Regional, institutional and individual factors affecting selection of minimally invasive nephroureterectomy in Japan: a national database analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To reveal individual, institutional and regional factors affecting selection of minimally invasive nephroureterectomy in Japan. METHODS: The Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database was queried to retrieve cases of nephroureterectomy for pelvic or ureter malignancies carried out between 2007 and 2010. A multivariate logistic regression analysis with variables including age, sex, pre-existing comorbidities, tumor location, tumor-nodes-metastasis classification, academic status of hospitals, hospital volume, geographic region and year of surgery was modeled to evaluate predictors of carrying out a minimally invasive (including laparoscopic and minimum incision endoscopic) nephroureterectomy. RESULTS: Overall, 3863 open (58.2%), 2635 laparoscopic (39.7%) and 139 minimum incision endoscopic nephroureterectomy (2.1%) cases from 713 hospitals were identified. The proportion of minimally invasive procedures increased from 35.7% to 48.6%. Minimally invasive nephroureterectomy was the most frequently carried out in the Kinki and Chugoku regions (50.9% and 50.4%, respectively) compared with the least in the Kanto region (31.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that lower Charlson Comorbidity Index, lower tumor-nodes-metastasis stage, academic hospitals, higher operative volume centers, western regions of Japan and later year were independently associated with the use of minimally invasive nephroureterectomy. Age, sex and tumor location were not significant factors. CONCLUSIONS: Despite regional and institutional variations, the proportion of minimally invasive nephroureterectomy has gradually increased in Japan. Minimally invasive nephroureterectomy is more likely to be carried out in patients with low tumor stage and low risk at higher volume academic hospitals. Our findings provide fundamental data for future health policies to foster nationwide healthcare uniformity.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: racial and gender disparities in survival (1993 to 2002), stage and grade (1993 to 2007).

PURPOSE: Bladder cancer survival is consistently lower in female and black patients than in male and white patients. We compared trends and differences according to clinical, demographic and facility characteristics by patient race and gender to identify the impact of these characteristics on survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified bladder transitional cell carcinoma cases diagnosed in 1993 to 2007 from the National Cancer Data Base. Trends in grade and stage distribution between 1993 and 2007 were analyzed. Survival differences by race and gender were compared using 5-year relative survival and multivariate Cox regression. RESULTS: There were 310,257 white male, 102,345 white female, 13,313 black male and 7,439 black female patients. Black and female patients had a higher proportion of muscle invasive tumors than white and male patients, and black patients had a larger proportion of higher grade tumors. The incidence of stage 0a and of high grade tumors significantly increased with time. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly lower HR in white females than in white males (HR 0.9) but a significantly higher HR in black males and females (HR 1.2). The higher mortality risk in black males and females was primarily limited to late stage disease (HR 1.3). CONCLUSIONS: Survival differences by race and gender are partially explained by differences in tumor and demographic characteristics in black males and females, and fully explained by these characteristics in white females. Treatment delays and under treatment due to comorbid conditions, age and other factors may also contribute to these disparities.

Activated H-ras gene mutations in transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder in a Kashmiri population.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of H-ras specific point mutations among a group of Kashmiri patients diagnosed with bladder cancer. We also explored the correlation of clinic-pathological status of the illness with these mutations. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The DNA samples of both tumor and normal tissue were evaluated for the occurrence of H-ras activating mutations in exon 1 and 2 by PCR-SCCP and DNA sequencing. In addition, blood was also collected from all the cases to rule out any germ-line mutation. RESULTS: Point mutations of activated H-ras identified in bladder cancer patients were 14.5% (7 of 48), including four transversions (two G-->T and two A-->T) and three transitions (A-->G). Of the mutations, 71.4% were detected in codon 61 and 28.6% in codon 12. The pattern of mutation in the study showed a significant association with smoking in bladder tumors (P < 0.05). No correlation was found between tumor grade and/or stage and the presence of H-ras mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of H-ras by mutation plays a less frequent role than other genetic events in the development of the most transitional cell tumors of the bladder in Kashmiri population.

Rates of cutaneous metastases from different internal malignancies: experience from a Taiwanese medical center.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports regarding the rates at which various internal tumors metastasize to the skin have been limited and have only included the Caucasian population. Moreover, the mechanisms that predispose certain internal malignancies to metastasize to the skin have rarely been discussed in the scientific literature. OBJECTIVES: We determined the frequencies with which various internal malignancies metastasize to the skin in patients from a Taiwanese medical center. We also evaluated whether expressions of chemokine receptors CCR10 and CXCR4 by tumor cells correlate with cutaneous metastatic ability. METHODS: Clinical records from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, during 20 years (1986-2006) were reviewed and cases of biopsy-proven primary internal malignancies and cutaneous metastases were identified. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies to CCR10 and CXCR4 was performed on a selected number of internal malignancies with and without skin metastases. RESULTS: From 12,146 patients with internal malignancies, we found 124 cases (1.02%) with cutaneous metastases. The highest rates of skin metastases were found to occur from carcinoma of the breast, followed by the lung, oral mucosa, colon and rectum, stomach, and esophagus. However, the rate of cutaneous metastasis from breast cancer was much lower compared with previous studies involving Caucasians. In general, adenocarcinomas gave rise to cutaneous metastases at a higher frequency compared with other histologic subtypes. In addition, the expressions of CCR10 and CXCR4 by tumor cells did not correlate well with the presence or absence of skin metastases. LIMITATION: This study is retrospective in nature. CONCLUSIONS: Different internal malignancies metastasize to the skin with different frequencies, and the rates at which different malignancies metastasize to cutaneous sites differ between the Taiwanese and Caucasian populations. The mechanisms responsible for the cutaneous metastatic ability of certain malignancies likely involve factors other than chemokine receptors CCR10 and CXCR4, because their expressions by tumor cells are neither necessary nor sufficient for the formation of skin metastases.

DNA repair gene hOGG1 codon 326 and XRCC1 codon 399 polymorphisms and bladder cancer risk in a Japanese population.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is the most common urologic malignancy in the USA. Tobacco smoking generates oxidative DNA damage and induces bladder cancer. Base excision repair (BER) is a very important mechanism for repairing oxidative DNA damage. There are many enzymes involved in BER. Human oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) and X-ray repair cross-complementing 1 (XRCC1) are enzyme genes of BER. Actually, the hOGG1 codon 326 polymorphism was associated with the risk of lung oesophagus and stomach cancer. On the other hand, among several XRCC1 gene polymorphisms, codon 399 polymorphism was reported to reduce the risk of bladder cancer and raise the risk of lung cancer. METHODS: We examined the association between the genetic polymorphisms of hOGG1 codon 326 and XRCC1 codon 399 and bladder cancer risk. In this study, we recruited 251 bladder cancer cases and 251 healthy controls to evaluate the effect of hOGG1 codon 326 and XRCC1 codon 399 polymorphisms on bladder cancer. We detected genotypes by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. RESULTS: The frequencies of the hOGG1 codon 326 genotypes Cys/Cys was significantly higher in the cases than in the controls. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 1.85 (95% CI: 1.12-3.03; p = 0.02) compared with Ser/Ser, and was 2.05 (95% CI: 1.36-3.08; p = 0.01) compared with Ser/Ser + Ser/Cys. In addition, when evaluated with smoking status, the adjusted OR (Cys/Cys versus Ser/Ser + Ser/Cys) ran up to 2.78 (95% CI: 1.39-5.60; p < 0.01) among non-smokers. For the XRCC1 polymorphism, the Gln/Gln of XRCC1 codon 399 genotype was statistically higher in the controls than in the cases though compared with Alg/Alg + Alg/Gln. The adjusted OR was 0.45 (95% CI: 0.21-0.99; p = 0.05), and was lifted up to 0.37 (95% CI: 0.14-0.98; p = 0.05) among smokers. CONCLUSION: It is indicated that the hOGG1 codon 326 and XRCC1 codon 399 polymorphisms are risk factors of bladder cancer.

A review of bladder cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: A different disease, with a distinct presentation, assessment, and treatment.

Background: Cancer of the bladder is the ninth leading cause of cancer in developed countries. It is the second most common urological malignancy. Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most common histological subtype in developed countries. In most of Africa, the most common type is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Cancer of bladder guidelines produced by the European Urological Association and the American Urological Association, including the tumor, node, and metastasis staging is focused on TCC of the bladder. Objectives: The purpose of the study is to review the pathogenesis, pathology, presentation, and management of cancer of the bladder in Africa and to use this information to propose a practical staging system for SCC. Methods: The study used the meta-analysis guideline provided by PRISMA using bladder cancer in Africa as the key search word. The study collected articles available on PubMed as of July 2017, Africa Online and Africa Index Medicus. PRISMA guidelines were used to screen for full-length hospital-based articles on cancer of the bladder in Africa. These articles were analyzed under four subcategories which were pathogenesis, pathology, clinical presentation, and management. The information extracted was pooled and used to propose a practical staging system for use in African settings. Results: The result of evaluation of 821 articles yielded 23 full-length papers on hospital-based studies of cancer of the bladder in Africa. Cancer of the bladder in most of Africa is still predominantly SCC (53%-69%). There has been a notable increase in TCC in Africa (9%-41%). The pathogenesis is mostly schistosoma-related SCC presents late with painful hematuria and necroturia (20%). SCC responds poorly to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The main management of SCC is open surgery. This review allowed for a practical organ-based stage of SCC of the bladder that can be used in Africa. Conclusion: Bladder cancer in Africa presents differently from that in developed countries. Guidelines on cancer of the bladder may need to take account of this to improve bladder cancer management in Africa.

RésuméContexte: Le cancer de la vessie est la neuvième cause de cancer dans les pays développés. C'est le deuxième plus fréquent urologique malignité. Le carcinome à cellules transitionnelles (TCC) est le sous-type histologique le plus commun dans les pays développés. Dans la majeure partie de l'Afrique, le plus le type commun est le carcinome épidermoïde (SCC). Lignes directrices sur le cancer de la vessie produites par l'Association européenne d'urologie et American Urological Association, y compris la tumeur, le nœud, et la mise en scène de la métastase est axée sur le TCC de la vessie. Objectifs: Le Le but de l'étude est d'examiner la pathogenèse, la pathologie, la présentation et la gestion du cancer de la vessie en Afrique et d'utiliser cette information pour proposer un système de mise en scène pratique pour SCC. Méthodes: L'étude a utilisé la ligne de méta-analyse fournie par PRISMA en utilisant le cancer de la vessie en Afrique comme le mot clé de recherche. L'étude a recueilli des articles disponibles sur PubMed à partir de juillet 2017, Africa Online et Africa Index Medicus. Les directives PRISMA ont été utilisées pour dépister des articles hospitaliers complets sur le cancer de la vessie en Afrique. Ces articles ont été analysés sous quatre sous-catégories qui étaient la pathogenèse, la pathologie, la présentation clinique et la gestion. le les informations extraites ont été regroupées et utilisées pour proposer un système de mise en scène pratique à utiliser dans les contextes africains. Résultats: Le résultat de l'évaluation sur 821 articles, 23 articles complets ont été publiés sur les études hospitalières sur le cancer de la vessie en Afrique. Cancer de la vessie dans la plupart des L'Afrique est toujours principalement SCC (53% -69%). Il y a eu une augmentation notable du TCC en Afrique (9% -41%). La pathogenèse est principalement la SCC liée au schistosome se manifeste tardivement par une hématurie douloureuse et une nécroturie (20%). SCC répond faiblement à la chimiothérapie ou la radiothérapie. La gestion principale de SCC est la chirurgie ouverte. Cette revue a permis un stade pratique de la CEC de la vessie qui peut être utilisé. en Afrique. CONCLUSION: Le cancer de la vessie en Afrique présente différemment de celui des pays développés. Lignes directrices sur le cancer de la vessie Il faudra peut-être en tenir compte pour améliorer la gestion du cancer de la vessie en Afrique.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with extracorporeal ileal conduit urinary diversion for treatment of Chinese bladder cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To present our experience in laparoscopic radical cystectomy with extracorporeal urinary diversion for treatment of Chinese bladder cancer patients. METHODS: Between January 2003 and November 2005, 41 men and 5 women with organ-confined muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy with the Bricker-type urinary diversion. The age range was 36-71 years. Laparoscopic radical cystectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy were performed using five fan-shaped ports by a transperitoneal approach. An ileal conduit diversion was created through the site of specimen retrieval which was the second port at the region of the right pararectus. RESULTS: 46 radical cystectomies with Bricker-type ileal conduits were performed. No conversion to open surgery was necessary. Mean operating time was 220 min (range 120-249 min) for laparoscopic radical cystectomy and 75 min (range 65-120 min) for creating the ileal conduits. Mean estimated blood loss was 276 ml (range 155-567 ml). Two of the 46 patients needed blood transfusion (400 ml each). Mean days to ambulation and oral intake was 4.1 (range 3-5 days) and 3.5 (range 3-6 days), respectively. Mean hospital stay was 17.6 days (range 12-35 days). Mean follow-up was 6.1 months (range 3-19 months). Histopathological examination of the specimens revealed stage T2N0M0 in 18 cases, T3aN0M0 in 14, T3bN0M0 in 9 and T3bN1M0 in 5 (TNM staging). WHO grading: G1 in 2 cases, G2 in 26 cases and G3 in 18 cases. Pelvic metastases appeared in one case and 44 patients are alive and free of disease. Intravenous pyelogram at 3 weeks postoperatively shows no evidence of upper urinary obstruction in 45 patients. CONCLUSION: Despite technical difficulties, laparoscopic radical cystectomy with Bricker-type urinary diversion is feasible. With more experience in the surgical technique, laparoscopic radical cystectomy with extracorporeal urinary diversion can become an alternative treatment of choice in the selected patients with organ- confined bladder cancer in China.

Comparative outcomes of bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the survival of women and men with transitional cell bladder cancer. METHODS: We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database to identify patients aged 35 years or older diagnosed with bladder cancer between 1991 and 2001 actively followed up. We excluded cases diagnosed by autopsy or death certificates and those of unknown race. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to analyze survival in patients with advanced disease. RESULTS: Of the 31,009 patients meeting eligibility criteria, 26.7% were women. Median age at diagnosis for women and men was 72 and 70 years, respectively. Regional disease was diagnosed in 20.3% of white women and 35.5% of African-American women, compared with only 17.6% of white men and 25.9% of African-American men (P < .001). Increased age, African-American race, and being female significantly increased the hazard of death (hazard ratio [HR] 1.037, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1,034-1.041; HR 1.402, 95% CI 1.187-1.656; and HR 1.842, 95% CI 1.158-2.931). CONCLUSION: Women with bladder cancer, particularly African-Americans, have shorter survival. This is partially explained by higher risk of diagnosis with poorly differentiated tumors, advanced stage, and advanced age. Women should be targeted for timely diagnosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2.

Gender and geographic influence on the racial disparity in bladder cancer mortality in the US.

BACKGROUND: In 2005, there were an estimated 63,210 new cases of bladder cancer and 13,180 related deaths in the US. African Americans reportedly have a lower incidence of bladder cancer, but a higher mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the gender and geographic differences in bladder cancer survival between Caucasians and African Americans to better understand the racial disparity in bladder cancer survival. STUDY DESIGN: Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) data were used to evaluate racial differences in bladder cancer survival from 1973 to 1999. Bivariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were performed to determine the relationship between race and survival, adjusting for cancer stage and grade, marital status, region of country, treatment received, and the interaction between race and region. RESULTS: African Americans were diagnosed with higher grade (p < 0.001) and higher stage (p < 0.001) tumors, compared with Caucasians. In the multivariable model, African-American race was an independent predictor of poor survival, adjusting for age, marital status, region of the country, stage, grade, treatment received, and interaction between race and region. Surprisingly, African Americans diagnosed in the Atlanta metropolitan area had a substantially worse survival. CONCLUSIONS: African Americans were diagnosed with more aggressive and more advanced tumors. Adjusted multivariable models demonstrated a survival advantage for Caucasians, with African-American race being an independent predictor of poor survival, especially when diagnosed in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Racial disparity continues to exist in bladder cancer presentation and survival in the US.

Trends in regionalization of radical cystectomy in three large northeastern states from 1996 to 2009.

OBJECTIVES: To assess regionalization trends and short-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using 1996-2009 discharge data from New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ) and Pennsylvania (PA), all patients ≥ 18 years with urothelial carcinoma undergoing cystectomy were identified using ICD-9 coding. We assigned hospital volume status by quintiles based on relative proportions of cystectomies performed on a per hospital basis in 1996; very low volume hospitals: 0-2 (VLVH), low: 3-4 (LVH), moderate: 5-8 (MVH), high: 9-31 (HVH), and very high: ≥ 32 (VHVH). Changes in the proportion of procedures performed by volume categories were assessed over time, and patient characteristics were compared between groups. RESULTS: A total of 14,404 patients met inclusion criteria. For each year increase from 1996 to 2009, the odds of having surgery performed at a VHVH increased by 22% (odds ratio [OR] 1.22, confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.44). Patients undergoing surgery at a VHVH were less likely to be African American (OR 0.59 [CI 0.39-0.91]), or insured through Medicaid (OR 0.65 [CI 0.50-0.84]) or Medicare (OR 0.84 [CI 0.75-0.94]). Controlling for year treated, total procedures performed, and patient characteristics, median hospital length of stay (HLOS) was shorter (median difference -0.89 days [CI -1.12 to -0.66]), and patients were significantly less likely to die during their hospital stay if treated at a VHVH compared with a VLVH (OR 0.33 [CI 0.22-0.49]). CONCLUSIONS: There has been extensive regionalization of cystectomy to VHVHs in NY, NJ, and PA since 1996. Despite apparent improvements in mortality and HLOS in patients treated at higher volume centers in our sample, future investigations more rigorously adjusting for hospital structural characteristics and patient severity are necessary to confirm these findings. Disparities in access to VHVH care are still evident and must be addressed.

RETRACTED: Modified U-shaped ileal neobladder after radical cystectomy: assessment of functional outcomes and complications in Chinese patients.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. After investigation, it was confirmed that there were considerably fewer cases with modified U-shaped ileal neobladder at the research institution than was written about in the manuscript.

Diabetes and urothelial cancer risk: the Multiethnic Cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand the adverse health sequelae that may result from the rising incidence of diabetes. Diabetics may have an increased risk for urothelial cancer but the evidence from prospective studies and ethnically diverse populations is sparse. METHOD: We examined this association in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) that was conducted in Hawaii and Los Angeles with nearly 186,000 participants in five ethnic groups. Over a median 10.7 years of follow-up, 918 incident cases of urothelial cancer (89% bladder and 11% other urinary tract sites) were identified through tumor registry linkages. RESULTS: A self-reported diagnosis of diabetes was associated with an increased risk of urothelial cancer (relative risk=1.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.50). The association was not explained by body mass index, physical activity, or smoking. There was some suggestion that the risk was higher in women, Whites and African Americans, and past smokers. The risk associated with diabetes for in situ and localized cancer was similar to that for regional and distant cancer. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the increased urothelial cancer risk with diabetes in this multiethnic population is very similar to that observed in mostly White or Asian populations. Whether or not the elevated risk is moderated by the degree of control of the hyperglycemia associated with diabetes will need to be determined in future studies.

Ethnic differences in bladder cancer survival.

OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in bladder cancer survival among whites, blacks, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders in the United States over a 30-year period. Racial disparities in bladder cancer outcomes have been documented with poorer survival observed among blacks. Bladder cancer outcomes in other ethnic minority groups are less well described. METHODS: From the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry data, we identified patients diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder between 1975 and 2005. This cohort included 163,973 white, 7731 black, 7364 Hispanic, and 5934 Asian/Pacific Islander patients. We assessed the relationship between ethnicity and patient characteristics. Disease-specific 5-year survival was estimated for each ethnic group and for subgroups of stage and grade. RESULTS: Blacks presented with higher-stage disease than whites, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders, although a trend toward earlier-stage presentation was observed in all groups over time. Five-year disease-specific survival was consistently worse for blacks than for other ethnic groups, even when stratified by stage and grade. Five-year disease-specific survival was 82.8% in whites compared with 70.2% in blacks, 80.7% in Hispanics, and 81.9% in Asian/Pacific Islanders. There was a persistent disease-specific survival disadvantage in black patients over time that was not seen in the other ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: Ethnic disparities in bladder cancer survival persist between whites and blacks, whereas survival in other ethnic minority groups appears similar to that of whites. Further study of access to care, quality of care, and treatment decision making among black patients is needed to better understand these disparities.

Risk of transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder in first- and second-generation immigrants to Sweden.

Environmental risk factors, particularly tobacco smoking, are important for transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder. Studies in migrants may provide valuable insight into the environmental and genetic etiology of cancer. The nationwide Swedish Family-Cancer Database was used to calculate standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for transitional-cell carcinoma among the immigrants compared with native Swedes. SIRs for lung cancer were also calculated as a proxy for smoking prevalence. Significantly decreased risks of bladder cancer were observed for male (SIR=0.89) and female (0.71) Finns and male East Asian (0.39) first-generation immigrants. Male immigrants from many countries showed increased risks, ranging from 1.18 to 2.29. Only female immigrants from Denmark (1.40) and Norway (1.27) had increased risks. The risks for bladder and lung cancers correlated, except for Finnish and Iranian men. The sons of immigrants born in high-risk countries had an increased SIR (1.51) whereas the daughters of immigrants born in low-risk countries had a decreased risk (0.32). The risk in the second-generation immigrants born in Sweden was equal to that of natives. In conclusion, the observed bladder cancer risks in the first-generation immigrants, the changes in risks in the second-generation immigrants, and the covariation of the risk patterns of bladder and lung cancers suggested a main contribution by tobacco smoking. The exceptional patterns among the Finns and Iranians may point to the existence of modifying factors. The changes in incidence in second-generation immigrants, yet based on small case numbers, lend little support to the involvement of genetic factors.

Population study of genetic polymorphisms and superficial bladder cancer risk in Han-Chinese smokers in Shanghai.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the association between the polymorphisms of DNA repair genes, metabolic enzyme genes, and superficial bladder cancer to better understand the role of gene polymorphisms in bladder carcinogenesis for the Han-Chinese population in Shanghai. METHODS: The SNPs in the XPC, XPG, XRCC1, NQO2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 genes were genotyped using the TaqMan Probe-based polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The AC + CC genotypes of XPC Lys939Gln and the CC genotype of XPG His1104Asp were more frequent in patients of superficial bladder cancer at the initial diagnosis (adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.89 [1.21-3.24]; adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.07 [0.86-1.87], respectively). The risk for carriers of the XPC-33512C allele increased after stratifying by smoking habits (adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.95 [0.56-6.09]). There was a significant trend for an increased carcinogenesis risk with an increasing number of putative high-risk alleles. We found no significant associations between any of the ten polymorphisms and clinicopathological features of superficial bladder cancer. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the polymorphism in XPC Lys939Gln may modulate superficial bladder cancer risk, and these effects may preferentially affect current smokers. The data also support the possibility of an increased risk for superficial bladder cancer in individuals with a higher number of genetic variations in DNA repair and metabolic enzyme genes.

Upper urothelial tumors in emigrants from Balkan endemic nephropathy areas in Serbia.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate upper urothelial tumors (UUT) in emigrants from Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) areas in Serbia and compare them with UUT from both endemic and nonendemic areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,121 patients from the state cancer database, between 1960 and 1998, were investigated. Sixty of them were emigrants from BEN areas. RESULTS: UUT in emigrants from BEN areas occurred after 21.7+/-9.9 years (median 20) spent in a rural environment. The time spent outside of the BEN regions was 33.2+/-12.8 years (median 31, range 10-72). Age at surgery was 55 years (range 31-89). In emigrants from BEN areas, there was a significant association of other diseases with UUT: renal failure in 63%, bladder tumors in 23.3% and bilateralism in 6.7% of the patients. Bilateralism was statistically more frequent in emigrants from BEN areas (p=0.04), as were low-grade tumors (p=0.03). There was no statistical difference in tumor stage between patients from BEN areas and from outside of them. Relatives of the emigrants from BEN areas were also affected by BEN, UUT and both of them (33%). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that hereditary as well as environmental factors are important for the expression and evolution of the disease. An early period of life spent in the endemic region seems important for the later development of UUT in emigrants from BEN regions. Different time spans spent in the endemic region have no effect on the age of appearance of UUT.

GSTT1-null genotype is a protective factor against bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of homozygous deletions of GSTM1 and GSTT1 and smoking on bladder cancer, we conducted a case-control and ecological study. METHODS: The case group consisted of 216 patients with bladder cancer and the control group of 449 healthy Koreans. Every subject was personally interviewed to obtain a detailed smoking history, and a multiplex polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the presence or absence of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes. In the ecological study, age-standardized bladder cancer incidence and frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1-null types, estimated prevalence of cigarette smoking, and estimated per capita consumption of cigarettes per adult according to nationality and ethnicity were included. RESULTS: In the Korean case-control data, smoking history and the GSTT1-null genotype were significantly associated with bladder cancer, and the GSTM1-null genotype was not. In the univariate and multivariate analyses with the ecological data of various countries and ethnic groups, cigarette smoking positively, but the frequency of the GSTT1-null type negatively, correlated with the age-standardized bladder cancer incidence. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the GSTT1-negative genotype might not be a risk factor but a protective factor of bladder cancer.

Racial differences in bladder cancer risk: a case-control study.

To determine why the incidence rate of transitional cell bladder cancer in whites in the United States is approximately twice that in blacks, the authors examined data from a large population-based case-control study of bladder cancer conducted in 1978 involving 2,982 cases and 5,782 controls. The relative risk of transitional cell carcinoma for whites compared with blacks was 1.9 before adjustment for the major bladder cancer risk factors, whereas after adjustment for cigarette smoking and occupation it was 1.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-2.1). Further adjustment for other risk factors, including history of a bladder infection and a family history of urinary tract cancer, did not alter this estimate. The elevated risk of white compared with blacks was limited, however, to cases whose disease was confined to the mucosa and submucosa. Among cases whose disease had extended to the bladder musculature or beyond, whites were at slightly reduced risk compared with blacks. This suggests that whites may be diagnosed with conditions that go undetected in blacks but that are unlikely as a group to progress to more extensive disease. Because of the population-based nature of the study, it was possible to determine that if bladder cancer incidence among whites of both sexes was reduced to the level among blacks, total incidence in the United States would fall by 36 per cent.