Analysis of Metastases and Second Primary Malignancy Development in Patients with Invasive Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

Background: Invasive BC patients are at risk of loco-regional recurrence, distant MTS, and the development of second primary tumors. SPMs comprise the sixth most common group of malignancies. Material and methods: The records of 125 consecutive patients with primary invasive TCC of the bladder seen in the Oncology Department of Soroka University Medical Center were reviewed between January 2016 and December 2023. We recorded demographic details, the type of primary treatment, tumor site, time to diagnosis of MTS, and occurrence of SPMs. Results: The primary treatments included RC in 58 patients (median age 66 years, range 43–86), PC in 9 patients (median age 64 years, range 22–73), and XRT in 23 patients (median age 74 years, range 22–87). Five patients from the PC group were also treated by XRT. A total of 90 (72%) patients developed MTS or SPMs, with 66 of these developing MTS and 24 developing SPMs. The median age was 70 years (range 22–87). The most frequent site of MTS was in the pelvic LNs (34 patients), followed by bone (18 patients), liver (8 patients), and lung (6 patients), with 4 patients developing synchronous MTS in the pelvic LNs and liver. The median time from diagnosis to MTS was 14.3 months. The distribution of MTS varied according to primary treatment. After RC, 17 patients developed LN MTS, 7 liver, 6 bone, and 3 lung MTS. The average times for developing MTS were as follows: LNs, 14.8 months, liver, 59.7 months, bone, 6.8 months, and lung, 16 months. Following XRT, LN MTS developed in 17 patients: 12 bone, 3 lung, and 1 liver. The most frequent SPMs were prostate cancer with 11 patients and lung cancer with 6 patients, with the median time from TCC diagnosis of 54 months. Conclusion: A regular extended follow-up for invasive BC patients is vital to ensure the early detection of frequently occurring MTS and SPMs. Through the early diagnosis of local recurrences, MTS, and SPMs, treatment results and patient prognosis can be significantly improved.