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BACKGROUND: Non-canonical WNT family (WNT5A pathway) signaling via WNT5A through ROR1 and its partner, ROR2, or Frizzled2 (FZD2) is linked to processes driving tumorigenesis and therapy resistance. We utilized a large dataset of urothelial carcinoma (UC) tumors to characterize non-canonical WNT signaling through WNT5A, ROR1, ROR2, or FZD2 expression. METHODS: NextGen Sequencing of DNA (592 genes or WES)/RNA (WTS) was performed for 4125 UC tumors submitted to Caris Life Sciences. High and low expression of WNT5A, ROR1, ROR2, and FZD2 was defined as ≥ top and

PurposeWhile radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) is the gold standard treatment for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), select patients may benefit from endoscopic treatment (ET). European Association of Urology guidelines recommend ET for patients with low-risk (LR) disease: unifocal,

The role of local definitive therapy in addition to systemic treatment in clinically positive regional lymph node (cN+) bladder cancer is yet to be determined. Herein, we sought to investigate the role of radical cystectomy (RC) in management of patients with cN+ bladder cancer at US Veterans Health Administration Facilities. We identified patients diagnosed with cN+ bladder cancer between 2000-2017 using the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI). We employed a combination of database/registry coded values and chart review for data collection. To minimize mortality bias, we excluded patients who died within 90 days of diagnosis. We divided the patients into cystectomy (C) versus "no cystectomy" (NOC) cohorts. Propensity score matching was performed based on predictors of undergoing RC. Multivariable Cox models and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CCS). After matching, 158 patients were included in the C and NOC groups. In the C-group, 85(54%) patients received pre-cystectomy chemotherapy, and 73(46%) patients underwent post-cystectomy chemotherapy. In the C-group, 65(41%) patients and in the NOC-group, 66(42%) patients had clinical N1 disease (P =.77). In multivariable Cox model, undergoing RC was associated with improved OS (HR0.62; 95%CI 0.47-0.81), P <.001) and CSS (HR0.58; 95%CI 0.42-0.80; P <.001). As part of multimodal treatment, undergoing RC was associated with improved OS and CSS in subset of patients with cN+ bladder cancer. Prospective randomized trials are warranted to further investigate the role of local definitive therapy in this specific patient population. The study underscores uncertainty about the efficacy of radical cystectomy (RC) alongside systemic treatment for clinically positive regional lymph node (cN+) bladder cancer. Analyzing data from cN+ patients at US Veterans Health Administration Facilities (2000–2017), the study, using propensity score matching, indicates that RC, significantly improves overall and cancer-specific survival. The findings advocate for prospective randomized trials to better understand the role of local definitive therapy in cN+ bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: On the basis of the efficacy and tolerable safety profiles of immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) in second-line metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) patients, some emerging clinical trials focus on the first-line treatment. Thus, we conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to assess and compare the response and toxicity of ICIs in naïve-chemotherapy mUC setting. According to our results, combination therapy (either ICIs plus chemotherapy (CTX) or ICIs plus ICIs) had a higher priority in terms of overall survival. Concerning monotherapy, ICIs are not inferior to CTX in terms of OS. In view of the adverse effect, ICIs are very tolerable, and combination therapy did not lead to a higher incidence of grade 3–5 AEs when compared with CTX. Immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) were considered as second-line treatments in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) based on better survival benefit and safety profile than chemotherapy (CTX). We aimed to assess different ICIs regimens in the efficacy and safety for front-line treatments in mUC patients. A comprehensive literature search was performed and Phase II-III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on ICIs for patients with mUC were included. The outcome was evaluated by overall survival (OS), progression of free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and grade 3–5 adverse events. Network meta-analysis was used to estimate the effect size. Surface under cumulative ranking curves (SUCRAs) were applied to rank the included treatments for each outcome. Results: The survival benefit of a single ICI was non-inferiority to chemotherapy (CTX). Although no superior effects were indicated, combination therapy (either ICIs plus CTX or ICIs plus ICIs) presented better OS compared with CTX alone. In terms of PFS, combination therapy produced a noticeable benefit over CTX. Regarding the SUCRA ranking, atezolizumab plus CTX was associated with the best ranking for OS and pembrolizumab plus CTX was the best in PFS. In terms of safety, a single ICI had better safety profile than CTX and combination therapy had a similar risk of grade 3–5 adverse events with CTX. Conclusions: Our NMA results revealed that combination therapy has better ranking compared with monotherapy in OS and acceptable AEs. ICIs alone present non-inferior OS but a lower incidence of AEs compared with CTX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: With increasing utilization of robot-assisted surgery in urologic oncology, robotic nephroureterectomy (RNU) is becoming the surgical modality of choice for patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The role of surgical approach on lymph node dissection (LND) and lymph node (LN) yield is unclear, and potential therapeutic effects are unknown. Here we analyze the effects of surgical approach on LN yield, performance of LND, and overall survival (OS).Methods and Materials: Patients with UTUC who underwent nephroureterectomy from 2010 to 2013 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Outcomes of interest included rate of LND, LN yield, and OS. Logistic regression analyses were used to predict performance of LND. Negative binomial regression was used to derive incidence rate ratios for LN yield. Cox proportional hazards models were used to quantify survival outcomes.Results: A total of 3,116 patients met inclusion criteria. LND was performed in 41% (314/762) of RNU, 27% (380/1385) of LNU cases, and 35% (340/969) of ONU (P<0.001). Compared with an ONU, patients who underwent a LNU had significantly lower odds of receiving a LND (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.55-0.87) and had fewer LNs removed (IRR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.60-0.80), while RNU trended toward increased LN yield (IRR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.98-1.33). In a Cox proportional hazards model, increasing LN yield was associated with improved OS in patients with pN0 disease (HR = 0.97 per 1 unit increase in LN yield, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99).Conclusions: Compared with an ONU, RNU does not compromise performance of a LND and may be associated with improved LN yield. LNU is associated with the lowest rates of LND and LN yield. Increasing LN yield is associated with improved OS in patients with pN0 disease. Despite differential rates of LND and LN yield, surgical approach did not independently affect OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]