Addressing controversial areas in the management of advanced prostate cancer in Canada Areas of consensus and controversy from the third Canadian consensus forum

INTRODUCTION

The management of prostate cancer (PCa) is rapidly evolving. Treatment and diagnostic options grow annually, however, high-level evidence for the use of new therapeutics and diagnostics is lacking. In November 2022, the Genitourinary Research Consortium held its 3rd Canadian Consensus Forum (CCF3) to provide guidance on key controversial areas for management of PCa.

METHODS

A steering committee of eight multidisciplinary physicians identified topics for discussion and adapted questions from the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2022 for CCF3. Questions focused on management of metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC); use of novel imaging, germline testing, and genomic profiling; and areas of non-consensus from CCF2. Fifty-eight questions were voted on during a live forum, with threshold for "consensus agreement" set at 75%.

RESULTS

The voting panel consisted of 26 physicians: 13 urologists/uro-oncologists, nine medical oncologists, and four radiation oncologists. Consensus was reached for 32 of 58 questions (one ad-hoc). Consensus was seen in the use of local treatment, to not use metastasis-directed therapy for low-volume mCSPC, and to use triplet therapy for synchronous high-volume mCSPC (low prostate-specific antigen). Consensus was also reached on sufficiency of conventional imaging to manage disease, use of germline testing and genomic profiling for metastatic disease, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for BRCA-positive prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

CCF3 identified consensus agreement and provides guidance on >30 practice scenarios related to management of PCa and nine areas of controversy, which represent opportunities for research and education to improve patient care. Consensus initiatives provide valuable guidance on areas of controversy as clinicians await high-level evidence.

The impact of robotic surgery access on the management of patients with clinical stage I kidney tumors

INTRODUCTION

Robotic surgery is used in the treatment of kidney tumors. We aimed to determine if robotic access was associated with initial choice of management for patients with a clinical stage I kidney mass.

METHODS

Patients with a clinical stage I kidney mass were identified from the Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) cohort. Sites were classified by year and access to robotic surgery. Associations between robotic access and initial management were determined using logistic regression. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed, adjusting for tumor size and stage, and presented as relative risks (RR ) or adjusted RR (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Overall, 4160 patients were included. Among patients treated with surgery, the proportion of partial nephrectomy compared to radical nephrectomy was significantly higher in robotic sites (77.3% for robotic sites vs. 65.9% for non-robotic sites; RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.12-1.23, p<0.0001; aRR 1.12, 95% CI 1.08-1.17, p<0.0001). Patients receiving partial nephrectomy at sites with robotic access were more likely to receive a minimally invasive approach compared to patients at non-robotic sites (61.4% vs. 50.9%, RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.12-1.30; aRR 1.16, 95% CI 1.08-1.25, p<0.0001). The proportion of patients managed by active surveillance was not significantly different between robotic (405, 16.9%) and non-robotic (258, 14.7%) sites (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.99-1.32; aRR 0.97, 95% CI 0.84-1.12).

CONCLUSIONS

Access to robotic kidney surgery was associated with increased use of partial nephrectomy and minimally invasive partial nephrectomy. Use of active surveillance was similar at robotic and non-robotic institutions. Limitations of this study include lack of data on perioperative complications and cancer recurrence.

A randomized controlled trial investigating rectus sheath catheters following radical cystectomy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether rectus sheath catheter (RSC) insertion may be an alternative to thoracic epidural (TE).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a non-blinded, single-centre, non-inferiority study, patients undergoing open radical cystectomy were randomized 1:1 to receive either a TE or surgically placed RSC. The primary endpoint was cumulative opiate use (median oral morphine equivalent [OME]) in the first 72 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included visual analogue scale pain scores, measures of postoperative recovery including mobility and time to regular diet, and complications.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven patients were randomized (51 TE, 46 RSC). The median OME was 103 (77.5-132.5) mg in the TE arm and 161.75 (117.5-187.5) mg in the RSC arm. A Mann-Whitney U-test confirmed non-inferiority of RSC to TE at a threshold of 15 mg OME (P = 0.002). When comparing pain scores for the first three postoperative days, an early difference was observed that favoured the TE group during post-anaesthesia care unit stay, which was lost after postoperative day 1. Patient satisfaction with analgesia on the third postoperative day was similar in the two arms (P = 0.47). There were no statistically significant differences between arms with respect to the other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes from this prospective randomized trial demonstrated non-inferiority of RSC insertion compared to TE with respect to 72-h opiate use. Patient satisfaction with pain control on postoperative day 3 was the same for each group.

Genetic testing practices among specialist physicians who treat prostate cancer A Canadian, cross-sectional survey

INTRODUCTION

In patients with prostate cancer (PCa), the identification of an alteration in genes associated with homologous recombination repair (HRR) has implications for prognostication, optimization of therapy, and familial risk mitigation. The aim of this study was to assess the genomic testing landscape of PCa in Canada and to recommend an approach to offering germline and tumor testing for HRR-associated genes.

METHODS

The Canadian Genitourinary Research Consortium (GURC) administered a cross-sectional survey to a largely academic, multidisciplinary group of investigators across 22 GURC sites between January and June 2022.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight investigators from all 22 sites responded to the survey. Germline genetic testing was initiated by 34%, while 45% required a referral to a genetic specialist. Most investigators (82%) reported that both germline and tumor testing were needed, with 92% currently offering germline and 72% offering tissue testing to patients with advanced PCa. The most cited reasons for not offering testing were an access gap (50%), uncertainties around who to test and which genes to test, (33%) and interpreting results (17%). A majority reported that patients with advanced PCa (74-80%) should be tested, with few investigators testing patients with localized disease except when there is a family history of PCa (45-55%).

CONCLUSIONS

Canadian physicians with academic subspecialist backgrounds in genitourinary malignancies recognize the benefits of both germline and somatic testing in PCa; however, there are challenges in accessing testing across practices and specialties. An algorithm to reduce uncertainty for providers when ordering genetic testing for patients with PCa is proposed.

BeTTer Outcomes Workgroup Health Quality Initiative to optimize bone health for prostate cancer patients in the British Columbia Cancer System

INTRODUCTION

Bone-targeted therapies (BTTs) are integral to the management of bone metastases in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). BTTs vary considerably in referral and drug access pathways and optimal BTT use requires multi-specialty consultation and supervision. Health quality improvement (HQI) has become the predominant framework to improve patient care in multidisciplinary settings.

METHODS

HQI initiatives on use of BTT in mCRPC were developed and evaluated in five centers of a provincial cancer center network using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology. Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) completed a common quality assessment form and an HQI template and then implemented an HQI initiative. Feedback and findings were shared and discussed at regional events. It was subsequently determined whether to adopt, adapt, or abandon initiatives.

RESULTS

Patterns of unmet needs varied across type of BTT. Gaps in use of radium-223 were mostly referral and education issues that could be directly addressed at the local level by participating clinician teams. Conversely, most supportive BTT gaps were related to coverage and resourcing support. HQI initiatives selected by each site consisted of implementation or expansion of local MDT meetings, referral documents, databases, and improvement charters. The main HQI initiative was completed in four sites and was adapted or adopted in three. Improvements in BTT use were observed in two of three centers with data on HQI process measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the overall heterogenous structure of the groups and metrics used, this study demonstrated that the PDSA framework provides the needed structure for improvements in BTT use in mCRPC across multiple sites.

Comparison of patients with renal cell carcinoma in adjuvant therapy trials to a real-world population

PURPOSE

To compare characteristics and outcomes of patients included versus those not in adjuvant therapy trials post complete resection of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

Adult patients following complete resection for clear cell RCC between January 1, 2011, and March 31, 2021, were included. Patients had intermediate high, high risk nonmetastatic disease (modified UCLA Integrated Staging System) or fully resected metastatic (M1) disease as per the inclusion criteria of adjuvant studies. Demographic, clinical, and outcomes between trial and nontrial patients were compared.

RESULTS

Of 1,459 eligible patients, 63 (4.3%) participated in an adjuvant trial. Disease characteristics were similar between groups. Trial patients were younger (mean age 58.1 vs. 63.6 years; P < 0.0001) and had lower Charlson Comorbidity Index scores (mean 4.2 vs. 4.9; P = 0.009). Unadjusted disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years for trial patients was 48.6% and 39.2% for nontrial patients (HR 0.71, 0.48-1.05, P = 0.08). Median DFS was higher for trial patients in comparison to nontrial patients (4.4 years, IQR 1.7- not reached; vs. 3.0 years, IQR 0.8-8.6; P = 0.08). Cancer specific survival (CSS) at 5 years for trial patients was 85.2% in comparison to 78.6% for nontrial patients (HR 0.45, 0.22-0.92, P = 0.03). Unadjusted estimated overall survival (OS) at 5 years was 80.8% for trial patients and 74.8% (HR 0.42, 0.18-0.94; P = 0.04) for nontrial patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients in adjuvant trials were younger and healthier with longer CSS and OS in comparison to those not included in adjuvant trials. These findings may have implications when we generalize trial results to real world patients.

Outcomes of partial nephrectomy for non-metastatic cT2 renal tumors: Results from a Canadian multi-institutional collaborative

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Background: The role of partial nephrectomy (PN) is not well defined for cT2 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as compared to radical nephrectomy (RN). The aim of this study was to examine oncological outcomes of PN as compared to RN for non-metastatic cT2 RCC. Methods: The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system was used to define patients who underwent surgery for non-metastatic cT2 RCC from January 2011 to October 2022. Patients with clear-cell, papillary, and chromophobe RCC were included. Other histology, multiple tumours, and hereditary RCC syndrome patients were excluded. Each PN patient was individually matched to RN up to 1:4 depending on availability of patients based on tumor size (+/- 1cm), histology, grade (clear cell and papillary), and necrosis (clear cell). Matched patients were analyzed as clusters. Results: A total of 1523 patients were identified, and 50 PN patients met study criteria who were then matched to 185 RN patients. Both groups had similar age, gender, smoking status, BMI, Charlson comorbidity index score, symptoms at presentation, baseline eGFR, hemoglobin and pathological characteristics. PN patients had smaller tumors (7.6 cm [IQR 2] vs 8.4 [IQR 2.4], p=0.05), had higher likelihood of undergoing open surgery (72.9% vs 31.8%, p<0.0001) and less likely received adrenalectomy (2% vs 24.3%, p=0.0004). Positive surgical margin rates were similar in both groups (8.2% in PN vs 3.4% in RN, p=0.2). Median follow up was not significantly different in either group (3.6 yrs [IQR 4.7] in PN vs 3.3 [4.7] yrs in RN, p=0.9). During the follow up period, PN patients had higher risk of local recurrence (HR 3.0, 95%CI 1.08-8.37), lower risk of distant metastasis (HR 0.36, 95%CI 0.15-0.88), better cancer specific survival (HR 0.56, 95%CI 0.18-1.78) and overall survival (HR 0.36, 95%CI 0.11-1.19) and as compared to RN. At 6 months and beyond after surgery, PN patients had less decline in eGFR than RN patients (-16.6 [SD 21.1] vs -24.4[SD 16.2], p=0.0002). Complications rates between PN and RN were (18% vs 9%, p=0.057). Conclusions: In this multi-institutional Canadian cohort of patients with non-metastatic cT2 RCC undergoing surgery, PN compared to RN was associated with slightly higher risk of peri-operative complications, better preservation of renal function, and higher risk of local recurrence. The lower risk of distant metastasis and death was likely from residual confounding unaccounted for in the individual patient match. [Table: see text]

2022 UPDATE: Canadian Urological Association-Canadian Urologic Oncology Group guideline: Metastatic castration-naive and castration-sensitive prostate cancer Summary of changes

The most recent Canadian Urological Association-Canadian Urologic Oncology Group guideline on metastatic castration- naive and castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCNPC/ mCSPC) was published in 2020.1 New data in this patient population have prompted an update to the guideline in order to add treatment options that have proven to improve disease progression and overall survival (OS). This brief review summarizes the changes in the guideline, as well as the importance of ensuring proper treatment intensification in addition to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with metastatic hormone-naive or castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

Outcomes of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy for Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Real World Data from Canadian Centers

BACKGROUND

Treatment options for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) include cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) and systemic therapy (ST). Results from the CARMENA and SURTIME trials suggest that CN before ST may not be the optimal treatment strategy for mRCC.

OBJECTIVE

To use real-world data to evaluate and compare outcomes for patients with mRCC who underwent CN before, after, or without ST to those patients who only received ST.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) database was used to identify patients diagnosed with mRCC between January 2011 and April 2020. Only patients with synchronous disease, treated within 12 mo from their initial RCC diagnosis, with International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium intermediate/high risk, and confirmed RCC histology were included.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Patients were classified into four groups according to the initial treatment received for mRCC. Inverse probability of treatment weighting using propensity scores was used to balance the treatment groups. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the impact of CN after adjusting for potential confounding variables in the weighted cohorts.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

A total of 788 patients were included in the study cohort. Of these 383 patients underwent CN before ST, 73 underwent CN after ST, 80 underwent CN only, and 252 patients received ST only. The median patient age was 63 yr and 73% of the cohort were men. In weighted analysis, the groups undergoing CN before ST (hazard ratio [HR] 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-0.82) and CN after ST (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.28-0.60) both had better survival compared to the ST only group. No survival benefit was observed for CN only compared to ST only, or for CN before ST compared to CN after ST.

CONCLUSIONS

We evaluated the association between different sequences of treatment with CN and survival in patients with mRCC using CKCis real world data. The results demonstrate that the selected patients who undergo CN, whether performed before or after ST, have an associated improvement in survival.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Two of the treatment options for metastatic kidney cancer are surgery and systemic therapy (chemotherapy or immunotherapy). We used data from the Canadian Kidney Cancer information system to determine whether there are differences in survival according to the sequencing of these treatments. Patients who had both surgery and systemic therapy, regardless of which treatment was first, had better survival than patients who only received systemic therapy.

A Comparison of Percutaneous Ablation Therapy to Partial Nephrectomy for cT1a Renal Cancers: Results from the Canadian Kidney Cancer Information System

PURPOSE

Percutaneous ablation therapy (AT) and partial nephrectomy (PN) are successful management strategies for T1a renal cancer. Our objective was to compare AT to PN with respect to recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients post-PN or -AT for cT1aN0M0 renal cancer from 2011 to 2021 were identified from the national Canadian Kidney Cancer information system. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using propensity score (PS) was used. The primary outcomes, RFS and OS, were compared using Kaplan-Meier log-rank test analyses and Cox proportional hazard regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 275 patients underwent AT and 2,001 underwent PN, with a median followup of 2.0 years (IQR 0.6-4.1). Covariates were well balanced between the AT and PN cohorts following PS matching. Two-year RFS following IPTW PS analysis for patients undergoing AT and PN was 88.1% and 97.4% (p <0.0001), respectively, while 2-year OS was 97.4% and 99.0% (p=0.7), respectively. Five-year RFS following IPTW PS analysis for patients undergoing AT and PN was 86.0% and 95.1%, respectively (p=0.003), while 5-year OS was 94.2% and 95.1%, respectively (p=0.9). Following IPTW PS analysis, treatment modality (PN vs AT) was a predictor of disease recurrence (HR 0.36, p=0.003) but not for OS (HR 0.96, p=0.9).

CONCLUSIONS

With short followup, PN offers better RFS than AT, although no significant difference in OS was detected following PS adjustments. Both modalities can be offered to appropriately selected patients while we await prospective randomized data.

2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium: Meeting highlights

The 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium was held in San Francisco and online from February 17–19, 2022. Following the symposium, on February 22, the Canadian Urological Association (CUA) held an online webinar where Canadian experts highlighted key research findings in prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers. In this report, we summarize these exciting advances in GU oncology. The entire webinar can be viewed on the CUA website, and meeting abstracts can be viewed at the ASCO meeting library.

Results from a Canadian consensus forum of key controversial areas in the management of advanced prostate cancer: Recommendations for Canadian healthcare providers

INTRODUCTION

Rapid progress in diagnostics and therapeutics for the management of prostate cancer (PCa) have created areas where high-level evidence to guide practice is lacking. The Genitourinary Research Consortium (GURC) conducted its second Canadian consensus forum to address areas of controversy in the management of PCa and provide recommendations to guide treatment.

METHODS

A panel of PCa specialists discussed topics related to the management of PCa. The core scientific committee finalized the design, questions and the analysis of the consensus results. Attendees then voted to indicate their management choice regarding each statement/topic. Questions for voting were adapted from the 2019 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference. The thresholds for agreement were set at ≥ 75% for 'consensus agreement', > 50% for "near-consensus", and ≤ 50% for "no consensus".

RESULTS

The panel was comprised of 29 PCa experts including urologists (n=12), medical oncologists (n= 12), and radiation oncologists (n= 5). Voting took place for 65 pre-determined questions and three ad hoc questions. Consensus was reached for 34 questions, spanning a variety of areas including biochemical recurrence, treatment of metastatic castration-sensitive PCa, management of non-metastatic and metastatic castration-resistant PCa, bone health, and molecular profiling.

CONCLUSION

The consensus forum identified areas of consensus or near-consensus in more than half of the questions discussed. Areas of consensus typically aligned with available evidence, and areas of variability may indicate a lack of high-quality evidence and point to future opportunities for further research and education.

Canadian Urological Association guideline on androgen deprivation therapy: Adverse events and management strategies - Executive summary

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plays an important role in the contemporary management of prostate cancer (PCa) across various stages of the disease. While ADT remains a highly effective treatment for PCa, it is not curative, and its use is associated with significant adverse events that span across various organ systems.

Canadian Urological Association guideline on androgen deprivation therapy: Adverse events and management strategies

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Lymph node dissection during radical nephrectomy: A Canadian multi-institutional analysis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the association between lymph node dissection (LND) at the time of radical nephrectomy and survival in a large, multi-institutional cohort using a propensity score matching design.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system was used to identify patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma. Associations between LND with overall survival , recurrence free survival and cancer specific survival were determined using various propensity score techniques in the overall cohort and in patients with varying probabilities of pN1. Cox models were used to determine association of lymph node removed with outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 2,699 eligible patients, 812 (30%) underwent LND. Of the LND patients, 88 (10.8%) had nodal metastases. There was no association between LND and improved overall survival, recurrence free survival or cancer specific survival using various propensity score techniques (stratification by propensity score quintile, matched pairs, inverse treatment probability weighting and adjusted for propensity score quintile). There was no association between LND and a therapeutic benefit in patients with increased threshold probabilities of nodal metastases. Increased number of lymph nodes removed was not associated with improved survival outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

LND at the time of radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma is not associated with improved outcomes. There was no benefit in patients at high risk for nodal metastases, and the number of nodes removed did not correlate with survival. Further studies are needed to determine which high risk patients may benefit from LND.

Longer follow-up data of circulating miR371a-3p expression across the spectrum of germ cell tumors (GCT)

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Background: miR371a-3p (miR371) is overexpressed in seminoma (S) and nonseminoma (NS) active germ cell malignancy (aGCM) and easily detectable in blood. We previously described1 a remarkably high accuracy of miR371 in detecting aGCM in early and advanced stages germ cell tumor (GCT) patients (pts). We here present the updated miR371 expression data with a longer follow-up, particularly relevant to assess miR371 clinical utility to predict GCT relapse in clinical stage I (CSI) and stage IIA pts. Methods:119 samples from 99 pts enrolled in the GU biobank program at the British Columbia Cancer – Vancouver were analyzed. The pts were divided according to their risk of aGCM in low (CSIA NS and CSI S), moderate (CSIB NS, stage IIA markers negative/low elevated S and NS), and high risk (definitively metastatic aGCM) groups. Blood of the low and moderate risk pts was collected post orchiectomy and at the time of the clinical relapse; prior to/post-chemotherapy in the high risk group. Plasma miR371 expression was evaluated by RT-PCR and quantified by ΔΔCT method. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values (NPV, PPV) and AUC of the ROC curve were analyzed. Results: Five (2 moderate - 3 low risks) pts were lost at follow-up and 1 high risk pt had deceased. Overall, 113 samples (50, 36, 27 in the low, moderate, and high risk groups, respectively) were analyzed. The median follow-up from study entry was 30 (6-51), 28 (20-52), and 29 (7-53) months for the low, moderate and high risk, respectively. Seven more relapses occurred: 4 in the low risk (3 S and 1 NS) and 3 in the moderate risk groups (2 NS and 1 S). miR371 was found falsely negative post-orchiectomy in 4 pts and truly negative in 3 relapsed pts (2 pure teratoma and 1 unconfirmed relapse). Serial analysis of the false negative relapsed pts showed that miR371 became detectable at the time of clinical relapse. The operating characteristics of miR371 are summarized in the table below. Conclusions: Our follow-up has exceeded the expected time of relapse even in the low risk pts. The high accuracy of miR371 in detecting aGCM was confirmed with a longer follow up. However, the few false negatives in relapsed pts and the serial analysis suggest a lack of sensitivity in the detection of microscopic disease post-orchiectomy with the current methodology while miR371 high sensitivity was confirmed in presence of radiologic measurable disease (≥ 1 cm). The definitive operating characteristics of miR371 post-orchiectomy and during the follow-up of stages I/ IIA pts will be prospectively validated by the S1823 study that is actively recruiting pts. [Table: see text]

Real-world management of advanced prostate cancer: A description of management practices of community-based physicians and prostate cancer specialists

INTRODUCTION

The Canadian Genitourinary Research Consortium (GURC) conducted a consensus development conference leading to 31 recommendations. Using the GURC consensus development questionnaire, we conducted a survey to measure the corresponding community-based practices on the management of metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC).

METHODS

An 87-item online questionnaire was sent to 600 community urologists and oncologists involved in the treatment of prostate cancer.

RESULTS

Seventy-two community physicians responded to the survey. Of note, 50% community physicians indicated they would treat nmCRPC with agents approved for this indication if advanced imaging showed metastases. Radiation to the prostate for low-volume mCSPC was identified as a treatment practice by 27% of community physicians, and 35% indicated docetaxel as the next line of treatment after use of apalutamide. Use of genetic testing was reported in 36% of community physicians for newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

There are several areas of community-based management of advanced prostate cancer that could represent potential areas for education, practice tools, and future research.

Prognostic impact of paraneoplastic syndromes on patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma undergoing surgery: Results from Canadian Kidney Cancer information system

INTRODUCTION

The impact of paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS) on survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is uncertain. This study was conducted to analyze the association of PNS with recurrence and survival of patients with non-metastatic RCC undergoing nephrectomy.

METHODS

The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system is a multi-institutional cohort of patients started in January 2011. Patients with nephrectomy for non-metastatic RCC were identified. PNS included anemia, polycythemia, hypercalcemia, and weight loss. Associations between PNS and recurrence or death were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

Of 4337 patients, 1314 (30.3%) had evidence of one or more PNS. Patients with PNS were older, had higher comorbidity, and had more advanced clinical and pathological tumor characteristics as compared to patients without PNS (all p<0.05). Kaplan-Meier five-year estimated recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were significantly worse in patients with PNS (63.7%, 84.3%, and 79.6%, respectively, for patients with PNS vs. 73.9%, 90.8%, and 90.1%, respectively, for patients without PNS, all p<0.005). On univariable analysis, presence of PNS increased risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48-1.90, p<0.0001) and cancer-related death (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.34-2.54, p=0.0002). Adjusting for known prognostic factors, PNS was not associated with recurrence or survival.

CONCLUSIONS

In non-metastatic RCC patients undergoing surgery, presence of PNS is associated with older age, higher Charlson comorbidity index score, advanced tumor stage, and aggressive tumor histology. Following surgery, baseline PNS is not strongly independently associated with recurrence or death.

Outcomes of complete metastasectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients: The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system experience

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection of metastasis can be integrated in the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) as it can contribute to delay disease progression and improve survival.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the impact of complete metastasectomy in mRCC patients using real-world pan-Canadian data.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) database was used to select patients who were diagnosed with mRCC between January 2011 and April 2019. To minimize selection bias, each patient having received a complete metastasectomy was matched with up to 4 patients not treated with metastasectomy.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of metastasectomy or selection, to death from any cause. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the impact of the metastasectomy while adjusting for potential confounding variables.

RESULTS

A total of 229 patients undergoing complete metastasectomy were matched with 803 patients not treated with metastasectomy. After matching, baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups. After 12 months, the proportion of patients that were still alive was 96.0% and 89.8% in the complete metastasectomy and its matched group, respectively; the 5-year OS were 63.2% and 51.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis performed in the matched cohort revealed that patients who underwent complete metastasectomy had a lower risk of mortality compared to patients who did not undergo metastasectomy (hazard ratio: 0.41, 95% confidence interval:0.27-0.63).

CONCLUSION

Our study found that patients who underwent complete metastasectomy have a longer overall survival and a longer time to initiation of targeted therapy compared to patients not receiving metastasectomy. These findings should support aggressive resection of metastasis in selected patients.

Defining postoperative ileus and associated risk factors in patients undergoing radical cystectomy with an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common complication of radical cystectomy (RC), occurring in 1.6-23.5% of cases. It is defined heterogeneously in the literature. POI increases hospital length of stay and postoperative morbidity. Factors such as age, epidural use, length of procedure, and blood loss may impact POI. In this study, we aimed to evaluate risk factors that contribute to POI in a cohort of patients managed with a comprehensive Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol.

METHODS

A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent RC from March 2015 to December 2016 at Vancouver General Hospital was performed. POI was defined a priori as insertion of nasogastric tube for nausea or vomiting, or failure to advance to a solid diet by the seventh postoperative day. To illustrate heterogeneity in previous studies, we also evaluated POI using other previously reported definitions in the RC literature. The influence of potential risk factors for POI, including patient comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, gender, age, prior abdominal surgery or radiation, length of operation, diversion type, extent of lymph node dissection, removal date of analgesic catheter, blood loss, and fluid administration volume was analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty-six (27%) of 136 patients developed POI. Using other previously reported definitions for POI, the incidence ranged from <1-51%. Node-positive status and age at surgery were associated with POI on univariate analysis but not multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

A large range of POI incidence was observed using previously published definitions of POI. We advocate for a standardized definition of POI when evaluating RC outcomes. POI occurs frequently even with a comprehensive ERAS protocol, suggesting that additional measures are needed to reduce the rate of POI.

Does renal tumor biopsies for small renal carcinoma increase the risk of upstaging on final surgery pathology report and the risk of recurrence?

BACKGROUND

Renal tumor biopsies (RTB) have been proposed as a means to diminish overtreatment of small renal masses. A potential concern of RTB is tumor seeding along the biopsy tract leading to worse clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether RTB was associated with greater upstaging to pT3a compared to patients without a biopsy and to determine if pathologic upstaging affects the risk of recurrence.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system was used to identify patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for malignant renal tumors ≤ 4cm (cT1a) between January 1, 2011 and July 2, 2019.

INTERVENTION

RTB prior to nephrectomy or nephrectomy without biopsy.

OUTCOMES MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Upstaging to pT3a and cancer recurrence were compared between subjects that had a RTB compared to those who did not. A multivariable analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with disease upstaging and recurrence.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

The cohort consisted of 1993 cT1a patients, followed for a median of 17.5 months. Of these patients, 502 (25%) had a preoperative RTB. There was no difference in the proportion with tumor upstaging to pT3a between patients that had RTB compared to those who did not (7.2% vs. 6.3%; P = 0.5). On multivariable analysis, RTB was not associated with pathological upstaging (Odds Ratio 0.90; 95% Confidence Interval 0.61-1.34) or recurrence (Odds Ratio 1.04; 95% Confidence Interval 0.57-1.89). The main limitation is that the study is underpowered to detect small differences between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large, multi-institution cohort, RTB was not associated with increased risk of tumor upstaging or recurrence. Hence, tumor tract seeding, although possible, should not be a clinical deterrent to using RTBs as a means of personalizing renal masses management and diminishing overtreatment.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Recent evidence suggests that tumor seeding following RTB may be more common than initially perceived. Our results have demonstrated that RTB was not associated with an increased risk of tumor upstaging or disease recurrence.

Determining generalizability of the Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) to the entire Canadian kidney cancer population

INTRODUCTION

The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) has prospectively collected data on patients with renal tumors since January 1, 2011 from 16 sites within 14 academic centers in six provinces. Canadian kidney cancer experts have used CKCis data to address several research questions. The goal of this study was to determine if the CKCis cohort is representative of the entire Canadian kidney cancer population, specifically regarding demographic and geographic distributions.

METHODS

The CKCis prospective cohort was analyzed up to December 31, 2018. Baseline demographics and tumor characteristics were analyzed, including location of patients' residence at the time of CKCis entry. Geographic data is presented by province, rural vs. urban via postal code information (2^nd digit=0) and by Canadian urban boundary files. To determine the proportion of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients that CKCis captures, CKCis accruals were compared to projected Canadian Cancer Society RCC incidence in 2016-2017 and the incidence from the 2016 Canadian Cancer Registry. To determine if the CKCis baseline data is representative, it was compared to registry data and other published data when registry data was not available.

RESULTS

This CKCis cohort includes 10 298 eligible patients: 66.6% male, median age 62.6 years; 14.6% had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and 70.4% had clear-cell carcinomas. The CKCis cohort captures about 1250 patients per year, which represents approximately 20% of the total kidney cancer incidence. The proportion of patients captured per province did vary from 13-43%. Rural patients make up 17% of patients, with some baseline differences between rural and urban patients. There appears to be no major differences between CKCis patient demographics and disease characteristics compared to national data sources. Canadian heat maps detailing patient location are presented.

CONCLUSIONS

CKCis contains prospective data on >10 000 Canadian kidney cancer patients, making it a valuable resource for kidney cancer research. The baseline demographic and geographic data do appear to include a broad cross-section of patients and seem to be highly representative of the Canadian kidney cancer population. Moving forward, future projects will include determining if CKCis cancer outcomes are also representative of the entire Canadian kidney cancer population and studying variations across provinces and within rural vs. urban areas.

Abstract A18: Plasma circulating tumor DNA is scarce and confounded by clonal hematopoiesis in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Despite the recent implementation of novel targeted therapies, the 5-year survival rate for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) remains dismal. Prognostic and predictive biomarkers are urgently required to avoid unnecessary patient morbidity and financial toxicity. Exploratory studies leveraging archival primary tumor tissue are considered suboptimal in this setting due to the considerable heterogeneity of metastatic lesions. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) permits the noninvasive characterization of metastatic cancers using a simple blood draw. In this study, we sought to establish the utility of a ctDNA-based assay as a tool to profile the somatic genome of patients with mRCC. We collected whole blood from 55 progressing mRCC patients. All patients were systemic therapy naïve at the time of sample collection. Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and matched leukocyte DNA were subjected to targeted sequencing across 981 cancer-associated genes. Matched tumor tissue from 14 patients was also analyzed. The median cfDNA sequencing depth for this cohort was 938x. 33% of patients had evidence for RCC-derived ctDNA above 1% of total cfDNA; this was significantly lower than prostate or bladder cancer patients analyzed using the same approach. Among ctDNA-positive patients, ctDNA fraction averaged only 3.9% and showed no association with clinical variables or cfDNA yield. In these patients, the most commonly mutated genes were VHL, BAP1, and PBRM1, and matched tissue concordance was 77%. Evidence of somatic expansions unrelated to RCC, such as clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), was detected in 43% of patients. Pathogenic germline mutations in DNA repair genes were detected in 11% of patients. Patients with ctDNA above 1% had shorter overall survival and progression-free survival on first-line therapy. Patients with evidence of CHIP but not ctDNA had an intermediate prognosis compared to ctDNA-positive and ctDNA-negative patients. CfDNA sequencing enables characterization of the somatic RCC genome in only a minority of metastatic RCC patients. Due to low ctDNA abundance and presence of non-RCC derived somatic clones in circulation, cfDNA sequencing may not be a simple pan-patient alternative to tissue biopsy in metastatic RCC.

Citation Format: Jack V. W. Bacon, Matti Annala, Maryam Soleimani, Jean-Michel Lavoie, Alan I. So, Martin E. Gleave, Ladan Fazli, Kim N. Chi, Christian K. Kollmannsberger, Alexander W. Wyatt, Lucia Nappi. Plasma circulating tumor DNA is scarce and confounded by clonal hematopoiesis in metastatic renal cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Liquid Biopsies; Jan 13-16, 2020; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(11_Suppl):Abstract nr A18.

Y-box binding protein-1 is crucial in acquired drug resistance development in metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a highly vascular tumor and patients with low risk metastatic RCC of clear-cell histological sub-type (mccRCC) are treated with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs), sunitinib, as the first-line of treatment. Unfortunately, TKI resistance eventually develops, and the underlying molecular mechanism is not well understood.

METHODS

RCC cell-line with metastatic clear-cell histology (Caki-1), and patient samples were analysed to identify the role of Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) and ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 1 (ABCB-1) in acquired sunitinib-resistance development. Caki-1 was conditioned with increasing sunitinib doses to recapitulate acquired resistance development in clinics. Sunitinib-conditioned and wild-type Caki-1 were subjected to cell viability assay, scratch assay, chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane engraftment and proteomics analysis. Classical biochemical assays like flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, immunohistochemical staining, optical coherence tomography imaging, Western Blot and RT-PCR assays were applied to determine the possible mechanism of sunitinib-resistance development and the effect of drug treatments. Publicly available data was also used to determine the role of YB-1 upregulation in ccRCC and the patients' overall survival.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that YB-1 and ABCB-1 are upregulated in sunitinib-resistant in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo and patient samples compared to the sensitive samples. This provides evidence to a mechanism of acquired sunitinib-resistance development in mccRCC. Furthermore, our results establish that inhibiting ABCB-1 with elacridar, in addition to sunitinib, has a positive impact on reverting sunitinib-resistance development in in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models.

CONCLUSION

This work proposes a targeted therapy (elacridar and sunitinib) to re-sensitize sunitinib-resistant mccRCC and, possibly, slow disease progression.

Identification of gene signature for treatment response to guide precision oncology in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common therapy resistant disease with aberrant angiogenic and immunosuppressive features. Patients with metastatic disease are treated with targeted therapies based on clinical features: low-risk patients are usually treated with anti-angiogenic drugs and intermediate/high-risk patients with immune therapy. However, there are no biomarkers available to guide treatment choice for these patients. A recently published phase II clinical trial observed a correlation between ccRCC patients’ clustering and their response to targeted therapy. However, the clustering of these groups was not distinct. Here, we analyzed the gene expression profile of 469 ccRCC patients, using featured selection technique, and have developed a refined 66-gene signature for improved sub-classification of patients. Moreover, we have identified a novel comprehensive expression profile to distinguish between migratory stromal and immune cells. Furthermore, the proposed 66-gene signature was validated using a different cohort of 64 ccRCC patients. These findings are foundational for the development of reliable biomarkers that may guide treatment decision-making and improve therapy response in ccRCC patients.

Controversial issues in the management of patients with advanced prostate cancer: Results from a Canadian consensus forum

INTRODUCTION

The management of advanced prostate cancer (PCa) continues to evolve with the emergence of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. As a result, there are multiple areas in this landscape with a lack of high-level evidence to guide practice. Consensus initiatives are an approach to establishing practice guidance in areas where evidence is unclear. We conducted a Canadian-based consensus forum to address key controversial areas in the management of advanced PCa.

METHODS

As part of a modified Delphi process, a core scientific group of PCa physicians (n=8) identified controversial areas for discussion and developed an initial set of questions, which were then reviewed and finalized with a larger group of 29 multidisciplinary PCa specialists. The main areas of focus were non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC), metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), oligometastatic prostate cancer, genetic testing in prostate cancer, and imaging in advanced prostate cancer. The predetermined threshold for consensus was set at 74% (agreement from 20 of 27 participating physicians).

RESULTS

Consensus participants included uro-oncologists (n=13), medical oncologists (n=10), and radiation oncologists (n=4). Of the 64 questions, consensus was reached in 30 questions (n=5 unanimously). Consensus was more common for questions related to biochemical recurrence, sequencing of therapies, and mCRPC.

CONCLUSIONS

A Canadian consensus forum in PCa identified areas of agreement in nearly 50% of questions discussed. Areas of variability may represent opportunities for further research, education, and sharing of best practices. These findings reinforce the value of multidisciplinary consensus initiatives to optimize patient care.

Predicting complications following radical cystectomy with the ACS NSQIP universal surgical risk calculator

INTRODUCTION

Radical cystectomy (RC) is a challenging procedure with significant morbidity, though remains the standard of care treatment for many patients with bladder cancer. There has been debate regarding the utility of universal risk calculators to aid in point-of-care prediction of complications in individual patients preoperatively. We retrospectively evaluated the predictive value of the ACS NSQIP universal surgical risk calculator in our patients who underwent RC.

METHODS

A prospective cohort of patients undergoing RC was retrospectively reviewed between October 2014 and August 2017. Only patients who underwent a RC for genitourinary cancer without significant deviation from NSQIP surgery codes 51590, 51595, and 51596 (n = 29) were included. The accuracy of the risk calculator was assessed by ROC AUC and Brier scores for both NSQIP and Clavien-Dindo defined complications. Additionally, each NSQIP risk factor was individually assessed for association with postoperative complications.

RESULTS

223 patients who underwent open or robotic RC (n = 18) were included for analysis. Determined by AUC C-stat and Brier scores, prediction was good for cardiac complications (0.80 and 0.021), fair for pneumonia (0.75 and 0.017), poor for UTI (0.64 and 0.078), 30-day mortality (0.62 and 0.013), any complication (0.60 and 0.19) and serious complication (0.60 and 0.17). There was a significant discordance between the rate of NSQIP predicted vs. Clavien-Dindo observed any and serious complications: 28.8% vs. 67.3%, and 25.3% vs. 11.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The NSQIP universal surgical risk calculator did not perform with enough accuracy to consider adoption into clinical practice.

Outcomes and prognosticators of stage 4 renal cell carcinoma with pathological T4 primary lesion using a large, Canadian, multi-institutional database

INTRODUCTION

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes and prognosticators in patients who underwent radical nephrectomy (RN) or cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN), depending on the clinical stage of disease preoperatively, with a pathological T4 (pT4) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) outcome. There is little data on the outcome of this specific subset of patients.

METHODS

From 2009-2016, we identified patients in the Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) who underwent RN or CN and were found to have pT4 RCC. Clinical, operative, and pathological variables were analyzed with univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to identify factors associated with overall survival (OS). Survival curves were created using Kaplan-Meier methods and compared using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

A total of 82 patients were included in the study cohort. Median patient age was 62 years (interquartile range [IQR] 55, 70). Fifty (61%) patients had clear-cell histology and 14 (17%) had sarcomatoid characteristics. Median followup was 12 months (IQR 3, 24). At last followup, eight (10%) patients are alive with no evidence of disease, 27 (33%) are alive with disease, four (5%) were lost to followup, 36 (44%) died of disease, and seven (8%) died of other causes. Tumor histological subtype (clear-cell vs. non-clear-cell) (p=0.0032), larger tumor size (cm) (p=0.012), and Fuhrman grade (G4 vs. G2-G3) (p=0.045) were significantly associated with mortality in a multivariable Cox regression model.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with pT4 RCC after RN or CN, survival is poor. Sarcomatoid features, non-clear-cell histology, and presence of systemic symptoms were associated with worse OS.

Management algorithms for metastatic prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer poses a significant lifetime risk to Canadian men. Treatment for metastatic prostatic cancer (mPCa) is an area of ongoing research with a lack of up-to-date clinical guidance. The multidisciplinary Canadian Genitourinary Research Consortium (GURC) determined that additional guidance focusing on management of mPCa was warranted.

METHODS

The most up-to-date guidelines, consensus statements, and emerging phase 3 trials were identified and used to inform development of algorithms by a multidisciplinary genitourinary oncology panel outlining recommendations for the management of mPCa.

RESULTS

A single pan-Canadian guideline and five national and international guidelines or consensus statements published since 2015 were identified, along with two new phase 3 trials and one additional randomized comparison. Iterative GURC discussions led to the development of two mPCa algorithms: the first addressing management of newly diagnosed metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) patients and the second addressing treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). For newly diagnosed mCSPC patients with high-volume/high-risk disease, either docetaxel or abiraterone acetate and prednisone (AAP) added to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is recommended. The addition of radiotherapy to ADT is suggested for those with low-volume disease and/or AAP to ADT for low-volume or low-risk disease. For first-line mCRPC, androgen receptor-axis-targeted (ARAT) therapy is recommended for most patients, while sequencing with docetaxel, radium-223, ARAT therapy, and/or cabazitaxel is recommended for later lines of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Two treatment algorithms were developed for the management of mPC and can be used by multidisciplinary specialist teams to guide treatment.

Inhibition of GLI2 with antisense-oligonucleotides: A potential therapy for the treatment of bladder cancer

The sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway plays an integral role in the maintenance and progression of bladder cancer (BCa) and SHH inhibition may be an efficacious strategy for BCa treatment. We assessed an in-house human BCa tissue microarray and found that the SHH transcription factors, GLI1 and GLI2, were increased in disease progression. A panel of BCa cell lines show that two invasive lines, UM-UC-3 and 253J-BV, both express these transcription factors but UM-UC-3 produces more SHH ligand and is less responsive in viability to pathway stimulation by recombinant human SHH or smoothened agonist, and less responsive to inhibitors including the smoothened inhibitors cyclopamine and SANT-1. In contrast, 253J-BV was highly responsive to these manipulations. We utilized a GLI1 and GLI2 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to bypass pathway mechanics and target the transcription factors directly. UM-UC-3 decreased in viability due to both ASOs but 253J-BV was only affected by GLI2 ASO. We utilized the murine intravesical orthotopic human BCa (mio-hBC) model for the establishment of noninvasive BCa and treated tumors with GLI2 ASO. Tumor size, growth rate, and GLI2 messenger RNA and protein expression were decreased. These results suggest that GLI2 ASO may be a promising new targeted therapy for BCa.

Development of a murine intravesical orthotopic human bladder cancer (mio-hBC) model

We have developed a murine intravesical orthotopic human bladder cancer (mio-hBC) model for the establishment of superficial urothelial cell carcinomas. In this model we catheterize female atyhmic nude mice and pre-treat the bladder with poly-L-lysine for 15 minutes, followed by intravesical instillation of luciferase-transfected human UM-UC-3 cells. Cancer cells are quantified by bioluminescent imaging which has been validated by small animal ultrasound. Poly-L-lysine pre-treatment increased engraftment rate (84.4%) and resulted in faster growing tumors than trypsin pre-treatment. In addition, tumors respond through a decrease in growth and increase in apoptosis to chemotherapy with mitomycin C. Previous intravesical models utilized KU7 cells which have been later determined to be of non-bladder origin. They display markers consistent with HeLa cells, requiring a need for a true intravesical bladder model. Efficient engraftment and rapid superficial growth patterning of the human bladder tumor differentiate this in vivo orthotopic model from previous bladder models.

Surveillance guidelines based on recurrence patterns for upper tract urothelial carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) accounts for 5% of all urothelial tumours. Due to its rarity, evidence regarding postoperative surveillance is lacking. The objective of this study was to develop a post-radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) surveillance protocol based on recurrence patterns in a large, multi-institutional cohort of patients.

METHODS

Retrospective clinical and pathological data were collected from 1029 patients undergoing RNU over a 15-year period (1994-2009) at 10 Canadian academic institutions. A multivariable model was used to identify prognostic clinicopathological factors, which were then used to define risk categories. Risk-based surveillance guidelines were proposed based on actual recurrence patterns.

RESULTS

Overall, 555 (49.9%) patients developed recurrence, including 289 (25.9%) in the urothelium and 266 (23.9%) with loco-regional and distant recurrences. Based on multivariable analysis, three risk groups were identified: 1) low-risk patients with pTa-T1, pN0 disease, and no adverse histological features (high tumour grade, lymphovascular invasion [LVI], tumour multifocality); 2) intermediate-risk patients with pTa-T1, pN0 disease with one or more of the adverse histological features; and 3) high-risk patients with a ≥pT2 tumour and/or nodal involvement. Low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients were free of urothelial recurrence at three years in 72%, 66%, and 63%, respectively, and free of regional/distant recurrence in 93%, 87%, and 62%, respectively. The risks of loco-regional and distant recurrences (p<0.0001) and time to death (p<0.0001) were significantly different between the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on recurrence patterns in a large, multicentre patient cohort, we have proposed an evidence-based, risk-adapted post-RNU surveillance protocol.