Risk groups in bladder cancer patients treated with radical cystectomy

Eva Mallen, Pedro Gil, Maria Jesus Gil

To stratify patients with bladder cancer into homogeneous risk groups according to statistically significant differences found in PFS (progression-free survival). To identify those patients at increased risk of progression and to provide oncological follow-up according to patient risk group. A retrospective study of 563 patients treated with radical cystectomy (RC). In order to determine which factors might predict bladder tumour progression and death, uni- and multivariate analyses were performed. The risk groups were identified according to "inter-category" differences found in PFS and lack of differences, thus revealing intra-category homogeneity. Median follow up time was 37.8 months. Recurrence occurred in a total of 219 patients (38, 9 %). In 63 % of cases this was distant recurrence. Only two variables retained independent prognostic value in the multivariate analysis for PFS: pathological organ confinement and lymph node involvement. By combining these two variables, we created a new ″risk group ″ variable. In this second model it was found that the new variable behaved as an independent predictor associated with PFS. Four risk groups were identified: very low, low, intermediate and high risk: • Very low risk: pT0 N0 • Low risk: pTa, pTis, pT1, pT2 and pN0 • Intermediate risk: pT3 and pN0 • High risk: pT4 N0 or pN1-3. We retrospectively identified 4 risk groups with an independent prognostic value for progression-free survival following RC. Differences in recurrence patterns after RC between risk groups have led us to set different intervals in monitoring for cancer.