Effect of Pembrolizumab on Lymph Node Dissection in Patients Who Experienced Bladder Cancer Recurrence Following Radical Cystectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pelvic lymph node dissection is recommended to improve the prognosis in patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy. Although several studies have reported an association between lymph node dissection and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, evidence specific to bladder cancer remains lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effect of pembrolizumab on lymph node dissection during radical cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 61 patients treated with pembrolizumab were divided into those who experienced recurrence after radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection (resection group, n=45) and those with unresectable advanced bladder cancer (unresectable group, n=16). The median overall survival (mOS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed in both groups. Additionally, the association of the characteristics and number of dissected lymph nodes with the efficacy of pembrolizumab was examined in the resection group.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed in mOS and mPFS between the resection group and the unresectable group (mOS, =0.90; mPFS, =0.11, respectively). In the resection group, the mOS and mPFS were not associated with lymph node positivity or negativity (mOS, =0.52; mPFS, =0.53, respectively). However, among patients in the resection group who had undergone neoadjuvant therapy, those with >14 resected lymph nodes exhibited significantly shorter mPFS compared with those with <14 resected lymph nodes (=0.03).

CONCLUSION

Lymph node resection was not associated with prognosis and efficacy of pembrolizumab in patients with bladder cancer. However, as the resection of more than 14 lymph nodes was associated with a poorer prognosis and reduced efficacy of pembrolizumab, treatment strategies should be carefully tailored based on the extent of lymph node dissection and the administration of neoadjuvant therapy.