Age and Bladder Cancer Outcomes After BCG Treatment: A Multicenter Study

Overview

This study investigates whether a patient's age affects the outcomes of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment for high-grade bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is a common cancer that can sometimes grow into the deeper layers of the bladder wall. In this study, we focus on patients with primary pT1 high-grade bladder cancer, a form of bladder cancer with a higher risk of coming back or progressing. Standard treatment includes removal of the tumor through the urethra (transurethral resection), a second procedure to check that no tumor remains, and treatment with BCG, which is given directly into the bladder to reduce the risk of the cancer returning or progressing. Current treatment recommendations do not change BCG treatment based on a patient's age. However, some previous studies have suggested that BCG may be less effective in older patients. Because the number of older adults with bladder cancer is increasing, it is important to understand whether age should influence treatment decisions. This is a retrospective multicenter cohort study. Researchers will review medical records of patients with primary pT1 high-grade bladder cancer who underwent transurethral resection, repeat resection showing no remaining tumor, and BCG treatment according to current European Association of Urology (EAU) recommendations. The study will compare cancer outcomes between different age groups. The main outcomes of interest are: Recurrence-free survival: how long patients remain free from a return of bladder cancer. Progression-free survival: how long patients remain free from worsening or more advanced bladder cancer. Overall survival: how long patients remain alive after treatment. The study includes 64 patients, with a median follow-up period of 43 months. Patients were compared using age thresholds of 70 and 75 years. The results showed no significant difference in the risk of cancer recurrence or progression between younger and older patients based on these age thresholds. Other tumor and patient characteristics may influence outcomes. In this study, carcinoma in situ and very high-risk tumors were associated with a higher risk of progression in some analyses, while female sex was associated with a higher risk of recurrence and progression in multivariable analyses. Overall, the findings suggest that age alone may not be associated with worse cancer outcomes after BCG treatment for primary pT1 high-grade bladder cancer. Therefore, older age by itself should not necessarily be a reason to withhold BCG treatment. Treatment decisions should be individualized and take into account the patient's overall health, tumor characteristics, treatment tolerance, and preferences. This study is retrospective, meaning that researchers analyze information that has already been collected during routine medical care. It does not assign patients to different treatments.