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Patterns of treatment of high-risk BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients among Arab urologists
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Patterns of treatment of high-risk BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients among Arab urologists

Mohamad Moussa, Mohamad Abou Chakra, Neal D Shore, Athanasios Papatsoris, Yasser Farahat and Michael A O'Donnell
Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia, Vol.96(1), 12244
03/19/2024
DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2024.12244
PMID: 38502039
url
https://doi.org/10.4081/aiua.2024.12244View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

PURPOSE To understand the treatment plans suggested for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive disease (NMIBC) patients in the Arab countries and therapeutic decisions applied for BCG-naive patients during BCG shortage time .METHODS A 10-minute online survey was distributed through the Arab Association of Urology (AAU) office to urologists in the Arab countries who treat patients with NMIBC. RESULTS One hundred six urologists responded to the survey. The majority of urologists had treated, in the past 6 months, > 10 patients with NMIBC who were considered BCG-unresponsive (55% of respondents). Radical cystectomy (RC) was the most popular treatment option (recommended by 50%) for these patients. This was followed by intravesical chemotherapy (30%), repeat BCG therapy (12%), resection with ongoing surveillance (8%). Clinical trials and intravenous checkpoint inhibitors were never selected. The most preferred intravesical chemotherapy was by ranking: 60% gemcitabine, 19% mitomycin C, 8% docetaxel, 8% gemcitabine/docetaxel, 4% sequential gemcitabine/mitomycin C, and 1% valrubicin. The use of intravesical chemotherapy appears limited by Arab urologists due to concerns regarding clinical efficacy (fear of progression) and the lack of clear recommendations by urology societies. Given the BCG shortage, which may vary per Arab country, Arab urologists have adjusted by prioritizing BCG for T1 and carcinoma in situ (CIS) patients over Ta, adapting intravesical chemotherapy, and reducing the dose/strength of BCG administered. Most physicians report an eagerness to utilize novel therapies to address the BCG deficit, especially to try intravesical chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Even though Arab urologists are in the majority of cases selecting RC for BCG-unresponsive cases, one-third of them are most recently initiating intravesical chemotherapy as an alternative option. To further assist Arab urologists in the appropriate selection of BCG unresponsive high risk NMIBC patient treatments, enhanced education and pathway protocols are needed.

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