Evaluation of a Novel Lateral Emitting Laser Fiber for Near-Infrared Photoimmunotherapy.

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer therapy that uses NIR light and conjugates of a tumor-targeting monoclonal antibody and phthalocyanine dye. In clinical practice, frontal and cylindrical diffusers are the only options for NIR illumination. However, illumination in a narrow space is technically difficult with such diffusers. Therefore, we evaluated a lateral illumination system using a lateral emitting laser (LEL) fiber. The LEL fiber illuminated a certain area in a lateral direction. NIR-PIT with an LEL fiber reduced luciferase activity in a light-dose-dependent manner in A431-GFP-luc cells in vitro and significantly suppressed tumor proliferation in a xenograft mouse model. To evaluate the usefulness of the LEL fiber in the illumination of a narrow space, a tumor was illuminated from the inside of a cylinder, mimicking a narrow space, and the fluorescence intensity in the tumor was monitored. In the frontal diffuser, NIR light was unevenly delivered and little light reached a distal tumor area from the illuminated side. By contrast, the LEL fiber allowed a uniform illumination of the entire tumor, and a loss of fluorescence was observed even in distal areas. These findings suggested that the LEL fiber can be used for NIR-PIT and is suitable for NIR light illumination in a narrow space.

Elimination of radiation-induced senescent cancer cells and stromal cells in vitro by near-infrared photoimmunotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Therapy-induced senescent cancer and stromal cells secrete cytokines and growth factors to promote tumor progression. Therefore, senescent cells may be novel targets for tumor treatment. Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a highly tumor-selective therapy that employs conjugates of a molecular-targeting antibody and photoabsorber. Thus, NIR-PIT has the potential to be applied as a novel senolytic therapy. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of NIR-PIT treatment on senescent cancer and stromal cells. METHODS: Two cancer cell lines (human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and human pancreatic cancer MIA PaCa-2 cells) and two normal cell lines (mouse fibroblast transfected with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2] cells and human fibroblast WI38 cells) were used. The cytotoxicity of NIR-PIT was evaluated using anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody panitumumab and anti-HER2 antibody transtuzumab. RESULTS: Cellular senescence was induced in A549 and MIA PaCa-2 cells by 10 Gy γ-irradiation. The up-regulation of cellular senescence markers and characteristic morphological changes in senescent cells, including enlargement, flattening, and multinucleation, were observed in cancer cells after 5 days of γ-irradiation. Then, NIR-PIT targeting EGFR was performed on these senescent cancer cells. The NIR-PIT induced morphological changes, including bleb formation, swelling, and the inflow of extracellular fluid, and induced a significant decrease in cellular viability. These results suggested that NIR-PIT may induce cytotoxicity using the same mechanism in senescent cancer cells. In addition, similar morphological changes were also induced in radiation-induced senescent 3T3-HER2 fibroblasts by NIR-PIT targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. CONCLUSION: NIR-PIT eliminates both senescent cancer and stromal cells in vitro suggesting it may be a novel strategy for tumor treatment.

Near-infrared duocarmycin photorelease from a Treg-targeted antibody-drug conjugate improves efficacy of PD-1 blockade in syngeneic murine tumor models.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in mediating immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, Tregs contribute to the lack of efficacy and hyperprogressive disease upon Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade immunotherapy. Thus, Tregs are considered a promising therapeutic target, especially when combined with PD-1 blockade. However, systemic depletion of Tregs causes severe autoimmune adverse events, which poses a serious challenge to Treg-directed therapy. Here, we developed a novel treatment to locally and predominantly damage Tregs by near-infrared duocarmycin photorelease (NIR-DPR). In this technology, we prepared anti-CD25 F(ab')2 conjugates, which site-specifically uncage duocarmycin in CD25-expressing cells upon exposure to NIR light. In vitro, CD25-targeted NIR-DPR significantly increased apoptosis of CD25-expressing HT2-A5E cells. When tumors were irradiated with NIR light in vivo, intratumoral CD25+ Treg populations decreased and Ki-67 and Interleukin-10 expression was suppressed, indicating impaired functioning of intratumoral CD25+ Tregs. CD25-targeted NIR-DPR suppressed tumor growth and improved survival in syngeneic murine tumor models. Of note, CD25-targeted NIR-DPR synergistically enhanced the efficacy of PD-1 blockade, especially in tumors with higher CD8+/Treg PD-1 ratios. Furthermore, the combination therapy induced significant anti-cancer immunity including maturation of dendritic cells, extensive intratumoral infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, and increased differentiation into CD8+ memory T cells. Altogether, CD25-targeted NIR-DPR locally and predominantly targets Tregs in the tumor microenvironment and synergistically improves the efficacy of PD-1 blockade, suggesting that this combination therapy can be a rational anti-cancer combination immunotherapy.

Attenuated polyethylene glycol immunogenicity and overcoming accelerated blood clearance of a fully PEGylated dendrimer.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a popular biocompatible polymer and PEGylated nanoparticles passively accumulate in tumor tissues because of their enhanced permeability and retention effects. Recently, the anti-PEG immunity of PEGylated nanoparticles has become an issue that needs to be solved for their clinical applications. Dendrimers are highly branched and well-defined polymers with many terminal groups, which act as potent drug carriers. In this study, we examined the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, anti-PEG immunity, and tumor accumulation of a fully PEGylated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer after the first and second injections and compared them to those of a PEGylated liposome with the same lipid component as Doxil®. The PEGylated dendrimer showed greater blood circulation than that of the PEGylated liposome after the first and second injections in rats. In mice injected with the PEGylated dendrimer, much less anti-PEG immunoglobulin M (IgM) was generated than that in mice injected with the PEGylated liposome. The PEGylated dendrimer accumulated in the tumor after both the first and second injections. Our results indicated that the PEGylated dendrimer with a small size and high PEG density showed attenuated anti-PEG immunity and overcame the accelerated blood clearance phenomenon, which is useful for drug delivery systems for cancer treatment.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of EGFR binding peptides for near-infrared photoimmunotherapy.

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that involves photoimmunotherapy drug injection and NIR light exposure. In NIR-PIT, antibodies are commonly used as target-directed molecules carrying IRDye700DX (IR700). However, antibodies have disadvantages, such as high cost, complex development strategies, and poor tumor penetration. In contrast, peptides have lower production costs, can be easy to chemically synthesize and modify, and can also be used for tumor-targeting like antibodies. In this study, we developed a novel PIT drug using a peptide as the target-directed molecule. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was selected as the target, and monovalent and bivalent EGFR-binding peptides were synthesized. The bivalent peptide showed sufficient binding to EGFR-positive cells, and a bivalent peptide-IR700 conjugate with a long linker induced morphological changes in EGFR-positive cells. Additionally, the drug significantly reduced cell viability in vitro in an NIR light-dose- and drug-concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate the feasibility of NIR-PIT in treating cancer using peptide-based drugs.

Pelvic floor muscle contraction automatic evaluation algorithm for pelvic floor muscle training biofeedback using self-performed ultrasound.

INTRODUCTION: Non-invasive biofeedback of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is required for continuous training in home care. Therefore, we considered self-performed ultrasound (US) in adult women with a handheld US device applied to the bladder. However, US images are difficult to read and require assistance when using US at home. In this study, we aimed to develop an algorithm for the automatic evaluation of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction using self-performed bladder US videos to verify whether it is possible to automatically determine PFM contraction from US videos. METHODS: Women aged ≥ 20 years were recruited from the outpatient Urology and Gynecology departments of a general hospital or through snowball sampling. The researcher supported the participants in their self-performed bladder US and videos were obtained several times during PFMT. The US videos obtained were used to develop an automatic evaluation algorithm. Supervised machine learning was then performed using expert PFM contraction classifications as ground truth data. Time-series features were generated from the x- and y-coordinate values of the bladder area including the bladder base. The final model was evaluated for accuracy, area under the curve (AUC), recall, precision, and F1. The contribution of each feature variable to the classification ability of the model was estimated. RESULTS: The 1144 videos obtained from 56 participants were analyzed. We split the data into training and test sets with 7894 time series features. A light gradient boosting machine model (Light GBM) was selected, and the final model resulted in an accuracy of 0.73, AUC = 0.91, recall = 0.66, precision = 0.73, and F1 = 0.73. Movement of the y-coordinate of the bladder base was shown as the most important. CONCLUSION: This study showed that automated classification of PFM contraction from self-performed US videos is possible with high accuracy.

Advantages of enhanced recovery after surgery program in robot-assisted radical cystectomy.

Radical cystectomy is a gold-standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We recently introduced robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with perioperative enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). The medical records of patients with bladder cancer who underwent open radical cystectomy (ORC) or RARC/ERAS at NTT Medical Center Tokyo were retrospectively reviewed to compare the surgical outcomes, hospital stay, and medical costs between groups. Multidisciplinary full ERAS items were provided for the RARC/ERAS group. The median estimated blood losses in the ORC and RARC/ERAS groups were 650 and 100 mL, and the median operative times were 312 and 445 min, respectively. In addition, the median times to liquid food intake in these groups were 6 and 0 days, the median times to first flatus and first defecation were 2 and 1 day, and 3 and 1.5 days, respectively. The rates of postoperative ileus in the ORC and RARC/ERAS groups were 27.5% and 4.5%, and the median postoperative hospital stays was 26.5 and 12 days, respectively. Medical costs excluding surgery were significantly lower in the RARC/ERAS group. In conclusion, RARC/ERAS represents a safe treatment option for muscle-invasive bladder cancer with decreased perioperative complications and lower medical costs.

Plasma Cabozantinib Level Measurement in Patients with Renal Cell and Hepatocellular Carcinomas Using a Simple HPLC-UV Method Suitable for Clinical Application.

Cabozantinib, which is used to treat renal cell and hepatocellular carcinomas, is often associated with dose-dependent adverse events. Monitoring the levels of cabozantinib in the blood may maximize the therapeutic effect and prevent serious adverse events. In this study, we developed a high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method of measuring plasma cabozantinib concentration. Human plasma samples (50 µL) were processed by simple deproteinization with acetonitrile, followed by chromatographic separation on a reversed-phase column with an isocratic mobile phase of 0.5% KH2PO4 (pH 4.5) and acetonitrile (43:57, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, with a 250 nm ultraviolet detector. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range (0.05-5 µg/mL) with a coefficient of determination of 0.99999. The accuracy of the assay ranged from -4.35% to 0.98%, and recovery was >96.04%. The measurement time was 9 min. These findings confirm the effectiveness of this HPLC-UV method for cabozantinib quantification in human plasma, which is sufficiently simple for use for monitoring patients in clinical settings.

In vivo imaging of acute physiological responses after treatment of cancer with near-infrared photoimmunotherapy.

PURPOSE: Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer phototherapy using an antibody-photosensitizer conjugate (Ab-IR700). By NIR light irradiation, Ab-IR700 forms a water-insoluble aggregation on the plasma membrane of cancer cells, leading to lethal membrane damage of cancer cells with high selectivity. However, IR700 produces singlet oxygen, which induces non-selective inflammatory responses such as edema in normal tissues around the tumor. Understanding such treatment-emergent responses is important to minimize side effects and improve clinical outcomes. Thus, in this study, we evaluated physiological responses during NIR-PIT by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). PROCEDURES: Ab-IR700 was intravenously injected into tumor-bearing mice with two tumors on the right and left sides of the dorsum. At 24 h after injection, a tumor was irradiated with NIR light. Edema formation was examined by T1/T2/diffusion-weighted MRI and inflammation was investigated by PET with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG). Because inflammation can increase vascular permeability via inflammatory mediators, we evaluated changes in oxygen levels in tumors using a hypoxia imaging probe, [18F]fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO). RESULTS: The uptake of [18F]FDG in the irradiated tumor was significantly decreased compared to the control tumor, indicating the impairment of glucose metabolism induced by NIR-PIT. MRI and [18F]FDG-PET images showed that inflammatory edema with [18F]FDG accumulation was present in the surrounding normal tissues of the irradiated tumor. Furthermore, [18F]FMISO accumulation in the center of the irradiated tumor was relatively low, indicating the enhancement of oxygen supply due to increased vascular permeability. In contrast, high [18F]FMISO accumulation was observed in the peripheral region, indicating enhancement of hypoxia in the region. This could be because inflammatory edema was formed in the surrounding normal tissues, which blocked blood flow to the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully monitored inflammatory edema and changes in oxygen levels during NIR-PIT. Our findings on the acute physiological responses after light irradiation will help to develop effective measures to minimize the side effects in NIR-PIT.

Trends in surgical treatment for prostate cancer: Analysis of National Database Open Data in Japan.

We conducted a study to clarify the trends in surgical treatments for prostate cancer in Japan between 2014 and 2020 by analyzing the National Database (NDB) Open Data in Japan. Intriguingly, the number of patients over 70 years old who underwent robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) nearly doubled from 2015 to 2019, while that in those 69 years old and younger remained almost constant during the same period. The increase in the number of patients over 70 years of age may reflect the fact that RARP can be safely applied to elderly patients. With the new development and spread of surgery-assisting robots, we can foresee a further increase in the number of RARPs performed for elderly patients in the future.

Low hemoglobin and PSA kinetics are prognostic factors of overall survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.

The objective of this study was to identify the prognostic factors and to propose a new risk model in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. The clinical data were retrospectively obtained for 102 mCRPC patients who received cancer treatment between 2005 and 2018 at the University of Tokyo Hospital. We investigated clinical and pathological parameters, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetic profiles under androgen deprivation treatment, and identified predictors of overall survival (OS). The median age and PSA were 73 (Interquartile range [IQR], 68-79) years and 5.00 (IQR, 2.77-13.6) ng/ml. The median follow-up was 34 (IQR, 17-56) months. In univariate analysis, 'lymph node metastasis', 'Hemoglobin (Hb)', 'Time to nadir PSA (TNPSA)', 'PSA doubling time (PSADT)', 'Time to CRPC', and 'presence of pain' were prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis identified 'Hb < 11 g/dL', 'TNPSA < 7 months' and 'PSADT < 5 months' as independent prognostic factors of OS. The high-risk group (patients with two or three factors) demonstrated shorter OS (23 vs. 50 months) with an increased risk of death (HR = 2.997; 95% CI 1.632-5.506; P = 0.0004). The proposed risk stratification model may contribute to the prediction of survival and provide supportive information in treatment decision-making.

Subclassification of pT3 upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The prognosis of patients with pT3 upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) varies. The current study aimed to further classify patients with pT3 UTUC into different survival outcome groups based on tumor location and site of invasion. METHODS: This retrospective study included 323 patients with pT3 UTUC who underwent nephroureterectomy at 11 hospitals in Japan. Histological and clinical data were obtained via a chart review. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses showed the effect of different variables on recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 72 years. Patients with pT3 UTUCs were divided into two groups: those with renal parenchymal invasion only (pT3a, n = 95) and those with peripelvic or periureteral fat invasion (pT3b, n = 228). pT3b UTUC was significantly associated with hydronephrosis, low preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), histological nodal metastasis, nuclear grade 3, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), carcinoma in situ, and positive surgical margin. Based on the univariate analyses, patients with pT3b UTUC had a significantly lower 5-year RFS (42.4% vs. 70.1%, p < 0.0001), 5-year CSS (54.3% vs. 80.0%, p = 0.0002), and 5-year OS (47.8% vs. 76.8%, p < 0.0001) than those with pT3a UTUC. According to the multivariate analyses, nodal metastasis, LVI, adjuvant chemotherapy, preoperative eGFR, nuclear grade (RFS only), surgical margin (RFS only), and Charlson comorbidity index (OS only), but not pT3b stage, were associated with survival. CONCLUSION: Compared with pT3a UTUC, pT3b UTUC was significantly associated with worse histological features, consequently resulting in unsatisfactory survival outcomes.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Types 16/18 and Effect of Vaccination among Japanese Female General Citizens in the Vaccine Crisis Era.

The Japanese government withdrew its recommendation for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in June 2013 and resumed it in April 2022. This period is known as the vaccine crisis in Japan. This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV among Japanese female citizens, and the effect of vaccination against HPV-16/18 in the era of the vaccine crisis. We recruited Japanese female citizens and asked them to provide self-collected samples from the vaginal wall using cotton swabs for HPV genotyping. Furthermore, we collected the participants' characteristics, including lifestyle and experience of vaccination against HPV, to determine the significant association with HPV infection. HPV-16/18 positivity was found in 5.6% (115/2044) of participants. The highest vaccination rate was observed in the age group of 20-24 years (60.6%), whereas the lowest HPV-16/18 positivity was observed in the age group of 45-49 years (2.8%), followed by the age group of 20-24 years (4.0%). Experience with HPV vaccination significantly reduced the risk of HPV-16/18 infection (adjusted odds ratio, 0.047; 95% confidence interval, 0.011-0.196). Vaccinated women were much less likely to be infected by HPV-16/18, regardless of the HPV vaccine type or the vaccination dose.

A case of sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy successfully treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Introduction: Sepsis with concomitant acute pyelonephritis, secondary to urolithiasis, is common. We report a case of sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy with acute pyelonephritis, successfully managed with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Case presentation: A 64-year-old woman presented with fever and disturbed consciousness. Abdominal computed tomography revealed right hydronephrosis with ipsilateral ureteral stone. Despite ureteral stent placement and antibiotic treatment, her hemodynamics worsened. She was diagnosed with sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy and underwent venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Her hemodynamics improved rapidly; venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was withdrawn on postoperative day-3. She was discharged from our hospital after sufficient antibiotic treatment. Conclusion: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be initiated in patients with sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy. Evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction via echocardiography is important to determine the indication for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Cumulative Incidence and Clinical Risk Factors of Radiation Cystitis after Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the cumulative incidence of overall and severe radiation cystitis following external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer and investigate the clinical factors predictive of radiation cystitis. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 246 patients who received external beam radiation therapy for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer between 2013 and 2016 in our institution. Of these, 189 received primary radiation therapy and 57 received adjuvant/salvage radiation therapy. Radiation cystitis was recorded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 definition, and severe radiation cystitis was defined as grade 3 or higher. All medical records were reviewed to calculate the cumulative incidence of radiation cystitis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate its association with clinicopathologic features. RESULTS: The median follow-up period after radiation therapy was 56 months (range 5-81). The 5-year cumulative incidence of radiation cystitis and severe radiation cystitis was 16.2% and 3.0%, respectively. Multivariate analyses identified radiation therapy in the adjuvant/salvage setting was the sole risk factor associated with the development of radiation cystitis (hazard ratio: 2.75, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Radiation therapy in the post-prostatectomy setting was associated with increased risk of radiation cystitis compared with radiotherapy as the primary treatment.

The active Fe chelator proline-2'-deoxymugineic acid enhances peanut yield by improving soil Fe availability and plant Fe status.

Iron (Fe) deficiency restricts crop yields in calcareous soil. Thus, a novel Fe chelator, proline-2'-deoxymugineic acid (PDMA), based on the natural phytosiderophore 2'-deoxymugineic acid (DMA), was developed to solve the Fe deficiency problem. However, the effects and mechanisms of PDMA relevant to the Fe nutrition and yield of dicots grown under field conditions require further exploration. In this study, pot and field experiments with calcareous soil were conducted to investigate the effects of PDMA on the Fe nutrition and yield of peanuts. The results demonstrated that PDMA could dissolve insoluble Fe in the rhizosphere and up-regulate the expression of the yellow stripe-like family gene AhYSL1 to improve the Fe nutrition of peanut plants. Moreover, the chlorosis and growth inhibition caused by Fe deficiency were significantly diminished. Notably, under field conditions, the peanut yield and kernel micronutrient contents were promoted by PDMA application. Our results indicate that PDMA promotes the dissolution of insoluble Fe and a rich supply of Fe in the rhizosphere, increasing yields through integrated improvements in soil-plant Fe nutrition at the molecular and ecological levels. In conclusion, the efficacy of PDMA for improving the Fe nutrition and yield of peanut indicates its outstanding potential for agricultural applications.

Clinical features and treatment outcomes of Fournier's gangrene in a single tertiary emergency hospital: Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index score is a predictor for death.

To assess the predictive reliability of the Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index Score (SFGSI) for mortality in Japanese patients with Fournier's gangrene (FG), we compared the clinical features and outcomes of a patient sample with the SFGSI. The medical records of 36 patients diagnosed with FG at our hospital between October 2007 and September 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical and laboratory variables, including SFGSI, were evaluated and predictive factors for fatality were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The median age and body mass index were 65 and 24.2, respectively. Eight patients had cooccurring chronic kidney disease and 23 had diabetes. None were taking sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. The causative organisms were diverse, and no specific trends in causative organisms were observed. 26 patients underwent debridement of necrotic tissue including eight colostomies, two orchiectomies, and one cystectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that SFGSI alone was an independent predictor of case fatality, with an odds ratio of 20.167 (95% CI: 1.66-245.53). In conclusion, the fatality rate was 19.4%, which was comparable to that reported in other studies. The SFGSI was an independent predictor of mortality in this study.

Preservation of pelvic floor muscles contributes to early continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: Postoperative recovery of urinary continence has a great impact on quality of life for patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). A variety of surgical techniques including reconstruction of the periurethral structure have been introduced, and yet there are no effective methods that promote early urinary continence recovery after surgery. We hypothesized that the preservation of pelvic floor muscle structure could be responsible for early recovery of urinary continence after surgery. METHODS: A total of 94 consecutive patients who underwent RARP at our hospital were enrolled in this study. Operative video records were reviewed and the severity of pelvic floor muscle injury was classified according to the scoring system that we devised in this study. Briefly, damage of pelvic floor muscles was classified into 4 categories; intact, fascial injury, unilateral muscle injury, and bilateral muscle injury. The volume of urinary incontinence was measured for 2 days after removal of the urethral catheter, and the incontinence ratio (amount of incontinence/total volume of urine per day) was calculated. Predictive factors for immediate incontinence after catheter removal were identified by multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: The severity of puboperineal muscle injury was significantly associated with the early incontinence ratio after catheter removal (p < 0.001). Age at surgery and severity of puboperineal muscle injury were independent predictors for early incontinence after catheter removal. CONCLUSION: Preservation of the pelvic floor muscle, particularly the puboperineal muscle is an important factor for early continence recovery after RARP.