Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) Followed by Photodynamic Trans-urethral Resection of Bladder Tumours (PDD-TURBT) to Avoid Secondary Resections (Re-TURBT) in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancers (NMIBCs)

Background: In European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines, the vast majority of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers (NMIBCs) undergo a primary transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by a repeat TURBT (Re-TURBT). The Re-TURBT is recommended due to the possibility of residual bladder cancer but is unnecessary in many cases by constituting overtreatment. Currently, no diagnostic strategy or predictive tools have been implemented to further stratify who does or does not benefit from Re-TURBT. Recently, an MRI-based Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) score has been developed to stage as to the preoperative probability of muscle invasion, which could potentially exclude those who do not require a Re-TURBT when a primary high-quality resection is delivered. As such, performing TURBT with standard white light (WL) cystoscopy is known to miss many bladder tumours, which may be poorly visible, and a technique known as with photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) results in lower residual tumor and lower early intravesical recurrence rates. PDD is performed using violet light to improve the detection of these lesions not easily visible with WL cystoscopy. Methods/Aims: The investigators propose an Italian, single-center, phase IV, open-label, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial, in which participants (n=112) who had already received a mpMRI/VI-RADS score, are randomized to receive PDD-TURBT, no Re-TURBT versus standard of care represented by conventional WL-TURBT followed by WL-Re-TURBT. The primary outcome is proportions of early recurrence in the urinary bladder. Secondary outcomes will include proportions of late BCa recurrence, late disease-free interval, time to progression to MIBC, patient's quality of life assessment, and cost-analysis. Perspective: The CUT-less trial aims to respond to this unmet need through a non-inferiority randomized clinical study potentially shaping the perspective for a paradigm shift towards a more personalized, socially, and economically sustainable updated NMIBC therapeutic pathway. Implications: The current clinical trial proposal is aiming to achieve a paradigm shift in the oncological and socio-economical management of urothelial malignancies of the urinary bladder. Our first concern is indeed to guarantee a safe and ground-breaking strategy to manage the pathway of such patients in order to guarantee the non-inferior oncologic safety (and possibly superiority) when compared to the current standard of care. Additionally, if our hypotheses are confirmed, the investigators will be able to significantly relieve these patients from the oncologic burden of an already invasive and arduous bladder cancer care path. Finally, safely avoiding an unnecessary, expensive surgical procedure will bring significant social and economic benefits to the EU healthcare system and possibly worldwide.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female and Male patients at least 18 years old referred for clinical suspicion of primary or recurrent BCa who have been advised to undergo TURBT.
2. Patients with a TUR-confirmed diagnosis of NMIBC and candidate for second look and resection (Re-TURBT) according to EAU Guidelines \[6\].
3. No imaging evidence (i.e., mpMRI/VI-RADS score 1 or 2) of muscle-invasive, locally advanced, or metastatic BCa (i.e., only confirmed CIS, Ta, T1, N0, M0 will be considered eligible).
4. Patients who did or did not receive previous BCG immunotherapy (i.e., BCG naïve and non-naïve patients).
5. Fit to undergo all procedures listed in protocol.
6. Able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Contraindication to TURBT and/or Re-TURBT.
2. Initial TURBT diagnosis of MIBC (i.e., T2) or locally advanced BCa (i.e., T3-T4).
3. Preoperative evidence of metastatic disease (i.e., cN1 - N3 and/or cM1).
4. Visual evidence of low-risk NMIBC (solitary tumor, \< 1 cm) before initial TURBT.
5. Visual evidence of MIBC on preliminary cystoscopy (i.e., non-papillary or sessile mass attached directly by its base without a stalk).
6. TURBT diagnosis of NMIBCs not eligible for Re-TURBT according to EAU Guidelines (i.e., Ta-LG; Ta-HG with detrusor muscle in the specimen; primary CIS) \[6\].
7. Concomitant Upper tract (kidney or ureteric) tumours on imaging.
8. Contraindication to adjuvant intravesical BCG immunotherapy.
9. Unfit to undergo any procedures listed in protocol.

• BACKGROUNDEpstein JI, Amin MB, Reuter VR, Mostofi FK. The World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology consensus classification of urothelial (transitional cell) neoplasms of the urinary bladder. Bladder Consensus Conference Committee. Am J Surg Pathol. 1998 Dec;22(12):1435-48. doi: 10.1097/00000478-199812000-00001. PMID 9850170
• BACKGROUNDMariappan P, Zachou A, Grigor KM; Edinburgh Uro-Oncology Group. Detrusor muscle in the first, apparently complete transurethral resection of bladder tumour specimen is a surrogate marker of resection quality, predicts risk of early recurrence, and is dependent on operator experience. Eur Urol. 2010 May;57(5):843-9. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2009.05.047. Epub 2009 Jun 6. PMID 19524354
• BACKGROUNDBrausi M, Collette L, Kurth K, van der Meijden AP, Oosterlinck W, Witjes JA, Newling D, Bouffioux C, Sylvester RJ; EORTC Genito-Urinary Tract Cancer Collaborative Group. Variability in the recurrence rate at first follow-up cystoscopy after TUR in stage Ta T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a combined analysis of seven EORTC studies. Eur Urol. 2002 May;41(5):523-31. doi: 10.1016/s0302-2838(02)00068-4. PMID 12074794
• BACKGROUNDCumberbatch MGK, Foerster B, Catto JWF, Kamat AM, Kassouf W, Jubber I, Shariat SF, Sylvester RJ, Gontero P. Repeat Transurethral Resection in Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review. Eur Urol. 2018 Jun;73(6):925-933. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2018.02.014. Epub 2018 Mar 6. PMID 29523366
• BACKGROUNDNaselli A, Hurle R, Paparella S, Buffi NM, Lughezzani G, Lista G, Casale P, Saita A, Lazzeri M, Guazzoni G. Role of Restaging Transurethral Resection for T1 Non-muscle invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Eur Urol Focus. 2018 Jul;4(4):558-567. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2016.12.011. Epub 2017 Jan 13. PMID 28753839
• BACKGROUNDShindo T, Masumori N, Kitamura H, Tanaka T, Fukuta F, Hasegawa T, Yanase M, Miyake M, Miyao N, Takahashi A, Matsukawa M, Taguchi K, Shigyo M, Kunishima Y, Tachiki H, Tsukamoto T. Clinical significance of definite muscle layer in TUR specimen for evaluating progression rate in T1G3 bladder cancer: multicenter retrospective study by the Sapporo Medical University Urologic Oncology Consortium (SUOC). World J Urol. 2014 Oct;32(5):1281-5. doi: 10.1007/s00345-013-1205-1. Epub 2013 Nov 5.