Long-Term Experience of Chemoradiotherapy Combined with Deep Regional Hyperthermia for Organ Preservation in High-Risk Bladder Cancer (Ta, Tis, T1, T2).

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of chemoradiotherapy (RCT) combined with regional deep hyperthermia (RHT) of high-risk bladder cancer after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1982 and 2016, 369 patients with pTa, pTis, pT1, and pT2 cN0-1 cM0 bladder cancer were treated with a multimodal treatment after TUR-BT. All patients received radiotherapy (RT) of the bladder and regional lymph nodes. RCT was administered to 215 patients, RCT + RHT was administered to 79 patients, and RT was used in 75 patients. Treatment response was evaluated 4-6 weeks after treatment with TUR-BT. RESULTS: Complete response (CR) overall was 83% (290/351), and in treatment groups was RT 68% (45/66), RCT 86% (178/208), and RCT + RHT 87% (67/77). CR was significantly improved by concurrent RCT compared with RT (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-5.12; p = .037), less influenced by hyperthermia (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 0.88-8.00; p = .092). Overall survival (OS) after RCT was superior to RT (hazard ratio [HR], 0.7; 95% CI, 0.50-0.99; p = .045). Five-year OS from unadjusted Kaplan-Meier estimates was RCT 64% versus RT 45%. Additional RHT increased 5-year OS to 87% (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.18-0.58; p = .0001). RCT + RHT compared with RCT showed a significantly better bladder-preservation rate (HR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.56; p = .006). Median follow-up was 71 months. The median number of RHT sessions was five. CONCLUSION: The multimodal treatment consisted of a maximal TUR-BT followed by RT; concomitant platinum-based chemotherapy combined with RHT in patients with high-grade bladder cancer improves local control, bladder-preservation rate, and OS. It offers a promising alternative to surgical therapies like radical cystectomy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Radical cystectomy with appropriate lymph node dissection has long represented the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer in medically fit patients, despite many centers reporting excellent long-term results for bladder preserving strategies. This retrospective analysis compares different therapeutic modalities in bladder-preservation therapy. The results of this study show that multimodal treatment consisting of maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor followed by radiotherapy, concomitant platinum-based chemotherapy combined with regional deep hyperthermia in patients with Ta, Tis, T1-2 bladder carcinomas improves local control, bladder-preservation rate, and survival. More importantly, these findings offer a promising alternative to surgical therapies like radical cystectomy. The authors hope that, in the future, closer collaboration between urologists and radiotherapists will further improve treatments and therapies for the benefit of patients.

Quadrimodal treatment of high-risk T1 and T2 bladder cancer: transurethral tumor resection followed by concurrent radiochemotherapy and regional deep hyperthermia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess the safety and effectiveness of treating high-risk T1 and T2 bladder cancer with transurethral resection (TUR-BT) followed by radiochemotherapy (RCT) combined with regional deep hyperthermia (RHT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2003 and 2007, 45 patients were enrolled. After TUR-BT patients received radiotherapy (RT) of the bladder and regional lymph nodes with 50.4 Gy, and a boost to the bladder of 5.4-9 Gy. RCT was applied to 43/45 patients. RHT was administered once weekly. Response was re-evaluated 6 weeks after RT by restaging-TUR. Toxicity was graded with the CTCAE, version 3.0. QoL was evaluated by a dedicated questionnaire. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 34 months (range 12-60). The median number of hyperthermia treatments was 5 (range 1-7). Acute toxicity grades 3 and 4 occurred in 20% (9/45) and 9% (4/45), respectively. Late toxicity grades 3/4 were seen in 24% (11/45). Complete response rate was 96% (43/45). Local recurrence-free survival was 85%, overall survival was 80%, disease-specific survival was 88%, metastasis-free survival was 89%, and the bladder-preserving rate was 96% (43/45) at 3 years. Eighty percent (24/30) were at least mostly satisfied with their bladder function. CONCLUSIONS: The quadrimodal treatment was feasible and well tolerated. Local control and bladder-preserving rates were encouraging.