The addition of tislelizumab to gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy increases thrombocytopenia in patients with urothelial carcinoma: A single-center study based on propensity score matching

Abstract

Purpose: Whether the addition of tislelizumab to gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) chemotherapy increases the incidence of myelosuppression has not been well established. This study identified the risk factors for the development of myelosuppression in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) after receiving GC chemotherapy with or without tislelizumab.

Materials and methods: We enrolled 192 UC patients who received GC with or without tislelizumab at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between July 2014 and November 2022. Patient baseline characteristics were included in the statistical analyses after adjusting for previously reported risk factors affecting survival using propensity score matching (1:1). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with posttreatment myelosuppression.

Results: A total of 192 patients were enrolled, of whom 96 were treated with tislelizumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin (T + GC) and 96 with GC alone. The incidence of leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia of any grade was 50.0%, 70.8%, and 42.7%, respectively, in the T + GC group and 41.7%, 72.9%, and 20.8%, respectively, in the GC group. In multivariate analysis, patients aged over 70 years (OR = 2.486, 95% CI: 1.067-5.792, p = 0.035) and those who received T + GC (OR = 3.119, 95% CI: 1.576-6.173, p = 0.001) were more likely to develop thrombocytopenia. Patients aged over 70 years (OR = 3.213, 95% CI: 1.254-8.237, p = 0.015) were more likely to develop anemia, and patients with renal insufficiency (OR = 2.105, 95% CI: 1.035-4.280, p = 0.040) were more likely to develop leukopenia. Eventually, 99 (51.6%) patients with UC successfully completed all the treatment cycles.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the addition of tislelizumab to GC chemotherapy led to a considerable increase in the occurrence of thrombocytopenia, whereas no significant changes were observed regarding anemia or leukopenia. It is crucial to fully inform patients at increased risk for myelosuppression of potential risks and closely monitor changes in their blood routines.

Keywords: cisplatin; gemcitabine; myelosuppression; risk factors; tislelizumab; urothelial carcinoma.