Association of lung immune prognostic index with survival outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab.

OBJECTIVE: Lung immune prognostic index is based on derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and lactate dehydrogenase level. Lung immune prognostic index has reported association with survival outcomes in patients with various malignancies undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the prognostic impact of pre-treatment lung immune prognostic index in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving nivolumab plus ipilimumab treatment remains unclear. This study examines the association between lung immune prognostic index and outcomes in this setting. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 156 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab at eight institutions. We assessed the associations between pre-treatment lung immune prognostic index and survival outcomes including progression-free survival, second progression-free survival (PFS2), cancer-specific survival and overall survival. RESULTS: Patients were classified into good (n = 84, 54%), intermediate (n = 52, 33%) and poor (n = 20, 13%) lung immune prognostic index groups. Progression-free survival did not significantly differ between lung immune prognostic index groups, but there was significant difference in PFS2, cancer-specific survival and overall survival. In multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses, high pre-treatment lung immune prognostic index was a significant predictor of poor PFS2 (vs. good group, intermediate group: P = 0.01 and poor group: P = 0.04) and poor overall survival (vs. good group, intermediate group: P = 0.01 and poor group: P < 0.01). Moreover, the patients with poor lung immune prognostic index had significantly poorer cancer-specific survival than those with good LIPI (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: High pre-treatment LIPI is suggested by our results to be a significant independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients receiving nivolumab plus ipilimumab for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Chronic kidney disease and Charlson comorbidity index predict complications after robot-assisted radical cystectomy: A single-center study in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate preoperative patient factors that may predict the occurrence of perioperative complications following robot-assisted radical cystectomy at a single center in Japan. METHODS: From 2013 to 2022, 103 patients underwent RARC at our institution. Complications within 90 days after surgery were assessed using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Preoperative characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared between cohorts with and without complications ≥grade 3. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with perioperative complications. RESULTS: Overall, 27% of patients (27/103) experienced grade 3 or higher complications. The cohort that developed complications ≥grade 3 exhibited significantly higher Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.046) and significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.048). Charlson comorbidity index ≥2 (p = 0.037) and estimated glomerular filtration rate <53 (p = 0.008) were independent predictors for the occurrence of complications ≥grade 3. The incidence of complications ≥grade 3 was 61.5% in the group possessing both factors, which was significantly higher than those in the groups possessing neither factor nor only one of the two factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the Charlson comorbidity index and preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate may be predictors of perioperative complications. It is important to evaluate the patient's preoperative characteristics and choose the surgical procedure accordingly.

Extent of pelvic lymph node dissection improves early oncological outcomes for patients with high-risk prostate cancer without lymph node involvement after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of the extent of pelvic lymph node dissection (LND) on biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) without lymph node involvement (LNI) treated with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 378 patients who underwent RARP with LND at our hospital between October 2010 and June 2019. The BCR-free survival rate was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression analysis was used to investigate BCR prognostic factors. The total score calculated from the D'Amico risk classification and the percentage of positive biopsy cores were used for analysis. Patients were classified into 3 BCR risk groups (low risk: 0-3 points, intermediate risk: 4-5 points, and high risk: 6-8 points). RESULTS: Limited LND was performed in 161 patients (42.6%), extended LND in 217 patients (57.4%), and BCR was confirmed in 66 patients (17.5%) after RARP. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed no significant difference in the association between the extent of LND and BCR. The Kaplan-Meier curve for BCR generated using our risk classification for patients with PCa without LNI showed no significant association between the extent of LND and BCR in the low-risk group (p = 0.790). A significantly improved BCR-free survival was observed in the extended LND group among patients with PCa at intermediate risk or higher (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to our risk classification, BCR may be less likely to occur when extended LND is performed during RARP for patients with localized PCa at intermediate risk or higher.

Sarcopenia is associated with survival in patients with urothelial carcinoma treated with systemic chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia impacts perioperative outcomes and prognosis in various carcinomas. We aimed to investigate whether sarcopenia at the time of chemotherapy induction in patients with urothelial carcinoma is associated with prognosis. METHODS: We evaluated patients treated with chemotherapy for urothelial carcinoma between April 2013 and February 2018 at our institution and affiliated centers. Skeletal muscle mass (total psoas muscle, paraspinal muscle, and total skeletal muscle areas) were used to calculate the total psoas muscle index, paraspinal muscle index, and skeletal muscle index. All participants were grouped as per cutoff points set at the median value for each sex. Overall survival was evaluated using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 240 patients, 171 were men and 69 were women; mean age during chemotherapy was 71 years (range: 43-88); and 36, 56, and 148 patients were at stages II, III, and IV, respectively. Paraspinal muscle index was most associated with the prognosis; groups with lower paraspinal muscle index were defined as sarcopenic (men: ≤ 20.9 cm2/m2, women: ≤ 16.8 cm2/m2). The overall survival was significantly longer in the non-sarcopenia group including all stages (p = 0.001), and in stage III (p = 0.048) and IV (p = 0.005) patients. There was no significant difference among stage II patients (p = 0.648). After propensity score matching, survival was still significantly longer in the non-sarcopenia group (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Paraspinal muscle index measurements obtained during chemotherapy induction for urothelial carcinoma were independent prognostic factors. The absence of sarcopenia may lead to long-term survival in patients undergoing chemotherapy for urothelial carcinoma.

Incidence and predictive factors of orgasmic dysfunction after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the incidence and extent of orgasmic dysfunction in patients after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and to identify factors that could predict patients at risk. METHODS: A single-center, questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (n = 523) between October 2010 and November 2019. In addition to six questions about sexual activity, orgasmic function, altered perception of orgasms, dysorgasmia, and climacturia, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form was administered. In February 2020, a letter was mailed inviting patients to participate in the survey. The primary outcome measure was the rate of orgasmic dysfunction. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of orgasmic dysfunction. RESULTS: Overall, 259 questionnaires were used for analysis. Among sexually active patients (n = 145), 33 (22.8%) reported anorgasmia, and 83 (57.2%) reported decreased orgasm intensity. Twenty-two (15.1%) patients reported dysorgasmia; among these patients, the pain was experienced almost always or always in 13.6%, sometimes in 13.6%, and a few times in 72.8% of cases. Climacturia was reported by 44 patients (30.3%). Nerve-sparing procedures decreased the risk of anorgasmia (odds ratio 0.37, 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.88) and urinary incontinence increased the risk of climacturia (odds ratio 3.13, 95% confidence interval 1.20-8.15). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that orgasmic dysfunction after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is relatively common.

Impact of positive surgical margin status in predicting early biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the association between positive surgical margin (PSM) status and biochemical recurrence (BCR) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) to develop a prognostic factor-based risk stratification model for BCR. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 483 patients who underwent RARP at our hospital between October 2010 and April 2019; 435 patients without neoadjuvant therapy were finally included. The BCR-free survival rate was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Effects of the PSM status, including the number of PSMs, Gleason score (GS) at a PSM, and the maximum PSM length for BCR, were investigated using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: BCR was confirmed after RARP in 61 patients (14.0%), and PSM was confirmed in 74 patients (17.0%); PSM was a significant predictor of BCR (p < 0.001). The median number of PSMs was 2 (1-6), and the median maximum length of PSM was 6.0 (2.0-17.0) mm. Multivariable analysis showed lymph node invasion (p < 0.001), GS of ≥ 7 at a PSM (p = 0.022) and a maximum PSM length of > 6.0 mm (p = 0.003) were significant predictors of BCR. We classified the patients without lymph node invasion into good-, intermediate-, and poor-risk groups according to the other two risk factors (presence of 0, 1, and 2 factors, respectively) and rates of 1-year BCR-free survival (100.0, 72.7, and 48.1%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Higher GS at PSM and greater length of PSM were significant predictors of BCR after RARP, and console surgeons should be careful to prevent PSM during RARP.

Impact of penile rehabilitation with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors on recovery of erectile function in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: A propensity score-matched analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of penile rehabilitation on the recovery of erectile function after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. METHODS: Patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in our department from 2010 to 2019 were included. For penile rehabilitation, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (tadalafil 20 mg) was administered twice a week for 1-6 months postoperatively. The International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (question 1 and erectile function domain) and the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaire (sexual function) were used. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, there were 79 patients in the penile rehabilitation group and 79 patients in the non-penile rehabilitation group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups. Significantly higher scores were seen in the penile rehabilitation group compared with the non-penile rehabilitation group at postoperative 3, 6 and 9 months in the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire-question 1, at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in erectile function domain, and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months in Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaire sexual function (P < 0.05). There were significant improvements in the erectile recovery rate in the penile rehabilitation group compared with the non-penile rehabilitation group in the nerve sparing (P = 0.006) and partial nerve sparing (P = 0.037) groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that robot-assisted radical prostatectomy patients who undergo not only nerve sparing, but also those who undergo patial nerve sparing could benefit from penile rehabilitation using a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor.

Oncological outcomes of a multicenter cohort treated with axitinib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the real-world use of axitinib and to develop a prognostic model for stratifying patients who could derive long-term benefit from axitinib. This was a retrospective, descriptive study evaluating the efficacy of axitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma that had been treated with 1 or 2 systemic antiangiogenic therapy regimens at 1 of 36 hospitals belonging to the Japan Urologic Oncology Group between January 2012 and February 2019. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Using a split-sample method, candidate variables that exhibited significant relationships with OS were chosen to create a model. The new model was validated using the rest of the cohort. In total, 485 patients were enrolled. The median OS was 34 months in the entire study population, whereas it was not reached, 27 months, and 14 months in the favorable, intermediate, and poor risk groups, respectively, according to the new risk classification model. The following 4 variables were included in the final risk model: the disease stage at diagnosis, number of metastatic sites at the start of axitinib therapy, serum albumin level, and neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio. The adjusted area under the curve values of the new model at 12, 36, and 60 months were 0.77, 0.82, and 0.82, respectively. The efficacy of axitinib in routine practice is comparable or even superior to that reported previously. The patients in the new model's favorable risk group might derive a long-term survival benefit from axitinib treatment.

Intravesical prostatic protrusion may affect early postoperative continence undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated the effect of preoperative prostate morphology, especially intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP), on continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). METHODS: Retrospective analysis was applied to patients who underwent RARP between October 2010 and July 2014. The following parameters were assessed in all patients: age, body mass index (BMI), prostate-specific antigen, magnetic resonance imaging and pressure-flow studies findings. The impact of preoperative and intraoperative factors on postoperative urinary incontinence (UI) was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. To evaluate the effects of IPP, the patients were divided into groups according to the IPP length: Group 1, < 5 mm and Group 2, ≥ 5 mm. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, Quality of Life index and the number of pads used were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 119 patients were eligible for this study. Multivariate analyses showed that IPP (odds ratio (OR) 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.28, p < 0.05) and nerve-sparing (NS) (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.18-0.61, p < 0.01) were significant factors related to UI in the first month after RARP. Twelve months after RARP, multivariate analyses revealed that only NS is a factor related to postoperative UI (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.18-0.61, p < 0.01). The comparison of Groups 1 and 2 indicated significant differences in age (p < 0.01), prostate volume (p < 0.01), total IPSS and voiding symptom score (p < 0.05), compliance (p < 0.01), and detrusor pressure at maximum flow (p < 0.01). Group 1 had a higher continence rate (38.0%) than Group 2 (20.8%) in the first month after RARP (p < 0.05), but the difference was no longer significant from the third month after RARP. The total IPSS and voiding symptom scores were significantly different between the two groups before RARP, however, the significant difference disappeared from the first month after RARP. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that IPP affects early postoperative UI. Although NS was strongly involved in UI in the early and later stages after RARP, IPP had no effect on UI in the later stages.

Small-volume lymph node involvement and biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with extended lymph node dissection in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: We investigated prognostic factors for biochemical recurrence (BCR) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with extended pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection. METHODS: We included 173 patients who underwent RARP with extended pelvic LN dissection without neoadjuvant therapy at our hospital between October 2010 and April 2018. BCR was defined as prostate serum antigen (PSA) levels ≥ 0.2 ng/mL; BCR-free survival rates were determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis. We used Cox regression analysis to evaluate effects of PSA and pathologic variables on BCR. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 27.9 (range 6.1-86.9) months. Five-year BCR-free survival was 89.5%. In multivariate analysis, positive LNs (HR 7.117; 95% CI 2.826-17.925; P < 0.001) and Gleason score (GS) ≥ 8 (HR 2.612; 95% CI 1.051-6.489; P = 0.039) were significant predictors of BCR. Patients with 1 or 2 positive LNs (n = 10) had significantly higher BCR-free survival rates than patients with ≥ 3 positive LNs (n = 5). We, therefore, stratified the patients as low-risk (GS < 8 and no positive LNs), intermediate-risk: (either GS ≥ 8 or positive LNs) and high-risk (both GS ≥ 8 and positive LNs). Their 1-year BCR-free survival rates were low-risk: 94.6%, intermediate-risk: 88.5%, and high-risk: 33.3% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with 1-2 positive LNs and GS < 8 have low risk for BCR; close observation without immediate adjuvant hormonal therapy can be considered for these patients.

Sarcopenia as a significant predictive factor of neutropenia and overall survival in urothelial carcinoma patients underwent gemcitabine and cisplatin or carboplatin.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the relationship between sarcopenia and myelosuppression or between sarcopenia and survival outcomes in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) undergoing chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) or carboplatin (GCa). METHODS: We evaluated 80 patients with UC who underwent chemotherapy between 2013 and 2017 at our institution. In total, 53 patients had metastatic UC and were ultimately included in the study. Predictive factors for myelosuppression (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia) in all patients and overall survival (OS) in metastatic UC patients were analyzed. Sarcopenia was assessed on computed tomography before chemotherapy. Each patient's total psoas area was measured at the lumbar vertebrae (L3) and sarcopenia was defined as median values or lower. Predictive factors for myelosuppression were assessed using logistic regression analysis and survival was evaluated using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 71.6 years (range 44.4-89.2 years). Of the initial 80 patients, 39 were diagnosed with sarcopenia and 26 of 53 patients with metastatic UC were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was an independent predictive factor (P = 0.030; odds ratio, 3.526; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.128-11.01) for neutropenia on multivariate analysis. Patients without sarcopenia had a significantly longer OS compared to those with sarcopenia (P = 0.013). Sarcopenia and albumin (P = 0.045, 0.023; hazard ratio (HR), 2.309, 2.652; 95% CI 1.021-5.225, 1.141-6.165, respectively) were independent predictors of OS in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia was predictive for neutropenia associated with GC or GCa in UC patients and OS in metastatic UC.

Peri-operative efficacy and long-term survival benefit of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy in septuagenarian patients compared with younger patients: a nationwide multi-institutional study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: To determine the peri-operative safety and oncological value of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for older and younger patients in an initial Japanese RARC series. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the demographics, complications, peri-operative and oncological outcomes of 253 consecutive patients with bladder cancer who underwent RARC at 34 institutions in Japan between April 2009 and March 2017. The patients were assigned to groups according to ages at surgery of < 70 (younger; n = 125) and ≥ 70 (older; n = 128) years. RESULTS: Mean Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.045) and the incidence of a history of previous abdominal surgery (p = 0.002) were significantly higher, whereas a history of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.028) and neobladder (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the older group. Mean total operative time was significantly shorter (p = 0.019) and mean estimated blood loss (p = 0.013) was significantly lower in the older group. Post-operative Grade ≥ II complications were comparable at 0-30, 31-90 and 91 days after surgery despite urinary tract associations. Rates of positive surgical margins and mean numbers of removed lymph nodes were comparable between the two groups. Although 5-year overall survival rates were significantly lower (p = 0.03) for older patients, 5-year cancer-specific (p = 0.10) and recurrence-free survival rates were comparable (p = 0.20) between the groups. CONCLUSION: Using RARC potentially allows the application of less invasive procedures and cancer control for septuagenarian patients that are equivalent to those for younger patients.

Influence of multinerve-sparing, robot-assisted radical prostatectomy on the recovery of erection in Japanese patients.

Purpose: To evaluate in Japanese patients their sexual function after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and to investigate the influence of the multinerve-sparing (NS) grade on their sexual function. Methods: In total, 225 patients were reviewed with localized prostate cancer who underwent RARP at the authors' institution. They underwent RARP >3 months ago, without pre- and posthormone therapy and salvage radiation. Self-administered International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaires were used for assessment preoperatively and 1-48 months postoperatively. In all, 129 patients were evaluated with the preoperative IIEF-Question 1 and who achieved a score of ≥2 by being divided into five NS groups. The recovery rates of erection (postoperative IIEF-Question 1 score of ≥2) were calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: Seventy-four percent of all the patients had not attempted sexual intercourse, but 60% had felt sexual desire at 24 months postoperatively. In those patients with a preoperative erection, the recovery rate of erection was 58% at 24 months after the RARP. Across the five NS groups, as the procedure was more nerve-sparing, the recovery rate of erection became significantly higher. The postoperative effects on erection in the bilateral and unilateral NS groups were significantly superior to those in the other NS groups. Conclusion: In Japanese patients, erection after a RARP is improved with multiNS grade procedures.

Characterization of mild and severe post-radical nephrectomy renal functional deterioration utilizing histopathological evaluation of non-neoplastic nephrectomized renal parenchyma.

BACKGROUND: We investigated factors affecting mild (MRFD) and severe renal functional deterioration (SRFD) after radical nephrectomy with a special focus on the histopathology of nephrectomized non-neoplastic renal parenchyma. METHODS: MRFD was defined as a postoperative decline of percent estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lower than the value of the mean minus standard deviation (SD). SRFD was defined as a rate greater than the value of the mean plus SD. The histopathological factors of global glomerulosclerosis (GS) and arteriosclerosis in non-neoplastic renal parenchyma and multiple clinical factors were analyzed to determine whether they affected postoperative renal functional deterioration in 100 renal cell carcinoma cases. The prognoses, including non-cancer mortality, were collected from long-term follow-up data. RESULTS: A higher preoperative eGFR and a higher global GS extent in non-neoplastic renal parenchyma were independently associated with MRFD and SRFD, respectively. The cardiovascular disease-specific survival rates of the SRFD group and the group with global GS extent >14 % were significantly worse than those of their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to identify global GS extent in nephrectomized non-neoplastic renal parenchyma as a factor affecting the development of life-threatening post-nephrectomy renal functional deterioration. Moreover, we are the first to advocate the importance of the characterization of favorable post-nephrectomy renal functional deterioration. The identification of MRFD and SRFD by histopathological evaluation of nephrectomized non-neoplastic renal parenchyma will contribute to personalized postoperative follow-up. It may improve follow-up of individual patients with SRFD by permitting collaboration with other clinical departments such as cardiology.

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy is a promising alternative to open surgery in the Japanese population with a high rate of octogenarians.

BACKGROUND: Japanese patients who undergo radical cystectomy have a unique feature, i.e., the ratio of octogenarians is higher than in Western patients because of the aging Japanese population. The purpose of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes, complications, and oncologic outcomes between robot-assisted radical cystectomy and open radical cystectomy. METHODS: From 2010-2015, 20 (of which 8 were octogenarians) and 40 (of which 11 were octogenarians) patients underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy and open radical cystectomy, respectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in terms of patient demographics between the two surgical cohorts, regardless of patient age. In the octogenarian patient cohort, the rates of previous abdominal surgery and the median age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index were higher. The median estimated blood loss, transfusion rate and the days to resumption of a regular diet were significantly lower in the robot-assisted radical cystectomy cohort, regardless of patient age. Robot-assisted radical cystectomy significantly decreased grade II or higher complications, but there were no significant differences in terms of decreasing grade III or higher complications, regardless of patient age. Positive surgical margin and the mean number of lymph nodes removed were similar between the two surgical cohorts, regardless of patient age. CONCLUSION: Although robot-assisted radical cystectomy has a short history in Japan, the outcomes were generally comparable to those of previous studies. In a country that is aging rapidly like Japan, robot-assisted radical cystectomy could be a valid option for the management of muscle-invasive and high-risk superficial bladder cancer.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in an initial Japanese series: the impact of prior abdominal surgery on surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of prior abdominal surgery on surgical outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in an early single center experience in Japan. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy from October 2010 to September 2013 at Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Tottori, Japan. Patients with prior abdominal surgery were compared with those with no prior surgery with respect to total operative time, port-insertion time, console time, positive surgical margin and perioperative complication rate. Furthermore, the number of patients requiring minimal adhesion lysis was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of 150 patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, 94 (63%) had no prior abdominal surgery, whereas 56 patients (37%) did. The mean total operative time was 329 and 333 min (P = 0.340), mean port insertion time was 40 and 34.5 min (P = 0.003), mean console time was 255 and 238 min (P = 0.145), a positive surgical margin was observed in 17.9% and 17.0% patients (P = 0.896), and the incidence of perioperative complications was 25% and 23.4% (P = 0.825), respectively, in those with and without prior abdominal surgery. In the prior abdominal surgery group, 48 patients (80.4%) required adhesion lysis at the time of trocar placement or while operating the robotic console. CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy appears to be a safe approach for patients with prior abdominal surgery without increasing total operative time, robotic console time, positive surgical margin or the incidence of perioperative complications.

High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts poor clinical outcome in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with docetaxel chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic significance of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients receiving chemotherapy with docetaxel for castration-resistant prostate cancer. METHODS: A total of 57 castration-resistant prostate cancer patients treated between 2009 and 2014 were included in the present retrospective study. All patient data, including clinicopathological factors, were assessed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to predict overall survival and progression-free survival after chemotherapy initiation. RESULTS: The median overall survival and progression-free survival were determined as 19.0 months (range 1-61 months) and 10.0 months (range 1-56 months), respectively. The cut-off level of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was set as the median value of 3.5 among all patients in this study. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, the median overall survival and progression-free survival were shorter in patients with a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio compared with those with a low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (15 vs 20 months, P = 0.0125; and 9.5 vs 15 months, P = 0.0132, respectively). The overall survival and progression-free survival periods in patients with a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were significantly shorter than those of patients with a low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.0178 and 0.0176, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was an independent predictor of overall survival and progression-free survival (hazard ratio 2.728, 95% confidence interval 1.05-7.09, P = 0.039; and hazard ratio 2.376, 95% confidence interval 1.12-5.06, P=0.024, respectively). CONCLUSION: The present study results suggest that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a useful prognostic factor in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer treated by docetaxel chemotherapy. These findings might be useful in determining treatment strategies in the future.

Anatomical dimensions using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging: impact on the learning curve of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of anatomical dimensions as measured using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging on the outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 100 consecutive robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy procedures that were carried out by a single surgeon at the Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan. Preoperative clinical data and anatomical measurements, including the calculated prostate volume pelvic cavity index, were determined based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, and their effects on console time, estimated blood loss and surgical margin status were compared. RESULTS: Body mass index, the prostate anteroposterior diameter, and the prostate volume-to-pelvic cavity index ratio were all significantly correlated with console time and estimated blood loss, based on a univariate analysis (P < 0.05). The prostate craniocaudal diameter, prostate transverse diameter and prostate volume also correlated with console time. However, based on the multiple linear regression analysis, only the prostate volume-to-pelvic cavity index ratio was found to be a significant predictor of console time and estimated blood loss. Furthermore, when the 100 total cases were divided into 50 early cases and 50 late cases, the prostate volume-to-pelvic cavity index ratio correlated with console time and estimated blood loss only in the early group, and not in the late group. In contrast, anatomical measurements had no significant effect on surgical margin status. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging can be a valuable adjunct to robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. Our data show that patients with larger prostates and narrow, deep pelvises might present more difficulty in robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy procedures. However, the present data also show that this problem can be overcome by an experienced operator with improved surgical techniques.

The role of staging MRI in predicting apical margin positivity for robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between apical margin positivity and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients who have undergone robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 2010 through November 2012, we treated 84 Japanese men with clinically localized prostate cancer with RARP. The excised specimens, which were divided into right and left fragments, were evaluated for the presence of positive surgical margins (PSMs) and preoperative MRI findings. RESULTS: The overall PSM rate was 21.4% (18 of 84 patients), 83.3% (15 of 18 cases) of which were situated in the apex. Evaluating the prostate divided into right and left fragments, the PSM rate was 10.7% at the apex (18 of 168 fragments). Cancer was suspected via preoperative MRI in 39 fragments (23.2%) and detected in the prostatic apex by prostate biopsy in 67 fragments (39.9%). Multiple regression analysis revealed that MRI and nerve-sparing procedures significantly indicate apical margin positivity (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The prostatic apex is the most common location of PSMs after RARP. Our results demonstrate that preoperative MRI for cancer of the prostatic apex may provide substantial information and enable complete cancer clearance.

External validation of hemoglobin and neutrophil levels as predictors of the effectiveness of ipilimumab plus nivolumab for treating renal cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Pretreatment hemoglobin and neutrophil levels were previously reported to be important indicators for predicting the effectiveness of ipilimumab plus nivolumab (IPI + NIVO) therapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Therefore, we aimed to validate this in a large external cohort. Methods: In total, 172 patients with RCC who underwent IPI + NIVO treatment at a multicenter setting were divided into three groups according to their pretreatment hemoglobin and neutrophil levels (group 1: non-anemia; group 2: anemia and low-neutrophil; and group 3: anemia and high-neutrophil). Results: Group 1 showed better survival than groups 2 and 3 (overall survival: 52.3 vs. 21.4 vs. 9.4 months, respectively; progression-free survival: 12.1 vs. 7.0 vs. 3.4 months, respectively). Discussion: In this large cohort, we validated our earlier observation that hemoglobin and neutrophil levels can be reliable predictors of the effectiveness of IPI + NIVO in advanced RCC. Thus, our approach may aid in selecting the optimal first-line therapy for RCC.