Twelve-Month Results From the CISTO Study Comparing Radical Cystectomy Versus Bladder-Sparing Therapy for Recurrent High-Grade Non–Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

J John L. Gore (Department of Urology, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA) A Angela B. Smith E Erika M. Wolff (Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA) B Bryan A. Comstock (Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA) M Michael G. Nash K Kristin M. Follmer (Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA) J Jenney R. Lee (Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA) S Sung Min Kim L Larry G. Kessler S Scott M. Gilbert (Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL) S Sam S. Chang (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN) J Jonathan L. Wright (University of Washington, Seattle, WA) M Max R. Kates (Department of Urology, The James Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD) K Kamal S. Pohar (Department of Urology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH) T Thomas J. Guzzo (Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA) T Trinity J. Bivalacqua K Kenneth G. Nepple (University of Iowa and Clinic Holden Cancer Center, Iowa City, IA) J Jeffrey S. Montgomery (Department of Urology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI) K Kristen R. Scarpato (Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN) S Solomon L. Woldu (Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX) V Viraj A. Master D David Y.T. Chen (Department of Urology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA) M Matthew Mossanen S Siamak Daneshmand (Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center) B Brock B. O'Neil (Division of Urology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT) M Mark D. Tyson (Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ) M Mary E. Westerman (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC) A Ashish M. Kamat A Ahmed M. Mansour (Department of Urology, University of Texas Health, San Antonio, TX) K Karim Chamie (David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA) S Stephen B. Riggs (Department of Urology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC) J Janet B. Kukreja (Department of Urology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO) P Parth K. Modi (Section of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL) T Tullika Garg (Department of Urology, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA) C Charles C. Peyton (Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL) J Jeffrey W. Nix (Department of Urology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL) R Rian Dickstein (Chesapeake Urology, Baltimore, MD) A Adam J. Gadzinski (Comprehensive Urology, Royal Oak, MI) A Alex Sankin (Department of Urology, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, NY) N Neal D. Shore (START Carolinas/Carolina Urologic Research Center, Myrtle Beach, SC) B Brian R. Lane (Division of Urology, Corewell Health West, Grand Rapids, MI) J Jeffrey C. Bassett (Department of Urologic Oncology, Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital, Newport Beach, CA) S Sanjay Patel (Heart Research Institute; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia) D David S. Morris (Urology Associates, PC, Nashville, TN) L Liam C. Macleod (Department of Urology and Heiman Cancer Center, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, Medford, OR) E Eugene K. Lee (Department of Urology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS) C Chad R. Ritch (Desai Sethi Urology Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL) S Stephanie Chisolm (Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, Bethesda, MD) D Douglas B. MacLean (CISTO Advocate Advisory Board, Seattle, WA) F Fred Almeida M Mary Beth Ballard Murray N Nancy Lindsey R Robert Lipman R Richard M. Oliver L Lori A. Roscoe K Karen Sachse (Inova Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria, VA) Y Yair Lotan (Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX) S Sima P. Porten J Jennifer M. Taylor G Gary D. Steinberg (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL) J James W.F. Catto (Division of Clinical Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom) T Tracy M. Downs J Jennifer L. Malin E Elai Davicioni P Patricia Rios M Marielle Yano G Grace Jun (University of Washington, Seattle, WA) C Casey Li C Christopher Nefcy A Anirban Basu P Patrick J. Heagerty

Abstract

PURPOSE To compare patient-reported and clinical outcomes between radical cystectomy (RC) and bladder-sparing therapy (BST) in patients with recurrent high-grade non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS This pragmatic, prospective observational cohort study was designed with patients, who selected and prioritized outcomes. Eligible adults were candidates for both RC or BST, had previous induction Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and received their last treatment within 12 months. The primary outcome was the EORTC-QLQ-C30 physical function scale at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included other EORTC-QLQ-C30 scales, depression, anxiety, bladder cancer–specific quality of life (QOL), financial burden, and cancer-specific outcomes. Targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) was used to calculate average treatment effect (ATE) estimates between arms. Inverse probability weighted risk ratios (wRR) were calculated using quasi-Poisson regression. RESULTS Of 570 participants (mean age 71.4 years; 21% female), 371 selected BST and 199 selected RC. Physical function was significantly worse in the RC arm at 3 months; by 9 months, there was no difference between arms, and at 12 months, physical function did not differ (ATE, 0.9; 95% CI, –0.6 to 2.4; P = .22). RC was associated with better emotional function, generic health-related QOL, and financial burden, and lower depression and anxiety, while BST was associated with better bowel and sexual health. Cancer-specific survival was 99% for BST versus 96% for RC (wRR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.01). RC was associated with a higher risk of adverse events and serious adverse events, including a 90-day mortality rate of 2.5%. CONCLUSION Most patient-prioritized outcomes were similar or better among participants who chose RC compared with BST. These findings support the continued role of RC in managing recurrent high-grade NMIBC.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 44, Issue 4
Published February 01, 2026
Pages 274-285
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (71)

J

John L. Gore

Department of Urology, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

A

Angela B. Smith

E

Erika M. Wolff

Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

B

Bryan A. Comstock

Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

M

Michael G. Nash

K

Kristin M. Follmer

Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

J

Jenney R. Lee

Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

S

Sung Min Kim

L

Larry G. Kessler

S

Scott M. Gilbert

Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL

S

Sam S. Chang

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

J

Jonathan L. Wright

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

M

Max R. Kates

Department of Urology, The James Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

K

Kamal S. Pohar

Department of Urology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

T

Thomas J. Guzzo

Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

T

Trinity J. Bivalacqua

K

Kenneth G. Nepple

University of Iowa and Clinic Holden Cancer Center, Iowa City, IA

J

Jeffrey S. Montgomery

Department of Urology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI

K

Kristen R. Scarpato

Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

S

Solomon L. Woldu

Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

V

Viraj A. Master

D

David Y.T. Chen

Department of Urology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

M

Matthew Mossanen

S

Siamak Daneshmand

Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

B

Brock B. O'Neil

Division of Urology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

M

Mark D. Tyson

Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ

M

Mary E. Westerman

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

A

Ashish M. Kamat

A

Ahmed M. Mansour

Department of Urology, University of Texas Health, San Antonio, TX

K

Karim Chamie

David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

S

Stephen B. Riggs

Department of Urology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC

J

Janet B. Kukreja

Department of Urology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO

P

Parth K. Modi

Section of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

T

Tullika Garg

Department of Urology, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA

C

Charles C. Peyton

Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

J

Jeffrey W. Nix

Department of Urology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

R

Rian Dickstein

Chesapeake Urology, Baltimore, MD

A

Adam J. Gadzinski

Comprehensive Urology, Royal Oak, MI

A

Alex Sankin

Department of Urology, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, NY

N

Neal D. Shore

START Carolinas/Carolina Urologic Research Center, Myrtle Beach, SC

B

Brian R. Lane

Division of Urology, Corewell Health West, Grand Rapids, MI

J

Jeffrey C. Bassett

Department of Urologic Oncology, Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital, Newport Beach, CA

S

Sanjay Patel

Heart Research Institute; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia

D

David S. Morris

Urology Associates, PC, Nashville, TN

L

Liam C. Macleod

Department of Urology and Heiman Cancer Center, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, Medford, OR

E

Eugene K. Lee

Department of Urology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS

C

Chad R. Ritch

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL

S

Stephanie Chisolm

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, Bethesda, MD

D

Douglas B. MacLean

CISTO Advocate Advisory Board, Seattle, WA

F

Fred Almeida

M

Mary Beth Ballard Murray

N

Nancy Lindsey

R

Robert Lipman

R

Richard M. Oliver

L

Lori A. Roscoe

K

Karen Sachse

Inova Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria, VA

Y

Yair Lotan

Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

S

Sima P. Porten

J

Jennifer M. Taylor

G

Gary D. Steinberg

Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL

J

James W.F. Catto

Division of Clinical Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

T

Tracy M. Downs

J

Jennifer L. Malin

E

Elai Davicioni

P

Patricia Rios

M

Marielle Yano

G

Grace Jun

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

C

Casey Li

C

Christopher Nefcy

A

Anirban Basu

P

Patrick J. Heagerty