Circulating Tumor Cells as a Marker of Disseminated Disease in Patients with Newly Diagnosed High-Risk Prostate Cancer.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood can differentiate between true localized and metastatic prostate cancer. A cross-sectional study of 104 prostate cancer patients with newly diagnosed high-risk prostate cancer was conducted. In total, 19 patients presented metastatic disease and 85 were diagnosed with localized disease. Analyses included intergroup comparison of CTC counts, determined using the CellSearch® system, EPISPOT assay and GILUPI CellCollector®, and ROC analysis verifying the accuracy of CTC count as a maker of disseminated prostate cancer. The vast majority (94.7%) of patients with advanced-stage cancer tested positively for CTCs in at least one of the assays. However, significantly higher CTC counts were determined with the CellSearch® system compared to EPISPOT assay and GILUPI CellCollector®. Identification of ≥4 CTCs with the CellSearch® system was the most accurate predictor of metastatic disease (sensitivity 0.500; specificity 0.900; AUC (95% CI) 0.760 (0.613-0.908). Furthermore, we tried to create a model to enhance the specificity and sensitivity of metastatic prediction with CTC counts by incorporating patient's clinical data, including PSA serum levels, Gleason score and clinical stage. The composite biomarker panel achieved the following performance: sensitivity, 0.611; specificity, 0.971; AUC (95% CI), 0.901 (0.810-0.993). Thus, although the sensitivity of CTC detection needs to be further increased, our findings suggest that high CTC counts might contribute to the identification of high-risk prostate cancer patients with occult metastases at the time of diagnosis.

Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy Supported by Training Involving Personalized Silicone Replica Poured in Three-Dimensional Printed Casting Mold.

BACKGROUND: Most kidney neoplasms are found incidentally and qualify for nephron-sparing surgery. Laparoscopic approach is beneficial to these patients because of its minimally invasive approach. However, these operations are both difficult and require plenty of experience and extended training. Some stages of the operation are limited by permissible time of transient ischemia. We applied three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to create individual silicone models of kidney to be used for training in laparoscopic procedures before the actual surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three patients who qualified for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy were selected. Digital models of their kidneys with tumors were designed based on computed tomography scans, followed by creation of silicone models. These were cast into the forms printed in 3D. The proper surgery was preceded by an operation carried out in a silicone model of laparoscopic simulator in which the tumor was excised and lodged after tumorectomy was filled. RESULTS: Average time of the live kidney tumor operation was slightly shorter than that of the silicone model (16 versus 17 minutes). Relatively short period of ischemia did not exceed 9 minutes. One patient underwent surgery without closing the vascular pedicle. CONCLUSIONS: Experience gained during training with these silicone models improved the actual surgery and can reduce the need for/duration of intraoperative renal ischemia. We believe this training method can be successfully used in other procedures.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration prior to total nephrectomy are prognostic factors in localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

BACKGROUND: Radical nephrectomy is the gold standard for treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but even for localized disease the survival rates are still unsatisfactory. Identification of prognostic factorsl is the basis for future treatment strategies for an individual patient. AIM: The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of the concentration of IL-6 and CRP as prognostic factors in patients after nephrectomy due to localized RCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our prospective study included 89 patients (55 men and 34 women) who had been surgically treated for RCC. The examined group included patients with localized advanced disease (from T1 to T3) with no metastases in lymph nodes (N0), and with no distant metastases (M0). All patients had blood samples drawn three times during the study (one day before surgery, six days after surgery and 6 months after surgery) to evaluate the concentration of CRP and IL-6. In each patient RCC of the kidney was removed during radical nephrectomy. Statistical analysis was conducted using statistica v.7.0. RESULTS: Statistically significant relationships were found between the concentration of CRP before the operation and OS (p = 0.0001). CRP concentration at baseline was statistically significantly correlated with CSS (p = 0.0004). The level of IL-6 assessed before the surgery was significantly correlated with survival times such as OS (p = 0.0096) and CSS (p = 0.0002). The concentration of IL-6 and CRP measured 6 days after surgery and 6 months after surgery were not statistically significantly correlated with survival times. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study showed that elevated levels of IL-6 and CRP in peripheral blood before surgery of RCC were correlated with worse OS and CSS.

[Penile cancer--case report and literature review]. / Rak praia--opis przypadku i przeglad literatury.

Penile cancer occurs quite seldom, mostly in men around 60 years of age. However penile squamous cell carcinoma is also observed in younger men. Etiology remains unclear but we can recognize some risk factors such as poor hygiene for example. The authors report a case of a patient who refused treatment in early stages of the disease and was treated only after disease progression. Applied surgical treatment, unfortunately proved to be insufficient and the patient was transferred to complete therapy at the oncology department. This case inspired us to recall the basic diagnostic and therapeutic methods used at the time of diagnosis of the penile tumor