.68, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In well selected patients with UC like those who achieved a clinical benefit with chemotherapy and had nodal metastatic disease, there was a survival advantage in removal of disease residuals.

Recurrence patterns of bladder transitional cell carcinoma after radical cystectomy

BACKGROUND

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is widely accepted as an effective imaging modality in monitoring for bladder cancer recurrence after radical cystectomy. Elucidating the pattern of bladder cancer recurrence on CT can increase the diagnostic accuracy.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the recurrence patterns of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and the factors associated with cancer recurrence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients (mean age, 66.55 years; range, 32-86 years) who underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced CT and radical cystectomy were included in this study. The presence, site, and time of tumor recurrence were recorded retrospectively by two radiologists in a consensus fashion. The association of tumor recurrence and tumor factors (T stage, lymph node metastasis, nuclear grade, and tumor diameter) were also evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier statistics.

RESULTS

Tumor recurrence occurred in 60 patients (40.3%) with a mean time of 14 months (range, 1-64 months). The sites of recurrence included the operation site (n = 20), lymph node (n = 20), bone (n = 11), liver (n = 6), lung (n = 5), upper urinary tract (n = 4), colon (n = 3), adrenal gland (n = 2), peritoneum (n = 1), abdominal wall (n = 1), psoas muscle (n = 1), and penile skin (n = 1). Tumor recurrence was found to be associated with advanced T stage (P = 0.002) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder recur more frequently at the operation site and lymph node, and T-stage and lymph node metastasis are closely associated with tumor recurrence.

Surgical resection of urological tumor metastases following medical treatment

BACKGROUND

The rate of systemic metastases is about 20% in testicular germ cell tumors, 25% to 30% in prostate cancer, 30% in urothelial carcinoma with muscle invasion, and 50% in renal-cell carcinoma. This article is a critical review of current data on the resection of metastases of urological tumors after systemic drug treatment.

METHODS

Review of pertinent publications retrieved by a selective literature search.

RESULTS

No pertinent prospective, randomized trials, meta-analyses, or Cochrane reviews have been published. The publications available for review include guidelines and retrospective studies with evidence levels ranging from IIB to III. For non-seminomatous germ cell tumors with tumor markers that are negative or have reached a plateau after chemotherapy, resection of retroperitoneal, intra-abdominal, and intrathoracic metastases with curative intent is now the treatment of choice at clinical reference centers. For urothelial carcinoma that has gone into partial remission after systemic chemotherapy, with full resectability, the resection of metastases prolongs survival from about 13 months to 31-41 months. For prostatic carcinoma with solitary, intrapelvic lymph-node metastases and PSA less than 4 ng/mL, the resection of metastases prolongs 5-year progression-free survival in 40% to 50% of cases. There is, however, no indication for the resection of retro-peritoneal, visceral, or bony metastases. In renal-cell carcinoma, the resection of pulmonary or hepatic metastases is associated with a 5-year survival rate of 40% to 50% or 62%, respectively, and should thus be made a component of the treatment plan for this disease. The indication for resecting metastases of urological cancers should always be established by an interdisciplinary tumor board in the light of the existing scientific evidence.

CONCLUSION

The resection of metastases of some types of urological cancer after chemotherapy can prolong progression-free and overall survival. This form of treatment deserves consideration as a component of individual care and of the interdisciplinary treatment plan for urological cancers.

[Long survival in patient with invasive renal pelvic carcinoma treated with frequentative resection of pulmonary metastasis and chemotherapy: a case report]

A 51-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of left renal pelvic tumor diagnosed with computed tomography (CT) on health screening. Retroperitoneoscopy-assisted radical left nephroureterectomy was performed under a diagnosis of left renal pelvic carcinoma. Histopathological examination showed urothelial carcinoma (UC), Grade 2 > > Grade 3, pT3. Subsequently to the radical operation, pulmonary metastasis appeared four times. But the patient with free of recurrence survives 6 years later, treated with chemotherapy and resection of pulmonary metastasis. Although the patient with high grade invasive renal pelvic carcinoma usually has a poor prognosis, it seems to be a possibility that if the lesion is resectable, resection of pulmonary metastasis carries a good prognosis.

Could salvage surgery after chemotherapy have clinical impact on cancer survival of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma?

BACKGROUND

The clinical impact of salvage surgery after chemotherapy on cancer survival of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma is controversial. We aimed to verify the clinical role of salvage surgery by analyzing the long-term outcome in patients with urothelial carcinoma treated by chemotherapy.

METHODS

Between 2003 and 2010 at a single institution, 31 of 47 patients (66%) with metastatic urothelial carcinoma showed objective responses (CR in 4, PR in 27) after multiple courses of cisplatin/gemcitabine/paclitaxel-based chemotherapy, and a cohort of patients with partial response (PR) were retrospectively enrolled. Twelve (10 male and 2 female, median age 64.0 years) of 27 patients with PR underwent salvage surgeries after the chemotherapy: metastatectomy of residual lesions (10 retroperitoneal lymph nodes, 2 lung), and 6 radical surgeries for primary lesions as well. Progression-free survival and overall patient survival rates were analyzed retrospectively and compared with those of patients without salvage surgery.

RESULTS

All 12 patients achieved surgical CR. Pathological findings of metastatic lesions showed viable cancer cells in 3 patients. In univariate analysis, sole salvage surgery affected overall survival in 27 patients with PR to the chemotherapy (P = 0.0037). Progression-free survival and overall survival rates in patients with salvage surgery were better than those in 15 PR patients without the surgery (39.8 vs. 0%, and 71.6 vs. 12.1% at 3 years, P = 0.01032 and 0.01048; log-rank test).

CONCLUSIONS

Salvage surgery for patients with residual tumor who achieve partial response to chemotherapy could have a possible impact on cancer survival.

Management of metastatic urothelial cancer: the role of surgery as an adjunct to chemotherapy

Metastatic or unresectable disease is identified in approximately 20% of patients presenting with invasive urothelial cancer. In addition, up to 50% of patients will develop metastases following radical cystectomy for clinically localized disease. Multiagent cisplatin-based chemotherapy is considered standard first-line treatment for these patients. Although urothelial cancer is considered a chemosensitive tumour, metastatic disease is associated with poor prognosis and short-term survival. Here, we review the role of a multidisciplinary approach to treating patients with metastatic urothelial cancer.

Multifactorial, site-specific recurrence model after radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma

BACKGROUND

A scoring algorithm of site-specific disease recurrence after cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma was designed.

METHODS

Identified were 1388 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for nonmetastatic urothelial carcinoma between 1980 and 1998. Clinical, surgical, and pathologic features were evaluated for associations with 4 locations of site-specific disease recurrence: upper urinary tract, abdomen/pelvis, thoracic region, and bone. Recurrence-free survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to test associations with disease recurrence.

RESULTS

A total of 493 (35.5%) patients experienced at least 1 recurrence. There were 67, 388, 143, and 145 patients with recurrences to the upper tract, abdomen/pelvis, thoracic region, and bone at a median of 3.1 years, 1.1 years, 1.3 years, and 1.0 years, respectively. Pathologic T4 stage (hazard ratio [HR], 2.84; P=.006), positive ureteral margins (HR, 5.71; P<.001), and multifocality (HR, 2.07; P=.009) were found to be independent predictors of upper tract recurrence. Pathologic T3 (HR, 2.30; P<.001) and T4 stage (HR, 3.55; P<.001), lymph node invasion (HR, 1.97; P<.001), extent of lymphadenectomy (pNx [HR, 1.66; P=.002] and <10 lymph nodes [HR, 1.52; P<.001]), multifocality (HR, 1.80; P<.001), and prostatic involvement (HR, 1.45; P=.019) were found to be independent predictors of abdominal/pelvic recurrence. Features independently associated with thoracic recurrence included pathologic T3 (HR, 2.61; P<.001) and T4 (HR, 3.39; P<.001), lymph node invasion (HR, 2.64; P<.001), extent of lymphadenectomy (pNx [HR, 1.89; P=.019] and <10 lymph nodes [HR, 1.58; P<.030]), and multifocality (HR, 1.79; P<.001). Pathologic T3 (HR, 3.45; P<.001) and T4 stage (HR, 3.87; P<.001), lymph node invasion (HR, 1.79; P=.006), occupational exposure to radiation (HR, 2.97; P=.003), and a positive urethral margin (HR, 2.28; P=.039) were found to be independent predictors of osseous recurrence. Macroscopic hematuria (HR, 0.52; P=.009) and obesity (HR, 0.59; P=.027) were found to be protective and negatively associated with upper tract and osseous recurrence, respectively. Scoring algorithms to predict the likelihood of disease recurrence to these sites were developed using regression coefficients from the multivariable models.

CONCLUSIONS

Scoring algorithms based on independent predictors of site-specific recurrence were presented. These models may be used to tailor postoperative surveillance to the individual patient based upon clinicopathologic features at the time of cystectomy.

Outcome of surgical resection of pulmonary metastasis from urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

There is little information on pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). In this study, we examined the long-term outcome and the factors associated with long-term survival after pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract TCC based on a 20-year single center experience. Between 1984 and 2005, 18 patients (12 men, six women) underwent pulmonary metastasectomy of the urinary tract TCC in our hospital. The clinicopathological and surgical data of these patients obtained from the medical records were analyzed in this retrospective study. The time interval between lung resection and death, or latest follow-up ranged from two to 200 months (median 52). Survival analysis was conducted by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The cumulative three- and five-year survival rates were 59.8% and 46.5%, respectively. The number of resected metastatic tumors (solitary vs. multiple) was associated with long-term survival (P<0.05). The five-year survival rate of patients with solitary metastasis was 85.7% while that of patients with multiple metastases was 20.0%. Pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract TCC is associated with a favorable outcome, and solitary metastasis is associated with long-term survival. Aggressive management of solitary pulmonary metastasis from a urinary tract TCC is feasible in selected patients.

Management of patients with advanced bladder cancer following major response to systemic chemotherapy

Chemotherapy continues to be the treatment of choice for advanced/metastatic bladder cancer. Although response rates as high as 70% have been achieved, there continue to be high progression rates and poor long-term survival. Surgical consolidation offers improved outcomes compared with chemotherapy alone, especially in patients who achieve complete clinical response to chemotherapy. The role of radiation and/or surveillance following major response to chemotherapy in patients with advanced disease remains unclear. Gross regional nodal involvement identified at the time of surgery does not preclude radical cystectomy with lymphadenectomy. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection may be beneficial to select patients with nonregional retroperitoneal nodal metastasis who achieve good clinical response to chemotherapy. Visceral or lung metastasectomy may be offered to patients with solitary metastasis who achieve a good and durable response to chemotherapy. Nonresponders should be either offered a clinical trial (if available), second-line chemotherapy or best supportive care.

[Complete resection of urothelial cancer metastases with curative intent]

BACKGROUND

Recent publications suggest that a subgroup of patients can benefit from surgical removal of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) metastases in addition to systemic chemotherapy. We report the combined experience and outcome of patients undergoing resection of TCC metastases at 15 uro-oncologic centers in Germany.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-four patients with distant metastatic TCC of the bladder or upper urinary tract underwent resection of all detectable metastases in 15 different German uro-oncological centers between 1991 and 2008 in an attempt to be rendered free of disease.

RESULTS

The resected metastatic sites consisted of retroperitoneal lymph nodes (56.8%), distant lymph nodes (11.3%), lung (18.2%), bone (4.5%), adrenal gland (2.3%), brain (2.3%), small intestine (2.3%), and skin (2.3%). The treatment sequence included systemic chemotherapy in 35/44 (79.5%) patients before and/or after surgery. Median survival times from initial diagnosis of metastatic TCC and subsequent resection were as follows: overall survival, 35 and 27 months, respectively; cancer-specific survival, 38 and 34 months, respectively; and progression-free survival, 19 and 15 months, respectively. Overall 5-year survival from metastasectomy for the entire cohort was 28%. Seventeen patients were still alive without progression at a median follow-up time of 8 months. Seven patients without disease progression survived for more than 2 years and remain free from tumor progression at a median of 63 months.

CONCLUSION

The results in this selected cohort confirm that long-term cancer control and possibly cure can be achieved in a subgroup of patients following surgical removal of TCC metastases. However, prospective data to identify patients most likely to benefit from this aggressive therapeutic approach are lacking. Therefore, metastasectomy in patients with disseminated TCC remains investigational and should be offered only to those with limited disease as a combined-modality approach with systemic chemotherapy.

[Metastastic urothelial carcinoma: is there a role for surgery?]

Although surgery has a limited role in the management of metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients, it can be envisaged in association with chemotherapy. In highly symptomatic patients and for complete response patients, cystectomy can be part of a multimodal approach. Metastasis resection can also be proposed in association with chemotherapy in case of complete response. In case of non responsive metastasis, metastasectomy can also de discussed in order to improve quality of life.

Impact of multimodal treatment on survival in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer

OBJECTIVES

Systemic combination chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for metastatic urothelial cancer. Although initial response rates are 50-70%, these responses are usually transient. The present study investigated the impact of multimodal treatment including metastasectomy on survival in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer.

METHODS

Between 1989 and 2005, 48 patients with metastatic urothelial cancer underwent systemic chemotherapy at our institution. The majority received conventional cisplatin-based chemotherapy, whereas some patients underwent novel chemotherapeutic regimens mainly as salvage therapy with or without resection of metastases, aiming to improve the outcome. The relationship between clinical characteristics and survival was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model. The characteristics analyzed were sex, age, primary site, prior systemic chemotherapy, histology of primary lesion, white blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels, metastatic sites, total number of chemotherapy courses, and resection of the primary lesion and metastasis.

RESULTS

Median survival-time was 17 mo (95% confidence interval, 9-27 mo) for all 48 patients. Using a multivariate model, five or more chemotherapy cycles (p=0.0022), absence of liver, bone, and local recurrence (p=0.0146), and resection of metastasis (p=0.0006) were independent significant predictors of prolonged survival. Median survival time in the 12 patients with metastasectomy was 42 mo, which was significantly longer than that of patients who did not undergo metastasectomy (10 mo).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of chemotherapy cycles, sites of metastasis, and metastasectomy had an impact on survival. In selected patients, a multimodal approach including metastasectomy may contribute to long-term disease control.

Is There a Role for Surgery in the Management of Metastatic Urothelial Cancer? The M. D. Anderson Experience

PURPOSE

Although rarely curative, chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for metastatic urothelial cancer. The role of surgery for metastatic disease is not well established for urothelial cancer, but is sometimes undertaken in the face of persistent or recurrent disease that can be surgically resected.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified 31 patients with metastatic urothelial cancer undergoing metastasectomy with the intent of rendering them free of disease. All gross disease was completely resected in 30 patients (97%). The most frequently resected location was lung in 24 cases (77%), followed by distant lymph nodes in 4 (13%), brain in 2 (7%) and a subcutaneous metastasis in 1 (3%).

RESULTS

Median survival from diagnosis of metastases and from time of metastasectomy was 31 and 23 months, respectively. The 5-year survival from metastasectomy was 33%. Median time to progression following metastasectomy was 7 months. Five patients were alive and free of disease for more than 3 years after metastasectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The results in this highly selected cohort, with 33% alive at 5 years after metastasectomy, suggest that resection of metastatic disease is feasible and may contribute to long-term disease control especially when integrated with chemotherapy. Further prospective studies should be undertaken to better characterize the selection criteria and benefit from this intervention.

Atypical metastases from transitional vesical carcinoma

A patient with documented transitional vesical carcinoma also manifested bilateral pulmonary nodules of extraordinary and uncharacteristic dimensions, confirmed as metastatic by transthoracic needle biopsy. A summary of reported uncommon manifestations of metastatic bladder cancer is reported, as well as recommended reactions to pulmonary lesions of indeterminate origin.