KLK3 and TMPRSS2 for molecular lymph-node staging in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Lymph-node (LN) metastasis in prostate cancer (PC) is a main risk factor for tumor recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP). Molecular analysis facilitates detection of small-volume LN metastases with higher sensitivity than histopathology. We aimed to prospectively evaluate six candidate gene markers for detection of pelvic LN metastases and to determine their ability to predict biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS) in patients treated with RP. METHODS: The expression of kallikrein 2, 3, and 4 (KLK2, KLK3, and KLK4), prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8) was assessed using qPCR. We analyzed LNs from 111 patients (intermediate PC, n = 32 (29%); high-risk PC, n = 79 (71%)) who underwent RP and extended pelvic lymph-node dissection without neoadjuvant treatment. RESULTS: Overall, 2411 LNs were examined by molecular and histopathologic examination. Histopathology detected 69 LN metastases in 28 (25%) patients. KLK2 and KLK3 diagnostically performed best and classified all pN1-patients correctly as molecular node-positive (molN1/pN1). The concordance on LN level was best for KLK3 (96%). KLK2, KLK3, KLK4, PSMA, TMPRSS2, and TRPM8 reclassified 27 (24%), 32 (29%), 29 (26%), 8 (7%), 13 (12%), and 23 (21%) pN0-patients, respectively, as node-positive (pN0/molN1). On multivariable cox regression analysis molecular LN status (molN1 vs. molN0) using KLK3 (HR 4.0, p = 0.04) and TMPRSS2 (HR 5.1, p = 0.02) were independent predictors of bRFS. Median bRFS was shorter in patients with only molecular positive LNs (molN1/pN0) for KLK3 (24 months, p = 0.001) and for TMPRSS2 (12 months, p < 0.001) compared to patients with negative nodes (molN0/pN0) (median bRFS not reached). CONCLUSIONS: For diagnostic purposes, KLK3 showed highest concordance with histopathology for detection of LN metastases in PC patients undergoing RP. For prognostic purposes, KLK3 and TMPRSS2 expression were superior to histopathologic LN status and other transcripts tested for molecular LN status. We suggest a combined KLK3/TMPRSS2 panel as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic tool for molecular LN analysis.

One-Stop-Shop Whole-Body 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI Compared with Clinical Nomograms for Preoperative T and N Staging of High-Risk Prostate Cancer.

Our aim was to assess the diagnostic potential of 1-stop-shop prostate-specific membrane antigen ligand (68Ga-PSMA-11) PET/MRI compared with preoperative staging nomograms in patients with high-risk prostate cancer. Methods: A total of 102 patients underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI before intended radical prostatectomy with lymph node dissection. Preoperative variables determined the probabilities for lymph node metastases (LNM), extracapsular extension (ECE), and seminal vesical involvement (SVI) using the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram and Partin tables. Receiver-operating-characteristic analyses were performed to determine best discriminatory cutoffs. On a cohort basis, positivity rates of imaging and nomograms were compared with pathologic prevalence. On a patient basis, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curves were calculated. Finally, the full concordance of each method to postoperative T and N stage was determined. Results: Seventy-three patients were finally analyzed. On a cohort basis, the MSKCC nomogram (39.7%) positivity rate was most concordant with pathologic prevalence for LNM (34.3%) compared with Partin tables (14.1%) and imaging (20.6%). Prevalence of ECE (72.6%) was best predicted by MSKCC nomograms and imaging (83.6% each), compared with Partin tables (38.4%). For prevalence of SVI (45.2%), imaging (47.9%) performed superior to MSKCC (37.6%) and Partin tables (19.3%). On a patient basis, AUCs for LNM, ECE, and SVI did not differ significantly between tests (P > 0.05). Imaging revealed a high specificity (100%) for LNM and a sensitivity (60%) comparable to the MSKCC nomogram (68%) and Partin tables (60%). For ECE, imaging revealed the highest sensitivity (94.3%) compared with the MSKCC nomogram (66%) and Partin tables (71.1%). For SVI, sensitivity and specificity of imaging and the MSKCC nomogram were comparable (81.5% and 80% vs. 87.9% and 75%). The rate of concordance to the final pTN stage was 60.3% for imaging, 52.1% for the MSKCC nomogram, and 39.7% for Partin tables. Conclusion: In our analysis, preoperative 1-stop-shop 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI performs at least equally for T and N stage prediction compared with nomograms in high-risk prostate cancer patients. Despite an improved prediction of the full final stage and the yield of additional anatomic information, the use of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI warrants further prospective evaluation.

Molecular Lymph Node Status for Prognostic Stratification of Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy with Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection.

Purpose: Molecular lymph node (LN) analysis using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detects LN metastases with higher sensitivity than histopathology. However, the prognostic role of molecular LN status in prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) and extended pelvic LN dissection (ePLND) is unclear. To investigate the association of molecular compared with histopathologic LN status with biochemical recurrence.Experimental Design: Patients with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer were prospectively enrolled and underwent RP with ePLND, including the obturator, internal, external, and the common iliac region. LNs ≥3 mm were bisected and examined by standard histopathology and qPCR for Kallikrein3 (KLK3) expression. Biochemical recurrence was defined by confirmed postoperative PSA > 0.2 ng/mL.Results: In 111 patients, 2,411 of 3,173 removed LNs were examined by both methods. Histopathology detected 68 LN metastases in 28 (25%) patients. Molecular analysis confirmed elevated KLK3 expression in 65 histopathologic LN metastases of all 28 pN1 patients (pN1/molN1) and additionally reclassified 224 histopathologic negative LNs and 32 (29%) pN0 patients as LN-positive (pN0/molN1).At a median follow-up of 48 months, 52 (47%) patients developed biochemical recurrence. Median biochemical recurrence-free survival was 9 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.0-20.1] in pN1/molN1 patients, 24 months (95% CI, 1.7-46.3) in pN0/molN1 patients and was not reached in pN0/molN0 patients (P < 0.001). On multivariable Cox regression analysis, molecular LN status [HR 4.1 (95% CI, 1.9-8.8), P < 0.001] but not histopathologic LN status [HR 1.5 (95% CI, 0.8-3.0), P = 0.198] was confirmed as independent predictor of biochemical recurrence.Conclusions: Molecular LN analysis identified pN0 patients with a high risk of biochemical recurrence and provided superior prognostic information in comparison with histopathology alone. Clin Cancer Res; 24(10); 2342-9. ©2018 AACR.

Men with family history of prostate cancer have a higher risk of disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine if family history (FH) of prostate cancer (PC) influenced cancer control after radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS: Patients were evaluated in a prospectively-collected PC family database: The focus was on hereditary prostate cancer (HPC) defined by Johns Hopkins criteria and sporadic prostate cancer (SPC), rigorously defined by absence of prostate cancer in ≥ 2 brothers aged ≥ 60 years. Additionally, patients with first-degree (FPC) and non-first-degree PC (non-FPC) were assessed. Endpoints were biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) and prostate cancer-specific survival (CSS). Finally, clinico-pathological characteristics were compared and multiple proportional hazards regression was used to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS: In total 11,654 patients were included (807 HPC, 2251 FPC, 8072 non-FPC and 524 SPC). Familial imposition (HPC/FPC) was associated with a younger age at diagnosis. Thus, HPC patients were diagnosed 2.9 years earlier than SPC patients with more locally advanced tumors (≥ pT3). With a median follow up of 6.2 years (range 0-31.5) BRFS was significantly different when stratified by FH. In pairwise analyses BRFS differed significantly for HPC compared to SPC (HR = 1.27). Consecutively FH was identified as prognostic factor for BRFS (p = 0.021) together with age, PSA, pathologic characteristics and adjuvant androgen deprivation. Analyses of CSS did not show a difference. CONCLUSION: Patients with FH of PC are likely to be diagnosed earlier and present a higher proportion of locally advanced disease. In addition, men with FH are at higher risk of biochemical recurrence after surgery but reveal similar outcomes regarding prostate cancer-specific survival.

AR-V7 in Peripheral Whole Blood of Patients with Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: Association with Treatment-specific Outcome Under Abiraterone and Enzalutamide.

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predicts poor treatment response in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients treated with abiraterone or enzalutamide. OBJECTIVE: To develop a practical and robust liquid profiling approach for direct quantification of AR-V7 in peripheral whole blood without the need for CTC capture and to determine its potential for predicting treatment response in mCRPC patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Whole blood samples from a prospective biorepository of 85 mCRPC patients before treatment initiation with abiraterone (n=56) or enzalutamide (n=29) were analyzed via droplet digital polymerase chain reaction. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The association of AR-V7 status with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response defined by PSA decline ≥50% and with PSA-progression-free survival (PSA-PFS), clinical PFS, and overall survival (OS) was assessed. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: High AR-V7 expression levels in whole blood were detectable in 18% (15/85) of patients. No patient with high AR-V7 expression achieved a PSA response, and AR-V7 status was an independent predictor of PSA response in multivariable logistic regression analysis (p=0.03). High AR-V7 expression was associated with shorter PSA-PFS (median 2.4 vs 3.7 mo; p<0.001), shorter clinical PFS (median 2.7 vs 5.5 mo; p<0.001), and shorter OS (median 4.0 vs. 13.9 mo; p<0.001). On multivariable Cox regression analysis, high AR-V7 expression remained an independent predictor of shorter PSA-PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 7.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3-20.7; p<0.001), shorter clinical PFS (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.9; p=0.02), and shorter OS (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.4-6.3; p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Testing of AR-V7 mRNA levels in whole blood is a simple and promising approach to predict poor treatment outcome in mCRPC patients receiving abiraterone or enzalutamide. PATIENT SUMMARY: We established a method for determining AR-V7 status in whole blood. This test predicted treatment resistance in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer undergoing treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide. Prospective validation is needed before application to clinical practice.

Chromogranin A and neurone-specific enolase serum levels as predictors of treatment outcome in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer undergoing abiraterone therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of elevated neuroendocrine serum markers on treatment outcome in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) undergoing treatment with abiraterone in a post-chemotherapy setting. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Chromogranin A (CGa) and neurone-specific enolase (NSE) were determined in serum drawn before treatment with abiraterone from 45 patients with mCRPC. Outcome measures were overall survival (OS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response defined by a PSA level decline of ≥50%, PSA progression-free survival (PSA-PFS), and clinical or radiographic PFS. RESULTS: The CGa and NSE serum levels did not correlate (P = 0.6). Patients were stratified in to low- (nine patients), intermediate- (18) or high-risk (18) groups according to elevation of none, one, or both neuroendocrine markers, respectively. The risk groups correlated with decreasing median OS (median OS not reached vs 15.3 vs 6.6 months; P < 0.001), decreasing median clinical or radiographic PFS (8.3 vs 4.4 vs 2.7 months; P = 0.001) and decreasing median PSA-PFS (12.0 vs 3.2 vs 2.7 months; P = 0.012). In multivariate Cox regression analysis the combination of CGa and NSE (≥1 marker positive vs both markers negative) remained significant predictors of OS, clinical or radiographic PFS, and PSA-PFS. We did not observe a correlation with PSA response (63% vs 35% vs 31%; P = 0.2). CONCLUSION: Chromogranin A and NSE did not predict PSA response in patients with mCRPC treated with abiraterone. However, we observed a correlation with shorter PSA-PFS, clinical or radiographic PFS, and OS. This might be due to an elevated risk of developing resistance under abiraterone treatment related to neuroendocrine differentiation.

[11C]Choline PET/CT in therapy response assessment of a neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced and high risk prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: Recent studies have shown promising results of neoadjuvant therapy in prostate cancer (PC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of [11C]Choline PET/CT in therapy response monitoring after combined neoadjuvant docetaxel chemotherapy and complete androgen blockade in locally advanced and high risk PC patients. RESULTS: In [11C]Choline PET/CT there was a significant decrease of SUVmax and SUVmean (p = 0.004, each), prostate volume (p = 0.005) and PSA value (p = 0.003) after combined neoadjuvant therapy. MRI showed a significant prostate and tumor volume reduction (p = 0.003 and 0.005, respectively). Number of apoptotic cells was significantly higher in prostatectomy specimens of the therapy group compared to pretherapeutic biopsies and the control group (p = 0.02 and 0.003, respectively). METHODS: 11 patients received two [11C]Choline PET/CT and MRI scans before and after combined neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. [11C]Choline uptake, prostate and tumor volume, PSA value (before/after neoadjuvant therapy) and apoptosis (of pretherapeutic biopsy/posttherapeutic prostatectomy specimens of the therapy group and prostatectomy specimens of a matched control group without neoadjuvant therapy) were assessed and tested for differences and correlation using SPSS. CONCLUSIONS: The results showing a decrease in choline uptake after combined neoadjuvant therapy (paralleled by regressive and apoptotic changes in histopathology) confirm the potential of [11C]Choline PET/CT to monitor effects of neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced and high risk PC patients. Further studies are recommended to evaluate its use during the course of neoadjuvant therapy for early response assessment.

Prevention of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws in patients with prostate cancer treated with zoledronic acid - A prospective study over 6 years.

INTRODUCTION: To explore the preventive effect of a prophylactic oral and maxillofacial treatment to reduce bisphosphonate associated necrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) in metastatic prostate cancer (PC) patients treated with zoledronic acid (4.0 mg i.v./months). MATERIALS AND METHOD: 253 PC patients with bone metastases were prospectively randomized. All patients received baseline assessments including a dental panoramic tomogram. Group A was monitored and treated where deemed necessary by the patient's dentist and were re-evaluated once a year. In group B patients were monitored and treated where necessary by the authors at 12 week intervals. We compared the incidence rate per year (IR) and incidence proportion (IP) in both cohorts and assessed independent risk factors for BRONJ. RESULTS: Patients in group A were evaluated 3.2 (range 2-4) vs. 6.8 times (range 4-24) in group B. A significantly higher proportion of dental extractions was performed in group B vs. A (26.7% vs. 22.7%, p = 0.006). A BRONJ was detected with an IP of 23.3% vs. 2.2% in group A vs. B, revealing a 2.59 fold higher relative risk for group A (p = 0.01, 95% CI 0.01-0.56). The IR in group A was 0.073 cases/year while the IR in group B was significantly decreased by 82% to 0.0131 (p < 0.001). Extraction therapy was the only independent risk factor for BRONJ (p < 0.0001; 95% CI 21.22-189.06). CONCLUSIONS: Preventive oral and maxillofacial treatment before bisphosphonate application combined with 3-monthly dental follow-ups significantly reduces the occurrence and risk of BRONJ in PC patients. Therefore this approach should be implemented in the specific treatment algorithms.

Prospective evaluation of [11C]Choline PET/CT in therapy response assessment of standardized docetaxel first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced castration refractory prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the value of [11C] Choline PET/CT in monitoring early and late response to a standardized first-line docetaxel chemotherapy in castration refractory prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. METHODS: Thirty-two patients were referred for [11C] Choline PET/CT before the start of docetaxel chemotherapy, after one and ten chemotherapy cycles (or - in case of discontinuation - after the last administered cycle) for therapy response assessment. [11C] Choline uptake (SUVmax, SUVmean), CT derived Houndsfield units (HUmax, HUmean), and volume of bone, lung, and nodal metastases and local recurrence were measured semi-automatically at these timepoints. Change in SUVmax, SUVmean, HUmax, HUmean, and volume was assessed between PET 2 and 1 (early response assessment, ERA) and PET 3 and 1 (late response assessment, LRA) on a patient and lesion basis. Results of PET/CT were compared to clinically used RECIST 1.1 and clinical criteria based therapy response assessment including PSA for defining progressive disease (PD) and non-progressive disease (nPD), respectively. Relationships between changes of SUVmax and SUVmean (early and late) and changes of PSAearly and PSAlate were evaluated. Prognostic value of initial SUVmax and SUVmean was assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: In the patient-based ERA and LRA there were no statistically significant differences in change of choline uptake, HU, and volume between PD and nPD applying RECIST or clinical response criteria. In the lesion-based ERA, decrease in choline uptake of bone metastases was even higher in PD (applying RECIST criteria), whereas in LRA the decrease was higher in nPD (applying clinical criteria). There were only significant correlations between change in choline uptake and PSA in ERA in PD, in LRA no significant correlations were discovered. Initial SUVmax and SUVmean were statistically significantly higher in nPD (applying clinical criteria). CONCLUSION: There is no significant correlation between change in choline uptake in [11C] Choline PET/CT and clinically routinely used objective response assessment during the early and late course of docetaxel chemotherapy. Therefore, [11C] Choline PET/CT seems to be of limited use in therapy response assessment in standardized first-line chemotherapy in mCRPC patients.

A 2-Gene Panel Derived From Prostate Cancer-Enhanced Transcripts in Whole Blood Is Prognostic for Survival and Predicts Treatment Benefit in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: To determine a prognostic model derived from prostate cancer-enhanced transcripts in whole blood of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients and explore its applicability as a surrogate of treatment response. METHODS: Six out of twenty-three selected transcripts were identified as specific for detection of metastatic prostate cancer cells in peripheral blood using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Their prognostic value was explored in whole blood samples of a training cohort (n = 22 CRPC patients, New York, USA). A resulting 2-gene panel (2GP) including KLK2 and TMPRSS2 was validated in an independent cohort with pre- and post-treatment blood draws after 9-16 weeks of systemic treament (n = 86 CRPC patients, Munich, Germany). Overall survival (OS), prostate-specific antigen progression-free survival (PSA-PFS), and clinical PFS were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier and cox regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: An unfavorable 2GP (≥1 marker positive) identified patients with poor survival (median OS 10.0 months [95%CI 5.7-14.2] vs. not reached; P = 0.023). This was validated in an independent cohort at pre-treatment (median OS 7.8 [95%CI 6.5-9.2] vs. 17.3 months [95%CI 10.7-23.8]; P = 0.004) and post-treatment blood draw (median OS 5.0 [95%CI 0.0-10.0] vs. 18.0 months [95%CI 9.5-26.6]; P = 0.003). The 2GP independently predicted OS on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 2.1 [95%CI 1.1-4.0]; P = 0.034) and performed better than PSA decline at correlation with OS. Conversion to favorable 2GP during treatment correlated with improved OS (7.8 to 20.9 months), PSA-PFS (2.8 to 12.0 months), and clinical PFS (4.6 to 8.0 months). CONCLUSIONS: The established 2GP is prognostic for survival at pre- and post-treatment blood draw in CRPC patients and conversion to favorable 2GP predicts treatment benefit. Prostate 76:1160-1168, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Intraoperative frozen section monitoring during nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy: evaluation of partial secondary resection of neurovascular bundles and its effect on oncologic and functional outcome.

PURPOSE: Intraoperative frozen sections (IFS) of the prostate have demonstrated to be effective in reducing positive surgical margins (PSM) and biochemical recurrence (BCR). The aim of this study was to assess partial secondary resection of neurovascular bundles (NVB) and report for the first time corresponding functional results. METHODS: A total of 500 consecutive patients were included in this prospective series. All patients underwent open nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy. Intraoperatively, both posterolateral aspects of the prostate were sent for IFS. In case of PSM, additional tissue was partly resected from the prostatic bed along the NVB. BCR was the oncologic endpoint (PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/ml). The impact of IFS on PSM and BCR-free survival, and the effect of secondary partial resection of NVB on continence and erectile function (EF) recovery were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were excluded because of neoadjuvant treatment/lymph node positive disease. PSM were detected in 137/471 patients (29.1%). After secondary resection, 127/137 patients (92.7%) converted to definitive negative surgical margins (NSM). Out of 137 patients, ten (7.3%) showed persistent PSM. False-negative rate was 3.3% (11/334). Out of 471 patients, two (0.4%) showed PSM outside the IFS area. Overall, final PSM rate was 4.9% (23/471). Five-year BCR-free survival did not differ significantly in patients with primarily and converted NSM. Continence and EF recovery after 12 months were 95.8 versus 94.3%, and 65.7 versus 56.1%, respectively (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: IFS are highly effective in reducing PSM and avoiding compromised oncologic outcome. Partial secondary resection of the NVB ensures ns status and consequently preserves continence and EF.

CDK4/6 Inhibition Controls Proliferation of Bladder Cancer and Transcription of RB1.

PURPOSE: The retinoblastoma signaling network is frequently altered in advanced bladder cancer. We investigated the potential of CDK4/6 as a therapeutic target and determined biomarkers for patient stratification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genetic alterations were analyzed using public databases, including TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas), COSMIC (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer) and CCLE (Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia). Effects of the CDK4/6-inhibitor PD-0332991 or LY2835219 were examined in 10 bladder cancer cell lines by immunoblot, cell viability, apoptosis and cell cycle progression. Efficacy of the PD-0332991 and cisplatin combination was analyzed using the combination index. Gene expression level was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cytomegalovirus promoter regulated recombinant retinoblastoma was used for reconstitution. Three-dimensional xenografts were grown on chicken chorioallantoic membrane and analyzed by measuring tumor weight and immunohistochemical expression of total retinoblastoma and Ki-67. RESULTS: PD-0332991 treatment decreased the proliferation of retinoblastoma positive bladder cancer cell lines and was synergistic in combination with cisplatin. PD-0332991 or LY2835219 treatment decreased the phosphorylation, total protein and transcript level of retinoblastoma. Treatment resulted in a decrease in E2F target gene expression (CCNA2 and CCNE2) and cell cycle progression from G0/G1 to the S-phase but did not affect apoptosis. In retinoblastoma negative cells reconstituted with recombinant retinoblastoma PD-0332991 affected only phosphorylation and not the total retinoblastoma level. These cells remained resistant to treatment. In 3-dimensional retinoblastoma xenografts, treatment resulted in reduced tumor weight and decreased expression of total retinoblastoma and Ki-67. CONCLUSIONS: We provide preclinical evidence that CDK4/6 inhibition is a potential therapeutic strategy for retinoblastoma positive bladder cancer that probably acts by negatively regulating retinoblastoma transcription.

Evaluation of Computed Tomography for Lymph Node Staging in Bladder Cancer Prior to Radical Cystectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively evaluate the value of CT for lymph node (LN) staging in bladder cancer. METHODS: Two uroradiologists reviewed CT scans of 231 patients who underwent radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy according to a predefined 12-field template. A 5-step model was used to grade the radiological likelihood of a LN to represent malignant spread based on size, configuration and structure as well as regional clustering. Statistical analyses were performed both on patient- and field-based levels. RESULTS: LN metastases were found in 59 of 231 patients (25.5%). On a patient-based level, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy were 52.6, 93.6, 73.2, 85.6 and 83.4%, respectively. Using the field-based approach, a total of 1,649 anatomical fields were evaluable, of which 114 fields showed malignancy (6.9%). On a field basis, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 30.2, 98, 51.5, 94.5 and 93.3%, respectively. Concerning local staging (pT category), the overall accuracy was 78%; overstaging occurred in 6% and understaging in 16%. CONCLUSIONS: In line with prior studies, the sensitivity of CT imaging for the detection of LN metastases was low, while high values for specificity were achieved. This was further underlined by analyzing standardized anatomical fields. Concerning local staging, postoperative changes after TURB-T rarely led to overstaging.

Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Locally Advanced High-risk Prostate Cancer During Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radical Prostatectomy.

AIM: Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) may be prognostic for biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS) in patients with locally advanced high-risk prostate cancer (LAPC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy (NCHT) and radical prostatectomy (RP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: CTCs were detected before and after NCHT, after RP and at follow-up using the CellSearch™-System for 59 blood samples (20 ml) from patients with LAPC (n=15) and, additionally, for 15 control samples. RESULTS: The median 5-year progression risk was 90%. CTCs (≥1/20 ml) were detected in 53.3% of patients, with a detection rate of 18.6% in sample-adjusted analysis. CTCs were detected at baseline in 20% of patients with LAPC and 6.7% of controls (p=0.6). CTC findings displayed no association with clinicopathological characteristics. The median bRFS of CTC-negative vs. CTC-positive patients was 43.7 (95% confidence interval not reached) vs. 29.2 months (95% confidence interval=26.8-60.6 months), without statistical significance (p=0.76). CONCLUSION: During NCHT and RP, longitudinal CTC presence seems to some extent stochastic, although patients with persistant CTCs post-RP developed biochemical recurrence. No significant association with clinicopathological characteristics or bRFS was observed in patients with LAPC, despite a trend for reduced bRFS in patients with detectable CTCs.

Categorical versus continuous circulating tumor cell enumeration as early surrogate marker for therapy response and prognosis during docetaxel therapy in metastatic prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor cell (CTCs) counts might serve as early surrogate marker for treatment efficacy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. We prospectively assessed categorical and continuous CTC-counts for their utility in early prediction of radiographic response, progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in mCRPC patients treated with docetaxel. METHODS: CTC-counts were assessed in 122 serial samples, as continuous or categorical (<5 vs. ≥5 CTCs) variables, at baseline (q0) and after 1 (q1), 4 (q4) and 10 (q10) cycles of docetaxel (3-weekly, 75 mg/m2) in 33 mCRPC patients. Treatment response (TR) was defined as non-progressive (non-PD) and progressive disease (PD), by morphologic RECIST or clinical criteria at q4 and q10. Binary logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used as statistical methods. RESULTS: Categorical CTC-count status predicted PD at q4 already after one cycle (q1) and after 4 cycles (q4) of chemotherapy with an odds ratio (OR) of 14.9 (p=0.02) and 18.0 (p=0.01). Continuous CTC-values predicted PD only at q4 (OR 1.04, p=0.048). Regarding PFS, categorical CTC-counts at q1 were independent prognostic markers with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.85 (95% CI 1.1-13.8, p=0.04) whereas early continuous CTC-values at q1 failed significance (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.99-1.05, p=0.14). For OS early categorical and continuous CTC-counts were independent prognostic markers at q1 with a HR of 3.0 (95% CI 1.6-15.7, p=0.007) and 1.02 (95% CI 1.0-1.040, p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Categorical CTC-count status is an early independent predictor for TR, PFS and OS only 3 weeks following treatment initiation with docetaxel whereas continuous CTC-counts were an inconsistent surrogate marker in mCRPC patients. For clinical practice, categorical CTC-counts may provide complementary information towards individualized treatment strategies with early prediction of treatment efficacy and optimized sequential treatment.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen-radioguided surgery for metastatic lymph nodes in prostate cancer.

With the advent of (68)Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen-N,N'-bis[2-hydroxy-5-(carboxyethyl)benzyl]ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid ((68)Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC) positron emission tomography (PET) hybrid imaging in prostate cancer (PCa), even small metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) can be visualized. However, intraoperative detection of such LNs may not be easy owing to their inconspicuous morphology and/or atypical localization. The aim of our feasibility study was to evaluate PSMA-radioguided surgery for detection of metastatic LNs. One patient with primary PCa and evidence of LN metastases and four PCa patients with evidence of recurrent disease to regional LNs on (68)Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET hybrid imaging received an intravenous injection of an (111)In-PSMA investigation and therapy agent 24h before surgery. Metastatic LNs were tracked intraoperatively using a gamma probe with acoustic and visual feedback. All radioactive-positive LN specimens detected in vivo were confirmed by ex vivo measurements and corresponded to PSMA-avid metastatic disease according to histopathology analysis. Intraoperative use of the gamma probe detected all PSMA-positive lesions identified on preoperative (68)Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET. Detection of small subcentimeter metastatic LNs was facilitated, and PSMA-radioguided surgery in two patients revealed additional lesions close to known tumor deposits that were not detected by preoperative (68)Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET. However, greater patient numbers and long-term follow-up data are needed to determine the future role of PSMA-radioguided surgery.

Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Urothelial Cancer with Paclitaxel and Everolimus in a German Phase II Trial (AUO Trial AB 35/09).

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of second-line treatment after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced urothelial cancer is limited. Based on encouraging preclinical and clinical phase I data, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of the combination of paclitaxel and everolimus in these patients. METHODS: In this trial, patients having failed to respond to prior platinum-based combination treatment of urothelial cancer were treated with paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2) i.v., 3-weekly) and the mTOR-inhibitor everolimus (10 mg p.o., once daily). The patients were treated until tumor progression or until a maximum of 6 cycles was completed. A one-stage design was used to evaluate the objective response rate (ORR) as the primary endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients (67% male; median age 63 years) were enrolled. The most frequent grade III/IV toxicities were anemia (28%), peripheral neuropathy (28%), and fatigue (24%). No treatment-related deaths were reported. Complete and partial remissions were observed in 0/24 and 3/24 patients eligible for efficacy analysis, respectively (ORR 13%). Progression-free survival was 2.9 months [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.9-4.2], and the median overall survival was 5.6 months (95% CI 4.8-10.2). CONCLUSION: The combination of paclitaxel and everolimus has not achieved the expected efficacy in second-line treatment of urothelial cancer and should not be further explored.

Long-term results of a phase II study with neoadjuvant docetaxel chemotherapy and complete androgen blockade in locally advanced and high-risk prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with locally advanced and high-risk prostate cancer (LAPC) are prone to experience biochemical recurrence despite radical prostatectomy (RP). We evaluated feasibility, safety and activity of a neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy (NCHT) with 3-weekly full dose docetaxel and complete androgen blockade (CAB) in locally advanced and high-risk prostate cancer patients (LAPC) undergoing RP. METHODS: Patients (n = 30) were selected by Kattans' preoperative score and received trimestral buserelin 9,45 mg, bicalutamide 50 mg/day and 3 cycles docetaxel (75 mg/m²) followed by RP. Primary endpoints were biochemical (PSA) and local downstaging. Secondary endpoints included toxicity and operability assessments, pathological complete response (pCR), time to PSA progression, 5-year biochemical recurrence free survival (bRFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Median baseline PSA was 25.8 ng/ml (2.1-293), and the predicted probability of 5-year bRFS was 10% (0-55). NCHT induced PSA-reduction was 97.3% (81.3-99.9%; p < 0.001) and post-RP 96.7% of patients were therapy responders, with undetectable PSA-values. Post- vs. pretreatment MRI indicated a median tumor volume reduction of 46.4% (-31.3-82.8; p < 0.001). A pathological downstaging was observed in 48.3%. Severe hematologic toxicities (≥CTC3) were frequent with 53.8% leucopenia, 90% neutropenia and 13.3% febrile neutropenia. RP was performed in all patients. While resectability was hindered in 26.7%, continence was achieved in 96.7%. Pathologic analyses revealed no pCR. Lymph node- and extracapsular involvement was observed in 36.7% and 56.7% with 33.3% positive surgical margins. After a median of 48.6 (19.9-87.8) months, 55.2% of therapy responders experienced PSA-recurrence. The estimated median time to PSA-progression was 38.6 months (95%CI 30.9-46.4) and 85.3 months (95%CI 39.3-131.3) for OS. The 5-year bRFS was improved to 40%, but limiting for interpretation adjuvant treatment was individualized. CONCLUSIONS: NCHT is feasible despite high hematotoxicity, with excellent functional results. Significant downstaging was observed without pCR. NCHT seems to improve the cohort adjusted 5-year bRFS, but clinical value needs further investigation in randomized trials.

Topography of lymph node metastases in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and extended lymphadenectomy: results of a combined molecular and histopathologic mapping study.

BACKGROUND: To determine the anatomic extent of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP), knowledge about the topography of lymph node (LN) metastases is required. OBJECTIVE: Because small-volume LN metastases may be missed by standard histopathologic examination, we performed an anatomic mapping study combining molecular and histopathologic LN examination in PCa patients treated with RP and extended PLND (ePLND). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 52 patients with intermediate- (n=15) and high-risk (n=37) PCa underwent RP and ePLND without neoadjuvant treatment. ePLND included dissection of the obturator fossa and the external, internal, and common iliac vessels. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: LNs ≥3 mm in diameter were analysed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expression and by standard histopathology. Topography of positive LNs was determined descriptively. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Of 1469 dissected LNs (median: 27 LNs per patient), 1186 LNs were ≥3 mm. Molecular LN analysis was positive in 127 LNs of 27 patients (52%) including 32 LNs of 12 patients (23%) with histopathologic positive LNs. Molecular examination was negative in 3 of 35 histopathologic positive LNs (9%). Combining both molecular and histopathologic findings, positive LNs were located in the standard PLND field defined by obturator fossa and external iliac vessels in 71%, along the internal iliac vessels in 16%, and along the common iliac vessels in 13%. Of LN-positive patients, 63% had LN metastases outside the standard PLND field. The internal iliac field was involved in 48% and the common iliac field in 37% of node-positive patients. Notably, internal and common iliac vessels were the only positive regions in 7% and 11% of node-positive patients, respectively. A limitation is the small number of patients included. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underline the enhanced sensitivity of qRT-PCR in comparison with standard histopathology for detection of small-volume LN metastases in PCa patients. Our results support an ePLND including the common iliac vessels, at least up to the ureteral crossing, to optimise nodal staging and to remove LNs potentially harbouring metastases.

Prospective comparison of computed tomography, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and [11C]choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography for preoperative lymph node staging in prostate cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to prospectively compare diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) and [(11)C]choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with computed tomography (CT) for preoperative lymph node (LN) staging in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. METHODS: Between June 2010 and May 2012, CT, DWI and [(11)C]choline PET/CT were performed preoperatively in 33 intermediate- and high-risk PCa patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) and extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) including obturator fossa and internal, external and common iliac fields. Patient- and field-based performance characteristics for all three imaging techniques based on histopathological results are reported. Imaging techniques were compared by means of the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: LN metastases were detected in 92 of 1,012 (9%) LNs from 14 of 33 (42%) patients. On patient-based analysis, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for CT were 57, 68 and 64%, respectively, for DWI were 57, 79 and 70%, respectively, and for [(11)C]choline PET/CT were 57, 90 and 76%, respectively. On field-based analysis, these numbers for CT were 47, 94 and 88%, respectively, for DWI were 56, 97 and 92%, respectively, and for [(11)C]choline PET/CT were 62, 96 and 92%, respectively. Neither DWI nor [(11)C]choline PET/CT performed significantly better than CT on pairwise comparison of patient- and field-based results. CONCLUSION: All three imaging techniques exhibit a rather low sensitivity with less than two thirds of LN metastases being detected on patient- and field-based analysis. Overall diagnostic efficacy did not differ significantly between imaging techniques, whereas distinct performance characteristics, esp. patient-based specificity, were best for [(11)C]choline PET/CT followed by DWI and CT.