Complete Transurethral Resection before Radical Cystectomy May Improve Oncological Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of complete transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBTs) before radical cystectomy on pathological and oncological outcomes of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and high-risk non-MIBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of all patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in 2 academic departments of urology between 1996 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the completeness of the last endoscopic resection before radical cystectomy: macroscopically complete transurethral resection (complete) or macroscopically incomplete transurethral resection (incomplete). The primary end point was the recurrence-free survival (RFS). Secondary end points included cancer-specific survival (CSS) and rates of pT0 and downstaging. RESULTS: Out of 486 patients included for analysis, the TURBT immediately preceding radical cystectomy was considered macroscopically complete in 253 patients (52.1%) and incomplete in 233 patients (47.9%). In multivariate analysis, macroscopically complete TURBT was the strongest predictor of both pT0 disease (OR = 3.1; p = 0.02) and downstaging (OR = 7.1; p < 0.0001). After a median follow-up of 41 months, macroscopically complete TURBT was associated with better RFS (5-year RFS: 57 vs. 37%; p < 0.0001) and CSS (5-year CSS: 70.8 vs. 54.5%; p = 0.002). In multivariate analysis adjusting for multifocality, weight of endoscopic resection specimen, cT4 stage on preoperative imaging, interval between endoscopic resection and radical cystectomy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, pT stage, and associated carcinoma in situ, macroscopically complete endoscopic resection remained the main predictor of better RFS (HR = 0.4; p = 0.0003) and the only preoperative factor associated with CSS (HR = 0.5; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: A macroscopically complete TURBT immediately preceding radical cystectomy may improve pathological and oncological outcomes in patients with MIBC and high-risk MIBC.

Role of routine computed tomography scan in the oncological follow up of patients treated by radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of a prolonged follow-up schedule using computed tomography scan on oncological outcomes after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was carried out. All patients who underwent a radical cystectomy for bladder cancer between 1992 and 2012 were included. The protocol for postoperative oncological follow up included a thoracoabdominal computed tomography scan twice per year for 2 years and then annually for life. The patients with tumor recurrence were divided into two groups: asymptomatic recurrences and recurrences diagnosed because of symptoms. Cancer-specific survivals were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine the predictive factors of cancer-specific survival. RESULTS: Overall, 331 patients were included in this analysis, and, of them, 48.5% had a cancer recurrence after a median follow up of 52.6 months. A total of 30 of these recurrences were diagnosed at routine follow up among asymptomatic patients (18.8%). A total of 50% of recurrences occurred during the first 6 months and 75% during the first year. Just 10 of the recurrences (6.3%) appeared more than 3 years after radical cystectomy. The 5-year cancer-specific survival was higher in patients with asymptomatic recurrences (15.7% vs 32.1%), but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.10). On multivariate analysis, detection of asymptomatic recurrence reached statistical significance (HR 0.55; P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Routine computed tomography scan surveillance after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer might provide a survival benefit. The risk of recurrence beyond 3 years seems to be low, and further studies are required to determine the role of routine computed tomography scan in the follow up beyond this timeframe.

Expression screening of cancer/testis genes in prostate cancer identifies NR6A1 as a novel marker of disease progression and aggressiveness.

BACKGROUND: Cancer/Testis (CT) genes are expressed in male gonads, repressed in most healthy somatic tissues and de-repressed in various somatic malignancies including prostate cancers (PCa). Because of their specific expression signature and their associations with tumor aggressiveness and poor outcomes, CT genes are considered to be useful biomarkers and they are also targets for the development of new anti-cancer immunotherapies. The aim of this study was to identify novel CT genes associated with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC), and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). METHODS: To identify novel CT genes we screened genes for which transcripts were detected by RNA profiling specifically in normal testis and in either HSPC or CRPC as compared to normal prostate and 44 other healthy tissues using GeneChips. The expression and clinicopathological significance of a promising candidate--NR6A1--was examined in HSPC, CRPC, and metastatic site samples using tissue microarrays. RESULTS: We report the identification of 98 genes detected in CRPC, HSPC and testicular samples but not in the normal controls. Among them, cellular levels of NR6A1 were found to be higher in HSPC compared to normal prostate and further increased in metastatic lesions and CRPC. Furthermore, increased NR6A1 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with a high Gleason score, advanced pT stage and cancer cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that cellular levels of NR6A1 are correlated with disease progression in PCa. We suggest that this essential orphan nuclear receptor is a potential therapeutic target as well as a biomarker of PCa aggressiveness.

Bacterial hypermutation: clinical implications.

Heritable hypermutation in bacteria is mainly due to alterations in the methyl-directed mismatch repair (MMR) system. MMR-deficient strains have been described from several bacterial species, and all of the strains exhibit increased mutation frequency and recombination, which are important mechanisms for acquired drug resistance in bacteria. Antibiotics select for drug-resistant strains and refine resistance determinants on plasmids, thus stimulating DNA recombination via the MMR system. Antibiotics can also act as indirect promoters of antibiotic resistance by inducing the SOS system and certain error-prone DNA polymerases. These alterations have clinical consequences in that efficacious treatment of bacterial infections requires high doses of antibiotics and/or a combination of different classes of antimicrobial agents. There are currently few new drugs with low endogenous resistance potential, and the development of such drugs merits further research.

Tamsulosin hydrochloride vs placebo for management of distal ureteral stones: a multicentric, randomized, double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: α-Blockers induce selective relaxation of ureteral smooth muscle with subsequent inhibition of ureteral spasms and dilatation of the ureteral lumen. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the α-blocker tamsulosin hydrochloride in patients with ureteral colic owing to a distal ureteral stone. METHODS: This was a multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study. Patients with emergency admission for ureteral colic with a 2- to 7-mm-diameter radio-opaque distal ureteral stone were included in the study. They received tamsulosin (0.4 mg/d) or matching placebo until stone expulsion or day 42, whichever came first. The main end point was time to stone expulsion between inclusion and day 42. Sequential statistical analysis was performed using the triangular test. RESULTS: A total of 129 patients with acute renal colic were recruited from emergency wards between February 1, 2002, and December 8, 2006, in 6 French hospitals. Of these 129 randomized patients (placebo, 63; tamsulosin, 66), 7 were excluded from analyses: 5 for major deviations from inclusion criteria, 1 for stone expulsion before the first treatment administration, and 1 for consent withdrawal. At inclusion, mean (SD) stone diameters were 3.2 (1.2) and 2.9 (1.0) mm in the placebo and tamsulosin groups, respectively (P = .23). Expulsion delay distributions during 42 days did not show any difference (P = .30). The numbers of patients who spontaneously expelled their stone within 42 days were 43 of 61 (70.5%) and 47 of 61 (77.0%) in the placebo and tamsulosin groups, respectively (P = .41). Corresponding delays were 10.1 (10.0) and 9.6 (9.8) days (P = .82). Other secondary end points and tolerance were not different between groups. CONCLUSION: Although well tolerated, a daily administration of 0.4 mg of tamsulosin did not accelerate the expulsion of distal ureteral stones in patients with ureteral colic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00151567.

Raman spectroscopy: a novel experimental approach to evaluating renal tumours.

BACKGROUND: New optical techniques of spectroscopy have shown promising results in the evaluation of solid tumours. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential of Raman spectroscopy (RS) to assess renal tumours at surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Over a 5-mo period, Raman optical spectra were prospectively acquired on surgical renal specimens removed due to suspicion of cancer. MEASUREMENTS: Raman measures were normalised to ensure comparison between spectra. A lower resolution signal was computed using a wavelet decomposition procedure to diminish the size of the signal and exploit the complete spectrum. A support vector machine (SVM) with a linear kernel and a sequential minimal optimisation solver was applied. A leave-one-out cross-validation technique was used to train and test the SVM. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: There were 36 patients with 34 malignant tumours (27 clear-cell, 6 papillary, and 1 chromophobe) and 2 benign (1 oncocytoma and 1 metanephric cyst) tumours. A total of 241 analysable Raman spectra were obtained. The SVM was able to classify tumoural and normal tissue with an accuracy of 84% (sensitivity 82%, specificity 87%). High-grade and low-grade tumours were differentiated with a precision of 82% (sensitivity 84%, specificity 80%). Histologic subtype could be categorised with an accuracy of 93% (sensitivity 96%, specificity 87%). SVM could not be applied to classify benign and malignant tumours because of the restricted number of benign spectra. CONCLUSIONS: RS can accurately differentiate normal and tumoural renal tissue, low-grade and high-grade renal tumours, and histologic subtype of renal cell carcinoma. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.

Urinary collecting system invasion is an independent prognostic factor of organ confined renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We evaluated urinary collecting system invasion as a prognostic parameter of renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,124 patients who underwent nephrectomy for a renal tumor at 5 European centers were included in this retrospective study. Several variables were analyzed including urinary collecting system invasion, age, sex, TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, histological subtype, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and cancer specific survival. RESULTS: There were 771 males (68.6%) and 353 females (31.4%) in this study, and median age was 61 years (range 14 to 88). Median tumor size was 6 cm (range 1 to 24). Tumors were organ confined and Fuhrman grade was recorded as 1 or 2 in 67.1% and 62.3% of cases, respectively. Symptoms were present at diagnosis, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 1 or more in 50.3% and 16.1% of the cases, respectively. Median followup was 43 months (range 1 to 299). At the end of followup 246 patients (21.9%) died of cancer. In 132 cases (11.7%) urinary collecting system invasion was noted. Urinary collecting system invasion was associated with symptoms, TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, tumor size (p <0.001) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (p = 0.003), but not with histological subtype (p = 0.7). On univariate analysis TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, symptoms, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, tumor size and urinary collecting system invasion (p = 0.0001) were significant predictors of cancer specific survival. Urinary collecting system invasion was an independent prognostic parameter only in the setting of pT1-T2 tumors. When the urinary collecting system was invaded the 5 and 10-year probabilities of survival were 43% and 41%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary collecting system invasion appears to be an independent prognostic parameter of organ confined renal cell carcinoma. Our data support the need to integrate this parameter in further TNM revisions.

Prognostic variables to predict cancer-related death in incidental renal tumours.

OBJECTIVE: To identify, in a large multicentre series of incidental renal tumours, the key factors that could predict cancer-related deaths, as such tumours have a better outcome than symptomatic tumours and selected patients are increasingly being included in watchful-waiting protocols. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 3912 patients were extracted from three international kidney-cancer databases. Age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), Tumour-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage, tumour size, Fuhrman grade, and final pathology were recorded. Benign tumours and malignant lesions with incomplete information were excluded from final analysis. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the patients was 60.6 (12.2) years and the mean tumour size 5.5 (3.5) cm. Most tumours were malignant (90.2%) and of low stage (T1-T2, 71.7%) and low grade (G1-G2, 72.4%). There were nodal and distant metastases in 5.7% and 13% of the patients. In all, 525 (14.4%) patients died from cancer; in this group, tumours were >4 cm in 88.2% and had nodal or distant metastases in 20.2% and 49.3%, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that tumour size >4 cm, ECOG PS >or=1, TNM stage and Fuhrman grade were independent predictors of cancer-related death. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of incidental renal tumours can lead to the death of the patient. Standard prognostic variables for renal cell carcinoma appear to remain valid for this subset of patients. A watchful-waiting strategy should not be recommended if the tumour diameter is >4 cm, if biopsy confirms high-grade tumours, or if there is an impaired ECOG PS, or computed tomography findings suggest the presence of advanced T stage.

Cytoreductive nephron-sparing surgery does not appear to undermine disease-specific survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The role of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) showed promise in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). The disease-specific survival of patients with MRCC was compared according to the type of surgery, NSS (N=45) versus radical nephrectomy (RN) (N=732), in unmatched and matched analyses. METHODS: Kaplan-Meier, life tables, log-rank test, and univariate as well as multivariate Cox regression analyses addressed disease-specific survival of NSS versus RN patients. Subsequently, up to 4 RN cases were matched with each NSS case for TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, and histology. Then, disease-specific survival differences were tested with the log-rank statistic. Finally, the sample size necessary to achieve 80% power in survival analyses between the 2 groups (NSS vs RN) was calculated. RESULTS: Of 45 NSS cases, 38 were matched with 99 of 732 RN cases. First, in multivariate unmatched analyses RN predisposes to 1.7-fold higher RCC-specific mortality rate; second, in matched analyses RN predisposes to 1.5-fold higher RCC-specific mortality rate; and third, both analyses failed to demonstrate statistically significant differences. Based on these findings it could be postulated that until further data become available, NSS does not appear to undermine RCC-specific survival in carefully selected patients with MRCC. The power analyses demonstrated that at least 146, 48, and 76 observations per arm are necessary at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, to confirm survival equivalence. CONCLUSIONS: Although the data were limited in size and completeness, they may indicate that RCC-specific survival may not be undermined if NSS is performed in properly selected cases.

Unclassified renal cell carcinoma: an analysis of 85 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To compare cancer-specific mortality in patients with unclassified renal cell carcinoma (URCC) vs clear cell RCC (CRCC) after nephrectomy, as URCC is a rare but very aggressive histological subtype. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-five patients with URCC and 4322 with CRCC were identified within 6530 patients treated with either radical or partial nephrectomy at 18 institutions. Of 85 patients with URCC, 55 were matched with 166 of 4322 for grade, tumour size, and Tumour, Node and Metastasis stages. Kaplan-Meier and life-table analyses were used to address RCC-specific survival. Subsequently, multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to test for differences in RCC-specific survival in unmatched samples. RESULTS: Of patients with URCC, 80% had Fuhrman grades III or IV, vs 37.8% for CRCC. Moreover, 36.5% of patients with URCC had pathologically confirmed nodal metastases, vs 8.6% with CRCC. Finally, 54.1% of patients with URCC had distant metastases at the time of nephrectomy, vs 16.8% with CRCC. Despite these differences in the overall analyses, after matching for tumour characteristics, the URCC-specific mortality rate was 1.6 times higher (P = 0.04) in matched analyses and 1.7 times higher (P = 0.001) in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that URCC presents with a higher stage and grade, and even after controlling for the stage and grade differences, predisposes patients to 1.6-1.7 times the mortality of CRCC.

A new staging system for locally advanced (pT3-4) renal cell carcinoma: a multicenter European study including 2,000 patients.

PURPOSE: We provide an adequate prognostic stratification for locally advanced renal cell carcinoma and propose a new TNM classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed clinical and pathological data on a large series of patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for pT3-4 renal cell carcinoma at 12 European centers. Cancer specific survivals were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log rank test was used for comparing survival curves and for univariate analysis. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The analysis included 1,969 patients. Median survivor followup was 49 months. Five-year cancer specific survival was 60% for pT3a, 46.2% for pT3b, 10% for pT3c and 12% for pT4 tumors (p <0.0001). According to median survival we identified 3 prognostic groups, including 1--patients with renal vein thrombosis (117 months), fat invasion (98 months) or infradiaphragmatic vena caval thrombosis (67 months), 2--patients with adrenal invasion alone (24 months), renal vein thrombosis plus fat invasion (24 months) or infradiaphragmatic vena cava plus fat invasion (24 months) and 3--patients with renal or infradiaphragmatic caval thrombosis plus adrenal involvement (11 months), supradiaphragmatic vena caval thrombosis (12 months) or Gerota's fascia invasion (12 months). Five-year cancer specific survival rates in groups 1 to 3 were 61%, 35% and 12.9%, respectively (p <0.0001). On multivariate analysis the proposed classification had an independent prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the necessity of reclassifying locally advanced renal cell carcinoma according to the 3 described prognostic categories.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with clamping of the renal parenchyma: initial experience.

OBJECTIVES: Partial nephrectomy by laparoscopy offers patients conservative surgery and a mini-invasive approach; however, clamping of the renal pedicle and the induced warm ischaemia can damage the renal parenchyma. We present a technique of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with haemostasis obtained by clamping of the renal parenchyma. METHODS: The procedure was performed by an intraperitoneal or a retroperitoneal approach. After a working space is created by pneumodissection, Gerota's fascia is incised and the kidney convexity is dissected. An endoscopic Satinsky clamp is inserted percutaneously through a 1-cm incision. The renal parenchyma is clamped and the tumour is excised in a bloodless field. The cut renal parenchyma is coated with biologic glue. RESULTS: Five patients with elective indications were operated. Mean age was 67.8 yr and mean tumour diameter 3.06 cm. One lesion was located at the upper pole and four at the lower pole. Mean preoperative serum creatinine level was 10.9 mg/l. Postoperative serum creatinine level was unchanged. Mean operative time was 238 min. There was no conversion. Mean blood loss was 250 ml; no transfusions were necessary. The collecting duct system was repaired in one patient. No complication was noticed. Resection margins were tumour free in all cases. Final pathologic examination revealed clear cell carcinoma in three cases and angiomyolipoma and oncocytoma in one case each. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with clamping of the renal parenchyma can be performed in selected patients with peripherally placed tumours. The procedure avoids warm ischaemia of the normal parenchyma while allowing the surgeon to operate in an almost bloodless field. This initial experience in five patients should be validated in a larger series.

Prognostic impact of tumor size on pT2 renal cell carcinoma: an international multicenter experience.

PURPOSE: The current tumor classification for renal cell carcinoma classifies pT2 tumors as larger than 7 cm in greatest dimension and limited to the kidney. We examined the current pT2 tumor classification of renal cell carcinoma and determined whether a tumor size cutoff exists that would improve prognostic accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 706 patients with pT2 renal cell carcinoma treated with surgical extirpation at 9 international academic centers. Data collected from each patient included age at diagnosis, gender, 2002 TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) stage, tumor size, nuclear grade, performance status, histological subtype and disease specific survival. Disease specific survival was evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Median followup was 52 months. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed a significant association of tumor size with disease specific survival (HR 1.11, p<0.001). An ideal tumor size cutoff of 11 cm was identified, which led to the stratification of 2 groups with respect to disease specific survival (p<0.0001) with 5 and 10-year survival rates of 73% and 65% for pT2 11 cm or less, and 57% and 49% for pT2 larger than 11 cm, respectively. The incidence of metastases was significantly greater in the larger than 11 cm group, while Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, Fuhrman grade and histological subtype were similar. Multivariate Cox regression analysis retained tumor size as an independent prognostic factor and as the strongest prognostic factor for patients with pT2N0M0 disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the current pT2 classification can be improved by subclassification into pT2a and pT2b based on a tumor size cutoff of 11 cm. Patients in the proposed pT2bN0M0 group are at higher risk for death from renal cell carcinoma and should be considered for adjuvant therapies. External validation is warranted before suggesting change to the TNM classification.

[Is tumour expression of VEGF associated with venous invasion and survival in pT3 renal cell carcinoma?]. / L'expression tumorale de VEGF est-elle associée at l'envahissement veineux et à la survie dans les carcinomes du rein pT3?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a relationship between VEGF expression and renal vein and vena cava invasion in stage pT3 renal cell carcinoma and to evaluate the impact of VEGF expression on survival in pT3 renal cell carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 78 patients with a pT3a or pT3b tumour without vena cava invasion or pT3b tumour with vena cava invasion were compared for age, gender, Fuhrman grade and immunohistochemical expression of VEGF. All these variables were submitted to univariate and multivariate analysis to establish their impact on survival. RESULTS: Only tumour size appeared to be significantly different between the 3 groups. On univariate analysis, invasion of the perirenal fat, lymph node involvement, distant metastases and VEGF expression were significantly associated with survival (p < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, lymph node involvement, distant metastases and VEGF expression (OR 6.07) were identified as independent predictive factors of survival. CONCLUSION: Progression of a pT3 tumour into the renal vein and vena cava is not associated with increased tumour expression of VEGF. However, VEGF is an independent prognostic factor in this group of poor prognosis renal tumours.

[Comparison of open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: a French multicentre experience]. / Comparaison de la néphrectomie partielle par voie laparoscopique et par voie ouverte: une expérience multicentrique française.

OBJECTIVES: To compare open (OPN) and laparoscopic (LPN) partial nephrectomy (PN) techniques in the light of a French multicentre series. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data corresponding to 741 PN (91 laparoscopic and 650 open procedures) were compared in terms of the indications, tumour diameter, operative data, complication rates and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Tumours were smaller in the LPN group (2.7 vs 3.4 cm, p = 0.001). There were fewer malignant tumours (71.1% vs 80% p = 0.05) and fewer NP by necessity (20.9% vs 31.4%. p = 0.04) in the LPN group than in the OPN group. There were fewer hilar tumours in the LPN group than in the OPN group (LPN: 4% vs OPN: 14.8%, p = 0.03). Pedicle clamping was performed less frequently in the LPN group (33% vs 50.2%, p = 0.002) but for a significantly longer mean duration (35 minutes vs 19 minutes, p = 0.0001). The mean operating time was longer in the LPN group (163 vs 150 minutes, p = 0.02). The surgical complication rate (17.6% vs 14.3%), transfusion rate (6.6% vs 10.5%) and mean blood loss (363 vs 434 ml) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. There were significantly more urinary fistulas (12.1% vs 2.5%, p < 0.001) and medical complications (24.2% vs 14%, p = 0.01) in the laparoscopy group, but, in the longer-term, urinarvfistula rates were comparable in the 2 groups. The length of hospital stay was shorter for LPN (9.1 vs 11.2 days, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: This comparative series, reflecting initial experience, shows that laparoscopic partial nephrectomy achieves similar operative and perioperative results to those of open partial nephrectomy. However, the indications for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy remain selective, as the pedicle clamping time and medical complication rates are higher with laparoscopic surgery. Experience and technical progress in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy should make the operative technique comparable to that of open surgery.

[National prospective survey on the surgical quality of renal transplants in France. Study conducted by the Association Française d'Urologie Transplantation Committee]. / Enquête nationale prospective sur la qualité chirurgicale des greffons rénaux en France. Etude du Comité de Transplantation de l'Association française d'Urologie.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prospective study was to describe the nature of the lesions observed during brain-dead cadavre donor kidney harvesting in France and to identify the risk factors for these lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire elaborated by the AFU Transplantation Committee concerning the quality of kidneys harvested from cadavre donors was sent to all centres performing renal transplantation in France in 2000. This prospective study was conducted over a period of 1 year and concerned the overall multi-organ harvesting procedure based on all data concerning the renal parenchyma, arteriovenous and ureteric characteristics, and the outcome of the transplants. RESULTS: Twelve centres completed the survey, allowing analysis of the data of 201 donor kidneys. 91% of harvesting surgeons were urologists. Various incidents were reported during 11% of harvesting procedures, but 1/3 of the abnormalities were not recorded by the harvesting surgeon. Isolated kidney harvesting was found to be a risk factor (20% vs 8.6%). The rate of parenchymal abnormalities was 50%, 2/3 of which were related to inadequate removal of perirenal fat. Atheroma was a risk factor for arterial lesions during harvesting (21% vs 6.50). Venous abnormalities were detected in 9% of cases: 89% of them were due to the harvesting procedure and 59% of them were not identified by the harvesting surgeon. The fact of not being a transplant surgeon was a risk factor for venous lesions (21.9% vs 6.5%). 4% of ureteric lesions were observed with no consequence on graft outcome. CONCLUSION: Adequate removal of perirenal fat before conditioning is not acquired. Isolated kidney harvesting and atheroma were risk factors for parenchymal and arterial lesions, respectively. Venous harvesting anomalies were more frequent among non-transplant surgeons.

Prognostic relevance of tumour size in T3a renal cell carcinoma: a multicentre experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic role of tumour size in pathological stage T3a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with fat invasion only and to assess whether this subgroup maintains its relevance over the other pathological stages. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 2113 patients from eight international institutions who were treated by surgical resection for T2-4 RCC. Disease-specific survival (DSS) was evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Univariate analysis of patients with T3a RCC showed that tumour size was significantly associated with DSS (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05-1.12, p<0.001). An ideal cut-off of 7 cm for these patients was identified with a scatter plot of Martingale residuals and tumour size. The two T3a groups were distinctly different with respect to clinicopathologic parameters (performance status, metastases, grade, histological subtype) and survival (p<0.001). Median survival time was not reached for patients with T2 and T3a< or =7 cm disease with a 5- and 10-yr DSS rate of 70% and 59% and 63% and 53%, respectively. Median survival time for patients with T3a>7 cm, T3b, T3c, and T4 disease was 54, 46, 21, and 11 mo, respectively, with 5- and 10-yr DSS rates of 46% and 36%, 46% and 36%, 34% and 0%, and 16% and 14%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that tumour size is an important factor for predicting outcome of patients with T3a RCC with fat invasion only. Our findings should merit consideration during the next revision of the TNM classification.

Morbidity and clinical outcome of nephron-sparing surgery in relation to tumour size and indication.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse through a large multicentre series, morbidity of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) in relation to tumour size and surgical indication. METHODS: The study included patients from eight international academic centres. Age, sex, TNM stage, tumour size, Fuhrman grade, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS), surgical margins, local and distant recurrences, and overall and cancer-specific survival rates were collected and analysed. Indication for elective or mandatory NSS, medical and surgical complication rates, mean blood loss, blood transfusion, and length of hospital stay were specifically recorded for the purpose of this study. Groups were compared for qualitative and quantitative variables by using chi(2) (Fischer exact test) and Student t tests, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 1048 NSS procedures were included in this study. Mean tumour size was 3.4+/-2.1cm. In 730 elective procedures mean operative time (p=0.002), mean blood loss (p=0.01), the need for blood transfusion (p=0.001), and urinary fistula rate (p=0.01) were significantly increased for tumours >4 cm. However, these differences did not result in significantly increased medical (p=0.4), surgical complication rates (p=0.6), or length of hospital stay (p=0.9). Finally, in elective procedures for malignant tumours, positive surgical margins, local or distant recurrence rates, and cancer-specific survival were not significantly different in tumours < or =4 cm and >4 cm. CONCLUSION: Excellent cancer control and outcomes can be achieved with NSS in carefully selected patients with tumours >4 cm. Expanding the size indication of elective NSS results in an increased but acceptable morbidity.

Relationship between age at diagnosis and clinicopathologic features of renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the influence of age at diagnosis on tumour characteristics and cancer-specific survival in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Data on age, tumour characteristics, and survival for 4774 patients from 12 European RCC databases were recorded. Patients were divided into four groups according to age at diagnosis: < or =40, >40 and <60, > or =60 and <80, and > or =80 yr. The following variables were analysed: TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, tumour size, symptoms at diagnosis, ECOG performance status (PS), and cancer-specific survival. The groups were compared for usual clinical and pathologic variables, and cancer-specific survival. RESULTS: The four groups accounted for 288 (6%), 1839 (38.5%), 2499 (52.3%), and 148 cases (3.2%), respectively. Differences were found among groups for tumour stage, symptoms at diagnosis, ECOG PS, Fuhrman grade (p<0.001), tumour size, M stage, and histologic subtype (p: 0.02). Patients < or =40 yr were more likely to have papillary or chromophobe RCCs and less likely to have clear-cell RCCs. No significant difference was found among groups for N stage (p: 0.15). The 5-yr cancer-specific survival rates for the four age categories were 85%, 74%, 70%, and 69%, respectively. In multivariate analysis age category remained an independent prognostic parameter (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Renal tumours diagnosed in younger age are characterized by lower tumour stages and grades as well as favourable histologic patterns compared with tumours in older patients. Basic research is required for explaining such a relationship between age, tumour aggressiveness, and therefore tumour biology.

Laparoscopic management of a transitional cell carcinoma arising in a right ectopic ureter.

Ectopic ureter is a rare abnormality, so presenting a transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) arising from an ectopic ureter is extremely rare. We report here a case of a man with an invasive transitional cell carcinoma arising from a right ectopic ureter and managed by laparoscopy. To our knowledge, this is the fourth case described in the literature, and the second case of a TCC arising in a right ectopic ureter.