Bladder neck involvement in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: risk implications and outcomes of BCG vs gemcitabine/docetaxel.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of bladder neck involvement (BNI) on oncological outcomes in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and compare outcomes between Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and gemcitabine/docetaxel (Gem/Doce) intravesical therapies in this population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed consecutive patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) and received BCG or Gem/Doce from 2013 to 2023. BNI was defined as tumour presence at the bladder neck during TURBT. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS: Among 474 patients, 58 (12%) had BNI. The median (interquartile range) follow-up time was 34 (12-58) months. The 2-year RFS was lower in the BNI group for any-grade (41% vs 57%, log-rank p = 0.003) and high-grade recurrence (56% vs 68%, log-rank p = 0.03). BNI independently predicted worse any-grade RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.59, p = 0.02), high-grade RFS (HR 1.68, p = 0.03), and PFS (HR 2.18, p = 0.03). While BCG and Gem/Doce had comparable 2-year high-grade RFS (59% vs 53%, log-rank p = 0.31) and PFS (88% vs 68%, log-rank p = 0.07), the multivariable analysis revealed significantly increased risk of any-grade recurrence (HR 1.75, p < 0.001) and progression (HR 2.72, p = 0.002). Maintenance therapy improved high-grade RFS (HR 0.43, p < 0.001) and PFS (HR 0.44, p = 0.003). Limitations include retrospective design and single-institution data.

CONCLUSION: Bladder neck involvement is an independent predictor of worse outcomes in NMIBC. While unadjusted outcomes were similar, multivariable analysis showed higher recurrence and progression risk with Gem/Doce. Recognising BNI as a high-risk factor may refine risk stratification and treatment decisions. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.