The Prognostic Role of Preoperative PSMA PET/CT in cN0M0 pN+ Prostate Cancer: A Multicenter Study.

CONTEXT: Despite negative preoperative conventional imaging, up to 10% of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) harbor lymph-node involvement (LNI) at radical prostatectomy (RP). The advent of more accurate imaging modalities such as PET/CT improved the detection of LNI. However, their clinical impact and prognostic value are still unclear. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative PET/CT in patients node positive (pN+) at RP. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: We retrospectively identified cN0M0 patients at conventional imaging (CT and/or MRI, and bone scan) who had pN+ PCa at RP at 17 referral centers. Patients with cN+ at PSMA/Choline PET/CT but cN0M0 at conventional imaging were also included. Systemic progression/recurrence was the primary outcome; Cox proportional hazards models were used for multivariate analysis. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We included 1163 pN+ men out of whom 95 and 100 had preoperative PSMA and/or Choline PET/CT, respectively. ISUP grade ≥4 was detected in 66.6%. Overall, 42% of patients had postoperative PSA persistence (≥0.1 ng/mL). Postoperative management included initial observation (34%), ADT (22.7%) and adjuvant RT+/-ADT (42.8%). Median follow-up was 42 months. Patients with cN+ on PSMA PET/CT had an increased risk of systemic progression (52.9% vs. 13.6% cN0 PSMA PET/CT vs. 21.5% cN0 at conventional imaging; P < .01). This held true at multivariable analysis: (HR 6.184, 95% CI: 3.386-11-295; P < .001) whilst no significant results were highlighted for Choline PET/CT. No significant associations for both PET types were found for local progression, BCR, and overall mortality (all P > .05). Observation as an initial management strategy instead of adjuvant treatments was related with an increased risk of metastases (HR 1.808; 95% CI: 1.069-3.058; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: PSMA PET/CT cN+ patients with negative conventional imaging have an increased risk of systemic progression after RP compared to their counterparts with cN0M0 disease both at conventional and/or molecular imaging.

Carboplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy versus observation after radical cystectomy in patients with pN1-3 urothelial bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: To test the impact of carboplatin-based ACT on overall survival (OS) in patients with pN1-3 cM0 BCa. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1057 patients with pTany pN1-3 cM0 urothelial BCa treated with or without carboplatin-based ACT after radical cystectomy and bilateral lymph-node dissection between 2002 and 2018 at 12 European and North-American hospitals. No patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Only patients with negative surgical margins at surgery were included. A 3:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed using logistic regression to adjust for baseline characteristics. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to predict the effect of carboplatin-based ACT on OS. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to display OS in the matched cohort. RESULTS: Of the 1057 patients included in the study, 69 (6.5%) received carboplatin-based ACT. After PSM, 244 total patients were identified in two cohorts that did not differ for baseline characteristics. Death was recorded in 114 (46.7%) patients over a median follow-up of 19 months. In the multivariable Cox regression analyses, increasing age at surgery (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.06, p < 0.001) and increasing number of positive lymph nodes (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, p = 0.02) were independent predictors of worse OS. The delivery of carboplatin-based ACT was not predictive of improved OS (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.43-1.04, p = 0.08). The main limitations of this study are its retrospective design and the relatively low number of patients involved. CONCLUSIONS: Carboplatin-based might not improve OS in patients with pN1-3 cM0 BCa. Our results underline the need for alternative therapies for cisplatin-ineligible patients.

Safety and Effectiveness of Bipolar Transurethral Resection of the Prostate in Patients Under Ongoing Oral Anticoagulation with Coumarins or Antiplatelet Drug Therapy Compared to Patients Without Anticoagulation/Antiplatelet Therapy.

Objective: To determine whether transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is safe and effective in patients under ongoing therapeutic oral anticoagulation (OAC) or antiplatelet drug (APD) therapy. Patients and Methods: We analyzed data on 276 consecutive TURP patients under ongoing APD therapy with acetylsalicylic acid (n = 130) or clopidogrel (n = 16) or ongoing OAC with phenprocoumon (n = 57), without stopping or bridging the medication, compared to 73 TURP patients without APD/OAC. Results: Outcomes of patients under acetylsalicylic acid were comparable to the controls. Under ongoing OAC therapy TURP patients tended to need slightly longer bladder irrigation (median 24 hours vs 22 hours, p = 0.06), needed longer transurethral catheterization (median 42 hours vs 24 hours, p = 0.031), were threefold more likely to have postoperative urinary retention (18% vs 6%, p = 0.04), had slightly longer hospital stays (median 4 days vs 3 days, p = 0.008), and tended to need more blood transfusions (9% vs 1%, p = 0.09), compared to controls. TURP patients under ongoing APD therapy with clopidogrel needed slightly longer bladder irrigation (median 24 hours vs 22 hours, p = 0.006), received more blood transfusions (19% vs 1%, p = 0.017), and had more rehospitalizations (19% vs 3%, p = 0.039). The significant functional improvement 1, 3, and 12 months after TURP was similar in all groups. Conclusions: Ongoing APD therapy with acetylsalicylic acid does not significantly impact TURP outcomes in terms of bleeding complications. Patients under ongoing therapeutic OAC with phenprocoumon or APD with clopidogrel can safely undergo TURP with an increased risk of bleeding complications, blood transfusions, and longer hospitalization.

GreenLight Laser for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: GreenLight photoselective vaporization (GL-PV) is now established in the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement. The present review outlines the available technical armamentarium and summarizes the current best evidence on functional and safety outcomes. Moreover, future technical developments and refinements are presented. RECENT FINDINGS: GL-PV has evolved to be the most commonly performed procedure, second to conventional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for surgical management of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). On the basis of the data published in the randomized controlled Goliath study, GL-PV with 180-W technology is noninferior in terms of functional outcomes compared with TURP considering short and intermediate follow-up with a complication-free rate of around 80% after 24 months.The ongoing push towards high-power lasers can be explained by their more effective tissue ablative effect, leading to shorter operating times. Comparative analysis between high-power and low-power laser systems demonstrated similar retreatment rates and most institutions are, therefore, now performing 180-W GL-PV.Performed as an outpatient procedure, GL-PV is cost-effective with a low hospital re-admission rate. Plasma kinetic vaporization of the prostate (PKVP) has recently emerged as a potential contender in the field; also GreenLight enucleation of the prostate (GreenLEP) might be even more effective than GL-PV. SUMMARY: GL-PV appears to be a well tolerated surgical alternative for patients suffering from BPO. Long-term follow-up data from 120-W and 180-W laser systems are still pending. Potential competitors have recently been brought to the market and further trials and long-term data will show, whether GL-PV will stand the test of time. Regardless of technical specifications, surgeon's experience remains essential to achieve good functional and safety outcomes.

80-W GreenLight Laser Vaporization Versus Transurethral Resection of the Prostate for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Obstruction: 5-Year Outcomes of a Single-center Prospective Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess long term functional and safety follow-up data after 80-W GreenLight photoselective vaporization (GL PV) of the prostate and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective randomized trial at a single tertiary referral center (Geneva, Switzerland). Patients were recruited in the outpatient clinic if they met the criteria for surgical treatment of benign prostatic obstruction. At baseline, 238 patients were treated either with the 80-W GL PV or monopolar TURP. After 5 years, data were available from 105 patients: 44 GL PV patients and 61 TURP patients. The primary outcome measure was the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Secondary outcome measures included maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoidal residual (PVR) and reoperation rate. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata 14 (StataCorp). RESULTS: After 5 years of follow-up, mean improvements in International Prostate Symptom Score, postvoidal residual and maximum urinary flow rate were similar in both groups. The re-treatment rate was 14.3% in the GL PV group vs 11.9% in the TURP group (P = .9). CONCLUSION: Noninferiority of the GL PV to TURP was confirmed in all functional and safety outcomes at 5-year follow-up. GL-PV could be a safe surgical alternative for patients suffering from benign prostatic obstruction.

Transurethral microwave therapy in 200 patients with a minimum followup of 2 years: urodynamic and clinical results.

PURPOSE: We investigated the long-term efficacy of the second generation Targis thermotherapy device (Urologix, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota) for decreasing outflow obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At a minimum followup of 24 months 200 patients with bladder outlet obstruction documented on urodynamics and cystoscopy document with preserved detrusor function underwent transurethral microwave therapy while under local anesthesia. In 45% of cases the general American Society of Anesthesiologists health score was 3 or greater. RESULTS: After a median observation time of 42 months (range 2 to 72) 43 patients (22%) who required additional treatment (repeat thermotherapy, transurethral prostate resection or permanent cystostomy) were excluded from further analysis, as were 15 (7.5%) who died of causes unrelated to treatment during followup and 13 (6.5%) who were lost to followup or refused followup investigations. In the 162 patients evaluated 6 months after treatment the median International Prostate Symptom Score decreased from 23 points (range 10 to 34) before treatment to 3 (range 0 to 21) and remained stable at 12 and 24 months. Median maximum flow increased from 6 ml. per second (range 1 to 15) before treatment to 14.5 (range 4 to 50) 6 months after treatment and remained stable at 12 and 24 months. Median post-void residual urine volume decreased from 170 ml. (range 35 to 720) before treatment to 17 (range 0 to 327) after 6 months and then remained unchanged. Urodynamic evaluation in the 162 patients after 6 months showed a decrease from pretreatment median detrusor opening pressure of 87.5 to 53 cm. water. Median detrusor pressure at maximum flow decreased from 86 to 58 cm. water 6 (p <0.0001). At the 24-month followup 59 of the 129 evaluable patients agreed to undergo repeat urodynamic evaluation. Pressure flow analysis in these 59 cases revealed a decrease in median minimal urethral opening pressure from 70 to 40 cm. water at 6 months and to 38 cm. water at 24 months (p <0.0001). Median detrusor pressure at maximum flow decreased significantly from the pretreatment value of 86 to 55 cm. water at 6 months and 58 cm. water at 24 months (p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a good initial response to treatment, which is achieved in approximately 80%, transurethral microwave therapy provides excellent long-term subjective and objective results. Improved urinary flow, decreased post-void residual urine volume and urodynamic parameters remain stable at 2 years. Transurethral microwave therapy with second generation microwave equipment did not compromise any conventional treatment needed in the 22% of patients who were nonresponders at 6 months.