Contemporary techniques and outcomes of robotic assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion.

The open approach to radical cystectomy continues to be accompanied by significant morbidity despite enhanced recovery protocols (ERP). Robotic assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD) has become an increasingly popular technique for removal of aggressive bladder cancer and subsequent urinary diversion. Randomized clinical trials comparing the robotic and open techniques address the uncertainty surrounding oncological efficacy of the RARC and show that RARC is at least comparable to open radical cystectomy (ORC) in terms of oncologic adequacy and survival. Although RARC with ICUD is a technically challenging procedure, surgeons have noted ergonomic advantages while patients experience less blood loss and quicker time to recovery and to adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), if necessary. Even with these benefits, there is a paucity of data describing outcomes of ICUD. For those surgeons who have switched to ICUD, priority remains standardization of a protocol for the reconstructive component and for a safe transition from extracorporeal urinary diversion (ECUD) to ICUD. Additionally, there is a need for evidence of reduced financial toxicity for the patient, as well as more comprehensive cost-effectiveness analyses. The literature from this review represents 10 years of accumulating data on techniques and outcomes of RARC with ICUD.

Pathologic measures of quality compare favorably in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy to open cystectomy cohorts: a National Cancer Database analysis.

This study aims to assess the impact of facility characteristics on measures of surgical quality (positive surgical margin rates and lymph-node yield) in patients undergoing robot-assisted (RARC) versus open (ORC) radical cystectomy using the National Cancer Database. Patients who received RC between the years of 2010-2013 were stratified according to surgery type (ORC vs. RARC), and corresponding patient and facility-level variables (facility type and volume) were assessed. Logistic regression models for procedure type, positive surgical margins (PSMs), and LN dissection (LND) rates were estimated. Radical cystectomies (ORC = 13,236, RARC = 3687) were performed more often in academic centers (58.3%) compared to community centers (31.6%). As facility volume increased, centers performed more LNDs during ORCs (p = 0.03) and the number of nodes retrieved increased in both ORC and RARC (ORC p < 0.001; RARC p < 0.0001). Increased facility volume also resulted in significantly fewer PSMs within the RARC cohort (p = 0.01). Comparison of ORC and RARC within each facility type cohort identified improved pathological metrics for RARC with fewer PSMs (p = 0.001) as well as increased LNDs (p < 0.0001) and median number of LNs retrieved (p < 0.0001), which suggests that RARC may facilitate comparative outcomes in community centers and academic centers. Overall, higher facility volume and robot-assisted surgery resulted in more favorable pathologic metrics compared to lower facility volume and ORC.

The Natural History and Composition of Urinary Catheter Biofilms: Early Uropathogen Colonization with Intraluminal and Distal Predominance.

PURPOSE: We sought to determine the composition and initiation site of bacterial biofilm on indwelling urinary catheters and to track biofilm progression with time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Indwelling urinary catheters were collected from 2 tertiary care centers following removal from patients. Indwelling time was noted and catheters were de-identified. Catheters were sectioned, stained for biofilms and analyzed by spectrophotometry and visualization. Biofilm colonization patterns were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and bacterial composition was determined using next generation sequencing. RESULTS: We collected and analyzed a total of 33 catheters from 26 males and 7 females with indwelling time ranging from 15 minutes to 43 days. Biofilm colonization was consistently high on the region of the balloon for all indwelling times. After week 1 the distal third of the catheter had higher biofilm colonization than the proximal third (week 2 p=0.034). At all indwelling times the intraluminal surface of the catheter had greater biofilm colonization than the outer surface. Next generation sequencing detected potential uropathogenic bacteria in all 10 analyzed samples. CONCLUSIONS: The catheter balloon, its distal aspect and its lumen were the predominant locations of biofilm comprising uropathogenic bacteria. Strategies to prevent or treat biofilm should be targeted to these areas.

Patient-reported quality of life progression in men with prostate cancer following primary cryotherapy, cyberknife, or active holistic surveillance.

BACKGROUND: Technological advancements have led to the success of minimally invasive treatment modalities for prostate cancer such as CyberKnife and Cryotherapy. Here, we investigate patient-reported urinary function, bowel habits, and sexual function in patients following CyberKnife (CK) or Cryotherapy treatment, and compare them with active holistic surveillance (AHS) patients. METHODS: An IRB-approved institutional database was retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent CK, Cryotherapy, or AHS. Quality of life (QoL) survey responses were collected every three months and the mean function scores were analyzed in yearly intervals over the 4 years post-treatment. RESULTS: 279 patients (767 survey sets) were included in the study. There was no difference among groups in urinary function scores. The CyberKnife group had significantly lower bowel habit scores in the early years following treatment (year 2 mean difference: -5.4, P < 0.01) but returned to AHS level scores by year 4. Cryotherapy patients exhibited initially lower, but not statistically significant, bowel function scores, which then improved and approached those of AHS. Both CyberKnife (year 1 mean difference: -26.7, P < 0.001) and Cryotherapy groups (-35.4, P < 0.001) had early lower sexual function scores relative to AHS, but then gradually improved and were not significantly different from AHS by the third year post-treatment. A history of hormonal therapy was associated with a lower sexual function scores relative to those patients who did not receive hormones in both CyberKnife (-18.45, P < 0.01) and Cryotherapy patients (-14.6, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: After initial lower bowel habits and sexual function scores, CyberKnife or Cryotherapy-treated patients had no significant difference in QoL relative to AHS patients. These results highlight the benefit of CyberKnife and Cryotherapy in the management of organ-confined prostate cancer.

PSA kinetics following primary focal cryotherapy (hemiablation) in organ-confined prostate cancer patients.

PURPOSE: We aim to evaluate prostate-specific antigen (PSA) trends in post-primary focal cryotherapy (PFC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective study of PFC patients from 2010 to 2015. Patients with at least one post-PFC PSA were included in the study. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was determined using the Phoenix criteria. PSA bounce was also assessed. We analyzed rates of change of PSA over time of post-PFC between BCR and no BCR groups. PSA-derived variables were analyzed as potential predictors of BCR. RESULTS: A total of 104 PFC patients were included in our analysis. Median (range) age and follow-up time were 66 (48-82) years and 19 (6.3-38.6) months, respectively. Four (3.8%) patients experienced PSA bounce. The median percent drop in first post-PFC PSA of 80.0% was not associated with BCR (p = 0.256) and may indicate elimination of the index lesion. The rate of increase of PSA in BCR patients was significantly higher compared to patients who did not recur (median PSA velocity (PSAV): 0.15 vs 0.04 ng/ml/month, p = 0.001). Similar to PSAV (HR 9.570, 95% CI 3.725-24.592, p < 0.0001), PSA nadir ≥ 2 ng/ml [HR (hazard ratio) 1.251, 95% CI 1.100-1.422, p = 0.001] was independently associated with BCR. CONCLUSION: A significant drop in post-PFC PSA may indicate elimination of the index lesion. Patients who are likely to recur biochemically have a significantly higher PSAV compared to those who do not recur. Nadir PSA of less than 2 ng/ml may be considered the new normal PSA in focal cryotherapy (hemiablation) follow-up.

Effects of Focal vs Total Cryotherapy and Minimum Tumor Temperature on Patient-reported Quality of Life Compared With Active Surveillance in Patients With Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of focal (hemiablation) or total cryotherapy and minimum tumor temperature on patient-reported quality of life (QoL) in patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: An Institutional Review Board-approved database was reviewed for patients who underwent cryotherapy or active surveillance (AS). QoL questionnaire responses were collected and scores were analyzed for differences between focal and total cryotherapy and between very cold (<-76°C) and moderate-cold (≥-76°C) minimum tumor temperatures. RESULTS: A total of 197 patients responded to a total of 547 questionnaires. Focal and total cryotherapy patients had initially lower sexual function scores relative to AS (year 1 mean difference focal: -31.7, P <.001; total: -48.1, P <.001). Focal cryotherapy was associated with a more rapid improvement in sexual function. Both focal and total cryotherapy sexual function scores were not statistically significantly different from the AS cohort by postprocedural year 4. Very cold and moderate-cold temperatures led to initially lower sexual function scores relative to AS (year 1 very cold: -38.1, P <.001; moderate-cold: -30.7, P <.001). Moderate-cold temperature scores improved more rapidly than those of very cold temperature. Neither very cold nor moderate-cold temperatures had a statistically significant difference in sexual function scores relative to AS by postprocedural year 4. Urinary function and bowel habits were not significantly different between focal and total cryotherapy and between very cold and moderate-cold temperature groups. CONCLUSION: Focal cryotherapy and moderate-cold (≥-76°C) temperature were associated with favorable sexual function relative to total cryotherapy and very cold temperature, respectively. No significant differences in urinary function or bowel habits were observed between groups.

3-T multiparametric MRI characteristics of prostate cancer patients suspicious for biochemical recurrence after primary focal cryosurgery (hemiablation).

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to report on multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) characteristics of post-primary focal cryosurgery (PFC) patients suspected of biochemical recurrence (BCR) by the Phoenix criteria. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients at our institution who had undergone PFC. Prostate-specific antigen nadir was determined using 2 or more post-PFC values. Suspicion of BCR was determined using the Phoenix criteria (nadir + 2 ng/ml). At the discretion of the physician, pre-and post-PFC 3-T mpMRIs were obtained and in a few cases biopsies were performed. RESULTS: Ninety (58.4%) of 154 consecutive patients who underwent PFC were included in our analysis and had a median (range) age and prostate volume of 66.5 (48-82) years and 40.5 (16-175) ml, respectively. Of those suspected of BCR (37/90, 41.1%), with a median time to BCR of 19.9 (7.0-38.5) months, 27 patients (73.0%) underwent a post-PFC mpMRI. Twenty-two (81.5%) of these mpMRIs were found with 24 suspicious lesions. A considerable number (9/24, 37.5%) of these lesions were located in the central gland of the prostate. Seven of 24 lesions exhibited adverse mpMRI characteristic; 4 (16.7%) had capsular contact, 2 (8.2%) showed frank extracapsular extension, and 1 (4.2%) showed seminal vesicle invasion. Five (45.5%) of 11 patients with positive post-PFC mpMRIs were positive on biopsy (4/5, 80% were clinically significant prostate cancer). CONCLUSION: Post-PFC mpMRI, at Phoenix suspicion of BCR, may help identify a significant number of patients failing post-PFC.

Salvage focal cryosurgery may delay use of androgen deprivation therapy in cryotherapy and radiation recurrent prostate cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Salvage treatment options for recurrent unilateral prostate cancer (PCa) after primary radiation are limited and associated with severe complications and poor quality of life measures. Salvage focal cryotherapy (SFC) has shown success in biochemical recurrence (BCR) free survival. We aim to determine if SFC can delay use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in recurrent PCa with low morbidity. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent SFC at our institution from 2007 to 2015 was performed. Patients with <2 follow-up prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values, metastatic disease, and a history of radical prostatectomy were excluded. Age at treatment, prior treatment history, PSA nadir, complications, BCR status (nadir +2 ng/ml), and follow-up data were obtained/analysed. ADT was commenced if patient experienced BCR and had a PSA doubling time <6 months or positive confirmatory biopsy or positive imaging. Cox regression and survival analysis were used to assess confounding and time to BCR respectively. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients were included and followed for a median of 26.6 (8.0-99.0) months. Thirty-one (47.7%) patients did not experience BCR. An even higher number of patients (52/65, 80.0%) are yet to receive ADT. Of those who experienced BCR [median time to BCR, 17.1 [interquartile range (IQR):11.4-23.3] months], 22/34 (64.7%) are currently carefully monitored without ADT. Survival analysis showed a biochemical recurrence-free survival of 48.1 at 1- and 3-year follow up. No patient died/experienced major complications. CONCLUSIONS: SFC may be used to delay the use of ADT. Further assessment of our findings with high-powered studies and longer follow-up is required.

Predictors of biochemical recurrence after primary focal cryosurgery (hemiablation) for localized prostate cancer: A multi-institutional analytic comparison of Phoenix and Stuttgart criteria.

BACKGROUND: The Phoenix definition (PD) and Stuttgart definition (SD) designed to determine biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with postradiotherapy and high-intensity focused ultrasound organ-confined prostate cancer are being applied to follow patients after cryosurgery. We sought to identify predictors of BCR using the PD and SD criteria in patients who underwent primary focal cryosurgery (PFC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent PFC (hemiablation) at 2 referral centers from 2000 to 2014. Patients were followed up with serial prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA levels, pre- and post-PFC biopsy, Gleason scores, number of positive cores, and BCR (PD = [PSA nadir+2ng/ml]; SD = [PSA nadir+1.2ng/ml]) were recorded. Patients who experienced BCR were biopsied, monitored carefully or treated at the discretion of the treating urologist. Cox regression and survival analyses were performed to assess time to BCR using PD and SD. RESULTS: A total of 163 patients were included with a median follow-up of 36.6 (interquartile range: 18.9-56.4) months. In all, 64 (39.5%) and 98 (60.5%) experienced BCR based on PD and SD, respectively. On multivariable Cox regression, the number of positive pre-PFC biopsy cores was an independent predictor of both PD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.4, P = 0.001) and SD (HR = 1.3, P = 0.006) BCRs. Post-PFC PSA nadir was an independent predictor of BCR using the PD (HR = 2.2, P = 0.024) but not SD (HR = 1.4, P = 0.181). Survival analysis demonstrated a 3-year BCR-free survival rate of 56% and 36% for PD and SD, respectively. Of those biopsied after BCR, 14/26 (53.8%) using the PD and 18/35 (51.4%) using the SD were found to have residual/recurrent cancer. Of those with prostate cancer on post-PFC biopsy, 57.1% of those with BCR by the PD and 66.7% of those with BCR by the SD were found to have a Gleason score ≥7. CONCLUSION: Both the PD and the SD may be used to determine BCR in post-PFC patients. However, the ideal definition of BCR after PFC remains to be elucidated.

Active Holistic Surveillance: The Nutritional Aspect of Delayed Intervention in Prostate Cancer.

Purpose. Active surveillance is an emergent strategy for management of indolent prostate cancer. Our institution's watchful waiting protocol, Active Holistic Surveillance (AHS), implements close monitoring for disease progression along with various chemopreventive agents and attempts to reduce unnecessary biopsies. Our objective is to report on the treatment rates of men on our AHS protocol as well as determine reasons for progression. Materials/Methods. Low risk and low-intermediate risk patients were enrolled in AHS at Winthrop University Hospital between February 2002 and August 2015. Our IRB-approved study analyzed survival rate, discontinuation rates, and definitive treatments for patients in our AHS cohort. Results. 235 patients met inclusion criteria. Median age and follow-up for the cohort were 66 (44-88) years and 42 (3-166) months, respectively. The overall survival for the cohort was 99.6% and the disease specific survival was 100%. A total of 27 (11.5%) patients discontinued AHS. Conclusion. The incorporation of chemopreventive agents in our AHS protocol has allowed patients to prolong definitive treatment for many years. Longer follow-up and additional studies are necessary to further validate the effectiveness of AHS.

Metachronous Malignant Solitary Fibrous Tumor of Kidney: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Solitary fibrous tumors are well described in the pleura, but rare extra-pleural neoplasms have been reported. We describe a patient with a solitary left renal fibrous tumor who after undergoing a nephrectomy, presented 8 years later with a contralateral metachronous solitary fibrous tumor. Malignant metastatic extra-pleural solitary fibrous tumors are extremely rare, and to our knowledge, this is the first case of contralateral recurrence of solitary renal fibrous tumor. The patient underwent a robotic assisted partial nephrectomy of the right renal mass. Both tumors showed overlapping histopathology.

Hypoalbuminaemia is associated with mortality in patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether poor nutrition is associated with mortality in patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multi-institutional review of prospective databases identified 246 patients meeting inclusion criteria who underwent CN for mRCC from 1993 to 2012. Nutritional markers evaluated were: body mass index <18.5 kg/m(2) , serum albumin <3.5 g/dL, or preoperative weight loss of ≥5% of body weight. Primary outcomes were overall (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Secondary outcome was 'early mortality' defined as death at ≤6 months of surgery. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method and multivariate analysis using logistic regression was used to test associations between nutritional markers and survival outcomes. RESULTS: In all, 119 patients (median follow-up 17 months) were categorised as having any abnormal nutrition parameter (48%). Hypoalbuminaemia was the only independent predictor of OS and DSS (OS: median 8 vs 23 months, P < 0.001; DSS: 11 vs 33 months, P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, hypoalbuminaemia remained a significant predictor of death for both overall [hazard ratio (HR) 2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-2.8; P < 0.001) and disease-specific mortality (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.3; P < 0.001). Hypoalbuminaemia was also associated with early mortality (overall: P < 0.001 and disease specific: P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Patients with mRCC and hypoalbuminaemia undergoing CN have decreased OS and CSS, and increased risk of all-cause and disease-specific early mortality. As such, serum albumin may help risk stratify patients selected as candidates for CN. Furthermore, future work should evaluate whether nutritional depletion is a modifiable risk factor.

Coupling of prostate and thyroid cancer diagnoses in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Prostate and thyroid cancers represent two of the most overdiagnosed tumors in the US. Hypothesizing that patients diagnosed with one of these malignancies were more likely to be diagnosed with the other, we examined the coupling of diagnoses of prostate and thyroid cancer in a large US administrative dataset. METHODS: The surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database was used to identify men diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer (CaP) or thyroid cancer between 1995 and 2010. SEER*stat software was used to estimate multivariable-adjusted standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and investigate the rates of subsequent malignancy diagnosis. Additional non-urologic cancer sites were added as control groups. RESULTS: Patients with thyroid cancer were much more likely to be diagnosed with CaP than patients in the SEER control group (SIR 1.28 [95% CI 1.1-1.5]; p < 0.05). Similarly, the observed incidence of thyroid cancer was significantly higher in patients with CaP when compared with SEER controls (SIR 1.30 [95% CI 1.2-1.4]; p < 0.05). When stratified by follow-up interval, the observed thyroid cancer diagnosis rate among men with CaP was significantly higher than expected at 2-11 (SIR 1.83 [95% CI 1.4-2.4]), 12-59 (SIR 1.24 [95% CI 1.0-1.5]), and 60-119 (SIR 1.25 [95% CI 1.0-1.5]) months of follow-up. There was no increased risk of CaP or thyroid cancer diagnosis among patients with non-urologic malignancies. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association of diagnoses with prostate and thyroid cancer in the US. In the absence of a known biological link between these tumors, these data suggest that diagnosis patterns for prostate and thyroid malignancies are linked.

Temporal trends and factors associated with systemic therapy after cytoreductive nephrectomy: an analysis of the National Cancer Database.

PURPOSE: We evaluated temporal trends in systemic therapy use in patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We used data from a large national cancer registry and assessed characteristics associated with the receipt of systemic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the NCDB to identify patients with stage IV renal cell carcinoma who underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy between 1998 and 2010. Systemic therapy was defined as immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy, including targeted agents. We evaluated associations between clinicopathological features and receipt of systemic therapy using multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Of 22,409 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy 8,830 (39%) received systemic therapy. Use of systemic therapy increased from 32% of cases in 1998 to 49% in 2010 (p < 0.001). After adjustment older patient age (71 years or greater OR 0.36, CI 0.31-0.43), increasing comorbidity count (Charlson comorbidity index 2 or greater OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68-0.92), papillary histology (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.71-0.93), sarcomatoid histology (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.98), Medicaid (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.5-0.74), Medicare (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.62-0.79) and no insurance (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63-0.91) were associated with significantly decreased systemic therapy use. Male gender (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.08) predicted an increased likelihood of systemic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic therapy in patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy has increased with time, coinciding with the introduction of targeted therapies. Nevertheless, still less than half of such patients receive systemic treatment. While the etiology of the lack of treatment is likely multifactorial, the potential health policy implications of disparities in care warrant further investigation.

Variation in performance of candidate surgical quality measures for muscle-invasive bladder cancer by hospital type.

OBJECTIVE: To test the association between hospital type and performance of candidate quality measures for treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) using a large national tumour registry. Proposed quality measures include receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, timely treatment, adequate lymph node dissection, and continent urinary diversion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database, patients with stage ≥II urothelial carcinoma treated with radical cystectomy (RC) from 2003 to 2010 were identified. Hospitals were grouped by type and annual RC volume: community, comprehensive low volume (CLV), comprehensive high volume (CHV), academic low volume (ALV), and academic high volume (AHV) groups. Logistic regression models were used to test the association between hospital group and performance of quality measures, adjusting for year, demographic, and clinical/pathological characteristics; generalised estimating equations were fitted to the models to adjust for clustering at the hospital level. RESULTS: In all, 23 279 patients underwent RC at community (12.4%), comprehensive (CLV 38%, CHV 5%), and academic (ALV 17%, AHV 28%) hospitals. While only 0.8% (175) of patients met all four quality criteria, 61% of patients treated at AHV hospitals met two or more quality metric indicators compared with ALV (45%), CHV (44%), CLV (38%), and community (37%) hospitals (P < 0.001). After adjustment, patients were more likely to receive two or more quality measures when treated at AHV (odds ratio [OR] 2.4, confidence interval [CI] 2.0-2.9), ALV (OR 1.3, CI 1.1-1.6), and CHV (OR 1.3, CI 1.03-1.7) hospitals compared with community hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing RC at AHV hospitals were more likely to meet quality criteria. However, performance remains low across hospital types, highlighting the opportunity to improve quality of care for MIBC.

Lymphopenia is an independent predictor of inferior outcome in papillary renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Lymphopenia as a likely index of poor systemic immunity is an independent predictor of inferior outcome in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We sought to evaluate the prognostic relevance of preoperative absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in a cohort of patients with papillary RCC (PRCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospectively maintained, renal cancer database was analyzed. Patients with preoperative ALC, within 3 months before surgery, were eligible for the study. Those with multifocal or bilateral renal tumors were excluded. Correlations between ALC and age, gender, smoking, Charlson comorbidity index, pathologic T category, PRCC subtype, and TNM stage were evaluated. Differences in overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival by ALC status were assessed using the log-rank test and cumulative incident estimators, respectively. Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariable analyses. RESULTS: A total of 192 patients met the inclusion criteria. As a continuous variable, preoperative ALC was associated with higher TNM stage (P = 0.001) and older age (P = 0.01). As a dichotomous variable, lymphopenia (<1,300 cells/µl) was associated with higher TNM stage (P = 0.003). On multivariable analyses, controlling for covariates, after a median follow-up of 37.3 months, lymphopenia was associated with inferior OS (hazard ratio = 2.3 [95% CI: 1.2-4.3], P = 0.011) and trended to significance for cancer-specific survival (P = 0.071). Among patients with nonmetastatic disease and lymphopenia, OS at 37.5 months was shorter compared with those with normal ALC (83% vs. 93%, P = 0.0006). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PRCC, lymphopenia is associated with lower survival independent of TNM stage, age, and histology. ALC may provide an additional preoperative prognostic factor.

Care transitions between hospitals are associated with treatment delay for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Hypothesizing that changing hospitals between diagnosis and definitive therapy (care transition) may delay timely treatment, we identified the association between care transitions and a treatment delay of 3 months or greater in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database we identified all patients with stage II or greater urothelial carcinoma treated from 2003 to 2010. Care transition was defined as a change in hospital from diagnosis to definitive treatment course, that is diagnosis to radical cystectomy or the start of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Logistic regression models were used to test the association between care transition and treatment delay. RESULTS: Of 22,251 patients 14.2% experienced a treatment delay of 3 months or greater and this proportion increased with time (13.5% in 2003 to 2006 vs 14.8% in 2007 to 2010, p = 0.01). Of patients who underwent a care transition 19.4% experienced a delay to definitive treatment compared to 10.7% diagnosed and treated at the same hospital (p <0.001). The proportion of patients with a care transition increased during the study period (37.4% in 2003 to 2006 vs 42.3% in 2007 to 2010, p <0.001). After adjustment patients were more likely to experience a treatment delay when undergoing a care transition (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.8-2.2). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer who underwent a care transition were more likely to experience a treatment delay of 3 months or greater. Strategies to expedite care transitions at the time of hospital referral may improve quality of care.

Nephron-sparing management vs radical nephroureterectomy for low- or moderate-grade, low-stage upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To compare overall and cancer-specific outcomes between patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) managed with either radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) or nephron-sparing measures (NSM) using a large population-based dataset. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data, patients diagnosed with low- or moderate-grade, localised non-invasive UTUC were stratified into two groups: those treated with RNU or NSM (observation, endoscopic ablation, or segmental ureterectomy). Cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and other-cause mortality (OCM) rates were determined using cumulative incidence estimators. Adjusting for clinical and pathological characteristics, the associations between surgical type, all-cause mortality and CSM were tested using Cox regressions and Fine and Gray regressions, respectively. RESULTS: Of 1227 patients [mean (sd) age 70.2 (11.00) years, 63.2% male] meeting inclusion criteria, 907 (73.9%) and 320 (26.1%) patients underwent RNU and NSM for low- or moderate-grade, low-stage UTUC from 1992 to 2008. Patients undergoing NSM were older (mean age 71.6 vs 69.7 years, P < 0.01) with a greater proportion of well-differentiated tumours (26.3% vs 18.0%, P = 0.001). While there were differences in OCM between the groups (P < 0.01), CSM trends were equivalent. After adjustment, RNU treatment was associated with improved non-cancer cause survival [hazard ratio (HR) 0.78, confidence interval [CI] 0.64-0.94) while no association with CSM was demonstrable (HR 0.89, CI 0.63-1.26). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with low- or moderate-grade, low-stage UTUC managed through NSM are older and are more likely to die of other causes, but they have similar CSM rates to those patients managed with RNU. These data may be useful when counselling patients with UTUC with significant competing comorbidities.

Comparison of prostate cancer diagnosis in patients receiving unrelated urological and non-urological cancer care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prostate cancer diagnosis rates and survival outcomes in patients receiving unrelated (non-prostate) urological care with those in patients receiving non-urological care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a population-based study using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database to identify men who underwent surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC; n = 18,188) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC; n = 45,093) between 1992 and 2008. Using SEER*stat software to estimate standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), we investigated rates of prostate cancer diagnosis in patients with RCC and patients with CRC. Adjusting for patient age, race and year of diagnosis on multivariate analysis, we used Cox and Fine and Gray proportional hazards regressions to evaluate overall and disease-specific survival endpoints. RESULTS: The observed incidence of prostate cancer was higher in both the patients with RCC and those with CRC: SIR = 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27-1.46) vs 1.06 (95% CI 1.02-1.11). Adjusted prostate cancer SIRs were 30% higher (P < 0.001) in patients with RCC. Overall (hazard ratio = 1.13, P < 0.001) and primary cancer-adjusted mortalities (sub-distribution Hazard Ratio (sHR) = 1.17, P < 0.001) were higher in patients with RCC with no significant difference in prostate cancer-specific mortality (sHR = 0.827, P = 0.391). CONCLUSION: Rates of prostate cancer diagnosis were higher in patients with RCC (a cohort with unrelated urological cancer care) than in those with CRC. Despite higher overall mortality in patients with RCC, prostate cancer-specific survival was similar in both groups. Opportunities may exist to better target prostate cancer screening in patients who receive non-prostate-related urological care. Furthermore, urologists should not feel obligated to perform prostate-specific antigen screening for all patients receiving non-prostate-related urological care.