Introduction There are limited data on female sexual function after cystectomy for benign indications. Aims To evaluate postoperative sexual items following cystectomy and continent urinary diversion for benign indications (e.g., severe incontinence, interstitial cystitis) in female patients. Furthermore, to review the studies investigating changes in women’s sexual function after cystectomy. Methods In a retrospective study, 21 out of 23 patients (91%) who underwent a cystectomy for a benign indication completed a questionnaire. These women had a median age at the date of operation of 47.3 years (range 25–66 years) and a mean follow-up of 11.9 years. Questions on preoperative and postoperative sexuality, postoperative sexual activity, sexual appreciation, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in patients at present were evaluated. Electronic databases were searched for the published studies investigating female sexual function after cystectomy. Main Outcome Measures Female sexual function was evaluated by the FSFI domain scores and postoperative sexual appreciation questions. Results Sexual complaints before operation were present in 48% of the patients. The most common complaints reported were incontinence during intercourse, pain, and loss of libido. Seventeen out of 21 patients (81%) were sexually active preoperatively, 14 were still active postoperatively, and two preoperative inactive patients became active. Sexual inactivity postoperatively is mainly due to patient-related or combination of patient- and partner-related issues (70%), such as with pain during intercourse, loss of libido, and impaired body image. In the sexually active group, the majority (62.5%) showed improved or unchanged intercourse postoperatively. In the FSFI in 11 sexually active patients (52%) at present, domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain scored above average. The domain of satisfaction scored below average. Conclusion Despite extensive surgery, female sexuality may remain unchanged or even improve, following cystectomy and continent diversion for benign indication. Sexual inactivity postoperatively needs more attention in respect to sexual counseling. Overall, the results are reassuring.

SummaryThe recommended treatment for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) is tumor resection followed by adjuvant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) bladder instillations. However, only 50% of patients benefit from this therapy. In case of progression to advanced disease, patients must undergo a radical cystectomy with significant morbidity and have a poor clinical outcome. Identifying tumors least likely to respond to BCG can translate into alternative treatments, such as early radical cystectomy or novel targeted or immunotherapies. Here we present molecular profiling of 132 BCG-naive, HR-NMIBC patients, and 44 post-BCG recurrences (34 matched), which uncovered three distinct BCG Response Subtypes (BRS1-3). Patients with BRS3 tumors have reduced recurrence and progression-free survival compared to BRS1-2. BRS3 tumors expressed high EMT-basal markers and had an immunosuppresive profile, which was confirmed with spatial proteomics. Tumors which recurred post-BCG were enriched for BRS3. BRS stratification was validated in a second cohort of 151 BCG-naive HR-NMIBC patients and the molecular subtypes outperformed guideline recommended risk stratification based on clinicopathological variables. For clinical application, we validated that a commercially approved assay was able to accurately predict BRS3 tumors (AUROC 0.86). Our findings provide a potential clinical tool for improved identification of HR-NMIBC patients at the highest risk of progression, which can be used to select patients for early radical cystectomy or novel subtype-directed therapies.One Sentence SummaryMolecular subtypes are predictive of response to intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Purpose: Continent urinary diversion following a cystectomy has become a standard procedure in suitable patients, because of its potentially favorable aspects. Reports concerning long-term complications necessitating reoperation are mainly based on patients with cystectomy for carcinoma. We reviewed the reoperation rate in patients with a continent diversion for both oncological and interstitial cystitis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed at our department on 63 patients in whom a continent diversion was created in the period from 1984 to 2002. Mean follow-up period was 73.9 months. Statistical analysis for the postoperative complication rate was performed using a multivariate linear stepwise regression, and Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Mean patient-age for the whole group was 53.8 years. Types of diversion used were Indiana (n = 31), Hautmann (n = 21) and Kock (n = 11). The group with an oncological indication for cystectomy consisted of 40 patients (31 male, 9 female) with a mean age of 58.5 years. Reasons for cystectomy were transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (n = 39) and clear cell vaginal carcinoma (n = 1). The cystitis group was comprised of 23 patients (2 male, 21 female) with a mean age of 45.7 years. Cystectomy was performed for interstitial cystitis (n = 20) and chronic cystitis (n = 3). Multivariate linear stepwise regression of the summed side-effect score yielded a significant association, with the oncological group having less postoperative complications. The Cox proportional hazard model yielded a highly significant difference in revision of the urinary diversion. Reoperation rate in functional patients was 78.3 vs. 22.5% in oncological patients (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Postoperative complication and reoperation rates of continent diversion (or orthotopic neobladder) were significantly higher in patients with non-oncological indications for cystectomy. Therefore, results of continent diversion based on studies with oncological patients should not be used in counselling patients who may need a urinary diversion because of functional reasons such as interstitial cystitis.