Smoking intensity and bladder cancer aggressiveness at diagnosis

Smoking characteristics and years since quitting smoking of US adults diagnosed with lung and bladder cancer: A national health and nutrition examination survey analysis

PURPOSE

Smoking is a recognized risk factor for bladder BC and lung cancer LC. We investigated the enduring risk of BC after smoking cessation using U.S. national survey data. Our analysis focused on comparing characteristics of LC and BC patients, emphasizing smoking status and the latency period from smoking cessation to cancer diagnosis in former smokers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed data from the National Health and Examination Survey (2003-2016), identifying adults with LC or BC history. Smoking status (never, active, former) and the interval between quitting smoking and cancer diagnosis for former smokers were assessed. We reported descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables and median with interquartile ranges (IQR) for continuous variables.

RESULTS

Among LC patients, 8.9% never smoked, 18.9% active smokers, and 72.2% former smokers. Former smokers had a median interval of 8 years (IQR 2-12) between quitting and LC diagnosis, with 88.3% quitting within 0-19 years before diagnosis. For BC patients, 26.8% never smoked, 22.4% were active smokers, and 50.8% former smokers. Former smokers had a median interval of 21 years (IQR 14-33) between quitting and BC diagnosis, with 49.3% quitting within 0-19 years before diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

BC patients exhibit a prolonged latency period between smoking cessation and cancer diagnosis compared to LC patients. Despite smoking status evaluation in microhematuria, current risk stratification models for urothelial cancer do not incorporate it. Our findings emphasize the significance of long-term post-smoking cessation surveillance and advocate for integrating smoking history into future risk stratification guidelines.

Cytoplasmic Androgen Receptor, CD24 Expression and Smoking Intensity to Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder Invasiveness: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose

To the best of our knowledge, Androgen receptor (AR) and cluster of differentiation 24 (CD24) expression in bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC) has not yet been reported in our population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of both markers in UCB using immunohistochemistry.

Materials and Methods

Data from 60 patients with UCB were obtained between 2009 and 2018. The samples were divided into four groups based on their smoking history. Group 1 included non-smokers, group 2 smoked <20 cigarettes/day for 30 years, group 3 smoked for 31-40 years, and group 4 smoked for > 40 years. Each group then divided into Non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) subgroups. The smear was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) - immunohistochemistry of CD24 and RA, followed by histoscore assessment.

Results

The male to female smoking rates was 1.8. Based on gender, in the NMIBC group there were 85.7% men and 14.3% were women while in MIBC 74.4% men and 25.6% women. The mean age of the NMIBC and MIBC groups was 56.3 years and 54.5 years, respectively. There was no significant relationship between smoking status in group 2 (OR 0.31, CI 95% CI, p=0,39), group 3 (OR 013, CI 95% CI, p=0,05), and group 4 (OR 0.23, CI 95% CI, p=0215) to the UCB invasiveness. A significant relationship was observed between cytoplasmic AR expression and UCB invasiveness (OR 0.14[0,04; 0.47], CI 95%, p=0.001). There was no significant relationship between RA in the nucleus and UCB invasion (OR 1.09[0,18; 6.48] CI 95%, p=1000). No significant relationship was observed between CD24 expression and UCB invasiveness (OR 0.81[0,27-2,45] CI 95%, p=0712).

Conclusion

Cytoplasmic AR expression is associated with UCB invasiveness. Smoking history and CD24 expression were not associated with UCB invasion.

The Impact of En-bloc Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour on Clinical, Pathological and Oncological Outcomes: A Cohort Study

Background En-bloc transurethral resection of bladder tissue (ETURBT) has recently been proposed as a good alternative technique to trans-urethral resection of bladder tissue (TURBT) in terms of outcomes for bladder carcinoma. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the technique in terms of clinical, pathological and oncological outcomes. Methodology In this prospective study, data was collected from patients who underwent ETURBT for bladder space-occupying lesions between June 2021 and June 2022. Demographic characteristics, tumour characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Results A total of 52 patients were studied with the majority being male and a mean age of 50.87 years. Smoking was recorded in 22 (38.5%) patients and 8 (15.4%) were on antiplatelet therapy. The majority fell in the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class I (59.6%). Most of the tumours were solitary (90.4%), primary (82.8%), papillary architecture (73.1%), and between 1-3 cm in size. The lateral wall was the most common position, and detrusor muscle was seen in 98.1% of the specimens. T1 stage (57.7%) and low grade (67.3%) were the common characteristics noted. 76.9% of the ETURBT was conducted using monopolar cautery. Recurrence was noted in 3 (5.8%) and bladder perforation in 1 patient (1.9%). Cautery artifact was seen in six patients (11.5%) and obturator jerk in nine patients (17.3%). Conclusion Our study suggests that ETURBT is a technique with a good success rate for bladder tumours less than 3 cm in size. The benefits include high chances of detrusor sampling while minimising crush artefacts and cautery damage. Specimen retrieval was challenging when the bladder tumour was solid and over 2 cm.

Impact of smoking on urologic cancers: a snapshot of current evidence

PURPOSE

The purpose of this paper is to present evidence regarding the associations between smoking and the following urologic cancers: prostate, bladder, renal, and upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC).

METHODS

This is a narrative review. PubMed was queried for evidence-based analyses and trials regarding the associations between smoking and prostate, bladder, renal, and UTUC tumors from inception to September 1, 2022. Emphasis was placed on articles referenced in national guidelines and protocols.

RESULTS

Prostate-multiple studies associate smoking with higher Gleason score, higher tumor stage, and extracapsular invasion. Though smoking has not yet been linked to tumorigenesis, there is evidence that it plays a role in biochemical recurrence and cancer-specific mortality. Bladder-smoking is strongly associated with bladder cancer, likely due to DNA damage from the release of carcinogenic compounds. Additionally, smoking has been linked to increased cancer-specific mortality and higher risk of tumor recurrence. Renal-smoking tobacco has been associated with tumorigenesis, higher tumor grade and stage, poorer mortality rates, and a greater risk of tumor recurrence. UTUC-tumorigenesis has been associated with smoking tobacco. Additionally, more advanced disease, higher stage, lymph node metastases, poorer survival outcomes, and tumor recurrence have been linked to smoking.

CONCLUSION

Smoking has been shown to significantly affect most urologic cancers and has been associated with more aggressive disease, poorer outcomes, and tumor recurrence. The role of smoking cessation is still unclear, but appears to provide some protective effect. Urologists have an opportunity to engage in primary prevention by encouraging cessation practices.

The impact of smoking on recurrence and progression of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Although smoking is a well-recognized causative factor of urothelial bladder cancer and accounts for 50% of cases, less is known about the prognostic significance of smoking on non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) prognosis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of smoking on the risk of NMIBC recurrence and progression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We systematically searched Medline, Web of Science and Scopus databases for original articles published before October 2021 regarding the effect of smoking on NMIBC recurrence and progression. Information about smoking status and the number of events or odds ratio or hazard ratio for event-free survival must have been reported to include the study in the analysis. Quality In Prognosis Studies tool was utilized for the risk of bias assessment.

RESULTS

We selected 64 eligible studies, including 28 617 patients with NMIBC with available data on smoking status. In a meta-analysis of 28 studies with 7885 patients, we found that smokers (current/former) were at higher risk for recurrence (OR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.34-2.09; P < 0.0001) compared to never smokers. Subgroup analysis of 2967 patients revealed that current smokers were at a 1.24 higher risk of recurrence (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.02-1.50; P = 0.03) compared to former smokers. A meta-analysis of the hazard ratio revealed that smokers are at higher risk of recurrence (HR = 1.31; 95%CI 1.15-1.48; P < 0.0001) and progression (HR = 1.18; 95%CI 1.08-1.29; P < 0.001) compared to never smokers. Detrimental prognostic effect of smoking on progression, but not for recurrence risk was also noted in the subgroup analysis of high-risk patients (HR = 1.30; 95%CI 1.09-1.55; P = 0.004) and BCG-treated ones (HR = 1.15; 95%CI 1.06-1.25; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and a history of smoking have a worse prognosis regarding recurrence-free and progression-free survival compared to non-smokers.

EffectiveNess of a multimodal preHAbilitation program in patieNts with bladder canCEr undergoing radical cystectomy: protocol of the ENHANCE multicentre randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard treatment for patients with non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer, as well as for patients with therapy refractory high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. However, 50-65% of patients undergoing RC experience perioperative complications. The risk, severity and impact of these complications is associated with a patient's preoperative cardiorespiratory fitness, nutritional and smoking status and presence of anxiety and depression. There is emerging evidence supporting multimodal prehabilitation as a strategy to reduce the risk of complications and improve functional recovery after major cancer surgery. However, for bladder cancer the evidence is still limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the superiority of a multimodal prehabilitation programme versus standard-of-care in terms of reducing perioperative complications in patients with bladder cancer undergoing RC.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This multicentre, open label, prospective, randomised controlled trial, will include 154 patients with bladder cancer undergoing RC. Patients are recruited from eight hospitals in The Netherlands and will be randomly (1:1) allocated to the intervention group receiving a structured multimodal prehabilitation programme of approximately 3-6 weeks, or to the control group receiving standard-of-care. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients who develop one or more grade ≥2 complications (according to the Clavien-Dindo classification) within 90 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes include cardiorespiratory fitness, length of hospital stay, health-related quality of life, tumour tissue biomarkers of hypoxia, immune cell infiltration and cost-effectiveness. Data collection will take place at baseline, before surgery and 4 and 12 weeks after surgery.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval for this study was granted by the Medical Ethics Committee NedMec (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) under reference number 22-595/NL78792.031.22. Results of the study will be published in international peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05480735.

Cardiovascular Disease as a Consequence or a Cause of Cancer: Potential Role of Extracellular Vesicles

Both cardiovascular disease and cancer continue to be causes of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Preventing and treating heart disease in patients undergoing cancer treatment remain an important and ongoing challenge for improving the lives of cancer patients, but also for their survival. Despite ongoing efforts to improve patient survival, minimal advances have been made in the early detection of cardiovascular disease in patients suffering from cancer. Understanding the communication between cancer and cardiovascular disease can be based on a deeper knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that define the profile of the bilateral network and establish disease-specific biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The role of exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, together defined as extracellular vesicles (EVs), in cross talk between cardiovascular disease and cancer is in an incipient form of research. Here, we will discuss the preclinical evidence on the bilateral connection between cancer and cardiovascular disease (especially early cardiac changes) through some specific mediators such as EVs. Investigating EV-based biomarkers and therapies may uncover the responsible mechanisms, detect the early stages of cardiovascular damage and elucidate novel therapeutic approaches. The ultimate goal is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases by improving the standard of care in oncological patients treated with anticancer drugs or radiotherapy.

Cancer Diagnoses during Active Conflict: Experience from a Cancer Program in Northwest Syria

Background  Protracted conflict has destroyed Syria's health system with severe impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic and high-cost diseases including cancer. Here, we review the type and (where possible) the stage of cancers diagnosed in a pathology laboratory serving Northwest Syria. Methods  We retrospectively reviewed all pathology reports which reported a diagnosis of cancer from a pathology department in Northwest Syria from January to December 2020. Results  A total of 397 new cancers were diagnosed during 2020 of which 191 were among males (48.1%) and 20 cases were in children aged 17 years or under (5%). The most common cancer in men was bladder cancer (15.7%) and skin cancers (14.7%) followed by cancers in the lymph nodes (includes primary and secondary; 9.9%.) In women, breast cancer (38.3%) followed by skin cancer skin (9.7%) and uterine cancer (8.7%) was the most common. The overall proportion of cancer diagnoses were breast cancer (20.2%), skin cancer (12.1%), cancer affecting lymph nodes (8.8%), and urinary bladder (8.3%) and colorectal cancer (7.3%). Discussion  This preliminary analysis is the first report of cancer types and demographics in areas outside of government control in Syria since the onset of the conflict. Despite limitations, it presents some indication of the burden of oncological diagnoses in this area. Further research which aims to describe and address the burden of cancer on populations under ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises remains essential, especially in Northwest Syria given ongoing attacks and severe underfunding. There is a particular need to investigate how best to apply interventions and support health systems and cancer services within conflict settings. More support and resources need to be allocated to cancer centers with long-term health partnership models. The underresourced and understaffed conditions of the hospital are significant limits to a more detailed report.

Immediate radical cystectomy versus BCG immunotherapy for T1 high-grade non-muscle-invasive squamous bladder cancer: an international multi-centre collaboration

PURPOSE

To compare cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and overall mortality (OM) between immediate radical cystectomy (RC) and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy for T1 squamous bladder cancer (BCa).

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 188 T1 high-grade squamous BCa patients treated between 1998 and 2019 at fifteen tertiary referral centres. Median follow-up time was 36 months (interquartile range: 19-76). The cumulative incidence and Kaplan-Meier curves were applied for CSM and OM, respectively, and compared with the Pepe-Mori and log-rank tests. Multivariable Cox models, adjusted for pathological findings at initial transurethral resection of bladder (TURB) specimen, were adopted to predict tumour recurrence and tumour progression after BCG immunotherapy.

RESULTS

Immediate RC and conservative management were performed in 20% and 80% of patients, respectively. 5-year CSM and OM did not significantly differ between the two therapeutic strategies (Pepe-Mori test p = 0.052 and log-rank test p = 0.2, respectively). At multivariable Cox analyses, pure squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) was an independent predictor of tumour progression (p = 0.04), while concomitant lympho-vascular invasion (LVI) was an independent predictor of both tumour recurrence and progression (p = 0.04) after BCG. Patients with neither pure SqCC nor LVI showed a significant benefit in 3-year recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival compared to individuals with pure SqCC or LVI (60% vs. 44%, p = 0.04 and 80% vs. 68%, p = 0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSION

BCG could represent an effective treatment for T1 squamous BCa patients with neither pure SqCC nor LVI, while immediate RC should be preferred among T1 squamous BCa patients with pure SqCC or LVI at initial TURB specimen.

The Clinical Features of Incidentally Diagnosed Urothelial Bladder Cancer: A Retrospective Data Analysis

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical features of incidental bladder cancer (BC) diagnosis, with special emphasis on possible associations between incidental diagnosis and primary disease stage or grade. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We retrospectively included 501 consecutive patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor and were diagnosed with primary urothelial carcinoma of the bladder between January 2013 and February 2021 in a university hospital. The type of diagnosis (incidental or nonincidental), patient baseline characteristics and primary stage and grade were studied for interdependencies. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 28.5% of all patients and 19.8% of high grade (HG) BC patients had been diagnosed incidentally, most commonly with ultrasound. Incidental diagnosis was associated with lower primary stage and grade of the disease. Most importantly, on multivariable analysis, which included baseline patient characteristics and type of diagnosis, in the subgroup of HG BC patients, muscle-invasive BC (MIBC) or metastatic disease was three times less likely to be diagnosed incidentally than non-MIBC (odds ratio: 0.31, 95% confidence interval: 0.14–0.71, <i>p</i> = 0.006). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The study is first to demonstrate that incidental diagnosis of HG BC may be surprisingly prevalent and associated with lower rates of muscle invasion or metastatic disease.

Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma in the Lynch Syndrome Tumour Spectrum: A Comprehensive Overview from the European Association of Urology - Young Academic Urologists and the Global Society of Rare Genitourinary Tumors

CONTEXT

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) represents the third most frequent malignancy in Lynch syndrome (LS).

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the available literature focused on incidence, diagnosis, clinicopathological features, oncological outcomes, and screening protocols for UTUC among LS patients.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched up to May 2021. Risk of bias was determined using the modified Cochrane tool. A narrative synthesis was undertaken.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Overall, 43 studies between 1996 and 2020 were included. LS patients exhibited a 14-fold increased risk of UTUC compared with the general population, which further increased to 75-fold among hMSH2 mutation carriers. Patients younger than 65 yr and patients with personal or family history of LS-related cancers should be referred to molecular testing on tumour specimen and subsequent genetic testing to confirm LS. Newly diagnosed LS patients may benefit from a multidisciplinary management team including gastroenterologist and gynaecologist specialists, while genetic counselling should be recommended to first-degree relatives (FDRs). Compared with sporadic UTUC individuals, LS patients were significantly younger (p = 0.005) and exhibited a prevalent ureteral location (p = 0.01). Radical nephroureterectomy was performed in 75% of patients (5-yr cancer-specific survival: 91%). No consensus on screening protocols for UTUC was achieved: starting age varied between 25-35 and 50 yr, while urinary cytology showed sensitivity of 29% and was not recommended for screening.

CONCLUSIONS

Urologists should recognise patients at high risk for LS and address them to a comprehensive diagnostic pathway, including molecular and genetic testing. Newly diagnosed LS patients should be referred to a multidisciplinary team, while genetic counselling should be recommended to FDRs.

PATIENT SUMMARY

In this systematic review, we analysed the existing literature focused on upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) among patients with Lynch syndrome (LS). Our purpose is to provide a comprehensive overview of LS-related UTUC to reduce misdiagnosis and improve patient prognosis.

Genetic and Enzymatic Characteristics of CYP2A13 in Relation to Lung Damage

Cytochrome P450 2A13 is an omitted brother of CYP2A6 that has an important role in the drug metabolism of liver. Due to extrahepatic expression, it has gained less attention than CYP2A6, despite the fact that it plays a significant role in toxicant-induced pulmonary lesions and, therefore, lung cancer. The purpose of this mini-review is to summarize the basic knowledge about this enzyme in relation to the substrates, inhibitors, genetic polymorphisms, and transcriptional regulation that are known so far (September 2021).

Prospective versus retrospective recordings of comorbidities and complications in bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy - a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing radical cystectomy are predominantly elderly with many comorbidities and high risk of complications. Studies on comorbidity and complications following cancer surgery are often based on data collected retrospectively from records. However, prospective registration is often considered a more valid source of information. Therefore, it is relevant to investigate if the amount and severity of complications and comorbidities is valid when using retrospective registration compared to a more meticulous prospective registration.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the difference in registered comorbidities and complications between prospective and retrospective data collection in patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy.

METHOD

Seventy-three bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy were randomized to receive prospective or retrospective collection of data regarding comorbidities and complications. Data in the prospective arm was collected daily during hospitalization, 14-days after discharge and 90-days postoperatively. In the retrospective arm, medical records were reviewed retrospectively at 90-days. Comorbidities were compared using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and complications were reported as overall, minor and major dependent on Clavien Dindo Classification (CDC). The primary endpoint was the difference in overall complication rate.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference in CCI was observed with median [IQR] 2[0;3] and 1[0;2] (p = 0.21). No statistically significant difference was found regarding all, minor (CDC I-II) or major (CDC III-V) complications at all three time points.

CONCLUSION

No statistically significant difference in comorbidity and complications between retrospectively and prospectively collected data was observed. We find that retrospective collected data is reliable when strict reporting guidelines are used in this single-centre study.

Smoking duration and intensity associated with tumour aggressiveness in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: A correlation study

Introduction:

Smoking is well recognized as the most important risk factor for the malignancy of bladder. Cigarette smoking is associated with a higher risk of bladder cancer. The influence of various parameters of smoking history was still unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between smoking intensity and clinico-pathological features of bladder cancer.

Methods:

This was a retrospective study with non-probability consecutive sampling. All patients with urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder in our hospital during 2009–2018 were included in the present study. The data were collected from medical records and then divided into three groups according to the intensity of smoking. The data were analysed, with statistical significance determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

Result:

The data from a total of 260 urothelial bladder cancer patients were collected between 2009 and 2018. Based on statistical testing, it was found that there was a strong correlation between smoking intensity and local staging (T; rs=0.827), with a greater tendency to develop a larger tumour growth as the smoking intensity increased. There was also a weak correlation between smoke intensity and grading ( rs=0.139). Meanwhile, no correlation was found between smoking intensity and the incidence of regional (N; rs=0.119) and distant lymph node metastasis (M; rs=0.239). Smoke status and intensity had a weak correlation with lesion ( rs=0.163 and 0.206, respectively). The type of cigarette and local staging had a small correlation ( rs=0.166).

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that smoking intensity was significantly correlated only with primary tumour progression and grading, but not with the progression of regional and distant metastasis. There was a weak correlation between smoking status and intensity with the type of lesion, whether a solitary nodule or multiple nodules. This study also demonstrated a small correlation between the type of cigarette and local staging.

Level of evidence:

3

Association of smoking status and recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer among patients managed with blue light cystoscopy

PURPOSE

Smoking has a strong causal association with bladder cancer but the relationship with recurrence is not well established. We sought to assess the association of smoking status on recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in a contemporary cohort of patients with predominantly high-risk, recurrent NMIBC managed with photodynamic enhanced cystoscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of patients with NMIBC included in a multi-institutional registry. Our primary exposure of interest was smoking status. Our primary outcome was first recurrence of NMIBC. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate recurrence free probabilities and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the impact of smoking status on recurrence free survival.

RESULTS

Our analytic cohort included 723 adults with bladder cancer, 11.5% with primary NMIBC and 88.5% with recurrent NMIBC. The majority of patients were white, male, and had high-risk NMIBC (72.6%). 52.6% of included patients were former smokers and 12.7% were current smokers. During the three-year study period, there was a NMIBC recurrence in 259 of the 723 patients (35.8%). The 1- and 3-year probability of recurrence was 19% and 44%, respectively. The grade and stage of recurrences were 28.9% LG Ta, 34.4% HG Ta, 15.8% pure CIS, 0.3% LG T1, 15.4% HG T1, and 5.4% unknown. After adjustment for a priori clinical and demographic factors, smoking status had no significant association with recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Smoking status was not significantly association with recurrence in a study of patients with predominantly high-risk recurrent NMIBC managed with photodynamic enhanced cystoscopy.

Cancer in Africa: The Untold Story

Background

Despite rising incidence and mortality rates in Africa, cancer has been given low priority in the research field and in healthcare services. Indeed, 57% of all new cancer cases around the world occur in low income countries exacerbated by lack of awareness, lack of preventive strategies, and increased life expectancies. Despite recent efforts devoted to cancer epidemiology, statistics on cancer rates in Africa are often dispersed across different registries. In this study our goal included identifying the most promising prevention and treatment approaches available in Africa. To do this, we collated and analyzed the incidence and fatality rates for the 10 most common and fatal cancers in 56 African countries grouped into 5 different regions (North, West, East, Central and South) over 16-years (2002–2018). We examined temporal and regional trends by investigating the most important risk factors associated to each cancer type. Data were analyzed by cancer type, African region, gender, measures of socioeconomic status and the availability of medical devices.

Results

We observed that Northern and Southern Africa were most similar in their cancer incidences and fatality rates compared to other African regions. The most prevalent cancers are breast, bladder and liver cancers in Northern Africa; prostate, lung and colorectal cancers in Southern Africa; and esophageal and cervical cancer in East Africa. In Southern Africa, fatality rates from prostate cancer and cervical cancer have increased. In addition, these three cancers are less fatal in Northern and Southern Africa compared to other regions, which correlates with the Human Development Index and the availability of medical devices. With the exception of thyroid cancer, all other cancers have higher incidences in males than females.

Conclusion

Our results show that the African continent suffers from a shortage of medical equipment, research resources and epidemiological expertise. While recognizing that risk factors are interconnected, we focused on risk factors more or less specific to each cancer type. This helps identify specific preventive and therapeutic options in Africa. We see a need for implementing more accurate preventive strategies to tackle this disease as many cases are likely preventable. Opportunities exist for vaccination programs for cervical and liver cancer, genetic testing and use of new targeted therapies for breast and prostate cancer, and positive changes in lifestyle for lung, colorectal and bladder cancers. Such recommendations should be tailored for the different African regions depending on their disease profiles and specific needs.

Catalog of exogenous risk factors for bladder carcinogenesis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this article is to provide an overview of recent findings regarding the risk factors for bladder cancer.

RECENT FINDINGS

Most of the available data derive from retrospective analysis. Smoking represents the most common and important risk factor. Occupational, dietary, and environmental exogenic carcinogen exposure, as well as several lifestyle factors, can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer.

SUMMARY

Bladder cancer is a common malignancy worldwide. Cigarette smoking, exposure to aromatic amines and arsenic are known risk factors for bladder cancer. Evidence on other modifiable risk factors such as carcinogen exposure derived from the diet or environment as well as occupational hazards is still weak. Medical conditions leading to chronic inflammation, altering insulin resistance, negatively modulating the immune system and/or genetic alterations may have a role in bladder cancer carcinogenesis. Further studies are, however, necessary to identify possible exogenic risk factors, as well as their interactions, that partake in the carcinogenesis of bladder cancer.

Genetic predisposition and prediction protocol for epithelial neoplasms in disease-free individuals: A systematic review

Background

Epithelial neoplasm is an important global health-care problem, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for increased life survival. Prediction of occurrence of malignancy in a disease-free individual by any means will be a great breakthrough for healthy living.

Aims and Objectives

The aims and objectives were to predict the genetic predisposition and propose a prediction protocol for epithelial malignancy of various systems in our body, in a disease-free individual.

Methods

We have searched databases both manually and electronically, published in English language in Cochrane group, Google search, MEDLINE and PubMed from 2000 to 2019. We have included all the published, peer-reviewed, narrative reviews; randomized controlled trials; case-control studies; and cohort studies and excluded the abstract-only articles and duplicates. Specific words such as "etiological factors," "pathology and mutations," "signs and symptoms," "genetics and IHC marker," and "treatment outcome" were used for the search. A total of 1032 citations were taken, and only 141 citations met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed.

Results

After analyzing various articles, the etiological factors, clinical signs and symptoms, genes and the pathology involved and the commonly used blood and tissue markers were analyzed. A basic investigation strategy using immunohistochemistry markers was established.

Conclusion

The set of proposed biomarkers should be studied in future to predict genetic predisposition in disease-free individuals.

The association of cigarette smoking and pathological response to neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy in patients undergoing treatment for urinary bladder cancer - A prospective European multicenter observational study of the EAU Young Academic Urologists (YAU) urothelial carcinoma working group

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively study the impact of smoking on pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB).

MATERIALS & METHODS

We collected standard clinicopathological variables, including smoking status (never, former, current) in patients undergoing NAC and RC for UCB at 12 European tertiary care centers between 12/2013-12/2015. Clinicopathological variables were compared according to smoking status. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to assess the association of smoking status and a) complete (no residual disease), b) partial (residual, non-muscle invasive disease), c) no pathological response (residual muscle invasive or lymph node positive disease). Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were employed to study the impact of response to NAC on survival.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Our final cohort consisted of 167 NAC patients with a median follow-up of 15 months (interquartile range (IQR) 9-26 months) of whom 48 (29%), 69 (41%), and 50 (30%) where never, former, and current smokers, respectively. Smoking was significantly associated with advanced age (p = 0.013), worse ECOG performance status (p = 0.049), and decreased pathological response to NAC (p = 0.045). On multivariable logistic regression analyses, former and current smoking status was significantly associated with lower odds of complete pathological response (odds ratio (OR) 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16-0.87, p = 0.023, and OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.85, p = 0.021), while current smoking status was significantly associated with a greater likelihood of no pathological response (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.02-6.06, p = 0.045). Response to NAC was confirmed as powerful predictor of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking status is adversely associated with pathological response to NAC. Smokers should be informed about these adverse effects, counseled regarding smoking cessation, and possibly be considered for immunotherpeutics as they may be more effective in smokers.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Are There Any Common Features?

BACKGROUND

The new severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak is a huge health, social and economic issue and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Bladder cancer, on the contrary, is a well-known disease burdened by a high rate of affected patients and risk of recurrence, progression and death.

SUMMARY

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV) often involves mild clinical symptoms but in some cases, it can lead to pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan dysfunction. Factors associated with developing a more severe disease are increased age, obesity, smoking and chronic underlying comorbidities (including diabetes mellitus). High-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) progression and worse prognosis are also characterized by a higher incidence in patients with risk factors similar to COVID-19. Immune system response and inflammation have been found as a common hallmark of both diseases. Most severe cases of COVID-19 and high-risk NMIBC patients at higher recurrence and progression risk are characterized by innate and adaptive immune activation followed by inflammation and cytokine/chemokine storm (interleukin [IL]-2, IL-6, IL-8). Alterations in neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets accompany the systemic inflammatory response to cancer and infections. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio for example have been recognized as factors related to poor prognosis for many solid tumors, including bladder cancer, and their role has been found important even for the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Key Messages: All these mechanisms should be further analyzed in order to find new therapeutic agents and new strategies to block infection and cancer progression. Further than commonly used therapies, controlling cytokine production and inflammatory response is a promising field.

Does Smoking Cessation at Primary Diagnosis Reduce the Recurrence Risk of Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer? Results of a Prospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Evidence that smoking cessation at first diagnosis of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) reduces the risk of recurrence is lacking. The aim of our prospective study was to analyze the association between patients' changes in smoking habits after diagnosis and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

PATIENTS

After transurethral resection of primary NMIBC, patients were classified as "ex-smokers," i.e., those definitively stopping, and as "active smokers," i.e., those continuing or restarting to smoke. Smoking status was reassessed every 3 months during the first year and every 6 months thereafter. Data on patients' demographics, smoking status, tumor characteristics, treatments, and follow-up were collected. Statistical analysis was performed adopting SPSS 15.0.1 and R3.4.2 software.

RESULTS

Out of 194 patients, 67 (34.5%) quit smoking after the diagnosis, while 127 (65.5%) did not. The clinical and pathological characteristics were homogeneously distributed. At a median follow-up of 38 months, 106 patients (54.6%) recurred, 33 (49.2%) ex- and 73 (60.3%) active smokers with a 3-year RFS of 42.3 and 50.7%, respectively (p = 0.55). No statistically significant association between recurrence, pathological features of the primary tumor, and patient smoking habits after diagnosis was detected. Results were not statistically influenced by the intensity (cigarette/day) and duration (years) of smoking. In multivariate analysis, cigarette smoking cessation at diagnosis did not significantly reduce tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSION

In our prospective study, more than half of our patients recurred at 3 years. In multivariate analysis, smoking cessation did not significantly reduce tumor recurrence. However, the 8.4% reduction in favor of the ex-smokers suggests the need of larger studies with longer follow-ups. Surprisingly, only 35% of smokers definitively quit after diagnosis. The urologists should play a more active role to persuade the patients to stop smoking at first cancer diagnosis.

No clear associations of adult BMI and diabetes mellitus with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer recurrence and progression

Background

Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients are at high risk for tumour recurrence and progression, hence an intensive follow-up procedure is recommended which is costly. Identification of factors that are associated with the risk of recurrence and progression may enable personalized follow-up schedules. Obesity and diabetes mellitus may be associated with a worse prognosis, but the evidence is limited and inconsistent. Our objective was to determine the associations of BMI and diabetes mellitus with risks of recurrence and progression among non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients.

Methods

A population-based cohort of patients diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer between 1995 and 2010 was retrospectively identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and invited to participate in the Nijmegen Bladder Cancer Study (n = 1,433). Average weight during adult life, height, and diabetes mellitus diagnosis were self-reported by use of a questionnaire. Clinical follow-up data were retrieved from medical files. Associations were quantified using proportional hazard analyses. For all analyses, minimal adjustment sets were selected using a Directed Acyclic Graph.

Results

Fourteen percent of the patients indicated to be diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and more than half was overweight (45%) or obese (9%). Compared to healthy weight, overweight and obesity were not associated with risk of recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86–1.22, and HR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.76–1.38, respectively) and overall progression (HR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.74–1.44, and HR = 1.20; 95% CI: 0.69–2.09, respectively). Also, no clear associations of diabetes mellitus with risk of recurrence (HR = 1.22; 95% CI: 0.98–1.54) and overall progression (HR = 1.16; 95% CI: 0.76–1.76) were found.

Conclusion

Average BMI during adult life and diabetes mellitus were not clearly associated with risk of recurrence or progression in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Prospective cohort studies with detailed information on BMI and diabetes mellitus before and after diagnosis are needed to confirm these findings.

Molecular footprints of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in smoking and nonsmoking patients

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the United States and smoking is the largest known risk factor. Tobacco-derived carcinogens may induce the accumulation of somatic mutations in urothelial cells, and likely promote tumorigenesis. However, it is still unknown whether smoking-induced bladder carcinogenesis results in tumors with distinctive molecular features that can be therapeutically exploited.

METHODS

We investigated the genomic alterations of human bladder cancer and examined their association with patient smoking history. We performed bioinformatic analyses and looked at differences in gene expression, somatic mutations, and DNA mutational signatures comparing nonsmokers, reformed smokers, and current smokers.

RESULTS

We detected a limited set of gene expression and gene mutation differences between smokers and nonsmokers. We also identified a specific mutational signature that is enriched in tumors from smokers. This mutational signature was described before and has been linked to specific DNA repair defects in human bladder tumors, as well as to the direct effect of nitrosamine carcinogens in the BBN murine model of bladder cancer.

CONCLUSION

We showed associations between smoking status and selected mutational signatures, which could provide insights in the biology of bladder carcinogenesis and tumor progression.

Differential DNA methylation in blood as a mediator of the association between cigarette smoking and bladder cancer risk among postmenopausal women

Smoking accounts for approximately 52% of bladder cancer incidence among postmenopausal women, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Our study investigates whether changes in DNA methylation, as measured in blood, mediate the impact of smoking on bladder cancer risk among postmenopausal women. We conducted analyses among 206 cases and 251 controls that were current or never smokers at baseline from a previous case-control study of bladder cancer and genome-wide DNA methylation nested within the Women's Health Initiative. Separate mediation analyses were conducted for three CpG sites demonstrating robust associations with smoking in prior methylome-wide association studies: cg05575921 (AhRR), cg03636183 (F2RL3), and cg19859270 (GPR15). We estimated causal effects using the regression-based, four-way decomposition approach, which addresses the interaction between smoking and each CpG site. The overall proportion of the excess relative risk mediated by cg05575921 was 92% (p-value = 0.004) and by cg19859270 was 79% (p-value = 0.02). The largest component of the excess relative risk of bladder cancer due to 30 pack-years of smoking history in current smokers was the mediated interaction for both cg05575921 (72%, p = 0.02) and cg19859270 (72%, p-value = 0.04), where the mediated interaction is the effect of smoking on bladder cancer that both acts through differential methylation and depends on smoking history. There was little evidence that smoking was mediated through cg03636183. Our results suggest that differential methylation of cg05575921 and cg19859270 mediate the effects of smoking on bladder cancer, potentially revealing downstream effects of smoking relevant for carcinogenesis.

Alerting the illusion of smoking improves quality of life in Chinese male cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between smoking status and quality of life (QOL) among cancer survivors in China.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed in 2725 male cancer survivors who were members of Cancer Rehabilitation Club and completed the questionnaires in 2013. Using linear regression models adjusted for confounders, we measured the association between QOL and former smokers as well as current (occasional, <10 cigarettes/day, and ≥ 10 cigarettes/day) smokers compared with never smokers.

RESULTS

Current smokers were reported to have higher scores in social, role, cognitive functioning, and had lower scores in nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, and insomnia (P < 0.05). Former smokers had higher global health status and experienced less appetite loss and constipation (P < 0.05). Compared with never smokers, those former smokers and current smokers had significantly high scores on the global health status, social functioning, role functioning, and cognitive functioning (P < 0.05). And they had lower scores in some aspects of symptom scale (P < 0.05). Considering the dose of smoking, the scores were increased in functional subscales and decreased in symptom subscales with the increase of tobacco use, though few variables had statistical significance. As for smoking cessation, the proportion of lung cancer survivors who quit smoking was higher than that of other types of cancer survivors.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggested the possibility that in China, where smoking prevalence is still high, continued smoking was associated with high QOL scores. The phenomenon may be obscured by some potential reasons, including subjectivity of questionnaire, special substances of cigarettes, Chinese unique culture of tobacco use, and much more. The results reminded researchers and clinicians some underlying situations among smokers in China and prompted a strong call for the implementation of a comprehensive tobacco-control policy and specific public health educational strategies among not only lung cancer survivors but other types of cancers survivors.

A review of avelumab in locally advanced and metastatic bladder cancer

Urothelial carcinoma remains a devastating disease with a poor prognosis. Though immune therapy with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) has been used for localized bladder cancer for years, only immune-checkpoint blockade with antiprogrammed cell-death 1 (anti-PD-1) and antiprogrammed cell-death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) inhibitors have demonstrated improvement in survival of patients with metastatic disease. Anti-PD-L1 antibody, avelumab, was recently given United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accelerated approval for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic urothelial carcinoma after failure of first-line chemotherapy, marking the fifth immune checkpoint inhibitor to be given FDA approval for the treatment of metastatic urothelial cancer. The following manuscript will review avelumab, its pharmacology, and the clinical experience that has led to its approval, as well as future plans for clinical development of avelumab for the treatment or urothelial cancer.

Trends in the incidence and mortality of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder for the last four decades in the USA: a SEER-based analysis

BACKGROUND

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) accounts for around 95% of bladder cancers and is the 4th most common cancer among men and the tenth most common in women, in the US. There is a constant need to clarify current TCC incidence and mortality rates among different population groups for better clinical practice guidelines. We aimed to describe the TCC incidence and incidence-based mortality by demographic and tumor-related characteristics over the last 40 years in the US.

METHODS

We obtained data from the SEER 18 registries to study TCC cases that were diagnosed between the years 1973 and 2014. We calculated incidence rates and incidence-based mortality rates in different demographic and tumor-related characteristics and expressed rates by 100,000 person-years. We then calculated the annual changes in incidence and incidence-based mortality rates and displayed them as annual percent changes (APCs).

RESULTS

There were 182,114 patients with TCC between 1973 and 2014 in the United States. Overall incidence rates of TCC increased 0.16% (95% CI, 0.02-0.30, p = .02) per year over the study period. However, the incidence declined significantly since 2007; (95%CI,-1.89- -0.77, p < .001), except among the elderly and African Americans, which increased significantly over the study period. Overall TCC mortality rates did not change over the study period. However, since 2000 it started to decrease significantly.

CONCLUSION

TCC incidence and incidence-based mortality rates had been showing significant increases over the previous decades. However, significant declines in both incidence and incidence-based mortality rates have been observed over the recent years, except in some patients with certain racial groups. Improved understanding of the etiological and ecological factors of TCC could lead to further declines in incidence and incidence-based mortality rates.

The association between smoking cessation before and after diagnosis and non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrence: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Smoking is a major risk factor for bladder cancer, but the relationship between smoking cessation after initial treatment and bladder cancer recurrence has been investigated less frequently and not prospectively yet.

METHODS

722 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients (pTa, pT1, and CIS) from the prospective Bladder Cancer Prognosis Programme (BCPP) cohort, selected in the UK between 2005 and 2011, provided complete data on smoking behavior before and up to 5 years after diagnosis. The impact of smoking behavior on NMIBC recurrence was explored by multivariable Cox regression models investigating time-to-first NMIBC recurrence.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up period of 4.21 years, 403 pathologically confirmed NMIBC recurrences occurred in 210 patients. Only 25 current smokers at diagnosis quit smoking (14%) during follow-up and smoking cessation after diagnosis did not decrease risk of recurrence compared to continuing smokers (p = 0.352).

CONCLUSIONS

Although quitting smoking after diagnosis might reduce the risk of recurrence based on retrospective evidence, this is not confirmed in this prospective study because the number of NMIBC patients quitting smoking before their first recurrence was too low. Nevertheless, this indicates an important role for urologists and other health care professionals in promoting smoking cessation in NMIBC.