Radical cystectomy is advocated for patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who develop disease recurrence following BCG therapy. A retrospective series suggests that a delay in radical cystectomy attributable to failure of salvage bladder-preserving therapies in this patient cohort is safe. However, a closer analysis of the study reveals inherent case selection that might limit such conclusions.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Wan, J. C. M. Survival outcomes of early versus deferred cystectomy for high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review. Curr. Urol. 14, 66–73 (2020).
Raj, G. V. et al. Treatment paradigm shift may improve survival of patients with high risk superficial bladder cancer. J. Urol. 177, 1283–1286 (2007).
Tan, W. S., Rodney, S., Lamb, B., Feneley, M. & Kelly, J. Management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a comprehensive analysis of guidelines from the United States, Europe and Asia. Cancer Treat. Rev. 47, 22–31 (2016).
Packiam, V. T. et al. The association of salvage intravesical therapy following BCG with pathologic outcomes and survival after radical cystectomy for patients with high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a multi-institution analysis. Urol. Oncol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urolonc.2021.01.004 (2021).
Kamat, A. M. et al. Definitions, end points, and clinical trial designs for non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer: recommendations from the International Bladder Cancer Group. J. Clin. Oncol. 34, 1935–1944 (2016).
Herr, H. W., Milan, T. N. & Dalbagni, G. BCG-refractory vs. BCG-relapsing non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a prospective cohort outcomes study. Urol. Oncol. 33, 108.e1–108.e4 (2015).
Tan, W. S. et al. Radiofrequency-induced thermo-chemotherapy effect versus a second course of bacillus Calmette-Guérin or institutional standard in patients with recurrence of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer following induction or maintenance bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy (HYMN): a phase III, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Eur. Urol. 75, 63–71 (2019).
Tan, W. S. & Kelly, J. D. Intravesical device-assisted therapies for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Nat. Rev. Urol. 15, 667–685 (2018).
Balar, A. V. et al. Pembrolizumab (pembro) for the treatment of patients with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) unresponsive, high-risk (HR) non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC): over two years follow-up of KEYNOTE-057. J. Clin. Oncol. 38 (Suppl. 15), 5041 (2020).
Boorjian, S. A. et al. Intravesical nadofaragene firadenovec gene therapy for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a single-arm, open-label, repeat-dose clinical trial. Lancet Oncol. 22, 107–117 (2021).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
W.S.T. and J.D.K. are consultants for Combat Medical. J.D.K. is chief investigator for HYMN and HIVEC-II, which are trials using hyperthermia delivery systems to treat bladder cancer.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tan, W.S., Kelly, J.D. Is delay to radical cystectomy following BCG failure oncologically safe?. Nat Rev Urol 18, 323–324 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-021-00457-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-021-00457-1