Pelvic hemangiopericytoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Extrauterine pelvic hemangiopericytomas are rare tumors with malignant potential. Herein, we report a case of a 55-year-old male who presented with hydronephrosis and obstructive urinary symptoms. Cystoscopy, imaging and biopsy were unable to provide a definitive preoperative diagnosis. He underwent pelvic mass resection, and final pathology revealed malignant hemangiopericytoma. The patient is being closely monitored with serial imaging, and remains disease-free at 23 months of post-operative follow-up without adjuvant therapy. Our experience and evidence from the existing literature suggests that given the rarity of these tumors, adherence to standard oncologic principles is necessary to ensure adequate resection and appropriate follow-up.

National Practice Patterns and Overall Survival After Adjuvant Radiotherapy Following Radical Cystectomy for Urothelial Bladder Cancer in the USA, 2004-2013.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant radiation therapy (ART) after radical cystectomy (RC) for urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) may play a role in the management of muscle-invasive BC, particularly in patients with locally advanced disease and adverse pathologic features (pT3/4 or positive surgical margins [PSMs]). Evidence regarding the effect of ART on overall survival (OS) is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate national practice patterns for the use of ART and assess its impact on OS for patients with adverse pathologic features (APF) after RC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Using the National Cancer Data Base, we analyzed all UBC cases with APF after RC from 2004 to 2013. Patients were divided into ART and no-ART groups. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Relationships with oncological outcomes were analyzed using multivariable Cox regression and log-rank analyses. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Use of ART decreased during the study period from 3.1% in 2004 to 1.7% in 2013 (p=0.03). ART was administered in 1.4%, 4.0% and 5.2% of patients with pT3 UBC, pT4 UBC, and PSMs (any pT stage), respectively. The rate of ART was significantly higher among younger ages, female sex, low-volume hospitals, nonacademic community care centers, higher stages, PSMs, perioperative chemotherapy, and lymph node-positive disease. Predictors of ART receipt were PSMs (odds ratio [OR] 3.4; p<0.0001), pT4 (OR 2.6; p=0.02), community based centers (OR 2.1; p<0.0001), and female sex (OR 1.8; p<0.0001). Risk factors for worse OS included age, higher tumor stage and comorbidities, PSMs, positive nodes, and suboptimal lymph node dissection (<10 nodes removed; all p<0.001). ART was not independently associated with better OS in the full cohort (p=0.54). However, subgroup analyses suggested an OS benefit for patients with PSMs (hazard ratio 0.73; p=0.047). Limitations include the retrospective design and limited details regarding cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: Use of ART for APF following RC is not common in the USA and the rate of ART has been decreasing over time. ART may have an OS benefit after RC for patients with PSMs. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report we looked at the outcomes for patients with locally advanced bladder cancer receiving adjuvant radiation therapy following cystectomy in a large US population. We found that adding radiation therapy after removing the bladder cancer may have some survival benefits for patients with positive surgical margins.

Correction to: Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumors: Improving Quality Through New Techniques and Technologies.

Author Siamak Daneshmand would like to note that this article published in Current Urology Reports inadvertently did not disclose financial information that could possibly be a conflict of interest.

Multiparametric liquid biopsy analysis in metastatic prostate cancer.

Molecular profiling of prostate cancer with liquid biopsies, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free nucleic acid analysis, yields informative yet distinct data sets. Additional insights may be gained by simultaneously interrogating multiple liquid biopsy components to construct a more comprehensive molecular disease profile. We conducted an initial proof-of-principle study aimed at piloting this multiparametric approach. Peripheral blood samples from men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer were analyzed simultaneously for CTC enumeration, single-cell copy number variations, CTC DNA and matched cell-free DNA mutations, and plasma cell-free RNA levels of androgen receptor (AR) and AR splice variant (ARV7). In addition, liquid biopsies were compared with matched tumor profiles when available, and a second liquid biopsy was drawn and analyzed at disease progression in a subset of patients. In this manner, multiparametric liquid biopsy profiles were successfully generated for each patient and time point, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach and highlighting shared as well as unique cancer-relevant alterations. With further refinement and validation in large cohorts, multiparametric liquid biopsies can optimally integrate disparate but clinically informative data sets and maximize their utility for molecularly directed, real-time patient management.

The impact of patient-related nonmodifiable factors on perioperative outcomes following radical cystectomy with enhanced recovery protocol.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols decrease the length of hospital stay (LOS) and complications following radical cystectomy (RC). However, the impact of non-modifiable patient factors to postoperative outcome is unclear. This study aimed to identify nonmodifiable patient and disease factors predictive of post-RC outcomes with ERAS protocols. METHODS: We reviewed our institutional review board-approved prospectively maintained bladder cancer database. Patients with primary urothelial bladder cancer who underwent open RC with ERAS protocol between 2012 and 2016 were identified. Patient demographic and disease-relevant variables were reviewed. Factors predictive of LOS, 30- and 90-day complications and readmission were assessed using univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: A total of 289 patients with a median age of 70 years were included, of whom 80.6% were male, 33.6% had Charlson comorbidity index ⩾2. Median LOS was 4 days and 21.1% received intraoperative transfusion. The 30-day complication and readmission rates were 58.8% and 16.6%, respectively. Age >70 (p = 0.02), Charlson comorbidity index ⩾2 (p = 0.005), and intraoperative transfusion (p = 0.03) were significantly associated with LOS. Intraoperative transfusion was significantly associated with 30-day complication and readmission (p = 0.008, p = 0.005, respectively). No factor was found to be significantly associated with 90-day complication or readmission. CONCLUSIONS: With ERAS protocol, non-modifiable patient and disease factors influence outcomes after RC. Risk adjustment for these factors is important for patient counseling, quality assessment and future reimbursement.

Liquid Biopsy in Prostate Cancer: Circulating Tumor Cells and Beyond.

Prostate cancer is a common malignancy impacting countless men without curative options in the advanced state. Numerous therapies have been introduced in recent years improving survival and symptom control, yet optimal methods for predicting or monitoring response have not been developed. In the era of precision medicine, characterization of individual cancers is necessary to inform treatment decisions. Liquid biopsies, through evaluation of various blood-based analytes, provide a method of patient evaluation with potential applications in virtually all disease states. In this review, we will describe current approaches with a particular focus on demonstrated clinical utility in the evaluation and management of prostate cancer.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Pathways: Role and Outcomes in the Management of Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Radical cystectomy remains the gold standard therapy for the treatment of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma, yet is accompanied by significant rates of perioperative complications and readmission. Enhanced recovery protocols aim to apply evidence-based principles of care to ameliorate the morbidity of this procedure by enabling better tolerance of and recovery from radical cystectomy. Multiple patient series have demonstrated the capacity for enhanced-recovery-after-surgery (ERAS) principles to improve outcomes among patients undergoing radical cystectomy through decreased incidence of gastrointestinal complications and decreased length of hospitalization without increased readmissions or overall morbidity. Opportunities remain for adoption of established ERAS principles.

Enhanced recovery after urologic surgery-Current applications and future directions.

Coordinated multidisciplinary perioperative care through enhanced recovery protocols has improved outcomes within urologic surgery. Continued development and refinement of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways will further augment the care of patients undergoing all urologic procedures. Among the challenges, moving forward is identification of barriers to ERAS adoption by providers, maximizing adherence among patients, standardization of ERAS pathways through establishment of evidence-based principles, and application in additional complex urologic procedures beyond radical cystectomy.

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumors: Improving Quality Through New Techniques and Technologies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cystoscopy with transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) is essential in the diagnosis of bladder cancer as well as the management of non-muscle-invasive disease yet remains a comparatively imprecise procedure secondary to variability among patients, tumors, and surgeons alike. We will review evolving technologies and techniques used to enhance safety and efficacy of TURBT performance and education in the management of bladder cancer. RECENT FINDINGS: Though a generally safe procedure, efficacy of TURBT in terms of complete tumor excision, appropriate pathologic diagnosis, and absence of complications can vary significantly with direct impact on patient outcomes. Application of new techniques including bipolar electrocautery and photodynamic enhancement continues to shape endoscopic management of bladder cancer and improve safety, tumor excision rates, and downstream outcomes. High-quality bladder tumor resection is essential for effective bladder cancer management. Technologies such as bipolar electrocautery and photodynamic visualization improve safety and tumor eradication. Improved education and surgical technique will further standardize high-level outcomes for patients undergoing TURBT.

Circulating Tumor Cells in Genitourinary Malignancies: An Evolving Path to Precision Medicine.

Precision medicine with molecularly directed therapeutics is rapidly expanding in all subspecialties of oncology. Molecular analysis and treatment monitoring require tumor tissue, but resections or biopsies are not always feasible due to tumor location, patient safety, and cost. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) offer a safe, low-cost, and repeatable tissue source as an alternative to invasive biopsies. "Liquid biopsies" can be collected from a peripheral blood draw and analyzed to isolate, enumerate, and molecularly characterize CTCs. While there is deserved excitement surrounding new CTC technologies, studies are ongoing to determine whether these cells can provide reliable and accurate information about molecular drivers of cancer progression and inform treatment decisions. This review focuses on the current status of CTCs in genitourinary (GU) cancer. We will review currently used methodologies to isolate and detect CTCs, their use as predictive biomarkers, and highlight emerging research and applications of CTC analysis in GU malignancies.