Should we perform multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the bladder before transurethral resection of bladder? Time to reconsider the rules

We would like to congratulate Ueno and colleagues [1] on their paper on diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement for the new Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) [2] for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) in this issue of European Urology. Their report on 74 patients who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) before transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) raises great interest in the RADS (Reporting and Data Systems) era. They address the questions of reproducibility and diagnostic performance of mpMRI in the setting of bladder ca (BC), in which potential applications of this imaging technique have seen constant growth in the past decades without a definitive role having been identified

Localized prostate cancer genotyping: Another step towards personalized therapy

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In silico candidate gene mining in livestock species

AbstractThe identification of genes involved in livestock production and disease is a challenge due to the multi-genic, multifactorial nature of the traits and the complexity of integration of information from different studies. Genome-wide techniques such as microarray analysis, SAGE, linkage analysis and linkage disequilibrium analysis have been extensively used in livestock and have often identified a large number of candidate genes. Selection of the most probable candidate genes for further empirical analysis remains a challenge. Novel extensive biological databases (DB) provide an opportunity for candidate gene mining. Bioinformatic methods and tools to prioritize candidate genes underlying pathways or diseases have been presented mostly for application to human disease candidate gene search. These computational methods employ data from a variety of sources to identify the most likely candidate genes from genes sets. The objectives of the study were: 1. to test a set of existing gene prioritization c..

Predicting future cancer burden in the United States by artificial neural networks

Aims: To capture the complex relationships between risk factors and cancer incidences in the US and predict future cancer burden. Materials & methods: Two artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms were adopted: a multilayer feed-forward network (MLFFNN) and a nonlinear autoregressive network with eXogenous inputs (NARX). Data on the incidence of the four most common tumors (breast, colorectal, lung and prostate) from 1992 to 2016 (available from National Cancer Institute online datasets) were used for training and validation, and data until 2050 were predicted. Results: The rapid decreasing trend of prostate cancer incidence started in 2010 will continue until 2018–2019; it will then slow down and reach a plateau after 2050, with several differences among ethnicities. The incidence of breast cancer will reach a plateau in 2030, whereas colorectal cancer incidence will reach a minimum value of 35 per 100,000 in 2030. As for lung cancer, the incidence will decrease from 50 per 100,000 (2017) to 31 per 100,000 in 2030 and 26 per 100,000 in 2050. Conclusion: This up-to-date prediction of cancer burden in the US could be a crucial resource for planning and evaluation of cancer-control programs

Molecular mechanisms related to hormone inhibition resistance in prostate cancer

Management of metastatic or advanced prostate cancer has acquired several therapeutic approaches that have drastically changed the course of the disease. In particular due to the high sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to hormone depletion, several agents able to inhibit hormone production or binding to nuclear receptor have been evaluated and adopted in clinical practice. However, despite several hormonal treatments being available nowadays for the management of advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, the natural history of the disease leads inexorably to the development of resistance to hormone inhibition. Findings regarding the mechanisms that drive this process are of particular and increasing interest as these are potentially related to the identification of new targetable pathways and to the development of new drugs able to improve our patients’ clinical outcomes

Inside the 2016 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium: Part 1 - Kidney cancer

The American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, Moscone West Building, San Francisco, CA, USA, 7-9 January 2016 The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, held in San Francisco (CA, USA), from 7 to 9 January 2016, focused on 'patient-centric care: translating research to results'. Every year, this meeting is a must for anyone studying genitourinary tumors to keep abreast of the most recent innovations in this field, exchange views on behaviors customarily adopted in daily clinical practice, and discuss future topics of scientific research. This two-part report highlights the key themes presented at the 2016 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, with part 1 reporting the main novelties of kidney cancer and part 2 discussing the most relevant issues which have emerged for bladder and prostate tumors

Androgen Receptor Signaling Pathway in Prostate Cancer: From Genetics to Clinical Applications

Around 80-90% of prostate cancer (PCa) cases are dependent on androgens at initial diagnosis; hence, androgen ablation therapy directed toward a reduction in serum androgens and the inhibition of androgen receptor (AR) is generally the first therapy adopted. However, the patient's response to androgen ablation therapy is variable, and 20-30% of PCa cases become castration resistant (CRPCa). Several mechanisms can guide treatment resistance to anti-AR molecules. In this regard, AR-dependent and -independent resistance mechanisms can be distinguished within the AR pathway. In this article, we investigate the multitude of AR signaling aspects, encompassing the biological structure of AR, current AR-targeted therapies, mechanisms driving resistance to AR, and AR crosstalk with other pathways, in an attempt to provide a comprehensive review for the PCa research community. We also summarize the new anti-AR drugs approved in non-metastatic castration-resistant PCa, in the castration-sensitive setting, and combination therapies with other drugs

The human microbiota and prostate cancer: Friend or foe?

The human microbiome is gaining increasing attention in the medical community, as knowledge on its role not only in health but also in disease development and response to therapies is expanding. Furthermore, the connection between the microbiota and cancer, especially the link between the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal tumors, is becoming clearer. The interaction between the microbiota and the response to chemotherapies and, more recently, to immunotherapy has been widely studied, and a connection between a peculiar type of microbiota and a better response to these therapies and a different incidence in toxicities has been hypothesized. As knowledge on the gut microbiota increases, interest in the residing microbial population in other systems of our body is also increasing. Consequently, the urinary microbiota is under evaluation for its possible implications in genitourinary diseases, including cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the male population; thus, research regarding its etiology and possible factors correlated to disease progression or the response to specific therapies is thriving. This review has the purpose to recollect the current knowledge on the relationship between the human microbiota and prostate cancer