Open Access

ARTICLE

Changing trends in utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Laura-Maria Krabbe^*,1,2, Mary E. Westerman^*,1, Vitaly Margulis¹, Ganesh V. Raj¹, Arthur I. Sagalowsky¹, Kevin Courtney³, Yull Arriaga³, Yair Lotan¹

1 Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
2 Department of Urology, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany
3 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
Address correspondence to Dr. Yair Lotan, Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. J8.122, Dallas, TX 75390-9110 USA

Canadian Journal of Urology 2015, 22(4), 7865-7875.

Abstract

Introduction: To reassess use of perioperative chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) following implementation of monthly multidisciplinary meetings to facilitate optimal oncologic treatment. We previously reported from 2003 to 2008 17% of eligible patients with bladder cancer received cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) at our institution.
Materials and methods: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) between 2008 and 2012 was performed. Information on clinical and pathologic stage, renal function, perioperative chemotherapy (CTX) use and oncologic outcomes was collected. Rationale for utilization decisions was obtained from physician encounter notes. Primary outcome was use of CTX among eligible patients. Secondary measures were type of CTX, pathologic and survival outcomes.
Results: Among 261 patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer, 162 were eligible for NAC. Overall 40.7% (n=66) received NAC, and 86.4% were given platinum. Patients given NAC were younger and had more advanced clinical stage. The degree of chronic kidney disease (CKD) (0-3) did not impact likelihood of receiving NAC. NAC patients were more likely to be downstaged to non-muscle-invasive disease (21.2% versus 7.3% p<0.01) or have a complete pathologic response (12.1% versus 3.1% p=0.025). Receipt of NAC did not affect oncologic outcomes. Following RC 22.3% of high risk patients (n=112) received adjuvant chemotherapy (AC).
Conclusions: Our use of cisplatin-based NAC improved from 17% to 35% and overall utilization of NAC increased from 22% to 41%. NAC led to improved pT0 rates and increased pathologic downstaging. The degree of CKD (0-3) did not impact likelihood of receiving NAC. AC use decreased in part due to higher utilization of NAC.

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