Performance of the EORTC and CUETO Models to Predict Recurrence and Progression in High-risk Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate the performance of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the Spanish Urological Club for Oncological Treatment (CUETO) risk scoring models in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients defined as high risk according to European Association of Urology guidelines and managed based on current recommendations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data from 187 high-risk NMIBC patients treated at a tertiary center between July 2010 and November 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. One- and five-year recurrence- and progression-free survival were assessed for each patient using the EORTC and CUETO risk scores. The patients were divided into four risk groups according to their risk scores as low, medium-low, medium-high and high risk, as indicated in the models. Discriminative ability was evaluated with the Harrell's concordance index (c-index).

RESULTS

Both risk scoring models overestimated the risk of recurrence and progression at one and five years. Only the prediction of recurrence at five years in the high risk group according to the CUETO model was compatible with our cohort. CUETO (c-indices for recurrence and progression were 0.802 and 0.834, respectively) exhibited better discrimination than EORTC (0.722 for recurrence and 0.752 for progression) in the prediction of disease recurrence and progression.

CONCLUSION

The CUETO model was superior to the EORTC model in predicting recurrence and progression and stratifying patients with different prognoses in our high-risk NMIBC patient population treated according to current guideline recommendations. However, both models overestimated the probability of disease recurrence and progression. Only the probability of recurrence at five years in the high-risk group of the CUETO model was compatible with our cohort.

Comparison of hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy in high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a matched-pair analysis

PURPOSE

To compare adjuvant hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC) with mitomycin C and standard Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy in terms of oncological outcomes and adverse events in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data of patients with high-risk papillary NMIBC treated with adjuvant intravesical BCG instillations or HIVEC in our institution between June 2017 and August 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-four patients who received HIVEC were matched 1:1 with patients receiving BCG therapy based on tumor characteristics (tumor stage and grade), age, gender, smoking status, and the number of tumors (single or multiple). HIVEC and standard BCG treatments were compared in terms of recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients (24 in the BCG group and 24 in the HIVEC group) were included in the study. The median follow-up times of the BCG and HIVEC groups were 32 [interquartile range (IQR): 28.0-47.8] and 28 (IQR: 16.7-41.8) months, respectively (p = 0.11). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the 24-month RFS (BCG 83% vs HIVEC 88%, p = 0.64) and the 24-month PFS (BCG 100% vs HIVEC 94%, p = 0.61). Regarding the safety profile, at least one adverse event occurred in 13 (54%) of the patients in the BCG group and 12 (50.0%) of those in the HIVEC group (p = 0.77).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that HIVEC with mitomycin C has a similar oncological efficacy and safety profile to standard BCG therapy in high-risk NMIBC.

The efficacy of hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy in high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients with BCG intolerance

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Some patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) are unable to receive adequate BCG instillations due to intolerance. In this study we aimed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC®) treatment using Mitomycin C (MMC) in BCG-intolerant NMIBC patients.

METHODS

Retrospectively collected data from a total of 22 high-risk papillary NMIBC patients who received adjuvant HIVEC therapy for BCG intolerance were analyzed. The primary outcomes of the study were recurrence-free survival (RFS), time to recurrence, progression-free survival (PFS), and time to progression following initial TURB. Detection of histologically confirmed urothelial carcinoma during follow-up was considered as recurrence, while detection of muscle-invasive disease was defined as progression. The secondary outcome was adverse events of HIVEC treatment.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 32.2 (IQR: 17.8-42.8) months. The RFS and PFS rates were 81.8% and 95.4%, respectively. The mean time to tumor recurrence and progression was 29.2 ± 14.3 and 16.7 months, respectively. Adverse events occurred in 50% of patients, and 95% of adverse events were mild to moderate.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that adjuvant HIVEC with MMC is an effective and safe alternative bladder sparing treatment in BCG intolerant high risk papillary NMIBC patients.