Comparison of MRI- and TRUS-Informed Prostate Biopsy for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis in Biopsy-Naive Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) with informed targeted biopsies (TGBX) has changed the paradigm of prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. Randomized studies have demonstrated a diagnostic benefit of Clinically significant (CS) for TGBX compared to standard systematic biopsies (SBX). We aimed to evaluate whether mpMRI-informed TGBX has superior diagnosis rates of any-, CS-, high-grade (HG)-, and clinically insignificant (CI)-PCa compared to SBX in biopsy-naive men. METHODS: Data was searched in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Evidence-based medicine reviews-Cochrane Database of systematic reviews from database inception until 2019. Studies were selected by two authors independently, with disagreements resolved by consensus with a third author. Overall 1951 unique references were identified, and 100 manuscripts underwent full-text review. Data were pooled using random-effects models. The meta-analysis is reported according to the PRISMA statement. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019128468). RESULTS: Overall 29 studies (13,845 patients) were analyzed. Compared to SBX, use of mpMRI-informed TGBX was associated with a 15% higher rate of any PCa diagnosis (95% CI 10-20%, p\u3c0.00001). This relationship was not affected by the study methodology (p=0.11). Diagnosis of CS and HG PCa were more common in the mpMRI-informed TGBX group (risk difference of 11%, 95% CI 0-20%, p=0.05, and 2%, 95% CI 1-4%; p=0.005, respectively) while there was no difference in diagnosis of CI PCa (risk difference of 0, 95% CI -3-3%, p=0.96). Notably, the exclusion of SBX in the mpMRI-informed TGBX arm significantly modified the association between a mpMRI strategy and lower rates of CI PCa diagnosis (p=0.01) without affecting the diagnosis rates of CS- or HG-PCa. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to SBX, a mpMRI-informed TGBX strategy results in a significantly higher diagnosis rate of any-, CS-, and HG-PCa. Excluding SBX from mpMRI-informed TGBX was associated with decreased rates of CI-PCa diagnosis without affecting diagnosis of CS- or HG-PCa

Geographic distribution of urologists throughout the United States using a county level approach.

PurposeThe adequacy of the urologist work force in absolute numbers and relative distribution is unclear. To develop effective policies addressing the needs of an aging population we must better understand the urologist work force. We assessed the geographic distribution of urologists throughout the United States at the county level and determined the county characteristics associated with increased urologist density.Materials and methodsCounty level data from the Department of Health and Human Services Area Resource File and the United States Census were analyzed in this ecological study. Logistic regression and ordinal logistic regression models were built to identify predictors of urologist density, defined as the number of urologists per 100,000 individuals. National patterns of urologist density were mapped graphically at the county level.ResultsOverall 63% of the counties in the United States lack a urologist. Based on multivariate models urologists were less likely to be found in nonmetropolitan counties (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.46-0.72) and rural counties (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.02-0.06) than in metropolitan counties, which confirmed visually mapped models. Patterns of urologist density also appeared to be influenced by climate and county education levels rather than by traditional socioeconomic measures. Urologists younger than 45 years old were 3 times less likely to be located in nonmetropolitan and rural counties than their older counterparts.ConclusionsThe uneven distribution of urologists throughout the United States is likely to worsen as younger physicians continue to cluster in urban areas. Governing bodies must consider this distribution in their calls for increasing the number of training positions

Reflex ImmunoCyt testing for the diagnosis of bladder cancer in patients with atypical urine cytology.

BackgroundImmunoCyt/uCyt (Scimedx, Denville, NJ, USA) is a well-established urinary marker assay with high sensitivity for the diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma (UC) and can function as a second-level test to arbitrate atypical reads of urine cytology.ObjectiveTo determine the utility of uCyt as a reflex test for atypical cytology in patients undergoing a hematuria evaluation or surveillance with a history of UC.Design, setting, and participantsThe uCyt assay was performed as a second-level reflex test on all voided urine cytology tests read as atypical between January 2007 and June 2010 in an academic medical center. Records were retrospectively reviewed. Three hundred twenty-four patients underwent a total of 506 uCyt assays.InterventionReflex uCyt assay on atypical urine cytology.Outcome measurements and statistical analysisThe uCyt test characteristics include sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV).Results and limitationsReflex uCyt was performed on 506 atypical voided urine samples that were followed by cystoscopy within 90 d. Reflex uCyt with a history of UC showed a sensitivity of 73%, a specificity of 49%, and an NPV of 80%. In those with a history of low-grade UC, reflex uCyt had a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 50%, and an NPV of 82%, while in those with a history of high-grade UC, it had a sensitivity of 74%, a specificity of 44%, and an NPV of 79%. Without prior history of UC, reflex uCyt had a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 59%, and an NPV of 94%. This study's limitations include its retrospective design and interobserver variability inherent to cystoscopy, which was used as the reference test.ConclusionsWhen used as a reflex test on atypical urine cytology, negative uCyt may predict a negative cystoscopy in select patients and modulate the urgency and further work-up in those with no prior history or low-grade disease

Serum Adipokines as Predictors for the Outcome of Prostate Biopsies at Early Stage Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Purpose: Elevated adipokines in patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome have been linked to increased risk of prostate cancer (PCa). The association between select serum adipokines and the outcome of prostate biopsies alone and in combination with clinical parameters at different early stages of PCa was investigated. Patients and methods: Clinical data and serum adipokines were retrieved from three retrospective cohorts representing men at different points in PCa detection: 1. Subjects with no prior biopsies (n=1061), 2. subjects with a prior negative biopsy (REDUCE trial, control arm) (n=1209), 3. subjects with low-risk PCa on active surveillance (AS) (n=154). Adipokines were chosen based on an unpublished pilot study and included: Resistin, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interleukin-6, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, Hepatocyte Growth Factor, and Nerve Growth Factor. The primary outcome was the absence of PCa on biopsy and the secondary outcome was diagnosis of low-risk PCa fitting the criteria for continuing AS. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of adipokines and negative and/or low-risk PCa at prostate biopsy. Results: In men with no prior prostate biopsy or with prior negative biopsy, adipokines were not predictors of prostate biopsy outcomes on multivariable regression analysis controlling for known clinical variables. In the AS cohort, MCP-1 and Resistin were significant predictors of biopsy outcome on multivariable analysis (OR 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05–0.85, p= 0.03 & OR 0.30, 95% CI: 0.10 −0.86, p= 0.03). Conclusion: Our findings do not support a strong role for adipokines for predicting the outcome of prostate biopsies at any early stage in PCa diagnosis

Urologist Density and County-Level Urologic Cancer Mortality

PurposeThe surgical work force distribution at the county level varies widely across the United States, and the impact of differential access on cancer outcomes is unclear. We used urologists as a test case because they are the first care providers for urologic cancers, can easily be identified from available data sources, and are unevenly distributed throughout the country. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of increasing urologist density on local prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer mortality.Patients and methodsUsing county-level data from the Area Resource File, US Census, National Cancer Institute, and Centers for Disease Control, regression models were built for prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer mortality, controlling for categorized urologist density, county demographics, socioeconomic factors, and preexisting health care infrastructure.ResultsFor each of the three cancers, there was a statistically significant cancer-specific mortality reduction associated with counties that had more than zero urologists (16% to 22% reduction for prostate cancer, 17% to 20% reduction for bladder cancer, and 8% to 14% reduction for kidney cancer with increasing urologist density) relative to zero urologists. However, increasing density greater than two urologists per 100,000 people had no statistically significant impact on mortality for any of the tumors studied.ConclusionThe presence of a urologist is associated with lower mortality for urologic cancers in that county, but increasing urologist density does not yield further improvements. Therefore, a nuanced and geographically aware policy toward the size and distribution of the future work force is most likely to provide the greatest population-level improvement in cancer mortality outcomes