Oncologist

74 yo M with extensive comorbid conditions and a new diagnosis of Stage IIIA bladder cancer with left hydronephrosis and hematuria. PMH: -CAD, NSTEMI early 2023 (DES to pLAD early 2023; aspirin only) -Brief afib/flutter (while hypotensive on HD- no anticoagulation due to hematuria) -ESRD on HD -Polyarteritis Nodosa -HFrEF (ef 46%) -COPD home O2 (2L) -recent ETOH use disorder (stopped 2 wk prior to admit) -Severe protein calorie malnutrition -RML pulmonary nodule is suspected to be a slow growing second primary Underwent TURBT given presentation with gross hematuria. Found to have invasive high grade papillary urothelial carcnoma inavding muscularis propria Question: is this someone you would recommend/offer systemic treatment for given his comorbidities? Would you consider immunotherapy?

GU Cancer Specialst

Treatment should be carefully considered and ideally in a multi-disciplinary setting with urology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology. It is not clear to me whether he has had full staging evaluation - are there any pelvic lymphadenopathy (stage IIIA could be based on cT3-T4a or cN1 status), any evidence of distant metastasis? He is a poor candidate for surgery, but would chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone be an option? With regards to systemic therapy, he is clearly not a chemotherapy candidate. I would also be hesitant about offering immunotherapy with his baseline polyarteritis nodosa that increases the risks of immunotherapy-associated toxicities, and the questionable risk/benefit expectations at present. Since he has already undergone a TURBT, it may be most prudent to monitor and reassess the tumor status (cystoscopy and chest/abdomen/pelvis imaging) in 3 months. If there is persistent/recurrent disease, then either repeat TURBT or systemic therapy may be considered. You could send tumor molecular testing for FGFR alterations in the meantime, in case there is an FGFR alteration targetable by erdafitinib. Immunotherapy may be considered at that point after a careful discussion about possible risks/benefits. Enfortumab vedotin (with dose reduction) could be an alternative option.