Transurethral En Bloc Resection Versus Standard Resection of Bladder Tumour: A Randomised, Multicentre, Phase 3 Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Conventionally, standard resection (SR) is performed by resecting the bladder tumour in a piecemeal manner. En bloc resection of the bladder tumour (ERBT) has been proposed as an alternative technique in treating non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The objective of this study is to investigate whether ERBT could improve the 1-yr recurrence rate of NMIBC, as compared with SR. METHODS: A multicentre, randomised, phase 3 trial was conducted in Hong Kong. Adults with bladder tumour(s) of ≤ 3cm were enrolled from April 2017 to December 2020, and followed up until 1 yr after surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either ERBT or SR in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was 1-yr recurrence rate. A modified intention-to-treat analysis on patients with histologically confirmed NMIBC was performed. The main secondary outcomes included detrusor muscle sampling rate, operative time, hospital stay, 30-d complications, any residual or upstaging of disease upon second-look transurethral resection, and 1-yr progression rate. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 350 patients underwent randomisation, and 276 patients were histologically confirmed to have NMIBC. At 1 yr, 31 patients in the ERBT group and 46 in the SR group developed recurrence; the Kaplan-Meier estimate of 1- yr recurrence rates were 29% (95% confidence interval, 18-37) in the ERBT group and 38% (95% confidence interval, 28-46) in the SR group (p = 0.007). Upon a subgroup analysis, patients with 1-3 cm tumour, single tumour, Ta disease, or intermediate-risk NMIBC had a significant benefit from ERBT. None of the patients in the ERBT group and three patients in the SR group developed progression to muscle-invasive bladder cancer; the Kaplan-Meier estimates of 1-yr progression rates were 0% in the ERBT group and 2.6% (95% confidence interval, 0-5.5) in the SR group (p = 0.065). The median operative time was 28 min (interquartile range, 20-45) in the ERBT group and 22 min (interquartile range, 15-30) in the SR group (p < 0.001). All other secondary outcomes were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In patients with NMIBC of ≤ 3cm, ERBT resulted in a significant reduction in the 1-yr recurrence rate when compared with SR. The study results support ERBT as the first-line surgical treatment for patients with bladder tumours of≤ 3cm.

Outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy using gemcitabine and cisplatin in muscle invasive bladder cancer: A retrospective analysis of the patient and treatment factors in a single institute.

BACKGROUND: Meta-analysis had shown a significant 5% absolute survival benefit in favour of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with cisplatin-based chemotherapy before radical cystectomy (RC) and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Those who had pathological complete response (pCR) to NAC could have long-term progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). AIM: To identify the treatment and patient factors which could predict a pCR to NAC and the associated PFS and OS in a single institute. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who had received NAC with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) in our centre from January 2004 to December 2017. The patients' age, tumour stage, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), chemotherapy chart, and pathological information were recorded. There were 25 men and five women who had received NAC followed by RC. pCR was noted in the surgical specimen of 11 (37%) patients. The mean dose of gemcitabine was significantly higher in the pCR group than the non-pCR group (9850 vs 7852 mg, P = 0.039) as was the dose-intensity of cisplatin (87.4% vs 71.3%, P = 0.044). After a median follow-up of 38 months (range 4.3-154), seven patients had disease progression. The estimated 3-year PFS is 74.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 66.7%-83.3%). None of the patients who achieved pCR relapsed, while six out of seven patients who had pN1 disease developed distant metastasis (DM). Only two patients died of DM while two other patients died of unrelated causes. The estimated 3-year OS is 88.9% (95% CI 82.8%-95%). CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that the dose intensity of GC is a major determinant of pCR, which predicts longer RFS and OS. Further research in gene expression profiling of MIBC to help selecting patient for NAC is needed.

KILT (Kidney and IVC Abnormalities with Leg Thrombosis) Syndrome in a 41-Years-Old Man with Loin Pain and Fever.

KILT syndrome is a rare condition composing the triad of kidney and inferior vena cava anomaly and extensive venous thrombosis. We present a case of newly diagnosed KILT syndrome in a 41-years-old gentleman presenting with loin pain and fever. Reviewing previous case reports, KILT syndrome is usually an incidental finding on imaging studies and there is a wide scope of initial clinical presentations. However, recent evidence suggests IVC anomaly may have caused subsequent renal hypoplasia. Identification of the underlying etiology may be helpful in planning early vascular intervention to treat the condition.

Metabolic syndrome and benign prostatic hyperplasia: An update.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities related to central adiposity and insulin resistance. Its importance is increasingly recognized as it associates with increased risks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. These metabolic aberrations of MetS may lead to development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men. A 26.5%-55.6% prevalence of MetS in men with LUTS was reported in worldwide studies. Although the exact biological pathway is not clear yet, insulin resistance, increased visceral adiposity, sex hormone alterations and cellular inflammatory reactions played significant roles in the related pathophysiological processes. Clinician should recognize the cardiovascular and metabolic impacts of MetS in men with LUTS, early risk factors optimization and use of appropriate medical therapy may possibly alter or slower the progression of LUTS/BPH, and potentially avoid unnecessary morbidities and mortalities from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases for those men.

Primary yolk sac tumour of the urinary bladder: A case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of rare primary yolk sac tumour of the urinary bladder in adulthood. A 31-year-old female patient presented with a history of chronic ketamine abuse, which has not previously been shown to be associated with malignancy development. The final diagnosis was established only after radical cystectomy. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed paraaortic lymph node metastasis. The patient was treated with systemic chemotherapy. A review of the literature revealed that surgical excision and cisplatin-based chemotherapy remain to be the standard of care for extragonadal yolk sac tumours.

Upper gastrointestinal problems in inhalational ketamine abusers.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between upper gastrointestinal (GI) problems and inhalational ketamine abuse. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 64 ketamine abusers treated from 2001 to 2008. Variables studied included clinical presentations, findings of upper GI endoscopy, abstinence from ketamine and relief of epigastric pain. RESULTS: The following patients with (i) a previous history of upper GI problem; (ii) a history of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), aspirin or other substance abuse; and (iii) a known history of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection were excluded. The study group thus consisted of 37 ketamine abusers, of whom 28 had upper GI symptoms. Overall 14 of these patients had an upper endoscopy performed. The endoscopic diagnoses were: 12 (85.7%) with gastritis, one (7.1%) with gastroduodenitis, and one (7.1%) normal finding. Test for H. pylori, infection was negative. Abstinence from ketamine was found to be associated significantly with relief of symptoms (P= 0.027). Logistic regression showed the odds ratio of symptomatic relief for abstinence versus continued use of ketamine is 12.5 (95% CI[1.20, 130.6], P= 0.035). In patients whom an upper GI endoscopy was performed, H. pylori negative gastritis was the commonest histopathological finding (78.6%). Despite the use of medications, symptoms are commonly not relieved and that is associated with the continued abuse of ketamine. CONCLUSION: Ketamine abusers frequently presented with upper GI symptoms, the commonest of which is epigastric pain (73% of abusers). Abstinence from ketamine abuse can lead to the relief of symptoms, which is an important message for ketamine abusers.