Long-term Outcomes and Patterns of Failure Following Trimodality Treatment With Bladder Preservation for Invasive Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To report long-term results on survival, toxicity, and patterns of failure of 3 different organ-sparing strategies for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Materials and methods: This is a monoinstitutional prospective analysis of 3 consecutive bladder-sparing protocols combining maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (mTURBT), radiotherapy (RT), and cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Protocol 1 consisted of neoadjuvant methotrexate-cisplatin-vinblastine followed by endoscopic re-evaluation and consolidative RT 60 Gy in complete responders. Protocol 2 involved altered-fractionation RT 64.8 Gy and concurrent weekly cisplatin with re-evaluation after 40.8 Gy. Protocol 3 consisted of RT 64.8 Gy with concomitant weekly cisplatin. Nonresponders underwent radical cystectomy. Probabilities for overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier product limited estimates. A Cox regression multivariate analysis was performed to detect potential risk factors for OS, CSS, and MFS.

Results: The 10-year bladder preservation rate was 79%. The 10-year OS, CSS, and MFS rates were 43.2%, 76.3% and 79.2%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in OS between the different treatment protocols. On multivariate analysis, mTURBT of the bladder and the complete response after induction therapy were independent correlates of improved OS and of MFS. The development of invasive bladder recurrence was independently associated with worse CSS and MFS.

Conclusion: Ten-year results indicate that bladder-sparing treatment is a successful approach for muscle invasive bladder cancer in selected patients. The mTURBT of the bladder tumor and complete response after induction therapy remain the most relevant predictive factors.