To predict recurrence and progression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients receiving bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), we evaluated circulating basophils as a biomarker that could be detected from the complete blood count.
We use a pooled cohort of patients from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval (2016-2020) and the Vancouver General Hospital (2010-2018) where a complete blood count was available before transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) of a high-grade NMIBC and subsequent BCG. Descriptive statistics described the cohort based on the dichotomous presence or absence of basophils on the complete blood count. Kaplan-Meier estimates and a log-rank test compared recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with multivariable cox regression analysis used to estimate proportional hazard ratios.
The study cohort included 261 patients, with a median follow-up of 31.5 months (interquartile range 18.1-45.0 months). The median age was 74.0 years and 16.8% were female. Circulating basophils were detectable in 49 (18.9%) patients. Both RFS and PFS were significantly lower in patients with detectable basophils. Multivariable analysis demonstrated detectable basophils were an independent predictor of both recurrence (HR = 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-2.85; P = .01) and progression (HR = 2.29; 95% CI 1.14-4.60; P = .02).
Our results confirm that baseline levels of circulating basophils are an immunological biomarker to predict recurrence and progression of NMIBC.
Clinical genitourinary cancer. 2023 Dec 15 [Epub ahead of print]
Geneviève Trépanier, Timo Nykopp, Raphaëlla Rosebush-Mercier, Typhaine Gris, Jonathan Fadel, Peter C Black, Paul Toren
Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada; Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Canada., Department of Surgery, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada., Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada., Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Canada., Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada., Oncology Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Canada; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada. Electronic address: .