[PROGNOSTIC FACTORS FOR METASTATIC UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA IN THE IMMUNOTHERAPY ERA]

(Objective) To evaluate prognostic factors of metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with immunotherapy. (Materials and methods) Fifty patients treated with pembrolizumab at Osaka Rosai hospital during 2017-2022 were examined. The treatment efficacy was evaluated using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, Version 1.1. (Results) Radical surgery was performed in 40 of 50 patients. According to the Bellmunt risk classification, which considers the performance status, presence of anemia, presence of liver metastasis, and interval from previous chemotherapy, 10 cases had risk 0; 23, risk 1; 13, risk 2; and 4, risk 3. The objective response rate (complete and partial remission) during immunotherapy was achieved in 15 cases. The median times of overall survival (OS) from first-line treatment initiation and immunotherapy initiation were 18.7 and 10.9 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed lower platelet counts (<200,000/μL), increased C-reactive protein levels (≥0.75 mg/dL), and NLR (elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte rate) (≥6) to be poor prognostic factors for OS. Considering these three factors, the median OS of the low-risk (0 or 1) and high-risk (2 or 3) groups was significantly different, at 13.8 and 3.5 months, respectively (p<0.001). (Conclusion) Early switching from immunotherapy to the next treatment should be considered for high-risk patients.