Prognostic Factors for Survival in Patients With Recurrence of Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer After Treatment With Curative Intent

PurposeWe conducted this study to evaluate the prognostic factors for survival among patients with recurrent muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) after initial treatment with curative intent.Patients and MethodsClinical data were collected from a population-based series of 1409 patients with MIBC. We selected 330 patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) or radiotherapy (RT) for urothelial carcinoma with curative intent and who experienced recurrence. Multivariate survival analyses were performed with death from MIBC as the endpoint. Covariates were gender, time to recurrence, age at diagnosis of recurrence, recurrence multiplicity, localization, and treatment for recurrence. Analyses were performed separately for patients initially treated with RC (i-RC) or external beam radiotherapy (i-EBRT).ResultsPatients with recurrence after i-RC showed a 1- and 3-year survival of 17% and 6%, respectively. Localization and treatment for recurrence were significantly associated with survival. Patients with recurrence after i-EBRT showed a 1- and 3-year survival of 31% and 12%, respectively. Age at diagnosis of recurrence, localization, and treatment for recurrence were significantly associated with survival.ConclusionThis study confirms the extremely poor prognosis after recurrence of MIBC in patients initially treated with surgery or RT. Clinicopathologic factors that predict survival after disease recurrence are location of recurrence, treatment for recurrence, and age at diagnosis of recurrence. Improved diagnosis of primary MIBC to detect extravesical disease and more effective therapeutic approaches to target recurrent MIBC are needed.