Prognostic value of prostate volume in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

There is evidence that a history of benign prostatic hyperplasia increases the incidence of bladder cancer, and treatment with 5-alpha reductase inhibitor or androgen deprivation therapy reduces recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. We aimed to evaluate whether prostate volume affects its prognosis. We reviewed medical records of men who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor due to non-muscle invasive bladder cancer from January 2012 to December 2017. Patients were divided into two groups based on prostate volume measured by computed tomography (group 1: 264 patients with ≤ 30 mL, group 2: 124 patients with > 30 mL). Propensity score matching analysis was used for adjust selection bias, and then assessed recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival. With a median follow up duration of 52 months, group 1 showed higher 5-year recurrence-free and progression-free survival (69.3% vs 47.0%, p = 0.001; 96.7% vs 87.7%, p = 0.002). Further, cox-regression analysis showed that tumor size (HR = 1.292 p < 0.001), multifocal tumor (HR = 1.993, p < 0.001), adjuvant intravesical therapy (chemotherapy: HR = 0.580, p = 0.037 and bacillus Calmette-Guérin: HR = 0.542, p = 0.004) and prostate volume (HR = 2.326, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of recurrence-free survival. Prostate volume (HR = 2.886, p = 0.014) was also associated with PFS with age (HR = 1.043, p = 0.044) and tumor grade (HR = 3.822, p = 0.013). We conclude higher prostate volume is associated with worse recurrence and progression-free survival in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.ope

Effect of intraoperative fluid volume on postoperative ileus after robot-assisted radical cystectomy

This study aimed to investigate the effect of intraoperative fluid volume on the postoperative ileus (POI) recovery period. A retrospective review of the Korean robot-assisted radical cystectomy database identified 718 patients who underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). Regression analyses were performed to identify the associations between the amount of intraoperative fluid administration (crystalloid/colloid/total), POI period (time to flatus/bowel movements), and length of hospital stay (LOS) after adjusting for covariates. In addition, we analyzed the risk factors for gastrointestinal complications and prolonged POI using a logistic regression model. An increasing volume of the administered crystalloid/total fluid was associated with prolonged POI (crystalloid R2 = 0.0725 and P < 0.0001; total amount R2 = 0.0812 and P < 0.0001), and the total fluid volume was positively associated with the LOS (R2 = 0.099 and P < 0.0001). The crystalloid amount was a risk factor for prolonged POI (P < 0.001; odds ratio, 1.361; 95% confidence interval, 1.133-1.641; P < 0.001). In the context of RARC, increased intravenous fluids are associated with prolonged POI and longer LOS.ope

Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 Expression Status in Urothelial Carcinoma According to Clinical and Pathological Factors: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Study

Purpose: To investigate programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression status and the clinical and pathological factors related to its expression in urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients. Materials and Methods: Data from 761 UC patients who underwent testing for PD-L1 expression using the VENTANA (SP-142 immunohistochemistry assay) for measuring PD-L1 expression according to the manufacturer's protocol between February 2016 and July 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the percentage of tumor area covered by PD-L1-expressing tumor-infiltrating immune cells (ICs) as follows: IC0 (<1%), IC1 (≥1% and <5%), and IC2/3 (≥5%). Positive PD-L1 expression was defined as IC2/3 (≥5%). The factors related to positive PD-L1 expression were assessed by using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses. Results: In the entire cohort, 213 (28%) patients showed positive PD-L1 expression. Final adjusted regression analyses for positive PD-L1 expression revealed that several factors, including intravesical BCG prior to PD-L1 testing (odds ratio [OR] 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-0.96), advanced tumor stage (stage III/IV) (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.41-2.93), and high tumor grade (OR 5.31, 95% CI 2.38-11.83) were significantly associated with positive PD-L1 expression. Conclusions: This study showed that the PD-L1 expression is associated with several clinical and pathological factors for the first time in a real-world setting. Further follow-up clinical trials should consider adjusting these factors, including intravesical BCG treatment, tumor stage and grade to clarify the utility of PD-L1 as a biomarker.ope

Perioperative immunotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) are both major causes of morbidity and mortality. At diagnosis, MIBC is more likely to metastasize, but can often be treated with aggressive care. Standard treatment for MIBC patients is radical cystectomy but a select group of these individuals are not candidates for or will decline this treatment. Thus, bladder preservation therapy followed by combined chemoradiation may be considered. Despite the primary surgical management of MIBC, up to half of patients will obtain tumors at distant sites in the end and perioperative platinum-based chemotherapy comprises the standard of care. However, despite these aggressive treatment options, survival is poor and therefore, it is essential to combine local and systemic therapies. Therapeutic modalities contained cancer vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors and immunogenic therapy are emerging as alternatives to immunotherapy, and several drugs have recently been approved by the FDA. Currently, several trials of adjuvant immunotherapy based on checkpoint inhibitors that as monotherapy, inhibit the reaction between programmed death-receptor 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1). Or combined therapies mixed with chemotherapy, radiation, or various immunotherapy are ongoing. This review summarizes the current state of immunotherapies and evolution of the chemotherapy landscape for MIBC perioperative treatment. Widespread research is currently being performed to investigate the role of perioperative immune checkpoint inhibition in both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting.ope

The Use of Anticholinergics in Patients with Urinary Incontinence after Radical Prostatectomy: A Survey of Urologists

Purpose: We surveyed the actual use of anticholinergics for urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy among the practicing urologists. Materials and Methods: 142 urologist members of the Korean Urological Oncology Society were given surveys through conventional mail and e-mail with 76 members returning responses. Answering for the number of radical prostatectomy performed each year, 21 urologists responded more than 50 cases, 37 responded 10 to 50 cases, 11 responded 5 to 10 cases, and 7 said 1 to 5 cases. Concerning primary approach, retropubic approach surgery, laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery and perineal approach surgery each had 39, 19, 17, and 1, respectively. Results: Among 76 participants, 64 (84%) acknowledged prescribing anticholinergics after prostatectomy depending on symptoms. For post-op indication of anticholinergics, 43 members responded significant incontinence symptoms, while 19 answered frequent urination. Concerning the initiation of medication, 52 answered when symptoms arise after catheter removal. For duration of anticholinergics, less than 30 days, 31-60 days, 61-90 days, more than 90 days each received 8, 17, 24, and 15 votes from participants, respectively. Finally, 57 members thought the use of anticholinergics were beneficial in treating urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. Conclusions: Over 80% of survey participants acknowledged prescribing anticholinergics to urinary incontinence patients according to symptoms, and 75% concurred with their usefulness. But, there is no specified protocol of anticholinergics use for urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.ope

Comparison of Open versus Robotic Radical Prostatectomy in Clinically Advanced Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of robotic prostatectomy(RP) compared with open radical prostatectomy(OP) in clinically advanced prostate cancer(PC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2003 and June 2007 we performed radical prostatectomy in 180 patients with clinically advanced PC (OP, 88; RP, 92). We compared the perioperative parameters and early surgical outcomes between the OP and RP groups in patients with and without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy(NHT). RESULTS: In patients without NHT, there were no significant differences in preoperative characteristics between the OP and RP groups, but in patients with NHT, the RP patients had higher biopsy Gleason scores(GS) and clinical stages. There were no significant differences in lymph node (LN) invasion and extracapsular extension(ECE), but a significant difference existed in the prostatectomy GS between the OP and RP groups, regardless of NHT. The positive surgical margin rates in the RP group were similar to or lower than in the OP groups when stratified by pathologic stages T2 and T3. Irrespective of NHT, in the RP group the mean estimated blood loss was decreased, the mean duration of the hospital stay was less, and the length of bladder catheterization was shorter, but there were no significant differences in the postoperative day the regular diet was started or the frequency of complications. Although there were no significant differences in continence rates between the two groups, all the RP patients had a higher continence rate from 1 month postoperatively, with or without NHT. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that RP may be performed safely and may have results comparable to OP in clinically advanced PC.ope

Robotic Prostatectomy in a Patient with a Miles' Operation.

Robotic prostatectomy(RP) has recently been added to the treatments for localized prostate cancer and it is increasingly being utilized at many centers. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery, the enhanced functional outcomes and the increased patient demand have led to the popularity of this surgical technique. However, RP has been reported to be technically challenging in patients with a history of prior complex lower abdominal/pelvic surgery, morbid obesity, a large prostate, prior pelvic irradiation, neoadjuvant hormonal therapy or prior prostate surgery. We report here on our experience of robotic prostatectomy (RP) in a prostate cancer patient with a Miles's operation and this pateint had undergone adjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic irradiation for rectal cancer.ope

Prediction of organ-confined disease after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in patients with clinically locally-advanced prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the preoperative predictive factors that could identify subsets of favorable patients who can be possibly cured with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) alone in locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPCa). Our study was designed to identify clinical predictors of pathologic organ-confined disease (pOCD) in RARP setting. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2013, clinicopathological and oncological data from 273 consecutive men undergoing robot-assisted RP with extended PLND for clinically LAPCa were reviewed in a single-institution, retrospectively. After exclusion of patients who received neoadjuvant hormone treatment before surgery, 186 subjects satisfied the final inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Fourty-three patients (23.1% of total cohort) with preoperative clinically LAPCa patients were down-staged to pOCD following RARP. Preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, preoperative PSAD, positive core percent, maximal tumor volume in any core, and biopsy Gleason score were significantly associated with down-staging into pOCD following RARP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower preoperative PSA (≤10 ng/mL) and maximal tumor volume in any core (≤70%) were independent predictors of pOCD following RARP. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 23% of preoperative clinically LAPCa patients were down-staged to pOCD following RARP. Preoperative PSA and maximal tumor volume in any biopsy core might be useful clinical predictors of pOCD in clinically LAPCa patients in RARP setting.ope

Outcome of Radical Prostatectomy in Prostate Cancer Patients with Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Level Equal to or More Than 20 ng/ml and No Distant Metastasis Preoperatively

PURPOSE: We assessed the efficacy of radical prostatectomy (RP) in prostate cancer patients with preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels > or = 20 ng/ml and no distant metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 132 prostate cancer patients undergoing RP with preoperative PSA levels > or =20 ng/ml and no distant metastases were reviewed. Sixty-six patients received preoperative neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. Pathologic and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups with PSA of 20-40 ng/ml and > or =40 ng/ml. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in age, prostate volume, or the frequency of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy between the two groups. The PSA > or =40 ng/ml group had a higher RP Gleason score, tumor stage, and extracapsular extension. After a mean follow-up of 47.0 months, 73 (55.3%) patients had PSA progression with a median time of 37.0 months. Fifty-six patients received adjuvant hormonal therapy, and 19 received salvage external beam radiation therapy. Clinical disease progression developed in 10 patients (7.6%). During follow-up, 8 patients died, 1 of prostate cancer and 7 of other causes. Preoperative PSA was a significant predictor of PSA progression and time to PSA progression after RP, whereas there were no differences in distant metastasis, local recurrence, hormone-refractory prostate cancer progression, and overall or prostate cancer-specific death between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the favorable postoperative outcomes of RP in patients with preoperative PSA > or =20 ng/ml and no distant metastases, we suggest that RP has a role in treating these high-risk prostate cancer patients and that preoperative PSA is a significant predictor of postoperative PSA progressionope

Recent global trends in testicular cancer incidence and mortality

Testicular cancer (TCa) has a relatively rare incidence and mortality, but has not been thoroughly evaluated. We analyzed global variations and recent trends in TCa incidence and mortality.Age-standardized rates (ASRs) of TCa incidence and mortality were retrieved from the GLOBOCAN 2012 database. Temporal patterns were assessed using data obtained from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (volumes I-X) and World Health Organization Mortality databases. The incidence and mortality trends over the last 10 years were analyzed using join point analysis.Western and Northern Europe had the highest incidence of TCa (ASR = 8.7 and 7.2, respectively), with most countries showing an increase in incidence rates except for China, which had a stable incidence. Incidence rates were markedly increased in Southern European countries (average annual percent change of 6.8% in Croatia and 6.1% in Spain) but were attenuated in western Europe. The highest mortality rates were observed in western Asia (ASR = 0.7), with most countries showing a decrease in mortality.While the incidence of TCa has increased, mortality from TCa has decreased in most countries. More socioeconomically developed countries had a higher incidence of TCa with lower mortality.ope