Radical cystectomy (bladder removal) against intravesical BCG immunotherapy for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (BRAVO): a protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study

VI-RADS in bladder cancer: Overview, pearls and pitfalls

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the urinary bladder has shown high diagnostic performance in accurate staging of bladder cancer. Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) scoring was developed in 2018 to standardize imaging and reporting of bladder cancer on mpMRI and is an excellent tool in preoperative T-staging of patients with high risk bladder cancer. However, there is no concise guide in the literature for practical use of VI-RADS in everyday clinical reporting. In this review, we describe our experience with mpMRI in pretreatment workup of bladder cancer, illustrate the imaging characteristics of VI-RADS categories 1 to 5 using case review, and discuss practical pearls and pitfalls in the use of mpMRI and VI-RADS in the hope of providing an accessible reference for radiologists in daily reporting.

Impact of an optimized surveillance protocol based on the European Association of Urology substratification on surveillance costs in patients with primary high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVES

The optimal frequency and duration of surveillance in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) remain unclear. The aim of the present study is to develop an optimal surveillance protocol based on the European Association of Urology (EAU) substratification in order to improve surveillance costs after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in patients with primary high-risk NMIBC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 428 patients with primary high-risk NMIBC who underwent TURBT from November 1993 to April 2019. Patients were substratified into the highest-risk and high-risk without highest-risk groups based on the EAU guidelines. An optimized surveillance protocol that enhances cost-effectiveness was then developed using real incidences of recurrence after TURBT. A recurrence detection rate ([number of patients with recurrence / number of patients with surveillance] × 100) of ≥ 1% during a certain period indicated that routine surveillance was necessary in this period. The 10-year total surveillance cost was compared between the EAU guidelines-based protocol and the optimized surveillance protocol developed herein.

RESULTS

Among the 428 patients with primary high-risk NMIBC, 97 (23%) were substratified into the highest-risk group. Patients in the highest-risk group had a significantly shorter recurrence-free survival than those in the high-risk without highest-risk group. The optimized surveillance protocol promoted a 40% reduction ($394,990) in the 10-year total surveillance cost compared to the EAU guidelines-based surveillance protocol.

CONCLUSION

The optimized surveillance protocol based on the EAU substratification could potentially reduce over investigation during follow-up and improve surveillance costs after TURBT in patients with primary high-risk NMIBC.

Risk score-based substratification improves surveillance costs after transurethral resection of bladder tumor in patients with primary high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

High-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has a heterogeneity and intensive surveillances after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) are major factors of increased costs. Therefore, we aimed to develop optimized surveillance protocols based on the risk score-based substratifications to improve surveillance costs. We retrospectively evaluated 428 patients with primary high-risk NMIBC who underwent TURBT. Patients were substratified into intra-lower, intra-intermediate, and intra-higher groups or UUT-lower, UUT-intermediate, and UUT-higher groups by summing each of the independent risk factors of intravesical and UUT recurrences, respectively. The optimized surveillance protocols that enhance cost-effectiveness were then developed using real incidences of recurrence after TURBT. The 10-year total surveillance costs were compared between the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines-based and optimized surveillance protocols. The Kaplan–Meier curves of intravesical and UUT recurrence-free survivals were clearly separated among the substratified groups. The optimized surveillance protocols promoted a 43% reduction ($487,599) in the 10-year total surveillance cost compared to the EAU guidelines-based surveillance protocol. These results suggest that the optimized surveillance protocols based on risk score-based substratifications could potentially reduce over investigation and improve surveillance costs after TURBT in patients with primary high-risk NMIBC.

Relevance of A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase Domain-Containing (ADAM)9 Protein Expression to Bladder Cancer Malignancy

We evaluated the effect of A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase Domain-Containing (ADAM)9 protein on exacerbation in bladder cancer KK47 and T24. First, we knocked down ADAM9 and investigated cell proliferation, migration, cell cycle, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins expression in vitro. We then investigated the expression level of ADAM9 in clinical urine cytology samples and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Cell proliferation was significantly reduced in both cell lines after ADAM9 knockdown. In the cell-cycle assay, the percentage of G0/G1 cells was significantly increased in ADAM9 knockdown T24. Migration of T24 was more strongly suppressed than KK47. The expression level of EMT-related proteins suggested that EMT was suppressed in ADAM9 knockdown T24. TCGA analysis revealed that ADAM9 mRNA expression was significantly higher in stage IV and high-grade cancer than in other stages and low-grade cancer. Moreover, in the gene expression omnibus (GEO) study, bladder cancer with surrounding carcinoma and invasive carcinoma showed significantly high ADAM9 mRNA expression. We found that ADAM9 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and migration in bladder cancer and that high-grade bladder cancer is correlated with higher expression of ADAM9.

Expression of Membranous CD155 Is Associated with Aggressive Phenotypes and a Poor Prognosis in Patients with Bladder Cancer

Objective: To investigate the relationship between clinicopathological findings and membranous CD155 (mCD155) or cytoplasmic CD155 (cCD155) expression in bladder cancer (BC). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 103 patients with BC who underwent radical cystectomy between 1990 to 2015 at Kitasato University Hospital. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate CD155 expression in tumor cells. Cases with > 10% expression on the membrane or cytoplasm of tumor cells were positive. The Fisher′s exact test was used for categorical variables and the Kaplan−Meier method was used for survival outcomes. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression hazard models were used to evaluate the survival risk factors. Results: Cases that were mCD155-positive were associated with high-grade tumors (p = 0.02), nodal status (p < 0.01), and pT stage (p = 0.04). No association with any clinicopathological factor was observed in the cCD155 cases. Kaplan−Meier analysis showed that mCD155-positive cases had shorter periods of recurrence-free survival (p = 0.015) and cancer-specific survival (p = 0.005). Only nodal status was an independent predictor for both cancer-specific survival and recurrence-free survival in multivariate analysis (p = 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: mCD155 expression may be a marker of an aggressive phenotype and a poor prognosis in patients with BC.

ROBOCOP II (ROBOtic assisted versus conventional open partial nephrectomy) randomised, controlled feasibility trial: clinical trial protocol

INTRODUCTION

Randomised controlled trials comparing robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and open PN (OPN) are lacking. Therefore, we aim to report the study protocol and a trial update for a randomised controlled feasibility trial comparing RAPN versus OPN for renal neoplasms.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The ROBOtic assisted versus conventional Open Partial nephrectomy II trial is designed as a single-centre, randomised, open-label, feasibility trial. Participation will be offered to patients with renal neoplasms and deemed feasible for both, OPN and RAPN. We aim to enrol 50 patients within 15 months using a 1:1 allocation ratio. The primary endpoint of the trial is feasibility of recruitment and will be successful if one third of eligible patients agree to participate. Secondary endpoints include perioperative results, health-related quality of life, inflammatory response as well as surgical ergonomics of the operating team. If the primary outcome, feasibility of recruitment, is successful, the secondary results of the trial will be used for planning a confirmative phase III trial.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval was obtained from the local institutional review board (Ethik-Kommission II at Heidelberg University: 2020-542N). Results will be made publicly available in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at appropriate congresses and social media.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04534998.

Radical Cystectomy Against Intravesical BCG for High-Risk High-Grade Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Results From the Randomized Controlled BRAVO-Feasibility Study

High-grade nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (HRNMIBC) is a heterogeneous disease. Treatments include intravesical maintenance Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (mBCG) and radical cystectomy (RC). We wanted to understand whether a randomized trial comparing these options was possible.

Radical cystectomy compared to intravesical BCG immunotherapy for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer - is there a long-term survival difference? A Swedish nationwide analysis

OBJECTIVES

High-risk non-muscle invasive urinary bladder cancer (NMIBC) presents an increased risk of progression and cancer death. To reduce these risks, two different treatments are recommended - BCG or radical cystectomy (RC). The purpose of this study is to analyze cancer-specific survival of these two initial treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

BladderBaSe links information from the SNRUBC from 1997 to 2014, with a number of national healthcare and demographic registers. BCG was used for 3,862 patients (399 had delayed RC), while 687 had initial RC. Propensity scores were used to match the patients treated with RC and with relevant variables such as age, gender, and tumor stage with the same number treated with BCG (673 each arm). In a further comparison, an instrumental variable analysis using hospital strategy as the instrument was used.

RESULTS

The 5-year cancer-specific survival chance was higher for the BCG group than it was for the initial RC group, 87 vs 71%, respectively. In the population with propensity score matching, 78 died from cancer in the BCG group during follow-up and 162 in the RC group. In the instrumental variable analysis, the multivariate adjusted risk difference of cancer-specific death 2 years after diagnosis was 32 per 100 treated patients, in favor of the BCG group.

CONCLUSIONS

BCG therapy had better cancer-specific survival than RC also when two different statistic methods were used to try to control for confounding. A prospective randomized trial will be necessary to rule out that selection is a major factor for the outcome.

Long noncoding RNA MAFG-AS1 facilitates bladder cancer tumorigenesis via regulation of miR-143-3p/SERPINE1 axis

Background

Numerous studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as key regulators of bladder cancer progression. While lncRNA MAFG-AS1 has been confirmed as an oncogenic molecule in various cancers and tumorigenesis, in present study, we investigated its function and role in the tumorigenesis of bladder cancer.

Methods

The expression of MAFG-AS1, miR-143-3p and SERPINE1 in bladder cancer tissues was detected by qRT-PCR methods. The relationship between MAFG-AS1 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics of bladder cancer was analyzed. The effects of MAFG-AS1 depletion on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were investigated. The binding relationship of MAFG-AS1, miR-143-3p and SERPINE1 was examined by luciferase reporter analysis and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay.

Results

MAFG-AS1 was upregulated in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. High MAFG-AS1 expression was associated with bladder cancer histological grade, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis, and patients with high expression showed poor overall survival. Cell function experiments showed that MAFG-AS1 silencing markedly suppressed bladder cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and increased cell apoptosis. Moreover, our results demonstrated that MAFG-AS1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-143-3p to modulate SERPINE1 levels. Further analysis showed that miR-143-3p inhibition or SERPINE1 overexpression alleviated the suppressive effects of MAFG-AS1 silencing on malignant features.

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that MAFG-AS1 facilitates tumorigenesis via regulation of the miR-143-3p/SERPINE1 axis and also provides a novel insight into tumorigenesis and identify a promising therapeutic target for bladder cancer.

The Impact of Centralised Services on Metric Reflecting High-quality Performance: Outcomes from 1110 Consecutive Radical Cystectomies at a Single Centre

BACKGROUND

The 2002 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on centralisation of radical cystectomy (RC) coincided with changes in practice: use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND), and RC for high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC).

OBJECTIVE

To report the outcomes of RC at a single centre and to compare trends in survival with respect to centralisation and change in RC practice.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were collected retrospectively between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2016. Patients with urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) were selected. Outcomes from 1994 to 2007 (before centralisation, era 1) were compared with those from 2008 to 2016 (after centralisation, era 2).

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The primary outcome was disease-specific mortality. Secondary outcomes were survival and use of NAC and PLND.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Overall, 1100 RCs (era 1, 316; era 2, 794) were performed for UCC. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) follow-up was 28.5 (11.9-57.4) mo. RC for NMIBC was 36.2% versus 51.3% (p<0.001), NAC use was 2.2% versus 31.6% (p<0.001), and PLND use was 59.7% versus 76.4% (p<0.001) in era 1 versus era 2. The 30-d (1.6% [era 1] vs 0.8% [era 2], p=0.21) and 90-d (4.1% vs 2.6%, p=0.2) mortality rates did not differ with respect to RC year. Five-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 56.0% in era 1 versus 79.0% in era 2 (p<0.001). RC for patients aged ≥75 yr was 13.9% versus 28.1% (p<0.001) and 30-d mortality in this group was 4.5% versus 0% (p=0.001) in era 1 versus era 2. The study is limited by its retrospective design.

CONCLUSIONS

Centralisation was associated with higher rates of NAC and PLND use, and increased RC performed for older patients and patients with HR-NMIBC. DSS was higher and RC appeared to be safer for older patients (fewer postoperative mortalities) after centralisation.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We looked at outcomes from bladder removal for bladder cancer. Survival outcomes improved following centralisation of services. Surgery appeared to be safer for older patients, as there were fewer postoperative mortalities after centralisation. Centralisation of radical cystectomy (RC) services was associated with higher rates of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic lymph node dissection use, and increased usage of RC for older patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Survival outcomes from RC were superior after centralisation and safer for older patients undergoing RC (fewer postoperative mortalities).

Impact of substratification on predicting oncological outcomes in patients with primary high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor

OBJECTIVES

To validate the substratification of high-risk in the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines and to develop the simplified substratification to improve usefulness and predictive accuracy on oncological outcomes in patients with primary high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 428 patients with primary high-risk NMIBC who underwent TURBT from November 1993 to April 2019. First, the efficacy of the EAU highest-risk on intravesical recurrence-free survival (RFS) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)-free survival was evaluated with univariate analyses. Second, we developed our simplified substratification based on multivariate analysis for intravesical RFS (lower- and higher-risk). We compared predictive accuracy on oncological outcomes using the receiver operating characteristic curve between the EAU and the simplified substratifications.

RESULTS

Median age and median follow-up periods were 72 years and 51 months, respectively. The EAU highest-risk was not associated with shorter intravesical RFS and MIBC-free survival (P = 0.054 and P = 0.350, respectively). In multivariate analysis, tumor size, grade 3, and chronic kidney disease were significantly associated with shorter intravesical RFS, and we developed the simplified substratification including those 3 factors. Of 428 patients, 89 (21%) were substratified into the simplified higher-risk. The predictive accuracy of the simplified substratification on intravesical recurrence, MIBC and metastasis progression, and cancer-specific mortality was significantly superior to the EAU substratification.

CONCLUSION

Our simplified substratification might contribute to improving predictive accuracy on intravesical recurrence, MIBC and metastasis progression, and cancer-specific mortality in patients with primary high-risk NMIBC who underwent TURBT.

T1 bladder cancer: current considerations for diagnosis and management

Stage T1 bladder cancers invade the lamina propria of the bladder and, despite sharing many of the genetic features of muscle-invasive bladder cancers, are classified as non-muscle-invasive or 'superficial' tumours. Yet, patients with T1 bladder cancer have an overall mortality of 33% and a cancer-specific mortality of 14% at three years after diagnosis, suggesting that these patients have a high risk of progression and, accordingly, require meticulous surgery, endoscopic surveillance and clinical decision-making. We hypothesize that the variability in the outcomes of patients with T1 bladder cancer is a result of both tumour heterogeneity and pathological staging, as well as inconsistencies in risk stratification, endoscopic resection and schedules of delivery of BCG. Owing to limitations in clinical staging, patients with T1 bladder cancer are at risk of both undertreatment with persistent use of BCG despite recurrence, and overtreatment with early cystectomy. Understanding the molecular features of T1 bladder cancers and how they respond to BCG therapy could improve biomarkers for risk stratification to align therapy with biological risk.

How to Treat a Patient with T1 High-grade Disease and No Tumour on Repeat Transurethral Resection of the Bladder?

A relatively young (64-yr old) long-term heavy smoker but otherwise very healthy man is diagnosed with a primary unifocal left-side tumour (urothelial, T1 high grade), but no lymphovascular invasion and no variant histology. We discuss whether treatment with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine will be sufficient or early radical cystectomy is at least equally preferred regarding patient benefit, safety, and quality of life. PATIENT SUMMARY: A patient with a single high-grade T1 bladder tumour without aggressive features (eg, lymphovascular invasion or variant tumour aspects) will be adequately treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin intravesical therapy delivered into the bladder, followed by 3 yr of maintenance. However, all decisions should be taken with the patient in a shared decision-making process, including a discussion regarding removal of the bladder.

Selection of patients and benefit of immediate radical cystectomy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common disease in both sexes and majority of cases present as non-muscle invasive BC (NMIBC). The percentage of NMIBC progressing to muscle invasive BC (MIBC) varies between 25% and 75% and currently there are no reliable molecular markers that may predict the outcome of high-risk (HR) NMIBC. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT) with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) or immediate radical cystectomy (RC) are the current gold standard treatment options. The European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines recommend immediate or delayed RC for HR- and a subgroup of “highest-risk” NMIBC. These cases include pT1, carcinoma in-situ (CIS), multifocal disease, histological variants such as micropapillary and sarcomatoid, and patients who have contraindications to, or have failed with BCG. The comparative risks between maintenance BCG (mBCG) and immediate RC are unclear. However, RC may give patients the best oncological outcome.

lncRNA MIR503HG functioned as a tumor suppressor and inhibited cell proliferation, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy with high recurrence. Currently, the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested to play vital roles in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer. The present study investigated the role of lncRNA MIR503 host gene (MIR503HG) in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer by using both in vitro and in vivo functional assays. The expression of MIR503HG was downregulated in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. Low expression of MIR503HG was associated with advanced tumor stage, advanced histological grade, and lymph node metastasis. Ectopic expression of MIR503HG inhibited cell proliferation, cell growth, cell invasion, and migration, and also promoted cell apoptosis and inhibited cell cycle progression in SW780 cells. In parallel, T24 cells were used for loss-of-function studies. Knockdown of MIR503HG promoted the cancer cell proliferation and increased the migration and invasion abilities of T24 cells. In addition, knockdown of MIR503HG reduced the cell apoptotic rate in cancer cells and promoted cell cycle progression. Furthermore, MIR503HG overexpression decreased the epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related mRNA and protein levels of ZEB1, Snail, N-cadherin, and vimentin, with an increase in E-cadherin level. Consistently, knockdown of MIR503HG showed the opposite effects. In vivo xenograft, nude mice results showed that overexpression of MIR503HG suppressed the tumor growth and tumor metastasis. In conclusion, our results identified a novel lncRNA MIR503HG that exhibited significant antiproliferation, antimigration/invasion effects on bladder cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, which may hold a therapeutic promise to treat bladder cancer.

Current Clinical Trials in Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

As our molecular understanding of bladder cancer continues to advance, more and more novel agents are entering clinical trials across the spectrum of bladder cancer stages. The clinical trial activity for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has been boosted further by the evolution of specific disease states that set more uniform inclusion criteria for clinical trial design. Here, we aimed to review the current clinical trials landscape in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with respect to these disease states.

RECENT FINDINGS

Most active clinical trials focus on high-risk NMIBC in either the BCG-naïve or BCG-unresponsive setting. Strict criteria to define the disease state and a clear pathway to drug registration have encouraged trials for patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC. The most promising potential breakthroughs for BCG-naïve patients include alternative BCG strains, immune-priming with intradermal BCG vaccination, and systemic immune checkpoint blockade. The latter therapy is also being actively investigated in multiple trials in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, along with novel viral agents such as INSTILADRIN (nadofaragene firadenovec) and targeted agents such as oportuzumab monatox. After many years of relative stagnation, multiple new therapies currently under investigation in well-designed clinical trials appear poised for routine clinical implementation in the near future. These therapies should dramatically improve the outcome of patients with NMIBC. We can look forward to the challenges of biomarker-driven drug selection, optimal drug sequencing, and rational combination therapies.

Bladder preservation approach versus radical cystectomy for high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a meta-analysis of cohort studies

BACKGROUND

High-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is superficial; nonetheless, it is an aggressive cancer. Proper management strategy selection following transurethral resection between bladder preservation (BP) and radical cystectomy (RC) could result in delayed or excessive treatment. Hence, selecting the optimal treatment modality remains controversial to date.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database through 12 April 2018. Quality and publication bias were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Begg's/Egger's test. We collected 2-year, 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year survival rate and hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Using the Review Manager 5.2 software, we used the odds ratio (OR) of specific years and HR for meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed by the original tumor state, radical cystectomy timing, bladder preservation modality, and age.

RESULTS

In total, 11 cohorts with 1735 patients were selected for the meta-analysis. All OR of OS supported BP as a better treatment option; however, all OR of PFS had no significant differences. As for CSS, only the 15-year OR reflected a statistical significance preferring RC. Subgroup analysis showed that BP is more appropriate for patients older than 65 and G3 tumor. Limited data demonstrated that late RC (> 3 months) is more effective compared to early RC (< 3 months) and intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin was not statistically different from that of RC. The mixed BP modalities were significantly better compared to RC in OS and worse in CSS, with both having a very low evidence strength.

CONCLUSIONS

BP is a superior treatment modality compare to RC, especially for older patients and T1G3 or lower grade tumors. However, the superior BP modality was unclear. Conversely, RC could be a better option for younger patients. More specifically, late RC may be more beneficial but had a very-low-level of evidence. Quality of life should be considered equal to survival outcome; hence, post-treatment follow-up needs to be performed. Prospective randomized studies should be performed to overcome the limitations of this meta-analysis study.

REGISTRATION

Registration ID is CRD42018093491 .

Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Bladder Cancer: Development of VI-RADS (Vesical Imaging-Reporting And Data System)

CONTEXT

Management of bladder cancer (BC) is primarily driven by stage, grade, and biological potential. Knowledge of each is derived using clinical, histopathological, and radiological investigations. This multimodal approach reduces the risk of error from one particular test, but may present a staging dilemma when results conflict. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) may improve patient care through imaging of the bladder with better resolution of the tissue planes than computed tomography and without radiation exposure.

OBJECTIVE

To define a standardized approach to imaging and reporting mpMRI for BC, by developing a VI-RADS score.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We created VI-RADS (Vesical Imaging-Reporting And Data System) through consensus using existing literature.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

We describe standard imaging protocols and reporting criteria (including size, location, multiplicity, and morphology) for bladder mpMRI. We propose a five-point VI-RADS score, derived using T2-weighted MRI, diffusion-weighted imaging, and dynamic contrast enhancement, which suggests the risks of muscle invasion. We include sample images used to understand VI-RADS.

CONCLUSIONS

We hope that VI-RADS will standardize reporting, facilitate comparisons between patients, and in future years, will be tested and refined if necessary. While we do not advocate mpMRI for all patients with BC, this imaging may compliment pathology or reduce radiation-based imaging. Bladder mpMRI may be most useful in patients with non-muscle-invasive cancers, in expediting radical treatment or for determining response to bladder-sparing approaches.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for bladder cancer are becoming more common and may provide accurate information that helps improve patient care. Here, we describe a standardized reporting criterion for bladder MRI. This should improve communication between doctors and allow better comparisons between patients.

Advances in risk stratification of bladder cancer to guide personalized medicine

Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease that poses unique challenges to the treating clinician. It can be limited to a relatively indolent papillary tumor with low potential for progression beyond this stage to muscle-invasive disease prone to distant metastasis. The former is best treated as conservatively as possible, whereas the latter requires aggressive surgical intervention with adjuvant therapies in order to provide the best clinical outcomes. Risk stratification traditionally uses clinicopathologic features of the disease to provide prognostic information that assists in choosing the best therapy for each individual patient. For bladder cancer, this informs decisions regarding the type of intravesical therapy that is most appropriate for non-muscle-invasive disease or whether or not to administer neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to radical cystectomy. More recently, tumor genetic sequencing data have been married to clinical outcomes data to add further sophistication and personalization. In the next generation of risk classification, we are likely to see the inclusion of molecular subtyping with specific treatment considerations based on a tumor’s mutational profile.

Immunological Approaches Towards Cancer and Inflammation: A Cross Talk

The inflammation is the protective response of the body against various harmful stimuli; however, the aberrant and inappropriate activation tends to become harmful. The acute inflammatory response tends to resolved once the offending agent is subside but this acute response becomes chronic in nature when the body is unable to successfully neutralized the noxious stimuli. This chronic inflammatory microenvironment is associated with the release of various pro-inflammatory and oncogenic mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), cytokines [IL-1β, IL-2, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)], growth factor, and chemokines. These mediators make the inflammatory microenvironment more vulnerable toward tumorigenesis. The pro-inflammatory mediators released during the chronic inflammation tends to induce several molecular signaling cascades such as nuclear factor kappa B, MAPKinase, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, phosphoinositide-3-kinase, Janus kinases/STAT, Wnt/B-catenin, and cyclic AMP response element binding protein. The immune system and its components have a pleiotropic effect on inflammation and cancer progression. Immune components such as T cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and neutrophils either inhibit or enhance tumor initiation depending on the type of tumor and immune cells involved. Tumor-associated macrophages and tumor-associated neutrophils are pro-tumorigenic cells highly prevalent in inflammation-mediated tumors. Similarly, presence of T regulatory (Treg) cells in an inflammatory and tumor setting suppresses the immune system, thus paving the way for oncogenesis. However, Treg cells also inhibit autoimmune inflammation. By contrast, cytotoxic T cells and T helper cells confer antitumor immunity and are associated with better prognosis in patients with cancer. Cytotoxic T cells inflict a direct cytotoxic effect on cells expressing oncogenic markers. Currently, several anti-inflammatory and antitumor therapies are under trials in which these immune cells are exploited. Adoptive cell transfer composed of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes has been tried for the treatment of tumors after their ex vivo expansion. Mediators released by cells in a tumorigenic and inflammatory microenvironment cross talk with nearby cells, either promoting or inhibiting inflammation and cancer. Recently, several cytokine-based therapies are either being developed or are under trial to treat such types of manifestations. Monoclonal antibodies directed against TNF-α, VEGF, and IL-6 has shown promising results to ameliorate inflammation and cancer, while direct administration of IL-2 has been shown to cause tumor regression.