Predictive Role of the Systemic Immune Inflammation Index for Intravesical BCG Response in Intermediate- and High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to explore using the predictive role of systemic immune inflammation index (SII) for responses of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy in patients with intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). METHODS: From 9 centers, we reviewed the data of patients treated for intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC between 2011 and 2021. All patients enrolled in the study presented with T1 and/or high-grade tumors on initial TURB had undergone re-TURB within 4-6 weeks after initial TURB and had received at least a 6-week course of intravesical BCG induction. SII was calculated with the formula SII = (P × N)/L, where P, N, and L refer to peripheral platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, respectively. In patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC, the clinicopathological features and follow-up data were evaluated to compare SII with other systemic inflammation-based prognostic indices. These included the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (PNR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). RESULTS: A total of 269 patients were enrolled in the study. Median follow-up time was 39 months. Disease recurrence and progression were observed in 71 (26.4%) and 19 (7.1%) patients, respectively. For groups with and without disease recurrence in terms of NLR, PLR, PNR, and SII calculated prior to intravesical BCG treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed (p = 0.470, p = 0.247, p = 0.495, and p = 0.243, respectively). Moreover, there were also no statistically significant differences between the groups with and without disease progression in terms of NLR, PLR, PNR, and SII (p = 0.504, p = 0.165, p = 0.410, and p = 0.242, respectively). SII did not show any statistically significant difference between early (<6 months) and late (≥6 months) recurrence (p = 0.492) and progression groups (p = 0.216). CONCLUSION: For patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC, serum SII levels do not present as an appropriate biomarker for the prediction of disease recurrence and progression following intravesical BCG therapy. A possible explanation for the failure of SII to predict BCG response may be found in the impact of Turkey's nationwide tuberculosis vaccination program.

Correlation of Prostate-Imaging Reporting and Data Scoring System scoring on multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging with histopathological factors in radical prostatectomy material in Turkish prostate cancer patients: a multicenter study of the Urooncology Association.

BACKGROUND: Histopathological features after radical prostatectomy (RP) provide important information for the prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa). The possible correlations between Prostate-Imaging Reporting and Data Scoring System (PIRADS) scores in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) may also be predictive for prognosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation of PIRADS scores with histopathological data. METHODS: A total of 177 patients who underwent preoperative mpMRI and RP for PCa from eight institutions were included in the study. Correlation of PIRADS score in preoperative mpMRI with adverse histopathological factors in RP specimen was investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The relationship between PIRADS score and postoperative extracapsular extension, lymphovascular invasion, and seminal vesicle involvement was significant (P < 0.001, P = 0.032, and P = 0.007, respectively). Although the PIRADS score was significantly correlated with the number of dissected lymph nodes (p = 0.026), it had no significant correlation with the number of positive nodes (P = 0.611). Total Gleason score, extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and number of lymph nodes were found to be independent factors, which correlated with high PIRADS scores in ordinal logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: PIRADS scoring system in mpMRI showed a statistically significant correlation with adverse histopathological factors in RP specimen. A higher PIRADS score may help to predict a higher Gleason score, indicating clinically important PCa as well as poor prognotic factors such as extracapsular extension, lymphovascular invasion, and seminal vesicle invasion that may indicate a higher risk of recurrence and the need for additional treatment.

The determination of stage in nonmuscle urothelial carcinoma: Staining pattern of caspase-8.

CONTEXT: Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is one of the most frequent epithelial tumors worldwide. AIMS: We aimed to investigate the protein expressions of caspase-8, p53, murine double minute 2 (mdm2), and p14ARF in nonmuscle UCs and to correlate the findings with clinicopathological characteristics. SETTINGS AND DESIGN:: A total of 50 patients who had pTa and pT1 tumors were analyzed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The protein expressions of caspase-8, p53, mdm2, and p14ARF were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square test was done using SPSS version 16.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: Cytoplasmic caspase-8 expression was significantly higher in pT1 UCs while nuclear caspase-8 expression was significantly higher in pTa UCs (P = 0.005 and P = 0.011, respectively). Cytoplasmic caspase-8 expression was also higher in high-grade UCs (P = 0.035). The expression of p53, mdm2, and p14ARF was not also related with pathological stage or grade (P > 0.05 for all). The p14ARF expression was related with nuclear caspase-8 expression in most of the patients. Complete agreement among nonmuscle UCs for immunohistochemical expression of p14 and nuclear caspase-8 was seen in 41 cases, and the pairwise kappa agreement value was substantial (κ =0.614). The patients who had recurrence were positive for both p53 and mdm2 or either p53 or mdm2 (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the staining pattern of caspase-8 might be helpful for determining of the stages in nonmuscle UC. It was also showed that the expression status of p53 and mdm2 were related with the recurrence.

Selective Upper-Body Perfusion Technique for Removal of Renal Cell Carcinoma Extending into the Inferior Vena Cava and Right Atrium.

Invasion of a renal cell carcinoma thrombus into the inferior vena cava and right atrium is infrequent. Reaching and completely excising a tumor from the inferior vena cava is particularly challenging because the liver covers the surgical field. We report the case of a 61-year-old man who underwent surgery for a renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney that extended into the inferior vena cava and right atrium. During dissection of the liver to expose the inferior vena cava, transesophageal echocardiograms revealed right atrial mass migration into the tricuspid valve. On emergency sternotomy, the tumor embolized into the main pulmonary artery. We used a selective upper-body perfusion technique involving moderately hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, cardioplegic arrest, and clamping of the descending aorta, which provided a bloodless surgical field for precise removal of the mass and resulted in minimal blood loss. Our technique might be useful in other patients with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium because it reduces the need for transfusion and avoids the deleterious effects of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Our case also illustrates the importance of continuous transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring to detect thrombus embolization.

Human TLR gene family members are differentially expressed in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

PURPOSE: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have an important role in the activation of both innate and adaptive immunity in response to pathogens and endogenous danger signals from damaged or dying cells. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between urothelial carcinoma (UC) and TLR expression. BASIC PROCEDURES: Real-time polymerase chain reaction evaluation was made of the messenger RNA expression of TLRs 1-10 in 24 UC samples and 46 nontumoral bladder tissue samples. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8) in the urine samples were also determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MAIN FINDINGS: TLR2-7 and TLR10 expressions were significantly higher in UC than in the control group (P<0.05 for all comparisons). No concordance was found between matched tumor tissue and urine samples in terms of TLR expression. IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were significantly higher in urine specimens of patients with UC (P = 0.033, P = 0.001, and P = 0.008, respectively). PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that the TLR gene expression profiles reflect the heterogeneity within UC. These results might also prompt further investigation to better understand the role of the TLR gene family expression in the tumor progression of UC.

A preoperative prognostic model predicting recurrence-free survival for patients with kidney cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a preoperative prognostic model in order to predict recurrence-free survival in patients with nonmetastatic kidney cancer. METHODS: A multi-institutional data base of 1889 patients who underwent surgical resection between 1987 and 2007 for kidney cancer was retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative variables were defined as age, gender, presentation, size, presence of radiological lymph nodes and clinical stage. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the variables were performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. A model was developed with preoperative variables as predictors of recurrence after nephrectomy. Internal validation was performed by Harrell's concordance index. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 23.6 months (1-222 months). During the follow-up, 258 patients (13.7%) developed cancer recurrence. The median follow-up for patients who did not develop recurrence was 25 months. The median time from surgery to recurrence was 13 months. The 5-year freedom from recurrence probability was 78.6%. All variables except age were associated with freedom from recurrence in multivariate analyses (P < 0.05). Age was marginally significant in the univariate analysis. All variables were included in the predictive model. The calculated c-index was 0.747. CONCLUSIONS: This preoperative model utilizes easy to obtain clinical variables and predicts the likelihood of development of recurrent disease in patients with kidney tumors.

Is prophylactic breast radiotherapy necessary in all patients with prostate cancer and gynecomastia and/or breast pain?

PURPOSE: We investigated the efficacy of prophylactic radiotherapy for gynecomastia/breast pain induced by 150 mg bicalutamide in a prospective, randomized, multi-institutional trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After definitive treatment for localized prostate cancer 125 patients were randomized to 12 Gy radiotherapy before bicalutamide as prophylactic radiotherapy (53) or bicalutamide only for nonprophylactic radiotherapy (72). The incidence of gynecomastia, breast pain and tenderness, and discomfort perceived by the patients was assessed by physical examination and direct questioning at 3, 6 and 12 months of followup. RESULTS: At the end of 12 months the gynecomastia rate was 15.8% in the prophylactic group and 50.8% in the nonprophylactic group (p <0.001). On patient evaluation the breast enlargement rate was 34.4%. The severity of breast pain and tenderness was not different between the groups. The breast pain rate was 36.4% and 49.2% by 12 months in the prophylactic and nonprophylactic groups, and the rate of patients who felt discomfort from gynecomastia was 11.4% and 29.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective study the incidence of gynecomastia was not as high as previously believed. Although prophylactic breast irradiation seemed to decrease the gynecomastia rate in patients on 150 mg bicalutamide, our study proves that not all patients need prophylaxis since only 52% were significantly bothered by gynecomastia. Thus, individual assessment is needed to select patients who need prophylactic radiation while on 150 mg bicalutamide.

Validation of two preoperative Kattan nomograms predicting recurrence after radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer in Turkey: a multicenter study of the Uro-oncology Society.

OBJECTIVES: To examine, in a multicenter validation study designed under the guidance of the Uro-Oncology Society, the predictive accuracies of the 1998 and 2006 Kattan preoperative nomograms in Turkish patients. These 2 preoperative Kattan nomograms use preoperative parameters to estimate disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy. METHODS: A total of 1261 men with clinically localized prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy were included. The preoperative prostate-specific antigen level, biopsy Gleason score, clinical stage, number of positive and negative prostate biopsy cores, and postoperative recurrence status of all patients were studied. The predicted values using the Kattan nomograms and the observed values were compared. RESULTS: The patient characteristics in the cohort were comparable with those of the cohorts used to create the Kattan nomograms. The 5-year probability of freedom from recurrence was 73% using Kaplan-Meier analysis and was similar to that of the 1998 Kattan nomogram cohort. However, the 10-year probability of freedom from recurrence was 67%, slightly lower than the same estimate from the 2006 nomogram cohort. The predicted values of recurrence using Kattan nomogram and the observed rates in our cohort were similar. The estimated concordance index value was 0.698 and 0.705 for 1998 and 2006 nomograms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Kattan preoperative nomograms can be used with adequate success in Turkey, because the predicted and observed rates in our cohort were similar. Our results have demonstrated satisfactory concordance index values, suggesting that both the 1998 and the 2006 Kattan preoperative nomograms can safely be used in Turkish patients with similar accuracy. Although the 2006 nomogram had slightly better discrimination, the 1998 nomogram was a little more calibrated.

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: the new gold standard surgical treatment for localized renal cell carcinoma.

We will try to demonstrate that laparoscopic radical nephrectomy could be the new gold standard treatment for renal cell carcinoma with the aid of the current reports exploring the advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy over open surgery. Reported perioperative outcomes like operating time, blood loss, postoperative analgesia requirement, and length of hospital stay and duration of convalescence had been found to be in favor of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Some technical issues like approach of laparoscopic technique (Transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy), removal of dissected specimen and need for lymph node dissection had been also discussed in detail in this review. Besides, oncological safety of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy had been explored. The overall five-year disease free survival rates of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in recent series were found to be over 90%. All of the series including the present one at least confirmed the oncological efficacy of LRN as compared with open surgical approach. The contemporary review of the literature documents clearly demonstrated the perioperative benefits of laparoscopy compared to the open approach. Nevertheless, the development, however, more safe and reliable technique in laparoscopy is necessary for tumor extraction. Recent studies confirmed the long-term similar cancer control results of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with open surgery. Despite some technical modifications by the different groups, it can be stated that laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is the new gold standard treatment modality for patients with localized renal cell carcinoma.

The effect of prior biopsy scheme on prostate cancer detection for repeat biopsy population: results of the 14-core prostate biopsy technique.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of 14-core repeat biopsy protocol and the impact of prior biopsy scheme on repeat prostate biopsy group. METHODS: 211 patients had repeat biopsy using 14-core protocol consisting of 10-core peripheral zone (classical sextant+4 lateral peripheral cores) and 4-core transitional zone (TZ) biopsies. The diagnostic yield was determined both in patients who had previously undergone sextant or 10-core biopsy protocol. RESULTS: Overall cancer detection rate was 25.6%. 14-core biopsy technique detected cancer in 36.1 and 18.7% of the patients who had a previous sextant biopsy and 10-core biopsy protocol, respectively (P = 0.005). Patients with and without high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) in the previous sextant biopsy had 56.5 and 28.3% cancer detection rates on the subsequent extended biopsy, respectively (P = 0.017) Patients who had previous 10-core biopsy with and without HGPIN revealed 22.9 and 17.2% cancer detection rates, respectively (P = 0.465) Additional four lateral peripheral cores detected 33% (3/30) and 17% (4/24) of cancers in patients with previous sextant and 10-core biopsy, respectively. 3.7% of the patients had tumor only in the TZ and none of them had prior extended biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: The yield of extended 14-core repeat biopsy protocol was higher in patients with previous negative sextant biopsy compared to the patients with previous negative 10-core biopsy. HGPIN history found on previous sextant biopsy was a strong cancer predictor on repeat biopsy; same was not true for the patients with previous 10-core biopsy. The yield of lateral peripheral cores and TZ biopsies were lower in patients with prior negative extended biopsy.

Prognostic significance of bladder tumor history and tumor location in upper tract transitional cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We studied prognostic factors for 5-year disease specific and recurrence-free survival in patients treated for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since July 1987, 72 patients with a mean age of 58.9 years have undergone nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision. Median followup was 62.2 months (range 6 to 192). Patient age, sex, detection duration and mode, bladder tumor history, smoking habit, stone disease history, and tumor stage, grade and location were evaluated as prognostic factors. RESULTS: Overall 5-year disease specific and recurrence-free survival rates were 74.9% and 67.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed anemia, positive bladder tumor history, T stage, grade and tumor location in the upper tract as significant prognostic factors. On multivariate analysis T stage, grade and tumor location in the urothelium were the only significant variables for the 5-year disease specific and recurrence-free survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: High tumor stage and grade, and ureteral location were significantly associated with worse disease specific and recurrence-free survival in patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma. Our results may help define the patient groups that need adjuvant therapy and they may form a basis for further controlled studies.

Serum ribonuclease activity in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in men with serum prostate-specific antigen levels between 2.5 and 20 ng/mL.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum ribonuclease activity for prostate cancer detection and to compare its performance with serum PSA. DESIGN AND METHODS: 111 subjects with serum PSA levels between 2.5 and 20 ng/mL underwent prostate biopsy. The diagnostic performance of serum ribonuclease activity, PSA, free PSA, complex PSA and PSA derivatives was studied in regard to discriminating prostate cancer from BPH. RESULTS: Of 111 patients, 27 (24.3%) were positive for prostate cancer. Median serum ribonuclease level in patients with prostate cancer was significantly higher than the non-cancer patients (21.3 U/mL vs. 6.6 U/mL, P < 0.001). Area under curve (AUC) values for ribonuclease activity level, PSA, f/tPSA and cPSA were 0.696, 0.514, 0.617 and 0.662, respectively. Of 27 patients with prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy was performed in 15. Of these 15 cases, four (26.7%) had clinical insignificant tumors; all with undetectable serum ribonuclease activity. When median values of various diagnostic parameters were compared in regard to predicting clinically significant and insignificant cancers, only serum ribonuclease activity was found to be significant. CONCLUSIONS: Although serum ribonuclease activity had no additional benefit beyond serum PSA in the diagnosis of patients with PSA levels between 2.5 and 20 ng/mL, it may be helpful to discriminate the clinically significant prostate cancers and thus select the proper treatment accordingly.

Individualization of the biopsy protocol according to the prostate gland volume for prostate cancer detection.

PURPOSE: In this study we assessed the relative yield of 10 core biopsy, and the whole range of alternative 8 and 6 core biopsy protocols over that of the classic sextant biopsy protocol. We determined the optimum number of cores per biopsy according to prostate volume in patients who experienced prostate biopsy for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 503 men with the indications of abnormal digital rectal examination and/or serum prostate specific antigen greater than 2.5 ng/ml were included in the study. All patients underwent a 10 core biopsy protocol with an additional 1 core from each suspicious area detected by transrectal ultrasound. Prostate volume was divided into quartiles, namely 14.9 to 35, 35.1 to 50, 50.1 to 65 and 65.1 to 150 cc. The optimum number of biopsy cores was determined in patients with different prostate volumes. RESULTS: Median age was 63 years and prostate specific antigen was 7.4 ng/ml in the whole group. Of 503 patients 159 (31.6%) were positive for prostate cancer. Cancer detection rates decreased significantly from 49.6% to 20.8% as prostate volume increased in preset quartiles. Lesion biopsies revealed the lowest unique cancer detection rates for all prostate volume quartiles (0% to 3%). There was an obvious positive trend in cancer detection rates in favor of the 10 core biopsy protocol over sextant biopsies in all patient groups. Classic sextant biopsy protocol proved to be inadequate for all prostate volumes. Among sextant biopsy protocols laterally placed cores including the apex, lateral mid gland and lateral base had the best cancer detection rates (81% to 95%). The 8 core biopsy scheme consisting of the apex, mid gland, lateral mid gland and lateral base resulted in an only 1% lower detection rate (97%) than the 10 core biopsy protocol in the lowest quartile. The yield of the 10 core biopsy protocol in patients with a prostate volume of between 35.1 and 150 cc outscored that of the optimal 8 core biopsy scheme including the apex, base, lateral mid gland and lateral base with 3% to 8% differences in the cancer detection rate. CONCLUSIONS: The 10 core biopsy protocol must be used in all group of patients except patients with a prostate volume of 14.9 to 35 cc. In patients with a prostate volume of 14.9 to 35 cc the 8 core biopsy protocol consisting of the apex, mid gland, lateral mid gland and lateral base can be used since it revealed results similar to those of the 10 core biopsy protocol. The classic sextant biopsy protocol seemed inadequate for all prostate volumes. Patients with a larger prostate had lower cancer detection rates. Transrectal ultrasound directed lesion biopsies may be omitted when using 10 core biopsy protocols since the yield of these biopsies was less than 2%.

Can we obtain better specimens with an end-cutting prostatic biopsy device?

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare the tissue yield of two different prostate biopsy instruments: the newer end-cut versus standard side-notch technique. METHODS: A total of 87 patients, who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy were included in the study between February 2003 and July 2003. Twenty-five patients underwent prostate biopsy with the end-cut technique with a stroke length of 33 mm (EC-33), 25 patients were biopsied with a stroke length of 23 mm of the same instrument (EC-23) whereas the remaining 37 patients underwent biopsy with an instrument working with side-notch technique with a 22 mm stroke length (SN). The length, weight and weight/length ratio (WLR) were measured for each biopsy core. The pathologic specimens were evaluated qualitatively. The length, weight and WLR as well as the complication rates, pain, zero biopsy rates, pathologic quality and cancer detection rates were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Three groups were similar according to age, PSA values (free, total, free/total), prostate volumes (TZ, total) and PSA densities. The cancer detection rate was not statistically different between groups and was overall 20,9%. As the groups were compared according to mean core lengths, weights and densities the sequence was found to be EC-33>EC-23>SN. The EC group had higher prostatic glandular capture rates and better pathological quality. However, the zero biopsy rates were 12%, 7% and 1% for EC-33, EC-23 and SN groups, respectively and the difference was statistically significant. The complication rates after biopsy were similar for each group. The mean visual analogous scale scores were not significantly different between the groups. Another interesting finding was that cores containing cancer were heavier and denser than the others regardless of the instrument type. CONCLUSION: The use of the presented new instrument, enables to obtain longer, heavier and denser cores with a higher pathologic quality and glandular coverage without increasing the number of biopsies and morbidity. However, the relatively high zero biopsy rate is a handicap that needs to be improved.

Complexed prostate specific antigen density is better than the other PSA derivatives for detection of prostate cancer in men with total PSA between 2.5 and 20 ng/ml: results of a prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: This prospective, multicenter study was initiated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of PSA, free/total PSA (f/tPSA) and complexed PSA (cPSA) with volume-based parameters for early detection of prostate cancer in patients with PSA between 2.5 and 20 ng/ml. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 408 subjects with serum PSA values between 2.5 and 20 ng/ml regardless of digital rectal examination (DRE) were included in to the study. The diagnostic validity, sensitivity, specificity and cut-off values were evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Of 408 patients 77 (18.9%) were positive for prostate cancer. Digital rectal examination was non-suspicious in 86% (351/408) of the patients. Area under curve (AUC) values for cPSA were better than PSA and f/tPSA in patients with PSA values of 2.5-10 ng/ml and 4-10 ng/ml, as well as the whole group. Furthermore, on ROC curve analysis cPSAD was the best predictor of prostate cancer for all PSA ranges regardless of the DRE findings except PSA values between 2.5 and 4 ng/ml. The cut-off value of cPSAD at 90% sensitivity was 0.06 ng/ml/cm(3) with a 35.3% specificity saving 126 unnecessary biopsies in the whole group. CONCLUSION: cPSA might be a better initial test than PSA for prostate cancer detection and measurement of cPSA alone and its derivatives obviate the need for additional fPSA testing.

Validation of 2001 Partin tables in Turkey: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: Although Partin tables were developed in United States to predict the stage of prostate cancer preoperatively, they are used by many clinics throughout the world assuming that these figures apply to their population as well. However the predictive value of current Partin tables, which was updated in 2001, has not been validated in most of the countries as well as in Turkey. Therefore, we evaluated the validity of 2001 Partin tables, for the ability to predict the pathological stage in Turkish patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical and pathological findings of 1043 patients who have had radical prostatectomy were assessed. Serum PSA values, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason score and the pathological features of the radical prostatectomy specimens were collected from each clinic and evaluated. The predictive value of Partin nomogram and pathological findings of prostatectomy specimens were compared and analyzed according to Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: Median age of the patients was 60 (45-74). In the presented study, percentage of patients with clinical stage T1c was 43%. Patients with Gleason score of 2-4 in biopsy constituted 23.4% of the study group. In the present study, the ratio of the patients with serum PSA higher than 10 ng/ml was 39.6%. Organ confined disease, seminal vesicle involvement, lymph node metastases ratios were 64.7%, 10.3%, 1.8% respectively. Area Under Curve (AUC) values for organ confined disease, seminal vesicle involvement and lymph node involvement were calculated as 0.665, 0.733 and 0.759 respectively. CONCLUSION: It appears that Partin tables have a reasonable predictive value for the final pathological features like organ confined disease, seminal vesicle and lymph node involvement in Turkish patients. This multicenter study showed that current Partin tables could also be used in Turkish patients with comparable accuracy.

Resection of pulmonary metastases following chemotherapy for high stage testicular tumors.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to analyze retrospectively our experience with 19 patients who had metastatic germ cell testicular tumor and had undergone resection of pulmonary metastases following chemotherapy. We wished to determine the necessity of thoracic surgery on these patients. METHODS: Of 103 patients in need of postchemotherapeutic surgery for metastatic germ cell testicular tumors, 19 patients (mean age 31) underwent surgery for thoracic masses following cis-platin based chemotherapy. Resection of pulmonary metastases was performed on patients with normal tumor markers after chemotherapy, who did not achieve complete radiological remission. Histopathological findings, correlation with the pathology of abdominal surgery and probable prognostic factors for disease-free and overall survivals were evaluated. RESULTS: Disease-free and overall survival rates were 14/19 (73%) and 16/19 (84%), respectively, within a median follow-up time of 30 months (15-212 months). Patients with and without viable tumor cells in their thoracic histopathological specimen had 40% and 85% disease-free survival rates, respectively (P < 0.05). Eight patients had both abdominal and thoracic postchemotherapy surgery. Only two (25%) of these patients had the same histopathological features at both sites. CONCLUSIONS: All patients with residual thoracic masses must be considered candidates for surgery, because there are no predictive factors to determine the thoracic pathology without surgery. With the resection of the pulmonary metastases only, surgery can be performed without significant morbidity and is essential to select patients for further chemotherapy, to remove all visible masses and to provide histopathological confirmation. Patients with viable tumor cells in the thoracic surgical specimen have a poor prognosis.

An extended 10-core transrectal ultrasonography guided prostate biopsy protocol improves the detection of prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of TRUS guided 10-core biopsy strategy for Turkish patients who had biopsy of the prostate for the first time. METHODS: Between February 2001 and May 2003, 303 consecutive men with suspected prostate cancer were included in the study. Indications for TRUS guided prostate biopsy were: abnormal digital rectal examination and/or a serum PSA over 2.5 ng/ml. All of the patients underwent a 10-core biopsy protocol with additional core from the each suspicious area detected by TRUS. Besides the sextant technique, 4 more biopsies were obtained from the lateral peripheral zone. We aimed to analyze whether cancer detection improved with the extended versus the standard sextant biopsy in our series overall and in each subgroup. RESULTS: Of 303 patients 94 (31%) were positive for prostate cancer. Median age and PSA of prostate cancer patients were significantly higher than of the non-cancer patients. Besides prostate volumes of the cancer patients were significantly lower than of the non-cancer ones. The cancer detection rates were 31% (94/303) and 23.1% (70/303) for the 10-core biopsy strategy and sextant biopsy strategies, respectively. Thus the 10-core biopsy technique increased cancer detection rate by 25.5% (24/94) for the whole group of patients. A statistically significant number of additional cancers were detected with 10-core biopsy strategy for all the subgroups of the patients. Furthermore 10-core biopsy protocol detected more cancers (at least 6.4%) than all the probable different combinations of 8-core biopsy protocols. Among the 94 cancer patients, biopsy from a suspicious area revealed cancer in 31.9% of them; however, in all of these patients cancer was already present in the 10-core biopsy. On the other hand, lesion biopsies revealed 5.7% additional cancers if sextant technique was used. There were only 3 (0.9%) serious complications requiring hospitalization and all 3 were infections controlled by appropriate antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Adding 4 lateral peripheral biopsies to the conventional sextant biopsy (10-core biopsy strategy) technique has increased the cancer detection rate by 25.5% without significant morbidity and without increasing the number of insignificant cancers. 10-core biopsy protocol was superior to all probable 8-core biopsy protocols in our study group. Additional biopsies from suspicious areas detected by transrectal ultrasonography revealed no further benefit if 10-core technique was used. We therefore suggest that 10-core biopsy protocol should be the preferred strategy in early detection of prostate cancer.