Nomograms for Prediction of Disease Recurrence in Patients with Primary Ta, T1 Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

We developed nomograms to predict disease recurrence in patients with Ta, T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Thirty-eight training hospitals participated in this retrospective multicenter study. Between 1998 and 2002, a total of 1,587 patients with newly diagnosed non-muscle invasive bladder cancer were enrolled in this study. Patients with prior histories of bladder cancer, non-transitional cell carcinoma, or a follow-up duration of less than 12 months were excluded. With univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, we constructed nomograms to predict disease recurrence, and internal validation was performed using statistical techniques. Three-year and five-year recurrence-free rates were 64.3% and 55.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that age (hazard ratio [HR]=1.437, p<0.001), tumor size (HR=1.328, p=0.001), multiplicity (HR=1.505, p<0.001), tumor grade (HR=1.347, p=0.007), concomitant carcinoma in situ (HR=1.611, p=0.007), and intravesical therapy (HR=0.681, p<0.001) were independent predictors for disease recurrence. Based on these prognostic factors, nomograms for the prediction of disease recurrence were developed. These nomograms can be used to predict the probability of disease recurrence in patients with newly diagnosed Ta, T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. They may be useful for patient counseling, clinical trial design, and patient follow-up planning

Successful Endourologic Management of Lower Pole Moiety Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction in a Partially Duplicated Collecting System

We present two cases of symptomatic lower pole moiety ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in a partially duplicated collecting system that were successfully treated with minimally invasive endourologic procedures. In the first case, we performed retrograde endopyelotomy with the Acucise® ureteral cutting balloon device, and in the latter case, we performed percutaneous nephrolithotomy and antegrade endopyelotomy because of the presence of multiple renal stones. Subsequent intravenous pyelography confirmed marked resolution of the obstruction, and both patients remained asymptomatic during 1 year of follow-up

Increased Expression of Neuregulin 1 and erbB2 Tyrosine Kinase in the Bladder of Rats With Cyclophosphamide-Induced Interstitial Cystitis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in expressions of neuregulin (NRG)1 and erbB2 tyrosine kinase (ErbB2) in bladders of rats with cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced interstitial cystitis (IC). Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the IC group (n=16) and the control group (n=8). After inducing IC with intraperitoneal CYP injection, expressions of NRG1 and ErbB2 were analyzed using western blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results: In Western blotting, relative intensities and distributions of both NRG1 and ErbB2 were approximately 1.5- and 3.2-fold higher, respectively, in the IC group than in the control group (mean±standard deviation: 1.42±0.09 vs. 0.93±0.15 and 0.93±0.16 vs. 0.29±0.08, P<0.05). In the rat bladder samples, mRNA expression levels of NRG1 and ErbB2 were higher in the IC group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Our study has demonstrated significant changes in mRNA expression and immunoreactivity of NRG1 and ErbB2 receptors in the urinary bladder after CYP-induced IC. These results suggest that the up-regulated NRG1 may play a role in inducing an overactive bladder and promoting regeneration in the inflammatory bladder with CYP-induced IC

Cytotoxic Effects and Androgen Receptor Expression According to Concentrations of Genistein with Silencing Cyclooxygenase–2 Gene Expression in Prostate Cancer Cells

COX–2 has major roles in inflammatory reaction, and COX–2 inhibitor and genistein have a chemopreventive effect on some cancers such as colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer (PCa). The aims of this study was to investigate combined effect of COX–2 inhibition and genistein treatment. To address this issue, we tested the degree of cell survival and the changes of androgen receptor in PCa cells with silencing of COX–2 according to concentrations of genistein. DU–145 PCa cells were transfected with COX–2 siRNA. The mRNA expressions of androgen receptor and caspase–3 were detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in the cells with or without COX–2 siRNA transfection. Immunofluorescent staining was performed on PCa cell with COX–2, androgen receptor and caspase–3 antibody and analyzed with confocal microscopy and image analyzer. Cell cytotoxicity according to concentrations of genistein was analyzed with MTT assay. The mRNA expression of AR was down–regulated in DU–145 cell line according to concentration of genistein, but caspase–3 expression showed up–regulated pattern in increasing the dosage of genistein. COX–2 siRNA (+) group was stronger mRNA expression of caspase–3 and weaker mRNA expression of AR than COX–2 siRNA (–) group. The immunofluorescent staining results were similar with those of mRNA expression. The results of cell survival showed that COX–2 siRNA (+) group with genistein was more cytotoxic compared to COX–2 siRNA (–) group (Repeated Measured ANOVA, p=0.004). There was significant cytotoxic effects in COX–2 siRNA (+) group between 10μM and 50μM of concentration of genistein compared to COX–2 siRNA (–) group (p<0.0001). The effect of genistein and silencing of COX–2 shows that it reduced AR and increased caspase–3 in PCa cells. These results suggest that genistein and silencing of COX–2 might be a role in the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis