Prostate cancer in transgender women: A propensity score-matched analysis of disease severity and survival.

BACKGROUND: Despite the rise in gender-affirming care, our understanding of prostate cancer (PCa) in transgender women (TGW) remains in its infancy. Health disparities and lack of PCa awareness and screening are possible barriers to providing quality care for this population. In addition, the implication of hormonal manipulation for the aggressiveness of PCa in TGW is yet to be determined. Here, this study sought to compare oncological characteristics and survival outcomes between transgender and cisgender (CG) patients with PCa via two national data sets. METHODS: The Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure database (1999-2020) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database (2010-2017) were reviewed. Demographic and clinical details were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was performed on propensity score-matched groups to identify predictors of high-risk disease and metastasis in patients with PCa. Groups were matched 5:1 (CG:TGW) on the basis of age, race, year of diagnosis, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score. Primary outcomes included metastatic presentation, high-risk localized disease, overall survival (OS), and prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM). RESULTS: A total of 1194 patients were included (199 TGW; 995 CG). Associations between transgender identity and metastatic presentation (odds ratio [OR], 0.38; p = .2), high-risk localized disease (OR, 1.19; p = .50), or PCSM (hazard ratio [HR], 0.65; p = .3) were not detected. Transgender identity was associated with improved OS (HR, 0.67; p = .014). CONCLUSIONS: PCa-specific outcomes seem comparable between TGW and CG men, although the study was underpowered to detect modest differences. Further investigation into the incidence and outcomes of PCa in TGW is warranted.

Characterization and impact of non-canonical WNT signaling on outcomes of urothelial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Non-canonical WNT family (WNT5A pathway) signaling via WNT5A through ROR1 and its partner, ROR2, or Frizzled2 (FZD2) is linked to processes driving tumorigenesis and therapy resistance. We utilized a large dataset of urothelial carcinoma (UC) tumors to characterize non-canonical WNT signaling through WNT5A, ROR1, ROR2, or FZD2 expression. METHODS: NextGen Sequencing of DNA (592 genes or WES)/RNA (WTS) was performed for 4125 UC tumors submitted to Caris Life Sciences. High and low expression of WNT5A, ROR1, ROR2, and FZD2 was defined as ≥ top and

Robot-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy: early outcome measures with the implementation of multimodal analgesia and intrathecal morphine via the acute pain service.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to perform a retrospective cohort analysis, in which we measured the association of an acute pain service (APS)-driven multimodal analgesia protocol that included preoperative intrathecal morphine (ITM) compared to historic controls (i.e., surgeon-driven analgesia protocol without ITM) with postoperative opioid use. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in which the primary objective was to determine whether there was a decrease in median 24-h opioid consumption (intravenous morphine equivalents [MEQ]) among robotic nephrectomy patients whose pain was managed by the surgical team prior to the APS, versus pain managed by APS. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption during the 24-48 h and 48-72 h period and hospital length of stay. To create matched cohorts, we performed 1:1 (APS:non-APS) propensity score matching. Due to the cohorts occurring at the different time periods, we performed a segmented regression analysis of an interrupted time series. RESULTS: There were 76 patients in the propensity-matched cohorts, in which 38 (50.0%) were in the APS cohort. The median difference in 24-h opioid consumption in the pre-APS versus APS cohort was 23.0 mg [95% CI 15.0, 31.0] (p < 0.0001), in favor of APS. There were no differences in the secondary outcomes. On segmented regression, there was a statistically significant drop in 24-h opioid consumption in the APS cohort versus pre-APS cohort (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an APS-driven multimodal analgesia protocol with ITM demonstrated a beneficial association with postoperative 24-h opioid consumption following robot-assisted nephrectomy.

The Role of Radical Cystectomy in Clinically Node Positive Bladder Cancer: A US Veterans Health Administration Study.

INTRODUCTION: The role of local definitive therapy in addition to systemic treatment in clinically positive regional lymph node (cN+) bladder cancer is yet to be determined. Herein, we sought to investigate the role of radical cystectomy (RC) in management of patients with cN+ bladder cancer at US Veterans Health Administration Facilities. METHODS: We identified patients diagnosed with cN+ bladder cancer between 2000-2017 using the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI). We employed a combination of database/registry coded values and chart review for data collection. To minimize mortality bias, we excluded patients who died within 90 days of diagnosis. We divided the patients into cystectomy (C) versus "no cystectomy" (NOC) cohorts. Propensity score matching was performed based on predictors of undergoing RC. Multivariable Cox models and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CCS). RESULT: After matching, 158 patients were included in the C and NOC groups. In the C-group, 85(54%) patients received pre-cystectomy chemotherapy, and 73(46%) patients underwent post-cystectomy chemotherapy. In the C-group, 65(41%) patients and in the NOC-group, 66(42%) patients had clinical N1 disease (P = .77). In multivariable Cox model, undergoing RC was associated with improved OS (HR0.62; 95%CI 0.47-0.81), P < .001) and CSS (HR0.58; 95%CI 0.42-0.80; P < .001). CONCLUSION: As part of multimodal treatment, undergoing RC was associated with improved OS and CSS in subset of patients with cN+ bladder cancer. Prospective randomized trials are warranted to further investigate the role of local definitive therapy in this specific patient population.

Infantile bladder rupture during voiding cystourethrography

Bladder rupture is rare during infancy and most of reported cases had urethral obstruction or neurogenic bladder. We report two cases of infantile bladder rupture during voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). This report reinforces the criteria for proper VCUG imaging procedure. Consideration of expected bladder volume for body weight, and close monitoring of bladder pressure and injection speed could prevent such complications.