Association of ABC and RENAL Scoring Systems With Morbidity in Partial Nephrectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Different nephrometry scoring systems (NSSs) are used to evaluate the surgical complexity and outcomes of partial nephrectomy (PN) in patients with small renal tumors. This study aimed to assess the validity of nephrometry scoring systems towards aiding the preoperative planning of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (PN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of 77 patients who underwent partial nephrectomy at the Puerto Real University Hospital between January 2011 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Statistical analyses were carried out to determine whether there was an association between the complexity of the surgical procedure and the assigned nephrometry scores. RESULTS: Operative complications (bleeding volume, conversion to open surgery, perioperative bleeding, and postoperative fistula) were significantly associated with independent variables (age, sex, body mass index, radiological tumor size, and operative ischemia time) and with the classification of patients using arterial-based complexity (ABC) and radius endophytic/exophytic nearness anterior-posterior location (RENAL) scores. There was also a strong correlation between the RENAL and ABC scores [Cramer's V coefficient (0.682) and Fisher's test (p<0.0001)]. CONCLUSION: The RENAL and ABC scores are associated with the risk of the complexity of partial nephrectomy for T1 renal tumors, even for ≥T1b tumors and/or with complex anatomical features.

Treatment of Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients With Abiraterone Acetate and Prednisone and Corresponding Survival Prognostic Factors.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the combined treatment with abiraterone acetate and prednisone (AA+P) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCPRC), and to identify the survival prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with mCPRC not previously treated with chemotherapy and administered with AA+P were classified into two groups: those with lower and higher survival rates (at 30 months vs. 60 months). RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were studied at the time of mCRPC diagnosis. Patients with the highest survival rate had suffered prostate cancer for >45 months. At the time of initial prostate cancer diagnosis, they belonged to the risk groups 1-4, had pain intensity measured according to the brief pain inventory (BPI) scale of 0-2, were treated with AA+P>16 months, and had the following tumour marker serum levels: LDH baseline ≤163 U/l, alkaline phosphatase at 6 months ≤56 U/l and PSA at 6 months ≤0.95 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: Good response to treatment with AA+P for patients with mCRPC was demonstrated. Factors that contributed to the higher prognostic accuracy were time suffering from prostate cancer, the intensity of the pain measured by the BPI scale, the duration of AA+P treatment, and tumour marker levels.

Radium 223 combined with new hormone therapies for the treatment of castrate-resistant metastatic prostate cancer: scientific evidence and sharing of our experience.

Presentation of the interesting case of a patient suffering from castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with bone metastasis, who received concomitant treatment with abiraterone acetate (AA) and radium-223. The patient experienced significant clinical improvement in his quality of life and pain relief after beginning the aforementioned treatment, without being affected by adverse toxicities. Currently, the correct selection of patients to receive radium-223 treatment is still a clinical challenge in the case of CRPC with metastasis. In this article, we discuss the future prospects of this treatment, reviewing current evidence about concomitant therapies with radium-223 and its present state, based upon the recent recommendations from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), and the data presented in the ERA-223 study. Based on our clinical experience, we provide practical orientation for the integration of this radiopharmaceutical in the therapeutic plan for this group of patients. We conclude, despite some of the positive results and our excellent experience, that it would be wise to wait for the results of the clinical trials that are studying the safety and benefits of the combined use of radium-223 with new hormone therapies. Bearing in mind that to date, the only published large-scale randomised trial that investigated the combination of AR-axis-targeted therapy with Ra-223 is negative, the harms of the combination outweighed any benefits in ERA-223. Nonetheless, in order to recommend whether or not this treatment should be used, it is essential to define the patient profile that could benefit from this therapeutic option.

Serum biomarkers of inflammation for diagnosis of prostate cancer in patients with nonspecific elevations of serum prostate specific antigen levels.

BACKGROUND: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are biomarkers of inflammation commonly used in medicine. The aim was to evaluate the utility of serum LDH and CRP levels for diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) in men with nonspecific elevations of serum total prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. METHODS: The following serum biomarkers were measured in patients with PSA between 4 and 10 ng/mL: LDH, CRP and free-PSA. The free-to-total serum PSA ratio (%fPSA) was (free-PSA/PSA) ×100. Patients were classified into two groups according to diagnosis of prostate biopsy: PC and NOT PC patients. Logistic regression was used for develop a probabilistic model to predict PC patients. Diagnostic accuracy was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calculating the area under the ROC curve (AUC). RESULTS: We studied 232 patients with ages between 43 and 98 years old (median =72), 200 NOT PC and 32 PC patients. CRP was not statistically significantl to differentiate between PC and NOT PC patients. Probabilistic model (%) was 100× (1+ e-Z)-1; (Z =0.0070× LDH -0.1589× %fPSA -1.4898). The AUCs were 0.657 (P=0.0048), 0.802 (P<0.0001), and 0.844 (P<0.0001) for serum LDH levels, %fPSA values and probabilistic model, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CRP was not useful to differentiate benign from malignant prostate disease, in contrast LDH could be used for diagnosis of PC. A probabilistic model using LDH and %fPSA can improve the diagnostic accuracy in patients with PSA between 4 and 10 ng/mL.

Predictive Factors of Renal Function in Partial Laparoscopic Nephrectomy in Patients with a Kidney Tumor.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy has proven to be an ideal option for tumors in initial stages, preserving part of the renal parenchyma and reducing the possible risk of glomerular filtration decrease. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study is to determine the factors that can influence, to a greater extent, renal function deterioration after surgery. METHODS: This is an observational, descriptive and longitudinal study. The renal funct ion was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formula, and patients were divided into 2 groups depending on whether or not their renal function had been affected after surgery. We studied the correlation between the decrease of renal function and other variables. RESULTS: The sample comprised 48 patients. In 30 of these cases, renal function had deteriorated after surgery. We observed a statistically significant relationship between the weight of the patient (p = 0.0230), size of the tumor (p = 0.0035), ischemic time (p = 0.0287), duration of the surgery (p = 0.0297), the RENAL score (p = 0.0230) and renal function deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Partial laparoscopic nephrectomy is associated with a deterioration in renal function, where there is a decrease in glomerular filtration after surgery. The deterioration will depend on the weight of the patient, size of the tumour, ischemic time and duration of the surgery. The RENAL score can be used to predict said deterioration.

[Prolonged hypogonadism after cessation of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer]. / Hipogonadismo prolongado tras la suspensión de tratamiento hormonal en pacientes con cáncer de próstata.

OBJECTIVES: To study the levels of LH, testosterone and PSA after suspending prolonged treatment with LH-RH analogs. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Hormonal evolution was studied in 29 patients from whom treatment had been withdrawn. The patients had previously been receiving treatment with LH-RH analog for more than one year, and with LH< 2 mUI/mL and testosterone < 2.8 ng/mL. LH, testosterone and PSA were determined monthly, together with clinical assessment. The treatment was re-initiated and the period of monitoring ended before the presence of clinical progression and/or PSA > or = 10 ng/mL. The cohort was described and survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression. RESULTS: The mean period of time without treatment for the series was 35 months (CI 95%, 15.7-54.2 months). Prolonged hypogonadism (> 24 months) was presented by 17% of the patients. The recovery of the LH-T-PSA axis, when it occurred, followed the expected sequence. The variables that influenced the period of recovery of the PSA were the PSA pretreatment and the association of an antiandrogen. CONCLUSIONS: After withdrawing the prolonged treatment with LH-RH analogs, most of the patients recovered the levels of LH-T-PSA, although a subgroup remained hypogonadic for more than 24 months.

Hipogonadismo prolongado tras la suspensión de tratamiento hormonal en pacientes con cáncer de próstata / Prolonged hypogonadism after cessation of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer

Objetivos: Estudiar los niveles de LH, testosterona y PSA tras suspender el tratamiento prolongado con análogos LH-RH. Material y Método: Se estudió la evolución hormonal de 29 pacientes a los que se les retiró el tratamiento. Los pacientes previamente habían seguido tratamiento con análogo LH-RH por más de un año y con LH<2 mUI/mL y testosterona <2,8ng/mL. Se determinó mensualmente la LH, testosterona y PSA junto con valoración clínica. Se reinicia el tratamiento y el tiempo de seguimiento finaliza ante la presencia de progresión clínica y/o PSA ≥ 10 ng/mL. Se realizó descripción de la cohorte, el cálculo de supervivencia mediante Kaplan-Meier y regresión de Cox. Resultados: El tiempo medio sin tratamiento de la serie fue de 35 meses (IC 95% 15,7-54,2 meses). El 17% de los pacientes presentaron hipogonadismo prolongado (>24 meses). La recuperación del eje LH-T-PSA, cuando se produjo, siguió la secuencia esperada. Las variables que influyeron en el tiempo de recuperación del PSA fueron el PSA pretratamiento y la asociación de antiandrógeno. Conclusiones: Tras retirar el tratamiento prolongado con análogos LH-RH la mayoría de los pacientes recuperan los niveles de LH-T-PSA si bien un subgrupo se mantienen hipogonádicos más de 24 meses (AU)

Objectives: To study the levels of LH, testosterone and PSA after suspending prolonged treatment with LH-RH analogs. Materials and Method: Hormonal evolution was studied in 29 patients from whom treatment had been withdrawn. The patients had previously been receiving treatment with LH-RH analog for more than one year, and with LH< 2 mUI/mL and testosterone <2.8 ng/mL. LH, testosterone and PSA were determined monthly, together with clinical assessment. The treatment was re-initiated and the period of monitoring ended before the presence of clinical progression and/or PSA ≥ 10ng/mL. The cohort was described and survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression. Results: The mean period of time without treatment for the series was 35 months (CI 95%, 15.7-54.2 months). Prolonged hypogonadism (> 24 months) was presented by 17% of the patients. The recovery of the LH-T-PSA axis, when it occurred, followed the expected sequence. The variables that influenced the period of recovery of the PSA were the PSA pretreatment and the association of an antiandrogen. Conclusions: After withdrawing the prolonged treatment with LH-RH analogs, most of the patients recovered the levels of LH-T-PSA, although a subgroup remained hypogonadic for more than 24 months (AU)