Impact of Matrix Metalloproteinases 11 Gene Variants on Urothelial Cell Carcinoma Development and Clinical Characteristics.

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) is one of the lethal causes of cancer mortality of the genitourinary tract. Carcinogenic epidemiological risk factors exposure and age over 65 years old are associated with UCC risk. Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP11) was suggested as a tumor marker of metastasis and predictor of poor survival in urothelial carcinomas. In this study, we focused on the associations of MMP11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to UCC susceptibility, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognosis. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze five SNPs of MMP11 rs738791, rs2267029, rs738792, rs28382575, and rs131451 in 431 patients with UCC and 650 cancer-free controls. The MMP11 rs28382575 polymorphic "CT" genotype were susceptible to UCC (AOR = 2.045, 95% CI = 1.088 - 3.843; p = 0.026). For MMP11 rs131451, a significant association was found in 166 UCC patients among age ≤ 65 years old who carried MMP11 rs131451 polymorphic "CC" genotype, which is associated with lower risk to develop later tumor T status (T1-T4) (OR = 0.375, 95% CI = 0.159 - 0.887; p = 0.026) compared with the (CT + TT) genotype. Furthermore, patients of UCC with rs738792 polymorphic "CC" genotype were observed to have higher free of relapse (FS) (p = 0.035), disease specific survival rate (p = 0.037), and overall survival rate (p = 0.009) compared with the rs738792 (CT + CC) genotype. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the MMP11 SNPs are associated with UCC susceptibility, clinical status, and disease survival. The MMP11 polymorphisms may have potential to predict UCC susceptibility and prognosis.

Renal mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma with an aorto-caval mass mimicking metastatic lymphadenopathy.

A 54-year-old female had a 9-cm left renal mass with a 12-cm aorto-caval mass lesion mimicking an enlarged lymph node. Retroperitoneal dissection and left radical nephrectomy were performed, and pathology revealed a left renal mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma combined with a retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma. The patient has had no local recurrence or distant metastasis after 3 years' follow-up. A misdiagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma may be upheld by the primary imaging studies. Even in the targeted therapy era, cytoreductive nephrectomy is still an important step in the diagnosis and treatment of suspicious metastatic renal cell carcinomas.

Metallic stent in the treatment of ureteral obstruction: experience of single institute.

BACKGROUND: The Resonance(®) metallic stent has been reported to be sufficient for the management of malignant extrinsic ureteral obstructions within a 12-month time period. To determine the effectiveness in each specific patient group, we report our experience using the Resonance(®) stent in the treatment of ureteral obstructions. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients (23 stents) who successfully received the Resonance(®) metallic stents and divided them into a patent group (n = 19) and an obstructive group (n = 4) according to the treatment results. Twenty-one stents were inserted via cystoscopy or ureteroscopy in a retrograde fashion. The remaining two were inserted via percutaneous nephrostomy in an antegrade manner. Follow-up serum creatinine measurements and sonography were performed. The overall ureteral patency rate and the risk of stent failure were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall ureteral patency rate was 82.6% (19/23). Patients with previous radiotherapy had a 50% (4/8) patency rate which was significantly lower than non-radiotherapy patients (100%, 15/15, p = 0.028). Malignant obstructions in those other than radiotherapy patients had a 100% patency rate (5/5). Benign obstructions in those other than radiotherapy patients had a 100% patency rate (10/10). In the radiotherapy patients, the mode of therapy did not dominate the stent outcome. CONCLUSION: Patients with ureteral obstructions can be treated sufficiently with the Resonance(®) metallic stent. Patients who had gynecological malignancies and received radiotherapy had a higher failure rate after Resonance(®) metallic stent insertion.

Trends in treatment for localized prostate cancer after emergence of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Radical retropubic prostatectomy remains the gold standard treatment for localized prostate cancer. However, new minimally invasive techniques have emerged, providing a less invasive approach. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is the ideal technique, providing good oncologic and functional outcomes. We analyzed the impact of robotic surgical systems on practice patterns among urologists to explain changes in the value of radical retropubic prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in a single institution in Taiwan. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who received prostatectomy by one of the above procedures between January 2004 and November 2009. Decisions to perform these procedures were made by patient preference. Patients who received prostate biopsies at other hospitals were transferred to our hospital specifically for robotic-assisted prostatectomy. RESULTS: A total of 434 radical prostatectomies were performed, of which 141 (32.49%) were radical retropubic prostatectomies, 59 (13.59%) were laparoscopic radical prostatectomies and 234 (53.92%) were robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomies. The overall number of prostatectomies has increased over time because of an increase in robotic-assisted procedures. No decreases were seen in the number of radical retropubic prostatectomies during the evaluation period. Changes in the ratio of robotic-assisted prostatectomies compared to radical retropubic and laparoscopic radical prostatectomies demonstrated a trend toward robotic-assisted procedures. The percentage of cases transferred from other hospitals also increased over time from 28.57% to 68.60%. CONCLUSION: Our experience emphasizes the potential of robotic-assisted prostatectomy to become the mainstream treatment for localized prostate cancer in Taiwan.

Hepatic failure-induced hypogonadism in a prostate cancer patient.

Hypogonadism owing to systemic diseases in prostate cancer is rare. Here, we present a patient with metastatic prostate cancer to the pericardium who had low serum testosterone level due to hepatic failure. The patient had cardiac tamponade, and pericardiocentesis revealed sanguineous exudate. Cytology revealed adenocarcinoma. High serum prostate-specific antigen level of 244 ng/mL was detected. The patient experienced complications of stress gastric and duodenal ulcer perforation and underwent subtotal gastrectomy. Perioperative intra-abdominal inflammatory process caused subsequent cholestasis and hepatic dysfunction. Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy confirmed prostate cancer. Hypogonadism and a gradual decline in prostate-specific antigen were detected without any hormone therapy. The patient died due to hepatic failure in the 12(th) postoperative week.