Citations

ObjectivesTechnical limitations of ureteroscopic (URS) biopsy has been considered responsible for substantial upgrading rate in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). However, the impact of tumor specific factors for upgrading remain uninvestigated.MethodsPatients who underwent URS biopsy were included between 2005 and 2020 at 13 institutions. We assessed the prognostic impact of upgrading (low‐grade on URS biopsy) versus same grade (high‐grade on URS biopsy) for high‐grade UTUC tumors on radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) specimens.ResultsThis study included 371 patients, of whom 112 (30%) and 259 (70%) were biopsy‐based low‐ and high‐grade tumors, respectively. Median follow‐up was 27.3 months. Patients with high‐grade biopsy were more likely to harbor unfavorable pathologic features, such as lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001) and positive lymph nodes (LNs; p < 0.001). On multivariable analyses adjusting for the established risk factors, high‐grade biopsy was significantly associated with worse overall (hazard ratio [HR] 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–2.75; p = 0.018), cancer‐specific (HR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.07–3.52; p = 0.03), and recurrence‐free survival (HR 1.80; 95% CI, 1.13–2.87; p = 0.013). In subgroup analyses of patients with pT2‐T4 and/or positive LN, its significant association retained. Furthermore, high‐grade biopsy in clinically non‐muscle invasive disease significantly predicted upstaging to final pathologically advanced disease (≥pT2) compared to low‐grade biopsy.ConclusionsHigh tumor grade on URS biopsy is associated with features of biologically and clinically aggressive UTUC tumors. URS low‐grade UTUC that becomes upgraded to high‐grade might carry a better prognosis than high‐grade UTUC on URS. Tumor specific factors are likely to be responsible for upgrading to high‐grade on RNU.

Background: Measuring quality of care indicators is important for clinicians and decision making in health care to improve patient outcomes. Objective: The primary objective was to identify quality of care indicators for patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and to validate these in an international cohort treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). The secondary objective was to assess the factors associated with failure to validate the pentafecta. Design: We performed a retrospective multicenter study of patients treated with RNU for EAU high-risk (HR) UTUC. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Five quality indicators were consensually approved, including a negative surgical margin, a complete bladder-cuff resection, the absence of hematological complications, the absence of major complications, and the absence of a 12-month postoperative recurrence. After multiple imputations and propensity-score matching, log-rank tests and a Cox regression were used to assess the survival outcomes. Logistic regression analyses assessed predictors for pentafecta failure. Results: Among the 1718 included patients, 844 (49%) achieved the pentafecta. The median follow-up was 31 months. Patients who achieved the pentafecta had superior 5-year overall- (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) compared to those who did not (68.7 vs. 50.1% and 79.8 vs. 62.7%, respectively, all p < 0.001). On multivariable analyses, achieving the pentafecta was associated with improved recurrence-free survival (RFS), CSS, and OS. No preoperative clinical factors predicted a failure to validate the pentafecta. Conclusions: Establishing quality indicators for UTUC may help define prognosis and improve patient care. We propose a pentafecta quality criteria in RNU patients. Approximately half of the patients evaluated herein reached this endpoint, which in turn was independently associated with survival outcomes. Extended validation is needed.

Objectives To evaluate the role of blue‐light cystoscopy (BLC) in detecting invasive tumours that were not visible on white‐light cystoscopy (WLC). Patients and Methods Using the multi‐institutional Cysview registry database, patients who had at least one white‐light negative (WL–)/blue‐light positive (BL+) lesion with invasive pathology (≥T1) as highest stage tumour were identified. All WL–/BL+ lesions and all invasive tumours in the database were used as denominators. Relevant baseline and outcome data were collected. Results Of the 3514 lesions (1257 unique patients), 818 (23.2%) lesions were WL−/BL+, of those, 55 (7%) lesions were invasive (48 T1, seven T2; 47 unique patients) including 28/55 (51%) de novo invasive lesions (26 unique patients). In all, 21/47 (45%) patients had WL−/BL+ concommitant carcinoma in situ and/or another T1 lesions. Of 22 patients with a WL−/BL+ lesion who underwent radical cystectomy (RC), high‐risk pathological features leading to RC was only visible on BLC in 18 (82%) patients. At time of RC, 11/22 (50%) patients had pathological upstaging including four (18%) with node‐positive disease. Conclusions A considerable proportion of invasive lesions are only detectable by BLC and the rate of pathological upstaging is significant. Our present findings suggest an additional benefit of BLC in the detection of invasive bladder tumours that has implications for treatment approach.

375 Background: Chemotherapy or radiotherapy are standard treatments for stage II seminoma, though they are associated with significant long-term treatment-related toxicities. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is an established treatment for testicular germ cell tumors but little data exists on its efficacy as a front-line treatment in early metastatic (stage II) seminoma. This is a single-arm, multi-institutional (NCT02537548), phase II study of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RLND) as first-line treatment for testicular seminoma with isolated retroperitoneal disease. Methods: Twelve sites in the United States and Canada prospectively enrolled patients (16 years of age) with testicular seminoma and isolated retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy between 1-3 cm in size. Patients were excluded if they received prior therapy (except orchiectomy) for testicular cancer. Open, modified-template RPLND was performed by qualified surgeons with a primary endpoint of 2-year recurrence-free survival. Data on complication rates (short and long-term), pathologic up/downstaging, recurrence patterns, adjuvant therapies, and treatment-free survival were assessed. Results: A total of 55 patients were enrolled and underwent RPLND. Fourteen patients had initial stage I disease who developed isolated retroperitoneal relapse while 41 patients had clinical stage IIA-B at presentation. With a median follow-up of 24 months (8-52 months), there were a total of 10 recurrences. The overall recurrence rate was 18% with a median time to recurrence of 8 months. Of the recurrences, 8 underwent chemotherapy (6 BEP X 3, 1 EP X 4, 1 carbo/etoposide) and 2 underwent additional surgery. The two-year recurrence free survival was 87% and the overall survival was 100%. There were 7 (13%) patients who experienced short-term complications within 1 year of RPLND. Of these, 5 (9%) were classified as Clavien Dindo I-II and 2 (3.6%) were classified as Clavien Dindo III. No patients have reported long-term complications. Conclusions: This trial establishes RPLND as a therapeutic option as a first-line treatment in early metastatic seminoma. The surgery offers cancer control rates similar to those seen in non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. Clinical trial information: NCT02537548.

326 Background: The Survival Prediction After Radical Cystectomy (SPARC) score (Eisenberg et al, J Urol 2013) incorporates clinical and pathologic features to predict cancer specific survival (CSS) for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Validation of this model would improve its generalizability. Methods: Using the IRB-approved bladder cancer database at the University of Southern California (USC), we identified patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder for curative intent from 1971-2009. Clinical factors (Charlson comorbidity index, ECOG performance status, hydronephrosis, adjuvant chemotherapy, smoking status) and pathologic factors (pathologic T stage, nodal status, multifocality, and lymphovascular invasion) included in the SPARC score were obtained. Patients were excluded if there were missing variables or if they underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Associations between clinicopathologic factors and CSS were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards. Calibration plots were generated comparing actuarial CSS with SPARC predicted CSS by deciles. A c-index was generated to determine accuracy of the prediction. Kaplan Meier curves estimated CSS stratified by SPARC score and were compared with the log rank test. Results: A total of 2,045 patients underwent RC and 1,123 (55%) met inclusion criteria with a median follow-up of 4.7 years (IQR 2.0-8.9 years). Of the 1,123 patients, 332 (30%) died of bladder cancer. All the clinical and pathologic variables used in the SPARC scoring model were associated with CSS except for smoking status and tumor multifocality. Calibration plots demonstrated concordance between the SPARC-predicted and actuarial CSS with a c-index of 0.75. Kaplan Meier curves demonstrated significant differences in CSS based upon SPARC score, p<0.001. Conclusions: The SPARC score represents a valid instrument for predicting bladder CSS after RC. The model can be utilized to better tailor adjuvant therapy and surveillance.