Pro-inflammatory diet predicts poorer survival in bladder cancer: Results from the bladder cancer prognosis programme

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bladder cancer (BC) is a global health burden, with an estimated 614,000 new cases and 220,000 deaths in 2022. While diet influences BC progression, the association between dietary inflammatory potential and BC prognosis remains unclear. This study investigated the association using the empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) score in the Bladder Cancer Prognosis Programme (BCPP) cohort. METHODS: We included 1016 newly diagnosed BC patients (2005-2011) and assessed baseline and 3-month post-treatment EDIP scores using food frequency questionnaires. Multivariate Weibull regression models analyzed the associations between pre- and post-treatment EDIP and its dynamic changes with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS). RESULTS: = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.03-3.97) versus consistently low EDIP. No significant EDIP-related associations with CSS were observed. CONCLUSION: Pro-inflammatory diets at diagnosis may worsen PFS and OS in MIBC patients and those aged >70 years. Dynamic post-treatment EDIP changes may impact NMIBC prognosis, highlighting the need for personalized dietary strategies tailored to BC subtype and age to improve survival.