A novel nomogram predicting the risk of positive biopsy for patients in the diagnostic gray area of prostate cancer.

The roles played by several inflammatory factors in screening for prostate cancer (PCa) among gray area patients, namely those with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml, have not been completely identified, and few effective diagnostic nomograms have been developed exclusively for these patients. We aimed to investigate new independent predictors of positive biopsy (PB) results and develop a novel diagnostic nomogram for this group of patients. The independent predictors of PB results were identified, and a nomogram was constructed using multivariate logistic regression analysis based on a cohort comprising 401 Gy area patients diagnosed at Xijing Hospital (Xi'an, China) between January 2016 and December 2019. The predictive accuracy of the nomogram was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the nomogram was calibrated by comparing the prediction with the observation. The performance of the nomogram was further validated using an independent cohort. Finally, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) > 4.11 and red blood cell distribution width (RDW)-standard deviation (SD) > 42.9 fl were identified as independent protective predictors of PB results, whereas PSA density (PSAD) > 0.141 was identified as an independent risk predictor. The nomogram established using PSAD, LMR, and RDW-SD was perfectly calibrated, and its predictive accuracy was superior to that of PSAD in both internal and external validations (0.827 vs 0.769 and 0.765 vs 0.713, respectively). This study is the first to report the importance of LMR and RDW-SD in screening for PCa among gray area patients and to construct an exclusive nomogram to predict the individual risk of positive 13-core biopsy results in this group of patients. With superior performance over PSAD, our nomogram will help increase the accuracy of PCa screening, thereby avoiding unnecessary biopsy.

Triptorelin relieves lower urinary tract symptoms in Chinese advanced prostate cancer patients: a multicenter, non-interventional, prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although triptorelin is increasingly used in China for biochemical castration, its effects on primary prostate cancer symptoms remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Chinese prostate cancer patients and the effectiveness of triptorelin on LUTS. METHODS: In this 48-week multicenter, non-interventional, prospective study, we enrolled patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. Patients received triptorelin (15 mg) intramuscularly at baseline and at weeks 12, 24, and 36 with symptom assessment using the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS). The primary endpoints were the prevalence of LUTS at baseline per IPSS categories and the percentage of patients with moderate to severe LUTS (IPSS > 7) at baseline, having at least a 3-point reduction of IPSS score at week 48. RESULTS: A total of 398 patients were included; 211 (53.0%) and 160 (40.2%) among them had severe and moderate LUTS, respectively. Of the patients with IPSS scores available at baseline and at week 48 (n = 213), 81.2% achieved a reduction in IPSS of at least 3 points. Of the patients with moderate to severe LUTS at baseline and IPSS scores available at baseline and at week 48 (n = 194), 86.6% achieved a total IPSS reduction of at least 3 points. CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of Chinese patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer scheduled to receive triptorelin as part of their standard treatment have severe or moderate LUTS. Triptorelin therapy resulted in sustained improvement of LUTS in these patients.

Anti-tumor effects of a recombinant anti-prostate specific membrane antigen immunotoxin against prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate anti-prostate cancer effects of a chimeric tumor-targeted killer protein. METHODS: We established a novel fusion gene, immunocasp-3, composed of NH2-terminal leader sequence fused with an anti-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) antibody (J591), the furin cleavage sequences of diphtheria toxin (Fdt), and the reverse coding sequences of the large and small subunits of caspase-3 (revcaspase-3). The expressing level of the immunocasp-3 gene was evaluated by using the reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis. Cell viability assay and cytotoxicity assay were used to evaluate its anti-tumor effects in vitro. Apoptosis was confirmed by electron microscopy and Annexin V-FITC staining. The antitumor effects of immunocasp-3 were assessed in nude mice xenograft models containing PSMA-overexpressing LNCaP cells. RESULTS: This study shows that the immunocasp-3 proteins selectively recognized and induced apoptotic death in PSMA-overexpressing LNCaP cells in vitro, where apoptotic cells were present in 15.3% of the cells transfected with the immunocasp-3 expression vector at 48 h after the transfection, in contrast to 5.5% in the control cells. Moreover, LNCaP cells were significantly killed under the condition of the co-culture of the immunocasp-3-secreting Jurkat cells and more than 50% of the LNCaP cells died when the two cell lines were co-cultured within 5 days. In addition, The expression of immunocasp-3 also significantly suppressed tumor growth and greatly prolonged the animal survival rate in vivo. CONCLUSION: A novel fusion gene, immunocasp-3, may represent a viable approach to treating PSMA-positive prostate cancer.

Heme oxygenase-1 is a predictive biomarker for therapeutic targeting of advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with sorafenib or sunitinib.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC) and evaluated the effects of the targeted therapies treated with sorafenib and sunitinib. METHODS: Expression of HO-1 in cancer tissue from 66 patients was measured by immunohis-tochemical staining. The patients received either oral sorafenib (n=40) or oral sunitinib (n=26) within 4 weeks after nephrectomy and were followed up long term to determine the tumor response and prognosis. RESULTS: Our current study revealed a high HO-1 expression level in 57.6% (38/66) of patients and a low HO-1 expression level in 42.4% (28/66) of patients with CC-RCC. The study also revealed that patients with high HO-1 expression did not have a higher objective response rate (2.6% versus 53.6%, P<0.01), clinical benefit rate (47.4% versus 92.9%, P<0.01), longer progression-free survival (4.4 versus 42 months, P=0.022), or overall survival (χ (2)=4.775, P=0.029) than patients with low HO-1 expression. In the low HO-1 level group, a higher tumor response rate and a longer survival time was achieved in patients who received sorafenib or sunitinib. Multivariate analysis showed that HO-1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for tumor response and overall survival. CONCLUSION: High expression of HO-1 was associated with a lower tumor response rate and a shorter overall survival time when compared with low expression of HO-1. Overall, HO-1 expression might be a useful biomarker for predicting the response to sunitinib and sorafenib for patients with metastatic CC-RCC.

Percent free prostate-specific antigen is effective to predict prostate biopsy outcome in Chinese men with prostate-specific antigen between 10.1 and 20.0 ng ml(-1).

Percent free prostatic-specific antigen (%fPSA) has been introduced as a tool to avoid unnecessary biopsies in patients with a serum PSA level of 4.0-10.0 ng ml-1 , however, it remains controversial whether %fPSA is effective in PSA range of 10.1-20.0 ng ml-1 in both Chinese and Western population. In this study, the diagnostic performance of %fPSA and serum PSA in predicting prostate cancer (PCa) and high-grade PCa (HGPCa) was analyzed in a multi-center biopsy cohort of 5915 consecutive Chinese patients who underwent prostate biopsy in 22 hospitals across China from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013. The indication for biopsy was PSA>4.0 ng ml-1 or/and suspicious digital rectal examination. Total and free serum PSA determinations were performed by three types of electrochemiluminescence immunoassays with recalibration to the World Health Organization standards. The diagnostics accuracy of PSA, %fPSA and %fPSA in combination with PSA (%fPSA + PSA) was determined by the area under the receivers operating characteristic curve (AUC). %fPSA was more effective than PSA in men aged ≥60 years old. The AUC was 0.584 and 0.635 in men aged ≥60 years old with a PSA of 4.0-10.0 ng ml-1 and 10.1-20.0 ng ml-1 , respectively. The AUC of %fPSA was superior to that of PSA in predicting HGPCa in patients ≥60 years old in these two PSA range. Our results indicated that %fPSA is both statistically effective and clinical applicable to predict prostate biopsy outcome in Chinese patients aged ≥60 years old with a PSA of 4.0-10.0 ng ml-1 and 10.1-20.0 ng ml-1 .

[Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer: report of 34 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RLRP) in the treatment of prostate cancer. METHODS: Using the da Vinci robot surgical system, we performed RLRP for 34 patients with localized prostate cancer and analyzed the intraoperative and follow-up data. RESULTS: The procedures were performed successfully in all the patients, with the mean operation time of 198 min (range 135-340 min), average blood loss of 257 ml (range 50-700 ml), and 1 case of blood transfusion, but no postoperative complications. Three cases had positive surgical margins. Postoperative examination at 4 weeks showed PSA > 0.2 microg/L in 2 cases, suggestive of residual tumor, for which maximal androgen block therapy was administered. The other 32 patients were followed up for 3-10 (mean 7.5) months, during which the average level of serum tPSA remained < 0.2 microg/L. Urinary continence was found in 94% (32/34) and 97% (33/34) of the patients at 3 and 6 months, respectively, of whom 77% (26/34) and 88% (30/34) had no urinary leakage (0 pad per day). CONCLUSION: RLRP, with its advantages of less perioperative blood loss, low rate of positive margin, and good urinary continence, is a safe and effective surgical option for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Concurrent CD44s and STAT3 expression in human clear cell renal cellular carcinoma and its impact on survival.

Although CD44 was overexpressed and considered as a useful prognostic marker in renal cell carcinoma, the prognostic role of CD44s in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains controversial. Moreover, the correlation and prognostic significance of CD44s and its downstream signaling target pSTAT3 are unclear in ccRCC. In this study, 75 pairs of carcinoma and paired adjacent non-tumor renal tissue samples were collected from patients with localized ccRCC who underwent a nephrectomy. The expression levels of CD44s and pSTAT3 were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Correlations between CD44s/pSTAT3 expression and clinical and pathological characteristics were determined using x(2) test, Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox's proportional hazards model. We found that CD44s is highly expressed in 46.67% of tumor tissues, and its high expression was significantly associated with high tumor grade (P < 0.001), large tumor size (P = 0.009) and advanced T stage (P = 0.004). A strong correlation exists between high expression of CD44s and pSTAT3 (r = 0.4013, P = 0.0004). The joint over expression of CD44s and pSTAT3 was present in 42.66% of tumor specimens and had an additive negative impact on overall survival. Patients with CD44s(high)pSTAT3(high) expression had significantly poor survival as compared to patients with CD44s(low)pSTAT3(low) tumor expression (P = 0.024), though the concurrent overexpression of CD44s and pSTAT3 was not an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Our data indicate that expression of both CD44s and pSTAT3 in ccRCC is associated with advanced tumor stage and patient survival. The conclusions from this study may improve the prediction of ccRCC prognosis information when CD44s and pSTAT3 expression are evaluated together with classical clinicopathological parameters.

Inhibition of both EGFR and IGF1R sensitized prostate cancer cells to radiation by synergistic suppression of DNA homologous recombination repair.

Reduced sensitivity of prostate cancer (PC) cells to radiation therapy poses a significant challenge in the clinic. Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R), and crosstalk between these two signaling pathways have been implicated in the development of radiation resistance in PC. This study assessed the effects of targeting both receptors on the regulation of radio-sensitivity in PC cells. Specific inhibitors of EGFR and IGF1R, Erlotinib and AG1024, as well as siRNA targeting EGFR and IGF1R, were used to radio-sensitize PC cells. Our results showed that co-inhibiting both receptors significantly dampened cellular growth and DNA damage repair, and increased radio-sensitivity in PC cells. These effects were carried out through synergistic inhibition of homologous recombination-directed DNA repair (HRR), but not via inhibition of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Furthermore, the compromised HRR capacity was caused by reduced phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and its subsequent interaction with Rad51. The synergistic effect of the EGFR and IGF1R inhibitors was also confirmed in nude mouse xenograft assay. This is the first study testing co-inhibiting EGFR and IGF1R signaling in the context of radio-sensitivity in PC and it may provide a promising adjuvant therapeutic approach to improve the outcome of PC patients to radiation treatment.

Evaluating the expression of CARMA3 as a prognostic tumor marker in renal cell carcinoma.

Increased expression of CARMA3 has been reported to be involved in tumorigenesis and tumor progression of several cancer types. The aim of our study is to investigate the prognostic role of CARMA3 expression in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to detect CARMA3 mRNA expression level in 31 paired samples of RCC and adjacent noncancerous renal tissues. Subsequently, extensive immunohistochemistry was performed to detect CARMA3 protein expression in 114 RCC cases. Clinicopathological data for these patients were evaluated. The prognostic significance was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and log-rank tests. CARMA3 mRNA expression was significantly higher in RCC tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous renal tissues (3.525 ± 1.233 vs. 1.512 ± 0.784, P < 0.001). In addition, high CARMA3 expression in RCC tissues was significantly associated with tumor size (P = 0.026), histological differentiation (P = 0.039), tumor stage (P = 0.006), and the presence of metastasis (P < 0.001). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with high CARMA3 expression also had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with low CARMA3 expression (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Furthermore, multivariate analysis illustrated that CARMA3 overexpression might be an independent prognostic indicator for the survival of patients with RCC. In conclusion, this work shows that CARMA3 may serve as a novel and prognostic marker for RCC and play a role during the development and progression of the disease.

Genistein sensitizes bladder cancer cells to HCPT treatment in vitro and in vivo via ATM/NF-κB/IKK pathway-induced apoptosis.

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant urological disease in China. Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, which has been utilized in chemotherapy for bladder cancer for nearly 40 years. Previous research has demonstrated that the isoflavone, genistein, can sensitize multiple cancer cell lines to HCPT treatment, such as prostate and cervical cancer. In this study, we investigated whether genistein could sensitize bladder cancer cell lines and bladder epithelial cell BDEC cells to HCPT treatment, and investigated the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. Genistein could significantly and dose-dependently sensitize multiple bladder cancer cell lines and BDEC cells to HCPT-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Genistein and HCPT synergistically inhibited bladder cell growth and proliferation, and induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in TCCSUP bladder cancer cell and BDEC cell. Pretreatment with genistein sensitized BDEC and bladder cancer cell lines to HCPT-induced DNA damage by the synergistic activation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase. Genistein significantly attenuated the ability of HCPT to induce activation of the anti-apoptotic NF-κB pathway both in vitro and in vivo in a bladder cancer xenograft model, and thus counteracted the anti-apoptotic effect of the NF-κB pathway. This study indicates that genistein could act as a promising non-toxic agent to improve efficacy of HCPT bladder cancer chemotherapy.

Suppression of invasion and metastasis of prostate cancer cells by overexpression of NDRG2 gene.

N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) is involved in invasion and metastasis of cancer, furthermore it is frequently down-regulated in prostate cancer. Herein we evaluated the effect of NDRG2 overexpression on invasiveness and bone destruction in prostate cancer. The human prostate cancer cell line PC-3 and DU145 were infected with Ad-NDRG2 or Ad-LacZ. Overexpression of NDRG2 not only inhibited the growth of the cells, but also suppressed invasiveness of the cells in an in vitro assay. PC-3 cells infected with Ad-NDRG2 or Ad-LacZ were injected into the tibias of nude mice. Four weeks later, we found the mice injected with PC-3 cells overexpressing NDRG2 had smaller tumors and less bone destruction. These results demonstrate that NDRG2 overexpression can inhibit tumor growth and invasion, furthermore, it can decrease bone destruction caused by prostate cancer bone metastasis.

[Anatomical path of intraperitoneal radical nephrectomy: clinical experience of 60 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intraperitoneal anatomical radical nephrectomy (IARN). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 60 consecutive patients undergoing IARN at our hospital from March 2007 to December 2009. Various clinical parameters were collected and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Sixty operations were performed successfully. There was neither conversion into open surgery nor blood transfusion. The mean operative time was (106 ± 23) min, mean intraoperative estimated blood loss (112 ± 37) ml, mean time of resuming oral intake (2.1 ± 0.7) d, mean time to ambulation (1.9 ± 1.1) d, mean postoperative analgesics (pethidine) dosage (65 ± 25) mg, average drainage volume 100 (50 - 300) ml, mean time of extracting drainage tube (3.6 ± 1.3) d and mean postoperative hospital stay (9.4 ± 2.1) d. CONCLUSION: IARN offers the advantages of distinct anatomical level, shorter operative time, less hemorrhage, less damage, faster postoperative recovery and a lower rate of complications.

Increased apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in cryptorchidism rat model and its correlation with transforming growth factor beta type II receptor.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role played by transforming growth factor beta receptor II (TGFbetaRII) in cryptorchidism-induced spermatocyte apoptosis. METHODS: A unilateral cryptorchidism rat model was surgically established in 20-day-old male SD rats. Testis samples were collected 0, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery. Histologic changes, apoptosis, TGFbetaRII/smad, and TGFbetaRII/mitogen-activated protein kinase activation were explored by hematoxylin-eosin staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay, and western blot analysis, respectively. TGFbetaRII was knocked down in GC-2 spg cells and the cells were then treated with hyperthermia. Western blot analysis was performed to detect TGFbetaRII, the phosphorylation status of smad2, smad3, and p38 and the cleavage status of caspase-3. RESULTS: Surgically induced cryptorchidism significantly impaired testis growth and spermatogenesis in unilateral undescended testes (UUTs) compared with contralateral descended testes 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery. The mean apoptotic index was significantly higher in UUTs than in contralateral descended testes. Western blot analysis showed that TGFbetaRII and smad2 expression increased. Phosphorylation of smad2, smad3, and p38 and cleavage of caspase-3 increased in UUTs. TGFbetaRII knockdown in GC-2 spg cells reduced hyperthermia-induced apoptosis by inhibiting smad2, smad3, and p38 phosphorylation as well as downstream caspase-3 cleavage. CONCLUSIONS: Cryptorchidism lowered the growth rate of testes by inducing apoptosis, via a mechanism involving the activation of the TGFbetaR/smad and TGFbetaR/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

Biphasic effect of androgens on prostate cancer cells and its correlation with androgen receptor coactivator dopa decarboxylase.

The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying the dual effect of androgen on prostate cancer cells and further explore its correlation with dopa decarboxylase (DDC), an androgen receptor (AR) coactivator and a traditional neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) marker. Cell proliferation and cycling after treatment with synthetic nonmetabolizable androgen R1881 was determined by the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) method and flow cytometry. Differential gene expression was analyzed by cDNA microarrays. DDC expression during the dual effect of R1881 was further explored with microarray, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, and enzyme activity assays. Proliferation of LNCaP cells was inhibited by 1 nM R1881 but stimulated by 0.1 nM R1881. Compared with the untreated cells, 320 (2.26%; 170 up-regulated, 150 down-regulated) and 4608 (32.65%; 2046 up-regulated, 2562 down-regulated) genes were found to be expressed differentially in the 1 nM and 0.1 nM R1881-treated cells, respectively. The results were partially confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot. The DDC gene was down-regulated in the 1 nM R1881-treated cells and up-regulated in 0.1 nM R1881- and 30 nM hydroxyflutamide-treated cells. The enzymatic activity of DDC in the latter 2 groups was also strengthened. Meanwhile, the NED markers CgA and synaptophysin were not affected by these AR activators. R1881 had a dose-dependent biphasic effect on LNCaP cell proliferation. AR coactivator DDC was respectively down- and up-regulated in high and low concentrations of R1881. DDC up-regulation by exogenous AR activators is not accompanied by up-regulation of definitive NED markers.

[Antisense oligonucleotide targeting survivin induces apoptosis of renal clear-cell carcinoma cells and enhances their sensitivity to epirubicin in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) targeting survivin on the apoptosis and proliferation of renal cancer cell line 786-O and enhancement of its sensitivity to epirubicin. METHODS: ASODN targeting survivin was designed and constructed. Cultured cells were divided into 6 groups: control group, liposome group, sense oligonucleotide (SODN) group, 600 nmol/L ASODN group, and 600 nmol/L ASODN combined with epirubicin group. After transfected for 24 h, cultured cells were harvested to carry on the next tests. Cell morphological changes were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Survivin protein was detected by immunohistochemical method. Apoptosis index (AI) and proliferation index (PI) were examined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Morphological abnormalities of cells were observed in ASODN transfected groups. Expression of survivin in ASODN groups were significantly decreased compared with that in the control group, liposomes group and SODN group. AI of ASODN groups was significantly higher than that in other groups. PI of ASODN groups was significantly lower than that in other groups. The PI of ASODN combined with epirubicin group was (35.7 +/- 1.67)%, but (9.3 +/- 0.34)% or (8.5 +/- 0.21)% in liposomes group or SODN group that had combined with epirubicin. The ASODN group achieved the strongest effects to enhance apoptosis in comparison with control group (P < 0.05), while SODN did not cause statistically significant change (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of survivin protein in the renal clear cell carcinoma cell line 786-O is downregulated by survivin ASODN. ASODN targeting survivin induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of 786-O cells. Inhibition of survivin enhances sensitivity of 786-O to epirubicin.

[Clinical investigation of renal angiomyolipoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnosis and management of renal angiomyolipoma (RAML), and to identify risk factors affecting spontaneous angiomyolipoma rupture. METHODS: The data of 68 patients with RAML from 1989 to 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were divided in two groups on the basis of tumor size, 35 patients in group A ( 4 cm). RESULTS: Seven patients were identified by image-guided percutaneous biopsy, and no major complications was noted. Sixteen patients with RAML were examined with angiography and 9 of 16 patients had got spontaneous rupture. 41.2% of patients were symptomatic, 4 cases (11.4%) in group A and 24 (72.7%) cases in group B (P < 0.01). There were significant differences in mean tumor size (11.6 cm +/- 5.1 cm vs 5.3 cm +/- 2.9 cm, P < 0.01) and mean aneurysm size (13.6 mm +/- 5.8 mm vs 2.6 mm +/- 3.0 mm, P < 0.01) between 9 cases of the ruptured tumor and 59 cases of unruptured tumor, 9 cases of the ruptured and 7 cases of unruptured tumor with angiography, respectively. Treatment consisted of conservative observation in 10 patients (no radiographic changes during the follow-up of 2 - 7 years); partial nephrectomy in 14 patients, tumor enucleation in 30 patients, total nephrectomy in 14 and posterior laparoscopic nephrectomy in 3 (no recurrence and complication correlation to operation during the follow-up of 2 - 144 months). CONCLUSIONS: It is an important role that percutaneous biopsy guided by ultrasonography or computerized tomography performs in managing suspicious and/or indeterminate RAML. A higher probability of rupture is related to tumor and/or aneurysms size. Nephron-sparing surgery is the first choice for surgical treatment of RAML.

[Diagnosis and treatment of seminal vesicle cyst].

OBJECTIVES: To deepen the understanding of patients with seminal vesicle cyst for correct diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Sixteen patients with seminal vesicle cysts were treated in the period of January 1980-May 2002. Their symptoms, diagnostic results, treatment and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age of these patients at diagnosis was 31 years (range 19 - 43). Two patients were associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis. Symptoms included hematospermia in 12 (75%) patients, urinary frequency in 8 (50%), hematuria after ejaculation in 6 (27.5%), perineal malaise in 6 (27.5%), infertility in 3 (13.7%), pain after ejaculation in 3 (13.7%), scrotal pain in 2 (12.5%) and dysuria in 1 (6.3%). Cyst was palpable in 81.3% patients on digital rectal examination. All patients underwent intravenous urography and cystoscopy. Others received ultrasonography, CT scanning, MRI, and vasovesiculography. The size of masses ranged from 3.8 cm x 3.0 cm x 2.6 cm to 9.6 cm x 5.2 cm x 5.0 cm. Final open surgery consisted of vesiculectomy (4 patients) and partial vesiculectomy (12). RESULTS: Postoperative course was uneventful except in 1 patient with epididymitis. All patients were free of symptoms after open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Seminal vesicle cysts are rare but should be considered in men with hematospermia and otherwise inexplicable bladder irritation symptoms, perineal discomfort or other genitourinary complaints of unknown etiology. Diagnosis consists of digital rectal examination, transrectal and abdominal ultrasonography, CT scan or MRI. Vesiculectomy and partial vesiculectomy give excellent results.

[The biological characteristics of beta glucuronidase cDNA transfected renal cancer cell line GRC 1/betaG].

AIM: To establish a renal carcinoma cell line which can highly express beta-glucuronidase(betaG), and to observe the biological characteristics of the transfected cells. METHODS: Recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-betaG was constructed. It was transfected into renal cancer cells GRC-1 via liposome. The transcription and expression of betaG gene were detected by dot blot and Western blot. The biological characteristics of the betaG gene transfected cells was observed under light microscope, transmission electron microscope and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Dot blot and Western blot detection confirmed that the betaG gene had been stably integrated into the genomic DNA of the GRC-1 cells and was highly expressed. Transmission electron microscope observation showed that the lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum were abundant, the number of microvili and process was significantly increased in the transfected cells, but growth condition and cell cycle of GRC-1 cells had no notable difference before and after transfection. CONCLUSION: A renal carcinoma cell line that can highly express betaG gene was established, which lays the foundation for further study on gene therapy.