Juan Palou-Redorta

EAU Guidelines on Non–Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder, the 2011 Update

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE To present the 2011 European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Literature published between 2004 and 2010 on the diagnosis and treatment of NMIBC was systematically reviewed. Previous guidelines were updated, and the level of evidence (LE) and grade of recommendation (GR) were assigned. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Tumours staged as Ta, T1, or carcinoma in situ (CIS) are grouped as NMIBC. Diagnosis depends on cystoscopy and histologic evaluation of the tissue obtained by transurethral resection (TUR) in papillary tumours or by multiple bladder biopsies in CIS. In papillary lesions, a complete TUR is essential for the patients prognosis. Where the initial resection is incomplete or where a high-grade or T1 tumour is detected, a second TUR should be performed within 2-6 wk. In papillary tumours, the risks of both recurrence and progression may be estimated for individual patients using the scoring system and risk tables. The stratification of patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups-separately for recurrence and progression-is pivotal to recommending adjuvant treatment. For patients with a low risk of tumour recurrence and progression, one immediate instillation of chemotherapy is recommended. Patients with an intermediate or high risk of recurrence and an intermediate risk of progression should receive one immediate instillation of chemotherapy followed by a minimum of 1 yr of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) intravesical immunotherapy or further instillations of chemotherapy. Papillary tumours with a high risk of progression and CIS should receive intravesical BCG for 1 yr. Cystectomy may be offered to the highest risk patients, and it is at least recommended in BCG failure patients. The long version of the guidelines is available from the EAU Web site (www.uroweb.org). CONCLUSIONS These abridged EAU guidelines present updated information on the diagnosis and treatment of NMIBC for incorporation into clinical practice.

EAU guidelines on non-muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE To present the updated version of 2008 European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A systematic review of the recent literature on the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer was performed. The guidelines were updated and the level of evidence and grade of recommendation were assigned. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS The diagnosis of bladder cancer depends on cystoscopy and histologic evaluation of the resected tissue. A complete and correct transurethral resection (TUR) is essential for the prognosis of the patient. When the initial resection is incomplete or when a high-grade or T1 tumour is detected, a second TUR within 2-6 wk should be performed. The short- and long-term risks of both recurrence and progression may be estimated for individual patients using the scoring system and risk tables. The stratification of patients to low, intermediate, and high-risk groups-separately for recurrence and progression-represents the cornerstone for indication of adjuvant treatment. In patients at low risk of tumour recurrence and progression, one immediate instillation of chemotherapy is strongly recommended. In those at an intermediate or high risk of recurrence and an intermediate risk of progression, one immediate instillation of chemotherapy should be followed by further instillations of chemotherapy or a minimum of 1 yr of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). In patients at high risk of tumour progression, after an immediate instillation of chemotherapy, intravesical BCG for at least 1 yr is indicated. Immediate cystectomy may be offered to the highest risk patients and in patients with BCG failure. The long version of the guidelines is available on www.uroweb.org. CONCLUSIONS These EAU guidelines present the updated information about the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and offer the recent findings for the routine clinical application.

Treatment Options Available for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Failure in Non–muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

CONTEXT Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a standard conservative treatment for patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Many patients will experience recurrence or progression following BCG and are termed BCG failures. OBJECTIVE To summarise the current treatment options available for patients with high-risk NMIBC who experience BCG failure. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION We searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Trials databases for studies of BCG failure using predetermined relevant Medical Subject Heading terms and free text terms. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Radical cystectomy (RC) should be strongly recommended when a patient has been deemed to fail BCG, if the patient is fit and fully informed of the risks, benefits, and quality-of-life issues. RC achieves long-term survival in excess of 90% with ongoing improvements in morbidity. While other salvage intravesical therapies have to be considered oncologically inferior to RC, several options are now available if bladder preservation is the objective. The options can be categorised as immunotherapy, chemotherapy, device-assisted therapy, and sequential combinations of these newer modalities with conventional therapy. Some agents have shown specific promise in BCG-failure patients (eg, gemcitabine, thermochemotherapy, taxane chemotherapy), and some modalities have been shown to be effective only in non-BCG-failure cohorts (eg, electromotive mitomycin). CONCLUSIONS The definition, prediction, and treatment of BCG failure remain unclear secondary to inconsistent studies and the heterogeneous entity of patients with NMIBC. RC should be the default position upon failing BCG, but if bladder preservation is sought, then several promising intravesical salvage options are available. It will be necessary to individually tailor the management of such patients based on tumour risk and medical profiles. Currently data are still inadequate to formulate definitive recommendations, and larger studies of salvage intravesical agents are urgently required.

Guía clínica del carcinoma urotelial de vejiga no músculo-invasivo de la Asociación Europea de Urología. Actualización de 2011

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE To present the 2011 European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Literature published between 2004 and 2010 on the diagnosis and treatment of NMIBC was systematically reviewed. Previous guidelines were updated, and the level of evidence and grade of recommendation were assigned. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Tumours staged as Ta, T1, or carcinoma in situ (CIS) are grouped as NMIBC. Diagnosis depends on cystoscopy and histologic evaluation of the tissue obtained by transurethral resection (TUR) in papillary tumours or by multiple bladder biopsies in CIS. In papillary lesions, a complete TUR is essential for the patients prognosis. Where the initial resection is incomplete or where a high-grade or T1 tumour is detected, a second TUR should be performed within 2-6 wk. In papillary tumours, the risks of both recurrence and progression may be estimated for individual patients using the scoring system and risk tables. The stratification of patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups (separately for recurrence and progression) is pivotal to recommending adjuvant treatment. For patients with a low risk of tumour recurrence and progression, one immediate instillation of chemotherapy is recommended. Patients with an intermediate or high risk of recurrence and an intermediate risk of progression should receive one immediate instillation of chemotherapy followed by a minimum of 1 yr of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) intravesical immunotherapy or further instillations of chemotherapy. Papillary tumours with a high risk of progression and CIS should receive intravesical BCG for 1 yr. Cystectomy may be offered to the highest risk patients, and it is at least recommended in BCG failure patients. CONCLUSIONS These abridged EAU guidelines present updated information on the diagnosis and treatment of NMIBC for incorporation into clinical practice.

Guía clínica del carcinoma urotelial no músculo invasivo de la Asociación Europea de Urología

Context and objective: To present the updated version of 2008 European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Evidence acquisition: A systematic review of the recent literature on the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer was performed. The guidelines were updated and the level of evidence and grade of recommendation were assigned. Evidence synthesis: The diagnosis of bladder cancer depends on cystoscopy and histologic evaluation of the resected tissue. A complete and correct transurethral resection (TUR) is essential for the prognosis of the patient. When the initial resection is incomplete or when a high-grade or T1 tumour is detected, a second TUR within 2–6 wk should be performed. The short- and long-term risks of both recurrence and progression may be estimated for individual patients using the scoring system and risk tables. The stratification of patients to low, intermediate, and high-risk groups—separately for recurrence and progression—represents the cornerstone for indication of adjuvant treatment. In patients at low risk of tumour recurrence and progression, one immediate instilla tion of chemotherapy is strongly recommended. In those at an intermediate or high risk of recurrence and an intermediate risk of progres sion, one immediate instillation of chemotherapy should be followed by further instillations of chemotherapy or a minimum of 1 yr of baci llus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). In patients at high risk of tumour progression, after an immediate instillation of chemotherapy, intravesical BCG for at least 1 yr is indicated. Immediate cystectomy may be offered to the highest risk patients and in patients with BCG failure. The long version of the guidelines is available on www.uroweb.org. Conclusions: These EAU guidelines present the updated information about the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder can cer and offer the recent findings for the routine clinical application.

Tratamiento del tumor vesical no músculo infiltrante frente al problema de disponibilidad de bacilo de Calmette-Guerin. Consenso de un panel de expertos españoles

CONTEXT Since June 2012, the has been a worldwide lack of available of the Connaught strain. In December 2012, a group of experts met in the Spanish Association of Urology to analyze this situation and propose alternatives. OBJECTIVE To present the work performed by said committee and the resulting recommendations. ACQUISITION OF EVIDENCE An update has been made of the principal existing evidence in the treatment of middle and high risk tumors. Special mention has been made regarding the those related with the use of BCG and their possible alternative due to the different availability of BCG. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS In tumors with high risk of progression, immediate cystectomy should be considered when BCG is not available, with dose reduction or alternating with chemotherapy as methods to economize on the use of BCG when availability is reduced. In tumors having middle risk of progression, chemotherapy can be used, although when it is associated to a high risk of relapse, BCG would be indicated if available with the mentioned savings guidelines. BCG requires maintenance to maintain its effectiveness, it being necessary to optimize the application of endovesical chemotherapy and to use systems that increase its penetration into the bladder wall (EMDA) if they are available. CONCLUSIONS Due to the scarcity of BCG, it has been necessary to agree on a series of recommendations that have been published on the web page of the Spanish Association of Urology.