Prognostic value of molecular markers, sub‐stage and European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer risk scores in primary T1 bladder cancer
Authors: van Rhijn Bas W.G. , Liu Liyang , Vis André N. , Bostrom Peter J. , Zuiverloon Tahlita C.M. , Fleshner Neil E. , van der Aa Madelon N.M. , Alkhateeb Sultan S. , Bangma Chris H. , Jewett Michael A.S. , Zwarthoff Ellen C. , Bapat Bharati , van der Kwast Theo H. , Zlotta Alexandre R. 
Published: March 2012

Study Type – Prognosis (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

The stakes are high when making treatment decisions in T1 bladder cancer (BC). Conservative management may lead to progression and possibly death from BC. Conversely, radical cystectomy could be over‐treatment of non‐progressive disease. The problem for clinicians is that reliable prognostic indices are lacking.

We performed a head‐to‐head comparison of two substaging systems, European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk scores and four molecular markers in T1 carcinomas of the bladder treated conservatively with BCG. T1 sub‐stage according to a new system (micro‐invasive [T1m] and extensive‐invasive [T1e]) was the most important clinical variable for predicting progression to carcinoma invading bladder muscle. The performance of the EORTC risk scores was disappointing for this T1 sub‐group. Molecular markers were not significant in multivariable analysis for predicting progression. Future studies may lead to the incorporation of sub‐stage (T1m/T1e) in the TNM classification system for urinary BC to guide clinical decision‐making in T1 BC.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prognostic significance of four molecular markers, sub‐stage and European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk scores in primary T1 bladder cancer (BC) treated with adjuvant bacille Calmette–Guérin.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The slides of 129 carcinomas of the bladder from two university hospitals were reviewed and the T1 diagnosis was confirmed.

T1 sub‐staging was done in two separate rounds, using a new system that identifies micro‐invasive (T1m) and extensive‐invasive (T1e) T1BC, and then according to invasion of the muscularis mucosae (T1a/T1b/T1c).

The EORTC risk scores for recurrence and progression were calculated.

Uni‐ and multivariable analyses for recurrence and progression were performed using clinicopathological variables, T1 sub‐stage, EORTC risk scores and molecular markers (fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene mutation and Ki‐67, P53, P27 expression).

RESULTS

The median follow‐up was 6.5 years. Forty‐two patients remained recurrence‐free (33%). Progression to T2 or metastasis was observed in 38 (30%) patients.

In multivariable analysis for recurrence, multiplicity was significant. In multivariable analysis for progression, female gender, sub‐stage (T1m/T1e) and carcinoma in situ (CIS) were significant.

Molecular markers were significant in univariable and in multivariable analyses for recurrence.

EORTC risk scores were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

CIS, female gender and sub‐stage (T1m/T1e) were the most important variables for progression.

The additional value of molecular markers was modest.

Sub‐stage (T1m/T1e) could potentially be incorporated in future tumour‐node‐metastasis classifications.