Six-year outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy versus volumetric modulated arc therapy for localized prostate cancer: A propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy are the leading respective techniques of prostatectomy and radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer, almost no study has directly compared their outcomes; none have compared mortality outcomes. METHODS: We compared 6­year outcomes of RARP (n = 500) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT, a rotational intensity-modulated radiotherapy, n = 360) in patients with cT1-4N0M0 prostate cancer. We assessed oncological outcomes, namely overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), radiological recurrence-free survival (rRFS), and biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS), using propensity score matching (PSM). We also assessed treatment-related complication outcomes of prostatectomy and radiotherapy. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 79 months (> 6 years). PSM generated a matched cohort of 260 patients (130 per treatment group). In the matched cohort, RARP and VMAT showed equivalent results for OS, CSS, and rRFS: both achieved excellent 6­year outcomes for OS (> 96%), CSS (> 98%), and rRFS (> 91%). VMAT had significantly longer bRFS than RARP, albeit based on different definitions of biochemical recurrence. Regarding complication outcomes, patients who underwent RARP had minimal (2.6%) severe perioperative complications and achieved excellent continence recovery (91.6 and 68.8% of the patients achieved ≤ 1 pad/day and pad-free, respectively). Patients who underwent VMAT had an acceptable rate (20.0%) of grade ≥ 2 genitourinary complications and a very low rate (4.4%) of grade ≥ 2 gastrointestinal complications. CONCLUSION: On the basis of PSM after a 6-year follow-up, RARP and VMAT showed equivalent and excellent oncological outcomes, as well as acceptable complication profiles.

Outcomes of active surveillance for Japanese patients with prostate cancer (PRIAS-JAPAN).

OBJECTIVE: To report the outcomes of repeat biopsies, metastasis and survival in the Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance (PRIAS)-JAPAN study, a prospective observational study for Japanese patients, initiated in 2010. PATIENTS AND METHODS: At the beginning, inclusion criteria were initially low-risk patients, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density (PSAD) <0.2, and ≤2 positive biopsy cores. As from 2014, GS3+4 has also been allowed for patients aged 70 years and over. Since January 2021, the age limit for Gleason score (GS) 3 + 4 cases was removed, and eligibility criteria were expanded to PSA ≤20 ng/mL, PSAD <0.25 nd/mL/cc, unlimited number of positive GS 3 + 3 cores, and positive results for fewer than half of the total number of cores for GS 3 + 4 cases if magnetic resonance imaging fusion biopsy was performed at study enrolment or subsequent follow-up. For patients eligible for active surveillance, PSA tests were performed every 3 months, rectal examination every 6 months, and biopsies at 1, 4, 7 and 10 years, followed by every 5 years thereafter. Patients with confirmed pathological reclassification were recommended for secondary treatments. RESULTS: As of February 2024, 1302 patients were enrolled in AS; 1274 (98%) met the eligibility criteria. The median (interquartile range) age, PSA level, PSAD, and number of positive cores were 69 (64-73) years, 5.3 (4.5-6.6) ng/mL, 0.15 (0.12-0.17) ng/mL, and 1 (1-2), respectively. The clinical stage was T1c in 1089 patients (86%) and T2 in 185 (15%). The rates of acceptance by patients for the first, second, third and fourth re-biopsies were 83%, 64%, 41% and 22%, respectively. The pathological reclassification rates for the first, second, third and fourth re-biopsies were 29%, 30%, 35% and 25%, respectively. The 1-, 5- and 10-year persistence rates were 77%, 45% and 23%, respectively. Six patients developed metastasis, and one patient died from prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: Pathological reclassification was observed in approximately 30% of the patients during biopsy; however, biopsy acceptance rates decreased over time. Although metastasis occurred in six patients, only one death from prostate cancer was recorded.

Does metabolic syndrome influence the efficacy of mirabegron treatment in female patients with overactive bladder?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to determine whether the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) affects the efficacy of mirabegron in treatment-naïve women with overactive bladder (OAB). METHODS: Women being treated with mirabegron 50 mg were allocated to MS and non-MS groups, and the efficacy of treatment of OAB was compared using the OAB symptom score (OABSS) and a 3-day voiding diary before and 12 weeks after starting treatment. The Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analyses, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered to represent statistical significance. RESULTS: Of the 197 patients who completed the trial, 43 (23.9%) had MS. After 12 weeks of mirabegron treatment, both the MS and non-MS groups showed significant improvements in OABSS score, the number of incontinence episodes/24 h, the number of micturition episodes/24 h, and the number of episodes of urgency/24 h. The factors associated with clinically important differences in OABSS were the presence of hyperglycemia (odds ratio 2.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-5.60) and OABSS score at baseline (odds ratio 1.23, 95% CI 1.09-1.39). CONCLUSIONS: Mirabegron is effective in patients with and without MS, and comorbid hyperglycemia and severe OAB symptoms before treatment are predictors of the efficacy of mirabegron treatment.

Enfortumab vedotin versus platinum rechallenge in post-platinum, post-pembrolizumab advanced urothelial carcinoma: A multicenter propensity score-matched study.

OBJECTIVE: Enfortumab vedotin (EV) was approved for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) in 2021 after the EV-301 trial showed its superiority to non-platinum-based chemotherapy as later-line treatment after platinum-based chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors including pembrolizumab. However, no study has compared EV with rechallenging platinum-based chemotherapy (i.e., "platinum rechallenge") in that setting. METHODS: In total, 283 patients received pembrolizumab for advanced UC after platinum-based chemotherapy between 2018 and 2023. Of them, 41 and 25 patients received EV and platinum rechallenge, respectively, as later-line treatment after pembrolizumab. After excluding two patients with EV without imaging evaluation, we compared oncological outcomes, including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), between the EV (n = 39) and platinum rechallenge groups (n = 25) using propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: Analyses on crude data (n = 64) showed no significant differences between the two groups regarding patients' baseline characteristics. PFS (5 months) and OS (11 months) in the EV group were comparable to those (8 and 12 months, respectively) in the platinum rechallenge group. After PSM (n = 36), the baseline characteristics between the two groups became more balanced, and PFS (not reached) and OS (not reached) in the EV group were comparable to those (8 and 11 months, respectively) in the platinum rechallenge group. CONCLUSIONS: EV and platinum rechallenge showed equivalent oncological outcomes, even after PSM, and both treatments should therefore be effective treatment options for post-platinum, post-pembrolizumab advanced UC.

Clinical validity of non-contrast-enhanced VI-RADS: prospective study using 3-T MRI with high-gradient magnetic field.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a modified Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) without dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCEI), termed "non-contrast-enhanced VI-RADS (NCE-VI-RADS)", and to assess the additive impact of denoising deep learning reconstruction (dDLR) on NCE-VI-RADS. METHODS: From January 2019 through December 2020, 163 participants who underwent high-gradient 3-T MRI of the bladder were prospectively enrolled. In total, 108 participants with pathologically confirmed bladder cancer by transurethral resection were analyzed. Tumors were evaluated based on VI-RADS (scores 1-5) by two readers independently: an experienced radiologist (reader 1) and a senior radiology resident (reader 2). Conventional VI-RADS assessment included all three imaging types (T2-weighted imaging [T2WI], diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI], and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging [DCEI]). Also evaluated were NCE-VI-RADS comprising only non-contrast-enhanced imaging types (T2WI and DWI), and "NCE-VI-RADS with dDLR" comprising T2WI processed with dDLR and DWI. All systems were assessed using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis and simple and/or weighted κ statistics. RESULTS: Muscle invasion was identified in 23/108 participants (21%). Area under the curve (AUC) values for diagnosing muscle invasion were as follows: conventional VI-RADS, 0.94 and 0.91; NCE-VI-RADS, 0.93 and 0.91; and "NCE-VI-RADS with dDLR", 0.96 and 0.93, for readers 1 and 2, respectively. Simple κ statistics indicated substantial agreement for NCE-VI-RADS and almost perfect agreement for conventional VI-RADS and "NCE-VI-RADS with dDLR" between the two readers. CONCLUSION: NCE-VI-RADS achieved predictive accuracy for muscle invasion comparable to that of conventional VI-RADS. Additional use of dDLR improved the diagnostic accuracy of NCE-VI-RADS. KEY POINTS: • Non-contrast-enhanced Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (NCE-VI-RADS) was developed to avoid risk related to gadolinium-based contrast agent administration. • NCE-VI-RADS had predictive accuracy for muscle invasion comparable to that of conventional VI-RADS. • The additional use of denoising deep learning reconstruction (dDLR) might further improve the diagnostic accuracy of NCE-VI-RADS.

Clinicopathological features and oncological outcomes of urothelial carcinoma involving the ureterovesical junction.

BACKGROUND: The ureterovesical junction is the boundary between the urinary bladder and upper urinary tract. Because treatment strategies for bladder cancer and upper tract urothelial carcinoma are entirely different, urothelial carcinoma involving the ureterovesical junction requires special attention. Nevertheless, studies focusing on the disease are lacking. METHODS: We reviewed consecutive patients with urothelial carcinoma treated via either transurethral resection of bladder tumor (n = 2791) or radical nephroureterectomy (n = 292) between 2000 and 2020 and identified those with bladder cancer involving the ureteral orifice (n = 64) and those with upper tract urothelial carcinoma involving the intramural ureter (≤2 cm) (n = 41). After excluding overlapping cases (n = 24), 80 patients with urothelial carcinoma involving the ureterovesical junction were analyzed. RESULTS: The initial symptoms or reasons for diagnosing urothelial carcinoma involving the ureterovesical junction were hematuria (n = 30), hydronephrosis (n = 21), follow-up examinations for prior urothelial carcinoma (n = 13), screening examinations (n = 7), frequent urination (n = 6) and unknown causes (n = 3). During a median follow-up period of 42 months, 18 patients died of urothelial carcinoma. The definitive surgical treatments for urothelial carcinoma involving the ureterovesical junction were transurethral resection of bladder tumor alone (n = 26), radical nephroureterectomy (n = 41) and radical cystectomy (n = 13), with different treatments having different cancer-specific survivals. Multivariate analyses identified T stage (≥T2) as an independent predictor of shorter cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: Given the positional property of urothelial carcinoma involving the ureterovesical junction, the profiles of patients with the disease were highly heterogeneous. Further optimization of treatment strategies for urothelial carcinoma involving the ureterovesical junction is urgently warranted for better clinical outcomes.

Impact of adherence to criteria on oncological outcomes of radical prostatectomy in patients opting for active surveillance: data from the PRIAS-JAPAN study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate whether oncological outcomes of radical prostatectomy differ depending on adherence to the criteria in patients who opt for active surveillance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 1035 patients enrolled in a prospective cohort of the PRIAS-JAPAN study. After applying the exclusion criteria, 136 of 162 patients were analyzed. Triggers for radical prostatectomy due to pathological reclassification on repeat biopsy were defined as on-criteria. Off-criteria triggers were defined as those other than on-criteria triggers. Unfavorable pathology on radical prostatectomy was defined as pathological ≥T3, ≥GS 4 + 3 and pathological N positivity. We compared the pathological findings on radical prostatectomy and prostate-specific antigen recurrence-free survival between the two groups. The off-criteria group included 35 patients (25.7%), half of whom received radical prostatectomy within 35 months. RESULTS: There were significant differences in median prostate-specific antigen before radical prostatectomy between the on-criteria and off-criteria groups (6.1 vs. 8.3 ng/ml, P = 0.007). The percentage of unfavorable pathologies on radical prostatectomy was lower in the off-criteria group than that in the on-criteria group (40.6 vs. 31.4%); however, the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.421). No significant difference in prostate-specific antigen recurrence-free survival was observed between the groups during the postoperative follow-up period (median: 36 months) (log-rank P = 0.828). CONCLUSIONS: Half of the off-criteria patients underwent radical prostatectomy within 3 years of beginning active surveillance, and their pathological findings were not worse than those of the on-criteria patients.

Comparison of full-dose gemcitabine/cisplatin, dose-reduced gemcitabine/cisplatin, and gemcitabine/carboplatin in real-world patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: While gemcitabine/cisplatin (GC) is the gold standard regimen for patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC), either dose-reduced GC or gemcitabine/carboplatin (GCa) is an alternative option for "cisplatin-unfit" patients. However, few studies have compared outcomes with these commonly used regimens in the real-world setting. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with aUC who received full-dose GC, dose-reduced GC, or GCa as first-line salvage chemotherapy at two university hospitals between 2016 and 2020. Progression-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival, as well as best overall response and adverse event profiles, were compared among these three regimens. RESULTS: Of 105 patients, 41, 27, and 37 patients received full-dose GC, dose-reduced GC, and GCa, respectively. Significant differences were noted in the patients' baseline age, primary site, and renal function among the three regimens. Sixty-nine (65.7%) patients died during a median follow-up period of 14 months. There was no significant difference among the three regimens for all survival outcomes and best overall response. However, the complete response rate of dose-reduced GC (2/27, 7.4%) appeared inferior to that of full-dose GC (9/41, 22.0%) or GCa (6/37, 16.2%). Regarding adverse event profiles, no significant difference was observed among the three regimens, except for significantly fewer cases with elevated alanine aminotransferase in the GCa group compared with the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study compared the oncological and toxicological outcomes of full-dose GC, dose-reduced GC, and GCa in real-world patients with aUC. Unlike in the clinical trial setting, there were almost no significant differences among the three regimens.

Real-world use of enzalutamide in men with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study is to evaluate real-world effectiveness and safety of enzalutamide in men with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) in Japan. METHODS: This was a retrospective evaluation of medical records from men in Japan who started enzalutamide treatment from November 1, 2014, to March 31, 2018, and received androgen deprivation therapy throughout. The primary endpoint was time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression. Secondary endpoints included PSA response rate, time to first use of new antineoplastic therapy, time to first use of cytotoxic chemotherapy, and enzalutamide treatment duration. An exploratory analysis of metastasis-free survival (MFS) was also performed. Adverse events (AEs) were analyzed to assess safety. RESULTS: Based on data from medical records of 205 men in Japan, median time to PSA progression was 27 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 19-not reached [NR]), with 82.5% and 52.0% of men achieving PSA response rates of ≥ 50% and ≥ 90%, respectively. Median time to first use of new antineoplastic therapy was 36 months (95% CI 27-NR) and median enzalutamide treatment duration was 13 months (interquartile range: 7-24). Median time to first use of cytotoxic chemotherapy was NR (95% CI 41-NR). Median MFS was 29 months (95% CI 23-35). In total, 51.7% of men experienced AEs, with malaise (18.5%), decreased appetite (10.7%), and nausea (4.9%) the most frequently reported. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate the real-world effectiveness and safety of enzalutamide in men with nmCRPC in Japan, further informing healthcare providers about available treatment options for this patient population.

Deferred radical prostatectomy in patients who initially elected for active surveillance: a multi-institutional, prospective, observational cohort of the PRIAS-JAPAN study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the pathological findings and oncological outcomes of deferred radical prostatectomy in patients who initially elected for active surveillance in a Japanese cohort. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data collected from a multi-institutional prospective observational cohort of the Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance-JAPAN study between January 2010 and September 2020. Triggers for radical prostatectomy were disease progression based on pathological findings of repeat biopsy and patients' request. The primary end point was evaluation of prostate-specific antigen recurrence-free survival. Secondary end points were overall survival and comparison of pathological and oncological outcomes between patients stratified into immediate or late radical prostatectomy group by time to radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: Overall, 162 patients (15.7%) with prostate cancer underwent initial active surveillance followed by radical prostatectomy. The median time to radical prostatectomy was 18 months (interquartile range 14-43.3), and the median postoperative follow-up was 32 months (interquartile range 14-57.5). Prostate-specific antigen recurrence was observed in eight patients (4.9%). The 3-year prostate-specific antigen recurrence-free survival rate was 96.9%. The 5-year overall survival rate was 100%; however, one patient died of another cause. There were no significant differences in pathological findings between immediate and late radical prostatectomy groups. No significant difference in prostate-specific antigen recurrence-free survival was found between the two groups (log-rank p = 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Radical prostatectomy after active surveillance, as an initial treatment option, does not lead to loss of curative chances in Japanese patients with early-stage prostate cancer in the short follow-up period.

Comparison of the medical costs between active surveillance and other treatments for early prostate cancer in Japan using data from the PRIAS-JAPAN study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the medical costs of active surveillance with those of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, brachytherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and hormone therapy for low-risk prostate cancer. METHODS: The costs of protocol biopsies performed in the first year of surveillance (between January 2010 and June 2020) and those of brachytherapy and radiation therapy performed between May 2019 and June 2020 at the Kagawa University Hospital were analyzed. Hormone therapy costs were assumed to be the costs of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs for over 5 years. Active surveillance-eligible patients were defined based on the following: age <74 years, ≤T2, Gleason score ≤6, prostate-specific antigen level ≤10 ng/ml, and 1-2 positive cores. We estimated the total number of active surveillance-eligible patients in Japan based on the Japan Study Group of Prostate Cancer (J-CAP) study and the 2017 cancer statistical data. We then calculated the 5-year treatment costs of active surveillance-eligible patients using the J-CAP and PRIAS-JAPAN study data. RESULTS: In 2017, number of active surveillance-eligible patients in Japan was estimated to be 2808. The 5-year total costs of surveillance, prostatectomy, brachytherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy were 1.65, 14.0, 4.61, 4.04, and 5.87 million United States dollar (USD), respectively. If 50% and 100% of the patients in each treatment group had opted for active surveillance as the initial treatment, the total treatment cost would have been reduced by USD 6.89 million (JPY 889 million) and USD 13.8 million (JPY 1.78 billion), respectively. CONCLUSION: Expanding active surveillance to eligible patients with prostate cancer helps save medical costs.

Improved survival in real-world patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma: A multicenter propensity score-matched cohort study comparing a period before the introduction of pembrolizumab (2003-2011) and a more recent period (2016-2020).

OBJECTIVES: Although the treatment strategy for advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) has drastically changed since pembrolizumab was introduced in 2017, studies revealing current survival rates in aUC are lacking. This study aimed to assess (1) the improvement in survival among real-world patients with aUC after the introduction of pembrolizumab and (2) the direct survival-prolonging effect of pembrolizumab. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study included 531 patients with aUC undergoing salvage chemotherapy, including 200 patients treated in the pre-pembrolizumab era (2003-2011; earlier era) and 331 patients treated in a recent 5-year period (2016-2020; recent era). Using propensity score matching (PSM), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the earlier and recent eras, in addition to between the recent era, both with and without pembrolizumab use, and the earlier era. RESULTS: After PSM, the recent era cohort had significantly longer CSS (21 months) and OS (19 months) than the earlier era cohort (CSS and OS: 12 months). In secondary analyses using PSM, patients treated with pembrolizumab had significantly longer CSS (25 months) and OS (24 months) than those in the earlier era cohort (CSS and OS: 11 months), whereas patients who did not receive pembrolizumab in the recent era had similar outcomes (CSS and OS: 14 months) as the earlier era cohort (CSS and OS: 12 months). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with aUC treated in the recent era exhibited significantly longer survival than those treated before the introduction of pembrolizumab. The improved survival was primarily attributable to the use of pembrolizumab.

Triple-mutated oncolytic herpes virus for treating both fast- and slow-growing tumors.

Oncolytic virus therapy has emerged as a promising treatment option against cancer. To date, oncolytic viruses have been developed for malignant tumors, but the need for this new therapeutic modality also exists for benign and slow-growing tumors. G47∆ is an oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) with an enhanced replication capability highly selective to tumor cells due to genetically engineered, triple mutations in the γ34.5, ICP6 and α47 genes. To create a powerful, but safe oncolytic HSV-1 that replicates efficiently in tumors regardless of growth speed, we used a bacterial artificial chromosome system that allows a desired promoter to regulate the expression of the ICP6 gene in the G47∆ backbone. Restoration of the ICP6 function in a tumor-specific manner using the hTERT promoter led to a highly capable oncolytic HSV-1. T-hTERT was more efficacious in the slow-growing OS-RC-2 and DU145 tumors than the control viruses, while retaining a high efficacy in the fast-growing U87MG tumors. The safety features are also retained, as T-hTERT proved safe when inoculated into the brain of HSV-1 sensitive A/J mice. This new technology should facilitate the use of oncolytic HSV-1 for all tumors irrespective of growth speed.

Prospective Validation of Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System Using a Next-Generation Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner-Is Denoising Deep Learning Reconstruction Useful?

PURPOSE: The Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) was launched in 2018 to standardize reporting of magnetic resonance imaging for bladder cancer. This study aimed to prospectively validate VI-RADS using a next-generation magnetic resonance imaging scanner and to investigate the usefulness of denoising deep learning reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 98 patients who underwent bladder multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging using a next-generation magnetic resonance imaging scanner before transurethral resection of bladder tumor. Tumors were categorized according to VI-RADS, and we ultimately analyzed 68 patients with pathologically confirmed urothelial bladder cancer. We used receiving operating characteristic curve analyses to assess the predictive accuracy of VI-RADS for muscle invasion. Sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive value, accuracy and area under the curve were calculated for different VI-RADS score cutoffs. RESULTS: Muscle invasion was detected in the transurethral resection of bladder tumor specimens of 18 patients (26%). The optimal cutoff value of the VI-RADS score was determined as ≥4 based on the receiver operating curve analyses. The accuracy of diagnosing muscle invasion using a cutoff of VI-RADS ≥4 was 94% (AUC 0.92). Additionally, we assessed the utility of denoising deep learning reconstruction. Combination with denoising deep learning reconstruction significantly improved the AUC of category by T2-weighted imaging, and of the 4 patients who were misdiagnosed by the final VI-RADS score 3 were correctly diagnosed by T2-weighted imaging+denoising deep learning reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective validation study with a next-generation magnetic resonance imaging scanner, VI-RADS showed high predictive accuracy for muscle invasion in patients with bladder cancer before transurethral resection of bladder tumor. Combining T2-weighted imaging with denoising deep learning reconstruction might further improve the diagnostic accuracy of VI-RADS.

Comparison of major definitions of sarcopenia based on the skeletal muscle index in patients with urothelial carcinoma.

For the past decade, sarcopenia has been actively investigated in various cancers, including urothelial carcinoma (UC). Although skeletal muscle index (SMI) is the main parameter used to evaluate sarcopenia in oncology, the optimal definition of SMI-based sarcopenia is not entirely standardized. We recently highlighted the potential limitations of current definitions of SMI-based sarcopenia in another journal. In this study, we reviewed studies that assessed sarcopenia in UC patients. We then performed a comparative validation of three major SMI-based definitions of sarcopenia, including Prado's, the international and Martin's definitions in metastatic UC patients. We believe that the standardization of the sarcopenia definition is an urgent issue in oncology, and this paper discusses a possible new direction to address this issue.

Prognostic significance of tertiary Gleason pattern in the contemporary era of Gleason grade grouping: A narrative review.

Since the Gleason score was developed in 1966 as a histological classification for prostate cancer, it has been widely used in clinical practice and has evolved over time. The concept of a "tertiary Gleason pattern" (also known as a minor Gleason pattern) was first proposed in 2000, and has been used in clinical practice since the 2005 International Society of Urological Pathology conference. The prognostic significance of a tertiary Gleason pattern has been widely validated in various settings of prostate cancer, whereas its definition has yet to be fully established. Currently, a provisional definition of tertiary Gleason pattern is "<5% Gleason pattern 4 or 5 in radical prostatectomy specimens." In contrast, "Gleason grade grouping" was proposed in 2013 and came into use in clinical practice in 2016 according to the 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology conference. Although the prognostic significance of Gleason grade grouping has already been widely confirmed, it does not incorporate the concept of tertiary Gleason pattern. Recently, the 2019 International Society of Urological Pathology conference discussed how to handle tertiary Gleason pattern in the current Gleason scoring system, but no consensus was reached on the issue. This review summarizes the evidence on the prognostic significance of tertiary Gleason pattern and discusses how to deal with it in the context of the contemporary Gleason grade grouping. It also refers to reporting of the percentage of Gleason patterns 4 and 5, as well as quantitative Gleason score models incorporating tertiary Gleason pattern.

PKD1-Associated Arachnoid Cysts in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

OBJECTIVES: the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms and arachnoid cysts is higher in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) than in the general population. A genotype correlation was reported for intracranial aneurysms, but it is unclear for arachnoid cysts. Therefore, the genotype correlation with intracranial aneurysms and arachnoid cysts was investigated in ADPKD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: intracranial aneurysms and arachnoid cysts were screened by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and PKD genotypes were examined using next-generation sequencing for 169 patients with ADPKD. RESULTS: PKD1-, PKD2- and no-mutation were identified in 137, 24 and 8 patients, respectively. Intracranial aneurysms and arachnoid cysts were found in 34 and 25 patients, respectively, with no significant difference in frequency. Genotype, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate and age at ADPKD diagnosis significantly affected the age at brain MRI. The proportional hazard risk analyzed using the age at brain MRI adjusted by these four variables was 5.0-times higher in the PKD1 group than in the PKD2 group for arachnoid cysts (P = 0.0357), but it was not different for intracranial aneurysms (P = 0.1605). Arachnoid cysts were diagnosed earlier in the PKD1 group than in the PKD2 group (54.8 vs 67.7 years, P = 0.0231), but no difference was found for intracranial aneurysms (P = 0.4738) by Kaplan-Meier analysis. CONCLUSIONS: this study demonstrated the correlation between arachnoid cysts and PKD1 mutation. The reported association of arachnoid cysts with advanced renal disease may be due to the common correlation of these factors with PKD1 mutation.

Expanding the clinicopathologic and molecular spectrum of BCOR-associated sarcomas in adults.

AIMS: BCOR gene alteration is a genetic signature of rare subsets of sarcomas. Most BCOR-associated sarcomas thus far reported are in the pediatric population, except for uterine sarcomas. We studied seven cases of BCOR-associated non-uterine sarcomas in adult patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: The patients were four men and three women ranging from 26 to 71 years in age. Three tumors, two of which primarily affected the kidney, showed BCOR-CCNB3. One tumor with a ZC3H7B-BCOR occurred in the chest wall, and a tumor with a novel CIITA-BCOR was found in the sinonasal tract. Two tumors in the lung and breast harbored exon 15 internal tandem duplications of BCOR, a highly unexpected observation in this age group. All seven sarcomas consisted of dense proliferations of uniform round to spindle cells with fine chromatin within vascular stroma. BCOR-CCNB3 sarcomas showed swirling fascicular growth. The tumor with the ZC3H7B-BCOR fusion showed a multinodular growth of spindle cells, and the tumors with the CIITA-BCOR fusion showed palisading of oval cells. Both tumors with BCOR internal tandem duplication demonstrated nested to palisading growth of round cells within sclerotic non-myxoid stroma. All seven sarcomas diffusely expressed BCOR and SATB2 immunohistochemically, with all three BCOR-CCNB3 sarcomas being immunopositive for CCNB3. BCOR alterations were confirmed by RNA sequencing, polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing, and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization. CONCLUSIONS: This study expands the clinicopathologic and molecular spectrum of BCOR-associated sarcomas, and emphasizes the importance of being aware of this entity in the differential diagnosis of adult non-uterine sarcomas.

Quantification of the individual risk of each Gleason pattern, including tertiary Gleason pattern 5, after radical prostatectomy: development of the modified Gleason grade grouping (mGGG) model.

BACKGROUND: While the new Gleason grade grouping (GGG), which started in 2016, has been widely validated in prostate cancer, it does not incorporate the concept of tertiary Gleason pattern 5. Furthermore, no study has "quantified" the individual risk of each Gleason pattern, including tertiary Gleason pattern 5, after radical prostatectomy. METHODS: We reviewed 1022 men with adjuvant-treatment-naïve prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2005 and 2017. The primary endpoint was biochemical recurrence-free survival, defined as two consecutive prostate-specific antigen measurements ≥0.2 ng/ml after surgery. The individual quantitative risk score (IQRS) of each amount (primary/secondary/tertiary) of each Gleason pattern (3/4/5) was calculated using the Cox regression model. On the basis of the IQRS, the modified Gleason grade grouping (mGGG) model was developed. As a robustness analysis of the mGGG model, salvage treatment-free survival was also assessed. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 45 months, 229 of 1022 (22.4%) patients developed biochemical recurrence. The IQRS of each Gleason pattern was as follows: primary 5, 1.81 points (hazard ratio [HR] 6.13); secondary 5, 1.37 points (HR 3.92); tertiary 5, 0.87 points (HR 2.39); primary 4, 1.07 points (HR 2.91); secondary 4, 0.79 points (HR 2.21); and any Gleason pattern 3, 0 points (HR 1). Based on the IQRS, the mGGG model was developed, which classified patients into the following five groups: I (3 + 3 or less); II (3 + 4); III (4 + 3); IV (3 + 4 + t5, 4 + 3 + t5, 3 + 5, 5 + 3, and 4 + 4); V (4 + 4 + t5, 4 + 5, 5 + 4, and 5 + 5). The c-index for biochemical recurrence-free survival was significantly improved from 0.655 of the original GGG model to 0.672 of the mGGG model (P < 0.05). In the robustness analysis, the c-index for salvage treatment-free survival was also significantly improved from 0.619 of the original GGG model to 0.638 of the mGGG model (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The quantitative risk of tertiary (< 5%) Gleason pattern 5 is slightly higher than that of secondary (5-50%) Gleason pattern 4. Our newly developed mGGG model more accurately predicts outcomes after radical prostatectomy than the original GGG model.

Imaging Identification of Rapidly Progressing Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: Simple Eligibility Criterion for Tolvaptan.

BACKGROUND: Tolvaptan was approved for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). However, the official indication of "rapidly progressive disease" is described differently in the clinical guidelines. We aim to define "rapidly progressive disease" by risk of ESRD, which is evaluated using estimated height-adjusted total kidney volume (HtTKV) growth rate. METHODS: The risk of ESRD was retrospectively analyzed in 617 initially non-ESRD adults with ADPKD and observed with standard of care between 2007 and 2018. The estimated annual growth rate of the HtTKV, termed as eHTKV-α (%/year), is derived from the following equation: [HtTKV at age t] = K(1 + eHTKV-α/100)t, where K = 150 mL/m is used in Mayo Imaging Classification and K = 130 mL/m is proposed for individually stable eHTKV-α value from baseline. The accuracy of eHTKV-α to predict ESRD for censored ages was analyzed using time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic curves (ROC). The cutoff point of initially measured eHTKV-α to predict ESRD was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox's proportional hazards models. Performance characteristics of the cutoff point for censored ages were calculated using time-dependent ROC and validated by the bootstrap method. RESULTS: The area under the time-dependent ROC of eHTKV-α to predict ESRD at age 65 was 0.89 ± 0.04 (K = 130). The mean renal survival was less than 70 years at eHTKV-α ≥4.0%/year (K = 130). Mean renal survival was approximately 12 years shorter, and hazard ratio of ESRD was more than 5-time higher at this cutoff point than at lower point. Time-dependent sensitivity for age 65 and cutoff point of 4.0%/year (K = 130) was 93.4 ± 0.3%. Between cutoff points ≥4.0%/year (K = 130) and ≥3.5%/year (K = 150), there was no significant difference in performance characteristics and accuracy to predict ESRD. CONCLUSION: eHTKV-α well predicts ESRD. Initially, measured eHTKV-α ≥4.0%/year (K = 130) defines high-risk ESRD. Without additional conditions, a single eHTKV-α cutoff point identifies subjects that are most likely to benefit from tolvaptan.