Impact of the extent of lymph node dissection on survival outcomes in clinically lymph node-positive bladder cancer

Perioperative outcomes using template mapping after radical cystectomy and extended lymph node dissection

BACKGROUND

To evaluate oncologic and perioperative outcomes of extended pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) during robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) based on the location of lymph node positivity (LN+).

METHODS

We reviewed a tertiary center database of patients with bladder cancer who underwent extended PLND during RARC from 2004 to 2020. Patients were assigned to a standard (sPLN+) or extended (ePLN+) cohort based on LN+ location. ePLN+ patients were LN+ in one or more of the following: common iliac, presacral, aortic bifurcation, or paracaval packets. The Kaplan-Meier method estimated recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Perioperative 90-day complications were identified using the Clavien-Dindo system.

RESULTS

Ninety patients were included; 43 (48%) were sPLN+, and 47 (52%) were ePLN+. The median follow-up for sPLN+ and ePLN+ patients was 14.9 and 20.0 months, respectively. ePLN+ patients were older than sPLN+ patients (median age 75 vs. 68 years, p = 0.019). There were more ≤ cT1 LN+ patients in the sPLN+ cohort compared to the ePLN+ cohort (26% vs. 9%, p = 0.037). We recorded no differences in 90-day mortality or in RFS or OS between baseline and 12-year follow-up between groups (all, p > 0.05). Overall, the grade II or higher complication rate was 71%, with similar rates for the sPLN+ and ePLN+ (77% vs. 66%, p = 0.26) cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Location of LN+ does not affect oncologic outcomes in patients who underwent extended PLND. This underscores the lack of a notable therapeutic benefit beyond the standard dissection template.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Comparison of extended and standard lymph node dissection in radical cystectomy for urothelial bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Lymph node dissection (LND) is an essential part of radical cystectomy (RC) performed with curative intent for invasive urothelial bladder cancer (UBC). This meta-analysis synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing outcomes of extended and standard LND during RC.

METHODS

Systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, conducted on November 10, 2024, identified RCTs that compared outcomes of standard (removal of pelvic lymph nodes [LNs]) versus extended LND (removal of pelvic and retroperitoneal LNs) during RC. Intention-to-treat populations were analyzed. Primary outcomes were recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Two RCTs involved 993 patients, among whom 490 were randomized to extended and 503 to standard LND. We did not find evidence that RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83-1.24) and OS (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.81-1.19) differed between patients undergoing extended and standard LND. The risk of local recurrence did not differ between extended and standard LND (relative risk [RR] 1.17, 95% CI 0.80-1.72). The risk of major complications (grade > 3) was higher for the extended template (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05-1.41), as was the 90-day postoperative mortality (RR 1.93, 95% CI 1.01-3.69). The limited number of studies and sample size constitute major limitations.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis demonstrates that extended LND was not associated with improved RFS or OS compared to standard LND, but was linked to increased morbidity. Therefore, pelvic lymphadenectomy up to the common iliac bifurcation should remain the standard of care during RC.

Assessing neoadjuvant chemotherapy's impact on complications following radical cystectomy

Introduction

Despite level 1 evidence supporting neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by radical cystectomy (RC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), its adoption is hindered by concerns about toxicity and detrimental impact on post-RC complications. We retrospectively reviewed post-RC complications at a tertiary care hospital, particularly assessing impact of NACT.

Methods

Data from the institutional bladder cancer database were retrieved for patients aged ≥18 with MIBC (≥American Joint Committee on Cancer Clinical Stage T2), treated with RC between May 2013 and July 2023. Exclusions were nonurothelial histology, salvage cystectomy, and palliative intent. Data abstracted included patient characteristics, NACT administration, surgery, and outcomes. Patients were divided into two groups based on NACT and compared. Complications were categorized as early (≤30 days) or late (31-90 days) and graded. Statistical analysis set significance at P < 0.05.

Results

Of 154 patients who underwent RC, 33 were excluded due to non-MIBC, nonurothelial histology, or salvage cystectomy. The 121 patients analyzed had a mean age of 64 years and a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of 4.9. Among them, 61 received NACT and 60 did not. There was no significant difference between the NACT+RC and RC-only groups in overall complication rates (85.3% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.16) or in major complications (50.8% vs. 58.3%, P = 0.41). CCI >5 predicted major complications, while NACT did not.

Conclusion

In our study of MIBC patients managed at a tertiary care institute in India, NACT administration did not increase postoperative complications.

Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection: A Comparison Among Extraperitoneal Single-port and Transperitoneal Multiport Radical Prostatectomy-A Single-center Experience

Background and objective

The role of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) for prostate cancer is still controversial. This study aims to compare the outcomes of PLND between extraperitoneal single-port (SP eRARP) and transperitoneal multiport (MP tRARP) robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis from our single-center database for patients who underwent SP eRARP or MP tRARP with PLND between 2015 and 2023. The primary endpoint was to analyze and compare specific data related to PLND between the two populations by the detection of pN+ patients, the total number of lymph nodes removed, and the number of positive lymph nodes removed. The secondary endpoints included comparing major complications, lymphoceles, and biochemical recurrence between the two cohorts of the study.

Key findings and limitations

A total of 293 patients were included, with 85 (29%) undergoing SP eRARP and 208 (71%) undergoing MP tRARP. SP eRARP showed significant differences in PLND extension from MP tRARP, while MP tRARP yielded more lymph nodes (p < 0.001). There were no differences in pN+ patient detection (p = 0.7) or the number of positive lymph nodes retrieved (p = 0.6). The rates of major complications (p = 0.6), lymphoceles (p = 0.2), and biochemical recurrence (p = 0.9) were similar between the two groups. Additionally, SP eRARP had shorter operative time (p = 0.045), hospital stay (p < 0.001), and less postoperative pain at discharge (p = 0.03). Limitations include a retrospective, single-center analysis.

Conclusions and clinical implications

Despite the SP approach in RARP resulting in fewer retrieved lymph nodes, outcomes were comparable with the MP approach regarding the detection of patients with positive lymph nodes and the number of positive nodes. Additionally, the SP approach led to lower pain levels and shorter hospital stays.

Patient summary

With this study, we demonstrate that pelvic lymph node dissection performed via the extraperitoneal approach during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy with a single-port system provides comparable outcomes with the standard transperitoneal multiport approach in detecting patients with positive lymph nodes and retrieving positive nodes. In addition, it offers significantly reduced pain levels and shorter hospital stays.

The optimal number of induction chemotherapy cycles in clinically lymph node-positive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the optimal number of induction chemotherapy cycles needed to achieve a pathological response in patients with clinically lymph node-positive (cN+) bladder cancer (BCa) who received three or four cycles of induction chemotherapy followed by consolidative radical cystectomy (RC) with pelvic lymph node dissection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included 388 patients who received three or four cycles of cisplatin/gemcitabine or (dose-dense) methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC), followed by consolidative RC for cTanyN1-3M0 BCa. We compared pathological complete (pCR = ypT0N0) and objective response (pOR = yp ≤T1N0) between treatment groups. Predictors of pCR and/or pOR were assessed using uni- and multivariable logistic regression analysis. The secondary endpoints were overall (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). We evaluated the association between the number of induction chemotherapy cycles administered and survival outcomes on multivariable Cox regression.

RESULTS

Overall, 101 and 287 patients received three or four cycles of induction chemotherapy, respectively. Of these, 72 (19%) and 128 (33%) achieved pCR and pOR response, respectively. The pCR (20%, 18%) and pOR (40%, 31%) rates did not differ significantly between patients receiving three or four cycles (P > 0.05). The number of cycles was not associated with pCR or pOR on multivariable logistic regression analyses. The 2-year OS estimates were 63% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-0.74) and 63% (95% CI 0.58-0.7) for patients receiving three or four cycles, respectively. Receiving three vs four cycles was not associated with OS and CSS on uni- or multivariable Cox regression analyses.

CONCLUSION

Pathological response and survival outcomes did not differ between administering three or four induction chemotherapy cycles in patients with cN+ BCa. A fewer cycles (minimum three) may be oncologically sufficient in patients with cN+ BCa, while decreasing the wait for definitive local therapy in those patients who end up without a response to chemotherapy. This warrants further validation.

The impact of venous thromboembolism before open or minimally-invasive radical cystectomy in the USA: insurance claims data on perioperative outcomes and healthcare costs

BACKGROUND

The relationship between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and solid malignancy has been established over the decades. With rising projected rates of bladder cancer (BCa) worldwide as well as increasing number of patients experiencing BCa and VTE, our aim is to assess the impact of a preoperative VTE diagnosis on perioperative outcomes and health-care costs in BCa cases undergoing radical cystectomy (RC).

METHODS

Patients ≥18 years of age with BCa diagnosis and undergoing open or minimally invasive (MIS) RC were identified in the Merative™ Marketscan® Research Databases between 2007 and 2021. The association of previous VTE history with 90-day complication rates, postoperative VTE events, rehospitalization, and total hospital costs (2021 USA dollars) was determined by multivariable logistic regression modeling adjusted for patient and perioperative confounders. Sensitivity analysis on VTE degree of severity (i.e., pulmonary embolism [PE] and/or peripheral deep venous thrombosis [DVT]) was also examined.

RESULTS

Out of 8759 RC procedures, 743 (8.48%) had a previous positive history for any VTE including 245 (32.97%) PE, 339 (45.63%) DVT and 159 (21.40%) superficial VTE. Overall, history of VTE before RC was strongly associated with almost any worse postoperative outcomes including higher risk for any and apparatus-specific 90-days postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR]: 1.21, 95% CI, 1.02-1.44). Subsequent incidence of new VTE events (OR: 7.02, 95% CI: 5.93-8.31), rehospitalization (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06-1.48), other than home/self-care discharge status (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.28-1.82), and higher health-care costs related to the RC procedure (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.22-1.68) were significantly associated with a history of VTE.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative VTE in patients undergoing RC significantly increases morbidity, post-procedure VTE events, hospital length of stay, rehospitalizations, and increased hospital costs. These findings may help during the BCa counseling on risks of surgery and hopefully improve our ability to mitigate such risks.

Management of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer with clinical evidence of pelvic lymph node metastases

Identification of clinically positive pelvic lymph node metastases (cN+) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer is currently challenging, as the diagnostic accuracy of available imaging modalities is limited. Conventional CT is still considered the gold-standard approach to diagnose lymph node metastases in these patients. The development of innovative diagnostic methods including radiomics, artificial intelligence-based models and molecular biomarkers might offer new perspectives for the diagnosis of cN+ disease. With regard to the treatment of these patients, multimodal strategies are likely to provide the best oncological outcomes, especially using induction chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection in responders to chemotherapy. Additionally, the use of adjuvant nivolumab has been shown to decrease the risk of recurrence in patients who still harbour ypT2-T4a and/or ypN+ disease after surgery. Alternatively, the use of avelumab maintenance therapy can be offered to patients with unresectable cN+ tumours who have at least stable disease after induction chemotherapy alone. Lastly, patients with cN+ tumours who are not responding to induction chemotherapy are potential candidates for receiving second-line treatment with pembrolizumab.

Definitions, outcomes and perspectives for oligometastatic bladder cancer: towards a standardized terminology

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Oligometastatic (om) cancer is considered as a transitional state in between locally confined disease and widespread metastases, accessible to a multimodal treatment, combining systemic and local therapy. In urothelial bladder cancer (BCa), the definitions and the approaches to this condition are poorly standardised and mainly based on retrospective data. We aim to portray the framework for uro-oncologic terminology in omBCa and go through the latest evidence and the future perspectives.

RECENT FINDINGS

Retrospective and registry data support the potential benefits of multimodality treatment for carefully selected omBCa patients, especially following a good response to systemic treatment. In 2023, a Delphi consensus has defined omBCa, allowing maximum three metastatic lesions, theoretically amenable to radical local treatment. In de-novo omBCa, surgical treatment of primary tumour might improve overall survival (OS), according to a matched registry analysis; also, consolidative radiotherapy was associated with better OS in two recent cohorts. Furthermore, metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) has shown high local control rates and promising OS (14.9-51 months) in a meta-analysis; benefits might be more pronounced for single-site omBCa and nodal or lung lesions.

SUMMARY

From a clinical perspective, in de-novo omBCa, the local treatment of primary and metastatic sites might improve disease control and survival, in selected patients; in the oligorecurrent setting, MDT achieves good local symptom control with limited side effects; in selected cases, it could convey a survival benefit, too. From a research perspective, well designed prospective evidence is eagerly awaited, based on recently adopted shared definitions for omBCa.