Randomized comparison of magnetic resonance imaging versus transurethral resection for staging new bladder cancers: results from the prospective BladderPath trial
Bryan, Richard T Liu, Wenyu Pirrie, Sarah J Amir, Rashid Gallagher, Jean Hughes, Ana I Jefferson, Kieran P Knight, Allen Nanton, Veronica Mintz, Harriet P
Bryan, Richard T
Liu, Wenyu
Pirrie, Sarah J
Amir, Rashid
Gallagher, Jean
Hughes, Ana I
Jefferson, Kieran P
Knight, Allen
Nanton, Veronica
Mintz, Harriet P
Affiliation
University of Birmingham; University of Oxford; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire; Action Bladder Cancer; University of Warwick; University College London; Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust; Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board-Glan Clwyd Hospital; University Hospitals of North Midlands; London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust; University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust; Swansea Bay University Health Board; Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; University of Sheffield; University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Institute of Cancer Research; The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Other Contributors
Publication date
2025-01-14
Subject
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Purpose: Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is the initial staging procedure for new bladder cancers (BCs). For muscle-invasive bladder cancers (MIBCs), TURBT may delay definitive treatment. We investigated whether definitive treatment can be expedited for MIBC using flexible cystoscopic biopsy and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for initial staging.
Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective open-label, randomized study conducted within 17 UK hospitals (registered as ISRCTN 35296862). Participants with suspected new BC were randomly assigned 1:1 to TURBT-staged or mpMRI-staged care, with minimization factors of sex, age, and clinician visual assessment of stage. Blinding was not possible. Patients unable/unwilling to undergo mpMRI or with previous BC were ineligible. The study had two stages with separate primary outcomes of feasibility and time to correct treatment (TTCT) for MIBC, respectively.
Results: Between May 31, 2018, and December 31, 2021, 638 patients were screened, and 143 participants randomly assigned to TURBT (n = 72; 55 males, 15 MIBCs) or initial mpMRI (n = 71; 53 males, 14 MIBCs). For feasibility, 36 of 39 (92% [95% CI, 79 to 98]) participants with suspected MIBC underwent mpMRI. The median TTCT for participants with MIBC was significantly shorter with initial mpMRI (n = 12, 53 days [95% CI, 20 to 89] v n = 14, 98 days [95% CI, 72 to 125] for TURBT, log-rank P .02). There was no detriment for participants with non-MIBC (median TTCT: n = 30, 17 days [95% CI, 8 to 25] for mpMRI v n = 28, 14 days [95% CI, 10 to 29] for TURBT, log-rank P = .67). No serious adverse events were reported.
Conclusion: The mpMRI-directed pathway led to a 45-day reduction in TTCT for MIBC. Incorporating mpMRI ahead of TURBT into the standard pathway was beneficial for all patients with suspected MIBC.
Citation
Bryan RT, Liu W, Pirrie SJ, Amir R, Gallagher J, Hughes AI, Jefferson KP, Knight A, Nanton V, Mintz HP, Pope AM, Cherian J, Ekwueme K, Gommersall L, Hellawell G, Hunter-Campbell P, Kanda Swamy G, Kotwal S, Kumar V, Mak D, Mohee A, Nambirajan T, Ward DG, Kennish SJ, Catto JWF, Patel P, James ND; BladderPath Collaborative Group. Randomized Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Versus Transurethral Resection for Staging New Bladder Cancers: Results From the Prospective BladderPath Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2025 Apr 20;43(12):1417-1428. doi: 10.1200/JCO.23.02398. Epub 2025 Jan 14. Erratum in: J Clin Oncol. 2025 May 20;43(15):1847. doi: 10.1200/JCO-25-00779.
Type
Article