Urothelial carcinoma (UC), the sixth most common cancer in Western countries, includes upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and bladder carcinoma (BC) as the most common cancers among UCs (90–95%). BC is the most common cancer and can be a highly heterogeneous disease, including both non-muscle-invasive (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive (MIBC) forms with different oncologic outcomes. Approximately 80% of new BC diagnoses are classified as NMIBC after the initial transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBt).
Author, Year | Patients Number | Study Design | Treatment | Regimen | Effects of Treatment | Main Findings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chevuru et al., 2023 [25] | 97 | Retrospective | Gemcitabine Docetaxel |
Induction +/− maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis Docetaxel: inhibition of cell division |
12, 24, and 60 months RFS 57%, 44%, and 24% (12, 24, and 60 months HG-RFS 60%, 50%, and 30%, respectively); BCG unresponsive: 12, 24, and 60 months RFS 67%, 50%, and 28%; CIS-only: 1-, 2-, and 5-year RFS 48%, 38%, and 22%, papillary only: 1-, 2-, and 5-year RFS 64%, 49%, and 25% (p = 0.3); 12, 24, and 60 months RC-free survival 89%, 86%, and 75% |
Hurle et al., 2020 [26] |
36 | Open-label, single-arm | Gemcitabine | Induction +/− maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis | 12 and 24 months DFS 44.44% (95% CI 28.02–59.64%) and 31.66% (95% CI 16.97–47.43%); 12 and 24 months PFS 80.13% (95% CI: 62.78–90.00%) and 69.55% (95% CI: 50.33% 82.52%), 24 months CSS 80.68% (95% CI 61.49–90.96%), 24 months OS 77.9% (95% CI 58.78–88.92%) |
Steinberg et al., 2020 [27] | 276 | Retrospective | Gemcitabine Docetaxel |
Induction +/− maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition DNA synthesis Docetaxel: inhibition of cell division |
1 and 2 years RFS 60% and 46% (43% if CIS present); HG 1 and 2 years RFS 65% and 52% (50% if CIS present) |
DeCastro et al., 2020 [28] | 18 | Phase I trial | Cabazitaxel Gemcitabin Cisplatin |
Induction +/− maintenance (cabazitaxel + gemcitabine) | Cabazitaxel: inhibition of cell division Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis Cisplatin: inhibition of DNA replication and transcription |
CR rate: 89%; PR: 94% (negative biopsy but positive cytology). One and two years RFS 0.83 (range 0.57 to 0.94) and 0.64 (0.32 to 0.84), median 27 months. One- and two-years RC-free survival 0.94 (0.67 to 0.99) and 0.81 (0.52 to 0.94) |
Milbar et al., 2017 [29] | 33 (22 BCG unresponsive/relapsing) | Retrospective | Gemcitabine Docetaxel |
Induction +/− maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition DNA synthesis Docetaxel: inhibition of cell division |
1 and 2 years DFS38% and 24%. One and two years HG-RFS 49% and 34%. |
Dalbagni et al., 2017 [30] | 19 | Single-arm, phase I/II trial | Gemcitabine Everolimus (oral) |
Gemcitabine induction + everolimus maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis Everolimus: mTOR inhibition |
3, 6, and 9, 12 months RFS 58% (95% CI 33–76%), 27% (95% CI 9–49%) and 20% (95% CI 5–42%) |
Robins et al., 2017 [31] | 22 | Single-arm, open-label, phase II trial | Nab-paclitaxel | Induction +/− maintenance | Nab-paclitaxel: inhibition of cell division | Overall CR 36%, non-CIS CR 63, CIS CR 25%. One and three-year RFS 32% and 18% (no CIS CR 40%, CIS CR 10%), |
Cockerill et al., 2016 [32] | 27 | Retrospective | Gemcitabine MMC |
Induction, no standardized maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis MMC: inhibition of DNA functions. |
63% recurrence rate, median RFS 15.2 months (range 1.7–32). RFS 37% (median follow-up 22 months) |
Steinberg et al., 2015 [33] | 45 | Retrospective | Gemcitabine Docetaxel |
Induction +/− maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis Docetaxel: inhibition of cell division |
Treatment success (no recurrence + no cystectomy) 66% at 12 weeks, 54% at 1 year, 34% at 2 years; median time to failure 3.1 months (range 2.2–25.9) |
Lightfoot et al., 2014 [34] | 52 (10 BCG naive) | Retrospective | Gemcitabine MMC |
Induction +/− maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis MMC: inhibition of DNA functions. |
CR 68%, 1- and 2-year RFS, 48%, and 38% |
McKiernan et al., 2014 [35] | 28 | Single-arm, phase II trial |
Nab-paclitaxel | Induction +/− maintenance | Nab-paclitaxel: inhibition of cell division | 35.7% CR, 1 and 2-year RFS 35.7% and RFS 30.6%. 12, 24, and 36 months CFS 74%, 74%, and 55% |
Barlow et al., 2013 [36] | 54 | Retrospective | Docetaxel | Induction +/− maintenance | Docetaxel: inhibition of cell division | 59% CR (cystoscopy with biopsy + cytology); 1- and 3-year RFS 40% and 25%; 31% RC rate |
Skinner et al., 2013 [37] | 58 | Single-arm, open-label, phase II trial | Gemcitabine | Induction +/− maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis | 3 months CR (negative cystoscopy, urinary cytology +/− biopsy) 47%. Median RFS 6.1 months (95% CI 16–43), 21% at 24 months. Progression/RC rate 36%. |
Sternberg et al., 2013 [38] | 69 | Retrospective | Gemcitabine | Induction | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis | 5 years progression rate 19% for BCG-refractory pts, 22% for pts with other types of BCG failure (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.34–3.50). CR (negative cystoscopy and cytology) in 27 pts, PR (negative cystoscopy and positive cytology in 19 with), NR (positive cystoscopy) 20 pts. Subsequent RC in 20 pts |
Steinberg et al., 2011 [39] | 90 | Single-arm, pivotal phase III open-label study | Valrubicin | Induction | Valrubicin: inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis | CR in 18 pts at 3 and 6 months (negative cytology, cystoscopy, and biopsy), NR 64 pts |
McKiernan et al., 2011 [40] | 18 | Phase I trial | Nab-paclitaxel | Induction | Nab-paclitaxel: inhibition of cell division | CR in 5 patients (28%), 13 NR (stage progression in 1) |
Bassi et al., 2011 [41] | 16 | Single-arm, open-label, phase I trial | Paclitaxel-hyaluronic acid | Induction | Paclitaxel: inhibition of cell division | 6 NR (40%), 9 disease-free pts (60%) |
Di Lorenzo et al., 2010 [42] | 80 | Multicentric, phase II trial, randomized | Gemcitabine vs. BCG | Induction + maintenance for both arms | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis BCG: stimulating cellular and humoral immune response |
2-year RFS 19% for Gem (95% CI, 5–39), 3% for BCG (95% CI, 0–21; HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.1–0.3.008). Progression rate 33% for Gem, 37.5% for BCG |
Perdonà et al., 2010 [43] | 20 | Single-arm, phase II trial | Gemcitabine | Induction + maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis | 3 months CR at the first 75%; 55% recurrence rate (11 of 20 pts); 45% progression rate (5 of 11 pts) |
Laudano et al., 2010 [44] | 18 | Single-arm, phase I trial | Docetaxel | Induction | Docetaxel: inhibition of cell division | 22% CR, 17% PR (NMIBC recurrence requiring TURBT with no further treatment), 61% NR (RC or further pharmacologic therapy). PFS 89%. |
Addeo et al., 2010 [45] | 109 | Phase III trial randomized | Gemcitabine vs. MMC | Induction +/− maintenance for both arms | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis MMC: inhibition of DNA functions. |
RFS in gemcitabine arm, 72% (39 of 54 pts), in MMC arm 61% (33 of 55 pts). Stage progression in 10 pts in the MMC arm and 6 in the gem arm |
Ignatoff et al., 2009 [46] | 38 | Multicentric, single-arm, phase II trial | AD32 (doxorubicin analog with limited systemic exposure) |
Induction | AD32: inhibition of DNA functions and induction of apoptosis | CR 42.9% (90% CI: 24.5%, 62.8%), CIS CR 23.8% (90% CI: 9.9%, 43.7%). 12 and 24 RFS months 20% (90% CI: 7.8–36.1%) and 15% (CI, 4.9%, 30.2%),12 and 24 CIS RFS 80% (90% CI, 31.4%, 95.8%) if previous CR. PFS 22.4 months, CIS PFS 8.7 months |
Mohanty et al., 2008 [47] | 35 | Single-arm, non-randomized, phase I trial |
Gemcitabine | Induction | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis | At 18 months follow-up 21 disease free pts (60%), 11 pts (31.4%) with superficial recurrences, 3 (8.75%) with MIBC. Average RFS 12 months, average time to progression 16 months. |
Gunelli et al., 2007 [48] | 40 | Single-arm, phase II trial |
Gemcitabine | Induction | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis | 95% (38 of 40 pts) CR at 6 months (cystoscopy + cytology); overall event-free survival rate 80% at 1 year and 66% at 2.5 years. At a median follow-up of 28 months, 35% relapse rate (NMIBC). RC in 2 pts |
Dalbagni et al., 2006 [49] | 30 | Single-arm, phase II trial | Gemcitabine | Induction | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis | 50% CR; median RFS 3.6 months (95% CI, 2.9 to 11.0 months); 21% 1-year RFS in pevious CR (95% CI, 0% to 43%). RC rate 37% |
McKiernan et al., 2006 [50] | 18 | Single-arm, phase I trial | Docetaxel | Induction | Docetaxel: inhibition of cell division | CR in 56% (10 pts) |
Bartoletti et al., 2005 [51] | 40 BCG refractory (total population 116) | Multicentric, single-arm, phase II trial | Gemcitabine | Induction | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis | Recurrence rate 32.5%, relapse in 6 (25%) of 24 intermediate-risk BCG refractory pts and 7 (43.7%) of 16 BCG refractory high-risk pts |
Bassi et al., 2005 [52] | 9 | Single-arm, phase I trial | Gemcitabine | Induction +/− maintenance | Gemcitabine: inhibition of DNA synthesis | CR in 4/9 pts |
Dalbagni et al., 2002 [53] | 14 | Single-arm, phase I trial | Gemcitabine | Induction (dose levels 500 mg, 1.000 mg, 1.500 mg, and 2.000 mg. | Gemcitabine: inhibition DNA synthesis | CR (defined as a negative posttreatment cystoscopy with biopsy of the urothelium + negative cytology) in 7, failure in 11 (negative bladder biopsy + persistent positive cytology), RC rate 1/11 pts |