Search

Purpose: To report the oncological outcomes and the tolerance between 6 instillations and more than 6 cycles of hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy(HIVEC) in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC)., Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective study from a national database including 9 expert centers. All patients treated with HIVEC between 2016 and 2023 for NMIBC were included. Patients were classified into two groups according to the total number of HIVEC instillations, including induction plus maintenance. Kaplan-Meier curves were computed to present survival outcomes., Results: 261 patients with a median follow-up of 25.5 months were included. 199(76.2%) and 62(23.8%) were treated by 6 and more than 6 cycles of HIVEC, respectively. The 2-years RFS(40.2% vs. 34.4%,p = 0.3) and the 2-years PFS(86% vs. 87%,p = 0.85) were similar between group treated with 6 and more than 6 instillations. 2-years CSS and OS were also similar between both groups. Univariate Cox regression showed no association between the number of bladder instillation and RFS (HR = 1.2 95%CI[0.8-1.84], p = 0.3) or PFS (HR = 0.8 95%CI[0.29-2.02], p = 0.2). In the group treated with more than 6 cycles, 2-years RFS and 2-years PFS were similar between patients who received induction plus maintenance compared to those treated with induction only. Finally, hematuria and urinary burning were significantly higher in the group treated by more than 6 cycles (21% vs. 8.5%(p < 0.01),and 29% vs. 17% (p = 0.03), respectively). Serious side effects(grade ≥ 3) are rare(3.1%) and similar in both groups., Conclusions: Results show no significant difference in two years RFS, PFS, CSS and OS according to number of instillations received, while toxicity profile seems better in the group receiving six instillations only., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To assess prognostic significance of residual tumor at repeat transurethral resection (reTUR) in contemporary non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients., Methods: Patients were identified retrospectively from eight referral centers in France, Italy and Spain. The cohort included consecutive patients with high or very-high risk NMIBC who underwent reTUR and subsequent adjuvant BCG therapy., Results: A total of 440 high-risk NMIBC patients were screened, 29 (6%) were upstaged ≥ T2 at reTUR and 411 were analyzed (T1 stage: n = 275, 67%). Residual tumor was found in 191 cases (46%). In patients with T1 tumor on initial TURBT, persistent T1 tumor was found in 18% of reTUR (n = 49/275). In patients with high-grade Ta tumor on initial TURBT, T1 tumor was found in 6% of reTUR (n = 9/136). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, we found no statistical association between the use of photodynamic diagnosis (PDD, p = 0.4) or type of resection (conventional vs. en bloc, p = 0.6) and the risk of residual tumor. The estimated 5-yr recurrence and progression-free survival were 56% and 94%, respectively. Residual tumor was significantly associated with a higher risk of recurrence (p < 0.001) but not progression (p = 0.11). Only residual T1 tumor was associated with a higher risk of progression (p < 0.001) with an estimated 5-yr progression-free survival rate of 76%., Conclusions: ReTUR should remain a standard for T1 tumors, irrespective of the use of en bloc resection or PDD and could be safely omitted in high-grade Ta tumors. Persistent T1 tumor at reTUR should not exclude these patients from conservative management, and further studies are needed to explore the benefit of a third resection in this subgroup., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To evaluate hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC) efficacy regarding 1-year disease-free survival (RFS) rate and bladder preservation rate in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who fail bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy., Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective series from a national database (7 expert centers). Between January 2016 and October 2021, patients treated with HIVEC for NMIBC who failed BCG have been included in our study. These patients had a theoretical indication for cystectomy but were ineligible for surgery or refused it., Results: A total of 116 patients treated with HIVEC and with a follow-up > 6 months were included in this study and retrospectively analyzed. The median follow-up was 20.6 months. The 12 month-RFS (recurrence-free survival) rate was 62.9%. The bladder preservation rate was 87.1%. Fifteen patients (12.9%) progressed to muscle infiltration, three of them having a metastatic disease at the time of progression. Predictive factors of progression were T1 stage, high grade and very high-risk tumors according to the EORTC classification., Conclusion: Chemohyperthermia using HIVEC achieved an RFS rate of 62.9% at 1 year and enabled a bladder preservation rate of 87.1%. However, the risk of progression to muscle-invasive disease is not negligible, particularly for patients with very high-risk tumors. In these patients who fail BCG, cystectomy should remain the standard of care and HIVEC may be discussed cautiously for patients who are not eligible for surgery and well informed of the risk of progression., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: We investigated the effects of age, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (ASA) grading and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) on the survival outcomes of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC)., Methods: The CROES-UTUC registry was an international, multicenter study on patients with UTUC. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed by stratifying patients according to their age (≤ 70 and > 70 years old) and ASA grade (I-II and III-V)/CCI (0-1 and ≥ 2)., Results: A total of 2352 patients were included in this study. Patients aged ≤ 70 years with ASA grading of I-II (p = 0.002), and patients aged ≤ 70 years with a CCI of 0-1 (p = 0.002) had the best OS. Upon multivariate analysis, both in patients aged ≤ 70 and > 70 years, ASA grading and CCI were not significantly associated with OS. Patients aged ≤ 70 years with ASA grading of III-IV (p = 0.024) had the best DFS. When stratified according to age and CCI, no significant difference in DFS was noted. Upon multivariate analysis, radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) was significantly associated with better DFS in patients aged ≤ 70 and > 70 years; CCI of ≥ 3 was significantly associated with worse DFS in patients ≤ 70 years; ASA grading was not associated with DFS in patients aged ≤ 70 and > 70 years., Conclusions: A high ASA grading and CCI should not be considered contraindications for RNU. RNU should be considered even in elderly patients when it is deemed feasible and achievable after a geriatric assessment., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To compare the detection rate of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) refractory tumors between white light cystoscopy (WL-C) and Photodynamic Diagnosis cystoscopy (PDD-C). Materials and Methods: We performed a monocentric retrospective study that included all consecutive patients with high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) diagnosed from January 2017 to January 2021. All patients had an initial transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) with photodynamic diagnosis ± restaging TURBT if needed, followed by full-dose BCG induction. Within 8 weeks following BCG induction, all patients had both WL-C and PDD-C under general anesthesia ± TURBT in case of suspicious lesion. The primary end point was the detection of bladder cancer (BC) at post-BCG cystoscopy. Results: A total of 136 consecutive patients met inclusion criteria. Initial BC characteristics were: 35.6% of T1 tumor, 92.6% high grade, and 48.6% associated CIS. BC was diagnosed in 33/136 cases (24%) at early PDD-C after BCG induction: 77% Ta, 23% T1, 56% associated CIS, 68% high grade, and 6% muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Sensibility and Specificity of WL-C and PDD-C: 41% vs 91% ( p  < 0.001) and 86% vs 75% ( p  = 0.001). PDD-C detected 16 additional tumors: 81.3% Ta, 18.7% T1, 75% associated CIS, and 75% high grade. Conclusions: Systematic use of PDD after BCG induction increased the detection of BCG-refractory tumors and led to significant modification in the treatment of high-risk NMIBC. Future studies are needed to evaluate long-term oncologic benefit of early PDD reevaluation and its cost-effectiveness.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk of residual tumor and tumor upstaging during a second resection after primary complete transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) using photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) for high-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Patients and Methods: From January 2014 to March 2020, a single-institutional study was conducted including consecutive patients with high-risk NMIBC (T1 and/or cis and/or high grade) who underwent a restaging transurethral resection (reTUR) within 12 weeks after a primary complete resection. Each TURBT was performed using blue light after intravesical instillation of hexaminolevulinate. The primary endpoint was detection of residual tumor at reTUR, proved with positive pathology report. Results: A total of 109 consecutive patients with high-risk NMIBC underwent reTUR after a primary complete blue light resection. Pathologic evaluation of the surgical specimens of the primary TURBT revealed stage T1 and high-grade tumors in 69 (68.3%) and 108 (99%) patients, respectively, and concomitant carcinoma in situ was found in 45 patients (41.3%). The median time to reTUR was 8 (6-10) weeks. Residual tumor was detected histopathologically in 64 of 109 patients (58.7%) at the second TURBT with PDD. In five of these patients (4.5%), initial T1 tumors were upstaged to T2 tumors. Conclusions: We examined a contemporary series of patients undergoing reTUR with PDD as management of high-risk NMIBC proven at the first blue light resection. We reported a 54.2% risk of disease persistence and a 4.5% risk of understaging in T1 tumors. These findings support that reTUR is still necessary after initial complete TURBT with PDD. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term oncologic outcomes of reTUR with PDD.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of Continuous Saline Bladder Irrigation (CSBI) after blue light transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to prevent recurrence of low- to intermediate-risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)., Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including patients with low- to intermediate-risk NMIBC who underwent TURBT in two urological centers between January 2017 and December 2018. Each TURBT was performed using blue light after intravesical instillation of hexaminolaevulinic acid. The experimental group included patients who received CSBI while the control group included patients without CSBI. When practice, CSBI was started immediately after the surgery and was interrupted 24 hours thereafter. Low-risk NMIBC had a surveillance while intermediate NMIBC had 8 adjuvant endovesical instillations of Mitomycin. The primary endpoint was bladder tumor recurrence free-survival which was defined as the time between the initial TURBT and the date of TURBT for bladder recurrence., Results: A total of 167 patients (median age: 71 years) were included: 20% female, 15% low-risk, 85% intermediate-risk NMIBC. CSBI was performed in 95 cases (57%). No complication related to irrigation was reported. Bladder recurrence was observed in 55 cases (32.9%): 22 (23.1%) in the CSBI group vs. 33 (45.8%) in the control group (P=0.002). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis with backward selection revealed that CSBI (HR 0.47 [0.27-0.81]; P=0.006) and MMC (HR 0.55 [0.31-0.95]; P=0.034) were significantly associated with reduced risk of bladder recurrence., Conclusions: Continuous saline bladder irrigation reduced the risk of bladder recurrence after blue light TURBT in patients with low- to intermediate-risk NMIBC while being safe. Prospective randomized study is needed to confirm these results., Level of Evidence: 3., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate Hyperthermic-Intra-Vesical Chemotherapy (HIVEC) efficacy regarding 1-year disease-free survival (RFS) rate and bladder preservation rate in patients with High-risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) who fail BCG therapy or are contraindicated to BCG., Methods: Between June 2016 and October 2019, patients treated with HIVEC for mostly high-risk NMIBC who failed BCG or BCG-naive if BCG contraindicated have been included in our study. These patients had a theoretical indication for cystectomy but were ineligible for surgery or refused it., Results: Fifty-three patients, median age 72 [39-93] years, were included in this study ( n  = 29 BCG-failure and n  = 24 BCG-naive). The median follow-up was 18 months. The bladder preservation rate was 92.4%. The 12 months-RFS rate was 60.5%. The RFS rates for BCG-naive and BCG-failure groups were respectively 70% and 52.2% at 12 months. Three patients progressed to muscle infiltration, all in the BCG-failure group and all in the very high-risk EORTC group. Two of them developed metastatic disease and died from bladder cancer., Conclusion: Chemohyperthermia using HIVEC achieved a RFS rate of 60% at 1 year and enabled a bladder preservation rate of 92%. Given the low risk of progression in the BCG-naive group, HIVEC could be a good alternative. Conversely, for patients with very high-risk tumors that fail BCG, cystectomy should remain the standard of care and HIVEC may be discussed cautiously for patients who are not eligible for surgery and well informed of the risk of progression to muscle-invasive disease.

Purpose: There have recent reports in the literature of increased rates of bladder recurrence (BR) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) when diagnostic flexible ureteroscopy (DFU) was performed before RNU. The technical heterogeneity of DFU was a major bias in these studies. Our purpose was to evaluate the impact of a standardized DFU technique before RNU on the risk of BR., Methods: A retrospective monocenter study including patients who underwent RNU for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) between 2005 and 2017. 171 patients were identified. 78 patients were excluded owing to a history of bladder cancer before RNU or neo-adjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy. 93 included patients were stratified according to pre-RNU ureteroscopy (DFU + 70 patients) or no pre-RNU ureteroscopy (DFU-23 patients). The standardized DFU technique consisted of systematic ureteral sheath (ch9-10), flexible ureteroscopy, biopsy, and drainage with a mono-J/bladder catheter to avoid contact of contaminated urine of the upper tract with the bladder., Results: Epidemiological, initial staging, and postoperative tumoral characteristics were similar in both groups. Mean follow-up was 35 months [2-166], 47(50%) BR occurred with 41(87%) in the DFU + group, and pre-RNU-DFU was an independent predictive factor of BR (OR = 4[1.4-11.9], P = 0.01) (Cox regression model). The characteristics of BR were similar in both groups, although BR occurred earlier in DFU + (427 days vs. 226 days (P = 0.07))., Conclusion: Bladder recurrence after diagnostic ureteroscopy + nephroureterectomy was high despite technical precautions to avoid contact of bladder mucosa with contaminated urine from the upper urinary tract. Post-DFU endovesical instillation should be investigated.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate, in a review of the literature, the impact of diagnostic ureteroscopy before total nephroureterectomy (NUT) on the risk of bladder recurrence., Methods: We conducted a literature review in the Pubmed database in March 2018. Initial research identified 45 publications. Following full text screening, 9 studies were finally included, with a total of 1041 NUT with URS prior versus 2909 NUT alone. The primary endpoint was bladder recurrence. Secondary objectives were specific survival and overall survival., Results: Bladder recurrence was reported in the 9 studies included. Diagnostic ureteroscopy was significantly associated with an increased risk of post-NUT bladder recurrence (HZ 1.42 [1.29-1.56], P<0.01). The specific survival and overall survival at 5 years, were reported in respectively 4 and 2 studies. There was no impact of the pre-NUT diagnostic URS on the specific survival (HZ 0.75 [0.54-1.03], P=0.08) or post-NUT overall survival (HZ 1.15 [0.68-1.96], P=0.59)., Conclusion: The URS diagnostic before NUT for TVEUS is associated with a significant increase in the risk of postoperative bladder recurrence., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The REVELA13 observatory is a unique epidemiological tool listing the new cases of kidney tumors, bladder tumors and acute leukaemias in the Bouches-du-Rhône county (France). Aim was to exploit for the first time data from this observatory regarding new cases of bladder tumors≥T1 in women from 2012 to 2014., Materials: This epidemiological study was observational and descriptive. Fifteen non-nominative variables from the REVELA13 database were analyzed in order to describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of the incident cases as well as their spatial and temporal distribution. The incidence rates expressed in new cases per year per 100000 inhabitants were standardized on the world age, calculated with 95 % confidence intervals and compared to national estimates for the same period., Results: Incident bladder tumor cases were recorded in 291 women, corresponding to a standardized incidence on the world age of 3.85 [3.32-4.37] new cases per year per 100,000 population, 54 % higher than the national estimates of 2012 and 2015. Median age of diagnostic was 75.9 years. Sex ratio was 19.41 % (W/M). Tumors were predominantly non-muscle-invasive (52 %), high grade (69 %) and without associated carcinoma in situ (Cis) (49 %). The two most affected territories were Marseille and Aubagne-La Ciotat., Conclusion: The REVELA13 observatory has improved our epidemiological knowledge on female bladder tumors in Bouches-du-Rhône county and highlighted a local over incidence., Level of Evidence: 3., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To try and identify a molecular signature for pathological staging and/or grading. through microarray analysis., Patients and Methods: We performed a prospective multicentre study between September 2007 and May 2008 that included 108 bladder tumours (45 pTa, 35 pT1 and 28>pT1). Microarray analysis was performed using Agilent Technologies Human Whole Genome 4 × 44K oligonucleotide microarrays (Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA). A 'dual colour' method was used vs a reference pool of tumours. From the lists of genes provided by the Biometric Research Branch class comparison analyses, we validated the microarray results of 38 selected differentially expressed genes using reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR in another bladder tumour cohort (n = 95)., Results: The cluster 'superficial vs invasive stage' correctly classified 92.9% of invasive stages and 66.3% of superficial stages. Among the superficial tumours, the cluster analysis showed that pT1b tumours were closer to invasive stages than pT1a tumours. We also found molecular differences between low and high grade superficial tumours, but these differences were less well defined than the difference observed for staging., Conclusions: We confirmed that the histopathological classification into subgroups pTa, pT1a and pT1b can be translated into a molecular signature with a continuous progression of deregulation (overexpression or repression of these genes) from superficial (pTa) to more invasive (pT1a then b) stages., (© 2013 The Authors. BJU International © 2013 BJU International.)

Context: Follow-up of patients treated for bladder cancer (BCa) is of great importance for both non-muscle-invasive BCa (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive BCa (MIBC) because of the high incidence of recurrence and progression. The schedule and methods of follow-up should reflect the individual clinical situation., Objective: To evaluate the existing evidence for intensity and duration of follow-up recommendations in patients after surgical treatment of BCa., Evidence Acquisition: We searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for published data on the follow-up of patients with NMIBC and MIBC after radical cystectomy (RC)., Evidence Synthesis: Follow-up in patients with NMIBC is necessary because of the high probability of tumour recurrence and the risk of progression. Cystoscopy plus cytology are the standard methods for follow-up. Cystoscopy should be done 3 mo after the transurethral resection in every patient, and the frequency after that depends on the individual recurrence/progression risk. Cytology should be used as an adjunctive method to cystoscopy in intermediate- and high-risk patients. None of the currently available urinary markers or imaging methods can substitute for cystoscopy-based follow-up. High-risk NMIBC patients require regular lifelong upper urinary tract monitoring. Follow-up in MIBC is based on the fact that early detection of recurrence after RC allows for timely treatment with the aim of improving outcomes. Patients with extravesical and lymph node-positive disease should have the most intensive follow-up because of the highest recurrence risk. Routine upper urinary tract imaging is advisable for all patients and should continue in the long term. Follow-up also allows for early detection of urinary diversion-related complications, the rate of which increases with time., Conclusions: Follow-up in BCa is necessary for diagnosing recurrence and progression, as well as for evaluating complications after radical treatment. Since randomised studies investigating the most appropriate follow-up schedule are lacking, most recommendations are based on only the retrospective experience. Nonetheless, reasonable recommendations can be made until further prospective randomised studies testing different follow-up schedules have been performed., (Copyright © 2012 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To study the prevalence, treatment and outcome of urothelial bladder tumours (UBT) in renal transplant recipients., Patients and Methods: Multicentre retrospective study performed in 2004 by questionnaire sent to members of the AFU Transplantation Committee., Result: Seven centres returned the questionnaire with a total of 32 UBTs in 21 males and 3 females with a mean age of 63.2 +/- 10.1 years, with no history of UBT. The incidence was 255 per 100,000. The median interval between transplantation and UBT was 60 months (range: 5 to 259 months). 72% of UBTs were stage pT > or = 1 and 63% were grade 3. CIS was present in 20% of cases. 25% of patients were N+. In addition to resection of the UBT, 3 patients were also treated with mitomycin C and 1 was treated with BCG. 7 patients underwent cystectomy, with a palliative objective in 42% of cases, associated with radiotherapy-chemotherapy (2/3) or chemotherapy alone (1/3). Immunosuppressive therapy was decreased in 50% of cases. Six patients (25%) died from bladder cancer, 25% relapsed with a tumour progression rate of 50%. 46% of patients were in remission of their UBT 4% died from an intercurrent cause. 76% of survivors have a Junctional graft with no alteration of serum creatinine., Conclusion: Renal transplant recipients have an increased incidence of UBT, which are more aggressive and associated with a higher mortality compared to the general population. Increased surveillance and aggressive treatment therefore appear to be justified.

Superficial urothelial tumours of the bladder are more frequent and more often at higher risk of progression and recurrence in renal transplant recipients. When conservative treatment of these tumours is indicated, BCG instillations are recommended. However, immunosuppression of renal transplant recipients constitutes a classical contraindication to BCG therapy. Some authors have nevertheless used BCG instillations in renal transplant recipients. The authors reviewed the use of BCG in renal transplant recipients by studying the effects of immunosuppression on the mechanisms of action of BCG and the various clinical experiences reported in the international literature.

Objective: To decrease the risk of erectile dysfunction and incontinence by performing prostate-sparing cystectomy for bladder cancer; and to evaluate the oncological results by comparing them to those of radical cystectomy., Materials and Methods: Since 1994, 141 men have undergone cystectomy for bladder cancer. Twenty five patients with a mean age of 57 years (range: 47-75 years) underwent prostate-sparing cystectomy. The exclusion criteria were: contraindication to bladder replacement, invasion of the prostatic urethra, and associated prostatic adenocarcinoma. TURP was performed preoperatively to evaluate the prostatic urethra. All patients had a PSA < 4 ng/ml or negative prostatic needle biopsies. The Ditrovie and IIEF scores were used to evaluate the quality of voiding and erectile function., Results: The mean follow-up was 53.4 months (median: 46 months). The overall 5-year survival regardless of stage was 66%. Seven patients (28%) died, all from their cancer. Six patients (24%) developed a pelvic recurrence, 2 patients (8%) developed an urethral recurrence (1 had a multifocal lesion, and 1 had CIS) treated by TURP and 6 patients (24%) developed distant metastases. Among the patients with pelvic recurrence, 4 (66%) presented a multifocal tumour. One patient developed prostatic adenocarcinoma after 36 months, which was treated by external beam radiotherapy. At 1 year, 100% of patients reported normal daytime continence and 19 out of 22 patients (86.4%) were continent at night and had to get up 1 to 3 times per night. At 1 year, 10 out of 22 patients (45.4%) had normal erections, 9 (40.9%) reported impaired erectile function but allowing sexual intercourse, and 3 had major erectile dysfunction (13.6%). At 3 years, 93.7% of patients had normal daytime continence; 75% of patients were continent at night, 37.5% of patients reported normal erections, 37.5% of patients reported partial erections and 25% of patients reported major erectile dysfunction., Conclusion: Prostate-sparing cystectomy for the treatment of invasive bladder cancer improves continence, sexual function and quality of life of patients, with poorer oncological results to those of radical cystectomy in terms of pelvic recurrence. Rigorous patient selection should improve these results.

Objective: The principles of treatment of de novo bladder tumours in renal transplant patients are comparable to those applied in non-transplant patients. In the case of an invasive tumour, techniques can be used to restore urinary tract continuity after cystectomy. A case of cystectomy with enterocystoplasty for invasive bladder tumour in a renal transplant patient is reported., Material and Methods: An invasive urothelial bladder tumour was discovered in a 62-year-old man, 3 months after a 2nd renal transplantation. Treatment consisted of cystectomy with prostatic preservation and nontubulized enterocystoplasty., Result: With a follow-up of 21 months after cystectomy, the patient is alive without recurrence. He is perfectly continent during the day, with normal sexual intercourse and no reflux or residual urine. Renal function is normal., Conclusion: Cystectomy with enterocystoplasty can be an effective treatment for invasive bladder tumour in renal transplant patients. This treatment ensures oncological control and acceptable comfort while preserving the transplant.

Malignant histiocytofibroma of the bladder is a rare (16 cases reported in the literature) and very aggressive sarcoma. It is sometimes associated with a haematological malignancy. The authors report a case of malignant histiocytofibroma of the bladder in a 72-year-old haemodialysed woman with a poor general status. She had a history of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for gastrointestinal lymphoma 6 years previously. Treatment consisted of palliative cystectomy for bladder pain and haematuria. A massive pelvic and abdominal wall recurrence occurred two months after cystectomy and the patient died. The authors review the 16 cases of malignant histiocytofibroma of the bladder reported in the literature. Histiocytofibroma is a tumour which requires aggressive treatment with a combination of radical surgery and systemic chemotherapy.

Prostatic urothelial carcinoma concomitant with a bladder tumour is rare, but its incidence is increasing due to the precision of histological examination and the prevalence of bladder carcinoma in situ. Its prognosis depends on the depth of the prostatic lesion: carcinoma in situ, involvement of the ducts or even the stroma. In the case of high grade bladder tumour, multifocal tumour or bladder carcinoma in situ, a transurethral resection of the prostate is the best way of detecting this lesion. The therapeutic options depend on the depth of the prostatic invasion.

This single arm, open labeled, non randomized study was aimed to evaluate the toxicity of 3 cycles of MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) with rhG-CSF (5 micrograms/kg/day from day 3 to day 14), on 14 patients with previously untreated infiltrating bladder carcinoma, 42 cycles were administered. Chemotherapy toxicity was very low, with 7% of neutropenia grade 3 or 4.4% of thrombocytopenia grade 2, no mucositis above grade 2 and no nadir sepsis. Bone pain related to rhG-CSF occurred in 14% of cycles. 88% of the cycles were given at full dose without any delay and mean relative dose intensity was 96.4% (RDI was 100% for 9 patients). One patient achieved a complete pathological response (cystectomy: 1) and 6 clinical responses with negative transurethral resection. Addition of rhG-CSF to MVAC chemotherapy allows a high dose intensity of MVAC with very low toxicity over 3 cycles. This association should be compared to standard MVAC or intensified regimens to evaluate efficacy, toxicity, and cost effectiveness.

The authors report a rare association of adenocarcinoma of the urachus and urothelial bladder carcinoma. Treatment consisted of cystoprostatectomy with removal of the urachus and cutaneous ureterostomy. A review of the literature indicates that adjuvant treatment has yet to be defined. This is a chance association whose prognosis depends on the invasive nature of the urothelial tumour.

In a series of 107 patients treated over an 11-year period for upper urinary tract tumours (UTT), 30 had a synchronous or metachronous associated bladder tumour. The bladder tumour preceded the UTT in 10.3% of cases, the bladder tumour was synchronous in 6.5% of cases and the bladder tumour occurred after the UTT in 15% of cases, the incidence of UTT after cystectomy over this 11-year period was 3.3%. The median time to recurrence of the UTT after bladder tumour was 17 months. The median time to recurrence of the bladder tumour after the UTT was 12 months. The risk of bladder recurrence after treatment of the upper tract tumour was studied in relation to site, type of treatment, multifocal nature, stage and grade of the UTT and the presence of a previous or synchronous associated bladder tumour. None of these parameters constituted a predictive factor of bladder recurrence after treatment of an upper tract tumour. Comparison of survival between the UTT + bladder tumour group and the UTT alone group did not reveal any significant difference (p = 0.10). The theory of cellular implantation facilitated by vesicorenal reflux and the multifocal theory are complementary explanations of the multifocal and recurrent nature of urothelial tumours.

The authors report a series of 71 patients (sex ratio: 1F/4M, mean age: 68 years) with stage Ta (n = 20), T1a (n = 32), T1b (n = 14) and Tis (n = 5) bladder tumours treated by endoscopic resection followed by a course of intravesical BCG instillation (120 mg/week for 6 weeks). The mean follow-up was 15 months (3-36 months). The overall recurrence rate was 42%. A recurrence occurred in 50% of Ta (median time to recurrence: 10.1 months), 32% of T1a (median: 5.8 months), 65% of T1b (median: 7.3 months) and 20% of isolated Tis (median: 7 months). Disease progression was observed in 9% of stage T1 tumours. The following risk factors for recurrence were identified: stage T1b (p = 0.05), multifocal tumours (p = 0.05), resistance to previous chemotherapy (mitomycin C) (p = 0.001) and association with Tis for stages T1 (p < 0.02). The following risk factors for disease progression were identified: stage T1b (p < 0.001), grade III for stage T1 (p = 0.05) and association with Tis (p < 0.05). Ten patients (14%) developed transient BCGitis. BCG was found to be effective in the prophylaxis of recurrence of stage Ta, T1 and Tis bladder tumours. This treatment is proposed for recurrent stage Ta grade II and III tumours and stage T1 tumours in the presence of recognised risk factors. The high risk of progression for stage T1b grade III tumours associated with Tis demands rigorous surveillance.