Dramatic Impact of Centralization and a Multidisciplinary Bladder Cancer Program in Reducing Mortality: The CABEM Project

The evolving role of multidisciplinary teams in optimizing non-muscle invasive bladder cancer care

INTRODUCTION

Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) represents a significant portion of bladder cancer cases and imposes a substantial economic burden, stemming from both direct treatment costs and long-term surveillance. As the treatment landscape evolves with advances in immunotherapy and targeted therapies, a multidisciplinary approach to management is increasingly crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and resource utilization.

AREAS COVERED

A PubMed search from 2010 to 15 June 2024 was conducted. This review examines the evolving role of multidisciplinary team (MDT) care in NMIBC management. It explores the potential benefits of MDT care, including improved risk stratification and personalized treatment plans, while acknowledging the challenges to implementation and proposing strategies to overcome them.

EXPERT OPINION

With a growing understanding of NMIBC and expanding therapeutic options, MDT care is pivotal in navigating patient care and maximizing outcomes. Strategic planning and collaborative efforts will facilitate the broader adoption of MDT care, enhancing the value of NMIBC treatment. MDT care holds promise for personalized, effective, and cost-efficient care for patients with NMIBC in the future.

Mini nutritional assessment as a screening tool for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients: A cross-sectional study in a high-volume center

Background

Bladder cancer (BC) is an aggressive disease that begins in the cells lining the bladder, which grows abnormally due to mutations. One of the aggravating factors during treatment is the nutritional risk, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Nutritional screening can be extremely important for these patients since the nutritional condition can deteriorate during treatment and due to the progression of the disease.

Objectives

This cross-sectional observational study aimed to compare the results of using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) nutritional screening tool obtained by urologists and nutritionists at our center.

Methods

The target audience were adult patients diagnosed with BC. They were followed up at the urology outpatient clinic and were asked to answer the questions in the short version of MAN during a nutritional screening conducted by a medical team, and later answer the questions contained in the full version of the instrument during a nutritional consultation by nutritionists. The data were analyzed and organized by employing a RedCap database. Statistical analysis of data was performed using the SPSS software package. For comparison between continuous variables, the Mann-Whitney U-test and Student's t-test were utilized. For analyses of the categorical variables, the Wilcoxon Matched Pairs test and the Cohen Kappa test were used. A significance level of 5% (P ≤ 0.05) with a confidence level of 95% was set for all statistical tests.

Results

A total of 46 patients were evaluated. The medical team identified 18 (39.1%) with normal nutritional status, while the nutrition team identified 13 (28.3%). In comparison, the use of the full version of the MNA administered by the nutrition team found that 32 (69.6%) patients were at nutritional risk. Individual questions of the short-version MNA were also compared between the two groups and the Wilcoxon Matched Pairs test was performed. The short-version MNA was found to be an excellent screening tool. When applied by a urologist, it yielded a sensitivity of 87.5% (P = 0.87) and a sensitivity of 93.7% (P = 0.76) when used by the nutritionist. A raw match rate was 71.7% achieved by both questionnaires, and the Cohen Kappa test showed that the agreement was moderate, with an agreement rate of 77.9% (k = 0.50).

Conclusion

The application of short-version MNA has a high sensitivity. However, the full-version MNA is necessary for nutritional screening to improve the sensitivity of the assessment and to serve as a guide for nutritionists and the multidisciplinary care team.

Evidence-Based Analysis of the Critical Steps of Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer

Radical cystectomy (RC) is an integral part of the management of patients with advanced-stage bladder cancer. This major oncologic operation is prone to complications resulting in morbidity and mortality. We analyzed the critical steps of open RC, performed an evidence-based review of these steps, and discussed our experience and approach. We conducted a literature review of the open RC technique, identified the critical steps that consistently appeared across different sources, and organized these steps into a framework. PubMed was queried with the critical steps as keywords for relevant articles published from 1 January 2013 to 1 August 2023. We utilized this query to conduct a systematic review of the literature using the outcomes of overall survival and 90-day complication rate. We developed the "Summary for the 10 Critical Operative Steps of Radical Cystectomy", a concise guide to the approach to open RC. When available, an evidence-based analysis of each critical step was performed. We also included additional components of cystectomy optimization such as pre-habilitation in the preoperative phase, standard versus extended lymphadenectomy, the vaginal-sparing approach to female radical cystectomy, patient-reported outcomes following urinary diversion, the use of a mesh for stoma formation, and the use of the ERAS protocol for postoperative care. An evidence-based assessment of RC may help provide valuable information to optimize surgical techniques and patient outcomes.