Management of bladder cancer in older patients.

Evidence has shown that patients with bladder cancer are diagnosed at a much older age compared with those with other cancers. Given that co-morbidities and frailty are prevalent in older patients with advanced bladder cancer, they are easily excluded from randomized controlled trials. As little evidence has been available regarding assessment tools for frailty, the management of those patients remains challenging. This weakness is strongly manifested in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Despite radical cystectomy is the standard of care for bladder cancer, there is an extensive undertreatment of older adult patients with potentially curative muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, it is also true that radical cystectomy is often unsuitable for vulnerable or frail patients. Bladder preservation using trimodality therapy has been utilized as an alternative option, but the appropriate selection criteria for trimodality therapy remain unclear. Cisplatin-based regimens have been the first choice for advanced disease among eligible patients. Moreover, immunotherapy appears to have similar benefits and tolerability in both older and younger patients. Furthermore, palliative or supportive interventions need to be initiated earlier in patients with metastatic disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that frailty may play a key role in the selection of treatment modalities. Older patients should be considered for standard treatment based on frailty and not chronological age. Moreover, older patients with bladder cancer need to undergo geriatric assessment for proper decision-making.

A Longitudinal Study of Bidirectional Relationships between Sleep Disorder and Frequency of Nocturia: Results from the Iwaki Health Promotion Project.

INTRODUCTION: The causal relationship between sleep disorder and frequency of nocturia remains unclear. METHODS: We longitudinally evaluated sleep disorder and frequency of nocturia in 547 community-dwelling adults between baseline and 5-year follow-up. We included participants ≥50 years old who have no sleep disorder (the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] ≥ 5) nor nocturia (≥1). For 5 years, we evaluated the temporal changes in sleep disorder and nocturia and the bidirectional relationships between sleep disorder and nocturia. RESULTS: Of the 547 participants, we included 268 adults with a median age of 61 years in this study. Median PSQI and nocturia were significantly increased for 5 years from 2 to 3 and from 1 to 2, respectively. New onset of sleep disorder (PSQI > 5) and nocturia >1 was observed in 42 (16%) and 137 (51%) participants, respectively. The cross-lagged panel analysis showed that the path coefficient from PSQI to nocturia (ß = 0.22, p = 0.031) was significantly higher than that from nocturia to PSQI (ß = 0.02, p = 0.941). CONCLUSIONS: Our longitudinal study showed the effect of sleep disorder on nocturia was significant, although nocturia may not significantly worsen sleep disorder in community-dwelling adults.

STone Episode Prediction: Development and validation of the prediction nomogram for urolithiasis.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a nomogram predicting the occurrence of a stone episode, given the lack of such predicting risk tools for urolithiasis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 1305 patients with urolithiasis and 2800 community-dwelling individuals who underwent a comprehensive health survey. The STone Episode Prediction nomogram was created based on data from the medical records of 600 patients with urolithiasis and 1300 controls, and was validated using a different population of 705 patients with urolithiasis and 1500 controls. Logistic regression analysis was used to construct a model to predict the potential candidate for a stone episode. The predictive ability of the model was evaluated using the results of the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (area under the curve). RESULTS: Age, sex, diabetes mellitus, renal function, serum albumin, and serum uric acid were found to be significantly associated with urolithiasis in the training set and were included in the STone Episode Prediction nomogram. The optimal cut-off value for the probability of a stone episode using the nomogram was >28% with a sensitivity of 79%, a specificity of 76%, and area under the curve of 0.860. In the validation test, area under the curve for the detection of urolithiasis was 0.815 with a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 63%. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we developed and validated the STone Episode Prediction nomogram that can predict a potential candidate for an episode of urolithiasis. This nomogram might be beneficial for the first step in stone screening in individuals with lifestyle-related diseases.

Frailty is significantly associated with the type of urinary diversion in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of frailty on the type of urinary diversion after radical cystectomy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. METHODS: Between January 2014 and January 2020, we prospectively evaluated frailty in 88 patients with localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer, who had received radical cystectomy and urinary diversion. The selection of the type of urinary diversion was determined by the operating surgeon based on performance status, comorbidities, tumor status and the patient's preference. The frailty evaluation included the Fried phenotype criteria, the modified frailty index and the frailty discriminant score. We investigated the association between frailty and type of urinary diversion, the effect of frailty on postoperative complications and the effect of frailty on overall survival. RESULTS: The median age of the selected participants was 68 years. The number of patients with an orthotopic neobladder and any postoperative complications was 54 (61%) and 46 (52%), respectively. Of the frailty assessment tools that were used, Fried phenotype criteria and frailty discriminant score were significantly associated with the selection of non-orthotopic neobladder urinary diversion. Occurrences of postoperative complications in participants were significantly associated with modified frailty index, but not with Fried phenotype criteria and frailty discriminant score. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a higher frailty discriminant score was significantly associated with poor overall survival, whereas higher Fried phenotype criteria and modified frailty index were not. CONCLUSION: Frailty is significantly associated with the type of urinary diversion, and it should be considered for the selection of urinary diversion in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

Relationship between oxidative stress and lower urinary tract symptoms: results from a community health survey in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between oxidative stress and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a community-dwelling population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 1 113 people who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project of 2015 in Hirosaki, Japan. LUTS were assessed using structured questionnaires, including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS). IPSS > 7, OABSS > 5, nocturia score > 1, or urge incontinence score > 1 were defined as moderate to severe symptoms. 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were measured by urine analysis and skin autofluorescence, respectively. The relationship between oxidative stress and LUTS was investigated using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: This study included 431 men and 682 women. AGEs and 8-OHdG levels were significantly higher in severe forms of LUTS. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that AGE levels were significantly associated with a higher frequency of nocturia but were not associated with IPSS, OABSS or urge incontinence. No significant association was observed between LUTS and 8-OHdG levels. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant association between AGE levels and nocturia score > 1. Further research is necessary to clarify a possible causal relationship between oxidative stress and nocturia.

The Relationship Between Gait Function and Erectile Dysfunction: Results from a Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: Although physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED), the association of ED with physical function remains unclear. AIM: To investigate the relationship between gait function and ED in a community-dwelling population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 324 men who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project in 2015 in Hirosaki, Japan. ED was assessed with the 5-Item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). The participants were divided into 2 groups: low IIEF-5 score (≤16) and high IIEF-5 score (>16). We evaluated physical function, including gait function and grip strength. Gait function was evaluated by 10-meter gait speed and 2-step score (the ratio of the maximum length of 2 strides to height). We assessed daily physical activity, comorbidities, mental status, and laboratory data. The association between physical function and a low IIEF-5 score was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was to assess whether gait function was an independent indicator for erectile dysfunction. RESULTS: Of 324 men, 154 (48%) had a low IIEF-5 score. Grip strength, 2-step score, and 10-meter gait speed in the low IIEF-5 group were significantly inferior to those in the high IIEF-5 group. Multivariate analysis showed that the 2-step score (odds ratio = 0.08), age, and total testosterone were independently associated with a low IIEF-5. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study may motivate clinicians to investigate predictive values of physical function for ED. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The strength of this study was the use of simple, objective, and feasible tests for gait function to assess its association with ED. The limitations of this study were selection bias, regional bias, and nature of the cross-sectional study. CONCLUSIONS: Of the gait functional tests, not the 10-meter gait speed but 2-step score was an independent indicator for the presence of ED. Okamoto T, Hatakeyama S, Imai A, et al. The Relationship Between Gait Function and Erectile Dysfunction: Results from a Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Japan. J Sex Med 2019; 16:1922-1929.

Real-world effects of novel androgen receptor axis-targeted agents on oncological outcomes in non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: A multi-institutional retrospective study.

Background: The benefits of novel androgen receptor axis-targeted agents (ARATs) on oncological outcomes in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) in real-world settings are unclear. Methods: This multi-institutional retrospective study included 178 patients with nmCRPC treated between September 2003 and August 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: those who were treated with any novel ARATs, including apalutamide, enzalutamide, darolutamide, and abiraterone acetate, during any line of nmCRPC treatment (novel ARATs group) and those who were not (control group). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of novel ARATs on metastasis-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: The median age and follow-up period after nmCRPC diagnosis were 76 years and 37 months, respectively. Of the 178 patients, 122 (69%) were treated with novel ARATs after nmCRPC diagnosis. The MFS and OS in the novel ARATs group were significantly longer than those in the control group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.020, respectively). In multivariable analyses, a prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSADT) of <3 months and novel ARATs were independently and significantly associated with MFS and OS. The effects of novel ARATs on MFS were consistently observed across subgroups stratified by age (<75 years or ≥75 years), history of radical treatment (no or yes), biopsy Gleason score (<9 or ≥9), clinical stage (≤cT3 and cN0, or cT4 or cN1), and PSADT (≥3 months or <3 months). Conclusion: Novel ARATs were significantly associated with improved oncological outcomes in patients with nmCRPC in a real-world setting, regardless of tumor aggressiveness.

Impact of an optimized surveillance protocol based on the European Association of Urology substratification on surveillance costs in patients with primary high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The optimal frequency and duration of surveillance in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) remain unclear. The aim of the present study is to develop an optimal surveillance protocol based on the European Association of Urology (EAU) substratification in order to improve surveillance costs after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in patients with primary high-risk NMIBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 428 patients with primary high-risk NMIBC who underwent TURBT from November 1993 to April 2019. Patients were substratified into the highest-risk and high-risk without highest-risk groups based on the EAU guidelines. An optimized surveillance protocol that enhances cost-effectiveness was then developed using real incidences of recurrence after TURBT. A recurrence detection rate ([number of patients with recurrence / number of patients with surveillance] × 100) of ≥ 1% during a certain period indicated that routine surveillance was necessary in this period. The 10-year total surveillance cost was compared between the EAU guidelines-based protocol and the optimized surveillance protocol developed herein. RESULTS: Among the 428 patients with primary high-risk NMIBC, 97 (23%) were substratified into the highest-risk group. Patients in the highest-risk group had a significantly shorter recurrence-free survival than those in the high-risk without highest-risk group. The optimized surveillance protocol promoted a 40% reduction ($394,990) in the 10-year total surveillance cost compared to the EAU guidelines-based surveillance protocol. CONCLUSION: The optimized surveillance protocol based on the EAU substratification could potentially reduce over investigation during follow-up and improve surveillance costs after TURBT in patients with primary high-risk NMIBC.

Effect of advanced glycation end products on nocturia or sleep disorders: A longitudinal study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on nocturia and sleep disorders in community-dwelling adults. Materials and Methods: This longitudinal study evaluated AGEs level, sleep disorders and nocturia frequency in 447 community-dwelling adults between May 2011 and May 2016. Sleep disorders were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score. Participants were divided into two groups: AGEs-low (≤1.80) and AGEs-high (>1.80). The longitudinal nocturia and PSQI changes for 5 years between the AGEs-low and AGEs-high groups were compared. The effect of baseline oxidative stress on worsening of nocturia or PSQI score 5 years later was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: There was no significant difference in PSQI score and nocturia frequency between the AGEs-low (n = 223) and AGEs-high (n = 224) groups at baseline. The PSQI score and nocturia frequency increased significantly over 5 years in both groups. However, the PSQI score increased significantly in the AGEs-high group compared with the AGEs-low group, although there was no difference in nocturia. Background-adjusted multivariable analysis showed that the AGE-high was significantly associated with PSQI score worsening, but AGE-high was not significantly associated with nocturia worsening. Conclusions: Oxidative stress may be significantly associated with worsening sleep disorders, although oxidative stress may not significantly worsen nocturia frequency.

Utility of the Age Discrepancy between Frailty-Based Biological Age and Expected Life Age in Patients with Urological Cancers.

Background: The estimation of biological age is challenging in patients with cancers. We aimed to investigate frailty-based biological ages using frailty-discriminant scores (FDS) and examined the effect of biological-expected life age discrepancy on the prognosis of patients with urological cancers. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated frailty in 1035 patients having urological cancers. Their frailty-based biological age was then defined by the FDS, which is a comprehensive frailty assessment tool, using 1790 noncancer individuals as controls. An expected life age (=chronological age + life expectancy) was subsequently calculated using the 2019 life expectancy table. The primary outcome was the estimation of the biological-expected life age discrepancy between the frailty-based biological age and expected life age in patients with urological cancers. Secondary outcomes were the evaluation of the effect of the biological-expected life age discrepancy on overall survival. Results: We included 405, 466, and 164 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, urothelial carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma, respectively. The median chronological age, life expectancy, and estimated frailty-based biological age were 71, 17, and 83 years, respectively. The biological-expected life age discrepancy in any urological cancers, localized diseases, and metastatic diseases was −4.8, −6.3, and +0.15 years, respectively. The biological-expected life age discrepancy of >5 years was significantly associated with poor overall survival. Conclusions: The biological-expected life age discrepancy between frailty-based biological age and expected life age may be helpful in understanding the role of frailty and patient/doctor conversation.

Overactive bladder and sleep disturbance have a significant effect on indoor falls: Results from the community health survey in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of overactive bladder (OAB) and frailty on indoor fall events in community-dwelling adults aged 50 or older. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 723 adults between 2016 and 2017 in Hirosaki, Japan. OAB symptoms and sleep disturbance were assessed using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Indoor fall events (falls or near-falls) within 1 year were evaluated. Frailty was evaluated by the frailty discriminant score. We investigated the association of OAB symptoms with sleep disturbance, frailty, and indoor fall events. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the effect of OAB symptoms on fall events controlling for confounding factors such as age, gender, comorbidity, frailty, and sleep disturbance. RESULTS: The median age was 64. We observed OABSS ≥6 in 98 participants (14%), nocturia ≥2 in 445 (62%), urgency score ≥3 in 80 (11%), urge incontinence score ≥3 in 36 (5.0%), PSQI ≥6 in 153 (21%), frailty in 169 (23%), and indoor fall events in 251 (35%). Older age, diabetes, OABSS, nocturia, urgency, urge incontinence, and the PSQI were significantly associated with indoor fall events. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that OAB symptoms and sleep disturbance were significantly associated with fall events. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of OAB symptoms and sleep disturbance on indoor fall events was significant. The causal relationship between OAB and falls needs further study.

The effect of number of treatment cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy on maximum radiological response in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The number of cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy associated with the maximum tumor response in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma is not yet established. We investigated the association between the number of cycles and the maximum radiological response of first-line chemotherapy. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 167 patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with platinum-based first-line chemotherapy between May 2003 and December 2020. The primary outcome was estimating the number of cycles associated with the maximum radiological response and progression disease rate within the 6 cycles. The radiological response was evaluated by the RECIST v1.1. The secondary outcomes included the difference in radiological response rate and the impact on overall survival between the cisplatin-based and carboplatin-based regimens. RESULTS: The maximum radiological response was -22% at Cycles 2. It was significantly decreased at Cycles 4 (-15%) compared with Cycles 2 (P < 0.001). The progression disease rate within the first 2, 4, and 6 cycles were 21% and 63%, and 84%, respectively. Radiological response was no significant difference between the cisplatin-based and carboplatin-based regimens. However, it was significantly decreased in the carboplatin-based regimen at Cycles 4 (-17%) compared with Cycles 2 (-22%; P = 0.004). Background-adjusted overall survival was not significantly different in between the cisplatin-based and carboplatin-based regimens (hazard rate 1.27; P = 0.337). CONCLUSION: The maximum radiological response was -22% at Cycles 2. The radiological response was significantly different between Cycle 2 and 4. More than half of patients had disease progression within the first 4 cycles.

External validation of the REMARCC model for the selection of cytoreductive nephrectomy in patients with primary metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the utility of the scoring system of the Registry for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (REMARCC) model on the overall survival (OS) of patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN). METHODS: A total of 278 patients with primary metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) between January 2008 and November 2019 were identified. The c-index and net benefit between the REMARCC score were compared with the International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC) score in patients with CN (CN group, n = 146). The effect of the REMARCC score on OS was compared between the CN group and patients without CN (non-CN group, n = 132) using Cox regression analysis under the propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method to adjust for group imbalances. RESULTS: Of the 146 patients with CN, the c-index of the REMARCC model (0.60) was higher than the IMDC model (0.54). The decision curve analysis showed the advantage of REMARCC model predicting OS compared with the IMDC model. OS was significantly longer in the REMARCC low-score (0-2) than that in the high-score (3-6) among the patients with CN. IPTW-adjusted Cox regression analyses showed that OS was significantly longer in the CN group than that in the non-CN group among the patients with REMARCC low-score but was not significantly different between the groups among the patients with REMARCC high-score. CONCLUSIONS: The REMARCC score may be active for selecting the CN candidate in patients treated with TKIs.

Intraoperative upper urinary tract cytology examination is a risk factor of upper urinary tract recurrence in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of intraoperative upper urinary tract (UUT) cytology examination in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who had undergone transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 414 patients with NMIBC who had undergone transurethral resection of bladder tumor between November 1993 and April 2019. Patients with simultaneous UUT urothelial carcinoma (UC) detected via computed tomography were excluded. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who had undergone intraoperative bilateral UUT cytology examination via retrograde catheterization (study group) and those who had not (control group). We evaluated the utility of intraoperative UUT cytology examination, comparing surgical outcomes and perioperative complications between the 2 groups. In addition, we evaluated the impact of UUT cytology examination on UUT recurrence using background-adjusted multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We obtained 292 UUT urine samples from 146 patients with a median age of 72 years. Of 292 UUT urine samples, 11 (3.7%) were positive and 3 were finally diagnosed as UUT UC. Positive predictive value and false positive rate were 18% and 3.1%, respectively. Operative time for the study group was significantly longer than for the control group. Rate of perioperative complications were not significantly different between the 2 groups. However, in background-adjusted multivariate analysis, intraoperative UUT cytology examination was associated with significantly shorter UUT recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative UUT cytology examination may not be recommended as a result of low positive predictive value due to contamination and UUT recurrence risk in patients with NMIBC.

Impact of chronic kidney disease on oncological outcomes in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who underwent adjuvant bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on oncological outcomes in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who underwent adjuvant induction bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study assessing 209 patients with high-risk NMIBC who underwent TURBT and subsequent adjuvant induction BCG therapy from December 1998 to April 2019. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (non-CKD group), and those with eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (CKD group). Primary endpoints were intravesical recurrence-free survival (RFS) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)-free survival. Background-adjusted multivariate analyses with the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method using the propensity score were performed to evaluate the impact of CKD on intravesical RFS, MIBC-free survival, metastasis-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival. Moreover, multivariable analyses were performed to assess the impact of CKD on intravesical recurrence and MIBC progression, adjusting for the competing risk of death using the Fine-Gray competing risk regression model. RESULTS: Median age and follow-up period after TURBT were 72 years and 45 months, respectively. Of 209 patients, 71 (34%) were diagnosed with CKD before TURBT. Background-adjusted multivariate analyses with the IPTW method indicated that CKD was significantly associated with shorter intravesical RFS, MIBC-free survival, metastasis-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival. In the Fine-Gray competing risk regression model, CKD showed significantly higher probabilities of intravesical recurrence and MIBC progression, with an adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio of 1.886 (95% confidence interval 1.069-3.330, P = 0.028) and 3.740 (95% confidence interval 1.060-13.20, P = 0.040), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CKD presents a risk factor of poor oncological outcomes in patients with high-risk NMIBC who underwent adjuvant induction BCG therapy after TURBT.

Comparison of zinc acetate hydrate and polaprezinc for zinc deficiency in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: A single-center, open-label, prospective randomized study.

The efficacy and safety of zinc acetate hydrate (ZAH) for zinc supplementation in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) remains unknown. In this prospective, single-center, open-label, parallel-group trial for MHD patients with serum zinc level <70 µg/dL, we compared ZAH (zinc; 50 mg/day) and polaprezinc (PPZ; zinc; 34 mg/day) beyond 6-month administration in a 1:1 randomization manner. The ZAH and PPZ groups had 44 and 47 patients, respectively. At 3 months, the change rate of serum zinc levels in the ZAH group was significantly higher than that in the PPZ group. Three months after the study, serum copper levels significantly decreased in the ZAH group, but not in the PPZ group. No significant differences were noted in anemia management in either group. ZAH was superior to PPZ in increasing serum zinc levels. Clinicians should note the stronger decline in serum copper levels when using ZAH for MHD patients.

The Effect of Treatment Sequence on Overall Survival for Men With Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the treatment sequence for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in real-world practice and compare overall survival in each sequential therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 146 patients with mCRPC who were initially treated with androgen deprivation therapy as metastatic hormone-naive prostate cancer in 14 hospitals between January 2010 and March 2019. The agents for the sequential therapy included new androgen receptor-targeted agents (ART: abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide), docetaxel, and/or cabazitaxel. We evaluated the treatment sequence for mCRPC and the effect of sequence patterns on overall survival. RESULTS: The median age was 71 years. A total of 35 patients received ART-ART, 33 received ART-docetaxel, 68 received docetaxel-ART, and 10 received docetaxel-cabazitaxel sequences. The most prescribed treatment sequence was docetaxel-ART (47%), followed by ART-ART (24%). Overall survival calculated from the initial diagnosis reached 83, 57, 79, and 37 months in the ART-ART, ART-docetaxel, docetaxel-ART, and docetaxel-cabazitaxel, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed no significant difference in overall survival between the first-line ART (n = 68) and first-line docetaxel (n = 78) therapies (hazard ratio [HR], 0.84; P = .530), between the ART-ART (n = 35) and docetaxel-mixed (n = 111) sequences (HR, 0.82; P = .650), and between the first-line abiraterone (n = 32) and first-line enzalutamide (n = 36) sequences (HR, 1.58; P = .384). CONCLUSION: The most prescribed treatment sequence was docetaxel followed by ART. No significant difference was observed in overall survival among the treatment sequences in real-world practice.

Impact of Disagreement Between Two Risk Group Models on Prognosis in Patients With Metastatic Renal-Cell Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of the risk group disagreement between the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) models on prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 176 patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma who were treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors as first-line therapy in 5 hospitals between October 2008 and August 2018. The risk group classification differences between the MSKCC and the IMDC models were evaluated using criteria of agreement (identical risk group in both the MSKCC and IMDC models) and disagreement (not identical risk group in both the MSKCC and IMDC models). The agreement of risk stratification between the models was evaluated using the Cohen κ coefficient. Oncologic outcomes were compared between the agreement and disagreement groups. RESULTS: The number of patients with agreement, upgrade, and downgrade was 135 (77%), 39 (22%), and 2 (1.1%), respectively. Of 41 patients with disagreement, reclassification from the MSKCC-intermediate to the IMDC-poor risk group was most frequent (n = 34, 19%). The Cohen κ coefficient for agreement was substantial, with κ = 0.613 (P < .001). Significantly poorer prognosis was observed in patients with disagreement than in those with agreement. Neutrophil count, hemoglobin, serum calcium concentration, and C-reactive protein were significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: Disagreement between the MSKCC and IMDC models may have a negative impact on prognosis in patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma. The inclusion of systematic inflammation markers in a risk model may be essential for prognosis prediction.

Postoperative weight loss followed by radical cystectomy predicts poor prognosis in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

We aimed to investigate the impact of postoperative weight loss following radical cystectomy (RC) on patients' prognoses. RC and urinary diversion were performed in 512 consecutive patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer at our hospitals between May 1996 and July 2018. Demographic clinical information, pre- and postoperative serum albumin, hemoglobin, and weight were evaluated retrospectively at 1 month. We also evaluated the association of weight loss with complications and overall survival (OS) as estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Risk factors for poor OS were determined by Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighted (IPTW)-adjusted Cox regression analysis. In 385 patients who met the study search criteria, median postoperative weight loss from baseline at 1 week and 1 month was 1.1 (- 1.8%) and 3.2 (- 5.4%) kg, respectively. Patients with significant weight loss (defined as ≥ 7.5% at 1 month) had higher-grade complications within 1 month and had significantly shorter OS than those with weight loss of < 7.5%. Type of urinary diversion, loss of serum albumin, and loss of hemoglobin were not significantly associated with weight loss. IPTW-adjusted Cox regression analysis showed that such significant weight loss was an independent risk factor for poor OS. Weight loss followed by radical cystectomy was significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.