Tumor involvement of the trigone and urethra at the time of robot-assisted radical cystectomy is associated with adverse oncological outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The trigone/urethra (T/U) has a distinct embryologic origin and a different histologic morphology compared to the rest of the urinary bladder. We sought to determine the association between tumors involved in the T/U and the presence of variant histology, pathologic, and oncologic outcomes in patients who underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). METHODS: Tumor location was classified into 2 groups: tumors in the bladder walls only, or tumors in the T/U area, with or without involvement of other bladder walls. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to determine the association between T/U with recurrence-specific (RSS), cancer-specific (CSS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: 608 patients who underwent RARC were identified, T/U involvement occurred in 191 (31%). Patients in the T/U group were more likely to have pT3/pT4 (57% vs. 42%, P < 0.01), positive surgical margins (21% vs. 9%, P < 0.01), and received salvage chemotherapy more frequently (16% vs. 8%, P < 0.01). Squamous variant histology was more frequent in the T/U group (25% vs. 17%, P = 0.02). On multivariable analysis, T/U location was independently associated with RSS (HR1.63, 95% CI 1.23-2.16, P < 0.01) and CSS (HR1.50, 95% CI 1.04-2.16, P = 0.02) but not OS. CONCLUSION: Residual T/U tumor involvement was associated with a higher risk of an advanced tumor stage, positive margin, cancer recurrence, and cancer-specific death.

Does Ta Low-grade Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder With Focal High-grade Features Carry Worse Prognosis? The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the management and outcomes of patients with Ta predominantly low-grade urothelial carcinoma with focal high-grade features (FHG) (<5%), compared to those with Ta low grade (LG) and Ta high grade (HG). METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor between 2005 and 2023. Patients with Ta disease were identified and categorized into LG, FHG, and HG. Kaplan Meier method was used to depict high-grade recurrence, T-stage progression, and radical cystectomy-free survival. RESULTS: Four hundred forty-nine patients with Ta disease were identified (LG 48%, FHG 12%, and HG 40%). Patients with FHG (32%) had a second-look transurethral resection of bladder tumor more frequently compared to LG (7%) and HG (29%) (P <.01). They received intravesical therapy more frequently compared to LG (36% vs 20%) but lower than HG (55%) (P <.01). They received radical cystectomy less frequently (7% compared to 20% for HG and 11% for LG, P = .01). HG recurrence-free survival at 1, 3, and 5years was HG (68%, 52%, and 43%), FHG (74%, 53%, and 49%), and LG (87%, 79%, and 73%) (log-rank P <.01). T progression-free survival at 1, 3, and 5years was HG (84%, 77%, and 70%), FHG (92%, 82%, and 82%), and LG (94%, 89%, and 85%) (log-rank P = .02). Cystectomy-free survival at 1, 3, and 5years was HG (92%, 84%, and 80%), FHG (96%, 94%, and 94%), and LG (99%, 95%, and 92%) (log-rank P <.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with Ta FHG seem to behave more like Ta HG disease in terms of high-grade recurrences, but they are less likely to experience T-stage progression and convert to cystectomy.