In cases of metastatic and unresectable urothelial carcinoma with no disease progression after 4 cycles of chemotherapy, including platinum agents, treatment options include continuation of chemotherapy or switching to maintenance therapy with avelumab. This study compared the treatment outcomes of avelumab maintenance therapy with those of pembrolizumab in urothelial carcinoma using propensity score matching.
Between January 2017 and December 2022, 243 patients with metastatic and unresectable urothelial carcinoma were treated with either avelumab or pembrolizumab at the Yamaguchi University Hospital and its affiliated institutions. We retrospectively compared the oncological outcomes and adverse events by aligning patient characteristics and treatment backgrounds using propensity score matching.
The analysis compared 36 cases receiving avelumab maintenance therapy after chemotherapy to 49 cases where patients, after receiving 4 courses of chemotherapy including platinum-based agents without disease progression, were subsequently administered pembrolizumab as a second-line treatment following disease progression. Using propensity score matching, 27 cases from each group were selected for comparison. From the initiation of prechemotherapy to disease progression on immune checkpoint inhibitors, the median progression-free survival was 20.7 and 23.3 months in the avelumab and pembrolizumab groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference observed (P = .358). However, avelumab tended to have a lower rate of high-dose glucocorticoid treatment compared to pembrolizumab.
Progression-free survival was similar for avelumab maintenance therapy and the sequence of continued chemotherapy followed by pembrolizumab after no disease progression at four chemotherapy courses. Avelumab may require less high-dose glucocorticoid treatment, potentially enhancing safety.
Prior research has demonstrated a discrepancy between pathologic and clinical staging in individuals with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). These findings were the major reasons for the under-usage of the bladder preservation strategy. Hence, we aim to explore the reliable markers in identifying pathological complete response (ypCR) status in MIBC patients who achieved clinical complete response (cCR) after NAC.
Between January 2016 and April 2023, 161 consecutive MIBC patients treated with NAC and achieved cCR were enrolled in the study. Patient clinicopathologic information was documented. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used for determining adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). It considered statistically significant when a P < .05.
Of the 161 MIBC patients with cCR after NAC, 64.0% (103/161) achieved ypCR after RC. The independent factors for ypCR status were the origin of MIBC (secondary vs. Primary) with odds ratios (OR) of 0.433 (P = .027), the pathological type (pure vs. mixed) with OR of 3.556 (P = .003), concurrent carcinoma in situ (yes vs. no) with OR of 0.360 (P = .016), and lymphovascular invasion (yes vs. no) with OR of 0.271 (P = .007).
This study demonstrated that primary MIBC, pure UC pathological type, absence of concurrent CIS, and LVI were significant predictors of ypCR in MIBC patients who achieved cCR after NAC and before surgery. These findings may contribute to the decision-making process of bladder preservation strategy in selected patients.
Clinical trials are categorized as industry sponsored trials (ISTs) or investigator-initiated trials (IITs) based on the source of funding and sponsor of the trial. ISTs are usually run by pharmaceutical companies, and are primarily aimed at developing new drugs that ultimately gain regulatory approval. IITs are developed by academic investigators or cooperative groups, often sparked by a clinical need. Both are vital in advancing the field of oncology. To date, little has been published about current trends in ISTs or IITs in genitourinary (GU) oncology. The aim of this study was to assess growth trends of GU oncology ISTs and IITs in 4 countries with similar healthcare infrastructures.
We searched ClinicalTrials.gov for bladder, kidney, and prostate cancer trials conducted in the United States (US), Canada, France, and United Kingdom (UK) from January 2007 to December 2021. Trials were determined to be ISTs or IITs based on their funding source and sponsor. Trials were characterized based on type, purpose, phase, participants, masking, assignment, and allocation.
Overall, 5,834 GU trials were identified, with a balanced distribution of ISTs (n = 3064, n = 52.5%) and IITs (n = 2770, 47.4%). By country, the US conducted the most GU trials (n = 3814) followed by Canada (n = 709), France (n = 677), and the UK (n = 634). Most ISTs were phase 3 trials with over 500 participants while most IITs were open-label phase 2 studies with only 20-49 participants. From 2017 onwards, there was a shift towards more ISTs, most noticeably in Canada and the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic did not have a major impact on the growth of ISTs and IITs.
The gap between ISTs and IITs continues to widen, likely driven by resource and funding challenges faced by investigators. Barriers to completing IITs need to be better understood to promote IIT development and maintain their academically driven intentions.
Small cell bladder cancer (SCBC) is a rare histologic subtype with relative paucity of data regarding treatment response and outcomes. We reviewed 2 databases to compare outcomes in patients with localized SCBC treated with cystectomy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). We hypothesized that survival would be similar with these therapy approaches.
We retrospectively reviewed our institutional and SEER-Medicare databases to identify patients with SCBC. Overall survival (OS) was determined from the date of diagnosis to last follow-up/death. For those with nonmetastatic disease, a multivariate Cox analysis was used to compare locoregional therapy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) + cystectomy versus CCRT.
We identified 53 patients in our institutional database and 1166 patients in SEER-Medicare with localized SCBC. Median OS (mOS) with NAC + cystectomy was 46 months (95% CI, 21-72) and 45 months (95% CI, 0-104) in the institutional and SEER-Medicare databases, respectively, whereas mOS with CCRT was 26 months (95% CI, 5-47) and 23 months (95% CI, 18-28) in the 2 series, respectively. In multivariate analysis, NAC followed by cystectomy was associated with an approximately 30% reduction in mortality compared to CCRT in both institutional and national databases but did not reach statistical significance (Institution HR 0.71, 95% CI, 0.22-2.4, P = .58; SEER HR 0.73, 95% CI, 0.49-1.08; P = .11).
SCBC is very aggressive with limited survival observed in our institutional and SEER-Medicare datasets regardless of locoregional therapy used. There is an unmet need to define the optimal locoregional therapy for nonmetastatic stage and identify novel therapeutic targets.
The effectiveness of the clinical outcome of CN (Cytoreductive Nephrectomy) in cases of mccRCC (Metastatic Clear Cell Renal cell Carcinoma) is still uncertain despite two trials, SURTIME and CARMENA. These trials, conducted with Sunitinib as the standard treatment, did not provide evidence supporting the use of CN.
We queried the NCDB for stage IV mccRCC patients between the years of 2004 to 2020, who received (immunotherapy) IO with or without nephrectomy. Overall survival (OS) was calculated among three groups of IO alone, IO followed by CN (IOCN), CN followed by IO (CNIO). Cox models compared OS by treatment group after adjusting for sociodemographic, health, and facility variables.
From 1,549,101 renal cancer cases, 7983 clear and nonclear cell renal cell carcinoma cases were identified. After adjusting for sociodemographic and health covariates, patients who received IO followed by CN or CN followed by IO had a respective 64% (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.30-0.43, P = .006] and 47% (aHR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.49-0.56, P = .001) mortality risk reduction respectively compared to patients who received IO alone. Compared to White adults, individuals who identified as Black exhibited 17% higher risk mortality (aHR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.06-1.30, P = .002). Patients who received CN prior to IO had a 59% associated mortality risk compared to patients who received IO followed by CN who had a lower risk, 35.7% (P < .001).
Patients receiving CN regardless of sequence with IO did better than IO alone in this national registry-based adjusted analysis for mccRCC. Presently available data indicates that the combination of CN and IO holds promise for enhancing clinical results in patients with mRCC.
Patients with advanced prostate cancer (PC) commonly experience fatigue related to the disease itself and its treatment, which affects their quality of life. There are limited real-world data available on patients’ experiences of fatigue while receiving PC treatment and its management.
This was a cross-sectional, noninterventional qualitative study involving individual concept-elicitation interviews with patients in the United States. Patients with advanced PC aged ≥18 years who had experienced fatigue and were on androgen-deprivation therapy in combination with second-generation androgen receptor pathway inhibitors were interviewed and their experiences quantified.
Of the 143 patients screened, 13 qualified and 11 completed the interview. Most patients used the term “fatigue” (n = 8) to describe their experiences of tiredness, exhaustion, lack of energy, and weakness. Most patients (n = 8) did not receive any form of educational support from their healthcare providers (HCPs), but some expressed an interest in receiving this support (pamphlets, n = 4; discussion with HCPs, n = 4; online resources, n = 3). Most patients (n = 9) self-discovered fatigue-management strategies over the course of their disease and treatment. Patients found that rigorous exercise (n = 5), regular naps (n = 2), increased rest (n = 3), and a healthy diet (n = 3) were the most effective approaches for managing their fatigue.
Tools are needed to support HCPs with counseling patients with PC for effective management of disease- and treatment-related fatigue.