Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate for Advanced Prostate Cancer-Related Bladder Outlet Obstruction: Assessing Effectiveness and Unraveling Factors Impacting Postoperative Urinary Incontinence.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the factors associated with transient urinary incontinence (TUI) after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) as a palliative treatment in patients with severe bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and advanced prostate cancer (PCA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 28 patients with advanced PCA (≥cT3) who underwent palliative HoLEP between October 2018 and March 2021 were included in this retrospective study. After collection of the pre-, intra-, and postoperative (1, 3, and 12 months) data of patients from their medical records, variables of patients with and without TUI at 1 and 3-12 months postoperatively were statistically compared. Multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the factors associated with postoperative TUI. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, the mean total international prostate symptom score, quality of life score, maximum flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual (PVR) were significantly improved 1 month postoperatively, and this was maintained until 12 months postoperatively (p<0.001). Of the 28 patients, 14 (50.00%) and 6 (21.43%) presented with TUI at 1 and 3-12 months postoperatively, respectively. Patients with TUI at 1 month follow-up showed a significantly lower preoperative Qmax (p=0.027), larger preoperative PVR (p=0.004), and higher likelihood of bladder neck tumor invasion (p=0.046). Conversely, patients with TUI at 3-12 months postoperatively were significantly older (p=0.033) and had a longer enucleation time (p=0.033). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the factors affecting TUI were preoperative Qmax (odds ratio [OR]=0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.39-0.93; p=0.016) and bladder invasion of the tumor (OR=26.72; 95% CI=1.83-390.42; p=0.022) after 1 month; however, none of the variables correlated significantly with TUI at 3-12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Palliative HoLEP is an effective management option in patients with advanced PCA-related BOO. Lower preoperative Qmax and bladder neck tumor invasion are the factors affecting TUI at 1 month postoperatively.

Exploring the Relationship between CLPTM1L-MS2 Variants and Susceptibility to Bladder Cancer.

CLPTM1L (Cleft Lip and Palate Transmembrane Protein 1-Like) has previously been implicated in tumorigenesis and drug resistance in cancer. However, the genetic link between CLPTM1L and bladder cancer remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated the genetic association of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR; minisatellites, MS) regions within CLPTM1L with bladder cancer. We identified four CLPTM1L-MS regions (MS1~MS4) located in intron regions. To evaluate the VNTR polymorphic alleles, we analyzed 441 cancer-free controls and 181 bladder cancer patients. Our analysis revealed a higher frequency of specific repeat sizes within the MS2 region in bladder cancer cases compared to controls. Notably, 25 and 27 repeats were exclusively present in the bladder cancer group. Moreover, rare alleles within the medium-length repeat range (25-29 repeats) were associated with an elevated bladder cancer risk (odds ratio [OR] = 5.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49-22.47, p = 0.004). We confirmed that all MS regions followed Mendelian inheritance, and demonstrated that MS2 alleles increased CLPTM1L promoter activity in the UM-UC3 bladder cancer cells through a luciferase assay. Our findings propose the utility of CLPTM1L-MS regions as DNA typing markers, particularly highlighting the potential of middle-length rare alleles within CLPTM1L-MS2 as predictive markers for bladder cancer risk.

Stepwise molecular mechanisms responsible for chemoresistance in bladder cancer cells.

Chemotherapy resistance is an obstacle to cancer therapy and is considered a major cause of recurrence. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of chemoresistance is critical to improving the prognosis of patients. Here, we have established a stepwise gemcitabine-resistant T24 bladder cancer cell line to understand the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance within cancer cells. The characteristics of the stepwise chemoresistance cell line were divided into 4 phases (parental, early, intermediate, and late phases). These four phase cells showed increasingly aggressive phenotypes in vitro and in vivo experiments with increasing phases and revealed the molecular properties of the biological process from parent cells to phased gemcitabine-resistant cell line (GRC). Taken together, through the analysis of gene expression profile data, we have characterized gene set of each phase indicating the response to anticancer drug treatment. Specifically, we identified a multigene signature (23 genes including GATA3, APOBEC3G, NT5E, MYC, STC1, FOXD1, SMAD9) and developed a chemoresistance score consisting of that could predict eventual responsiveness to gemcitabine treatment. Our data will contribute to predicting chemoresistance and improving the prognosis of bladder cancer patients.

Curative resection of bladder cancer with pancreas head metastasis.

Bladder cancer is the 9th most frequent cancer worldwide. Its incidence is increasing. The pancreas is an infrequent site of metastasis in relation to any type of malignancy. In this study, we report our experience with a patient who has undergone a pancreaticoduodenectomy for metastatic bladder cancer. A 61-year-old male was admitted with jaundice and pancreas head mass. He underwent robot assisted-cystectomy and ileal conduit for bladder cancer 7 months ago. Initial diagnosis under the imaging study was a resectable pancreas head cancer. However, we did not rule-out a metastatic bladder cancer. He underwent a classic pancreaticoduodenectomy. Based on histologic findings and immunohistochemistry results, a pancreas tumor with 4.9-cm sized metastatic urothelial carcinoma was diagnosed. He experienced no complication. He was discharged 11 days after the surgery. Four cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin were administered. He remained recurrence-free of tumors for 16 months. Although the benefit of pancreatectomy for patient survival has been reported for metastases from renal cell carcinoma, it is unknown for bladder cancer because of no report. We believe that curative resection for metastasis to pancreas of urothelial carcinoma might be helpful for its management.

VNTR polymorphism in the breakpoint region of ABL1 and susceptibility to bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: ABL1 is primarily known as a leukemia-related oncogene due to translocation, but about 2.2% of ABL1 mutations have been identified in bladder cancer, and high expression in solid cancer has also been detected. METHODS: Here, we used the NCBI database, UCSC genome browser gateway and Tandem repeat finder program to investigate the structural characterization of the ABL1 breakpoint region and to identify the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR). To investigate the relationship between ABL1-MS1 and bladder cancer, a case-controlled study was conducted in 207 controls and 197 bladder cancer patients. We also examined the level of transcription of the reporter gene driven by the ABL1 promoter to determine if the VNTR region affects gene expression. RESULTS: In our study, one VNTR was identified in the breakpoint region, the intron 1 region of ABL1, and was named ABL1-MS1. In the control group, only two common alleles (TR13, TR15) were detected, but an additional two rare alleles (TR14, TR16) were detected in bladder cancer. A statistically significant association was identified between the rare ABL1-MS1 allele and bladder cancer risk: P = 0.013. Investigating the level of transcription of the reporter gene driven by the ABL1 promoter, VNTR showed inhibition of ABL1 expression in non-cancer cells 293 T, but not in bladder cancer cells. In addition, ABL1-MS1 was accurately passed on to offspring according to Mendelian inheritance through meiosis. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the ABL1-MS1 region can affect ABL1 expression of bladder cancer. This study provides that ABL1-MS1 can be used as a DNA fingerprinting marker. In addition, rare allele detection can predict susceptibility to bladder cancer.

Three different laparoscopic techniques for the management of iatrogenic ureteral injury: A multi-institutional study with medium-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Excellent success rates with short-term outcomes are noted for laparoscopic ureteral reconstruction (LUR) for iatrogenic ureteral injury. This multi-institutional study assessed the medium-term (>1 year) outcomes and compared three surgical techniques of LUR. METHODS: Patients who underwent LUR at five tertiary hospitals between January 2007 and June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with active abdominopelvic inflammatory disease, history of urothelial cancer, and tumor recurrence and those who received adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy were excluded. RESULTS: The success rates of LUR for 61 patients at 3 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up (at least 12 months postoperatively) were 100% and 95.1%, respectively. No significant difference was noted in the success rates of the three types of LUR. LUR was mainly performed in response to the demands of the primary surgeon responsible for the iatrogenic injury (33 of 45 cases, 73.3%). The vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) incidence was higher in the refluxing laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy (LUN) group (40%) than in the anti-refluxing LUN group (15%, odds ratio: 1.5, p = 0.252). None of the patients in the LUN groups received treatment for VUR during the follow-up. The laparoscopic end-to-end ureteroureterostomy (LEEU) group had shorter operative time (p < 0.001) and lesser intraoperative blood loss (p < 0.001) than the LUN groups. CONCLUSION: LUR is safe and feasible, with good medium-term outcomes. LEEU is a good surgical option in terms of the operative and subsequent outcomes. The anti-reflux technique in LUR reduces de-novo VUR development but is not necessary for preventing upper urinary tract infections in adults.

Visceral Adiposity as a Significant Predictor of Sunitinib-Induced Dose-Limiting Toxicities and Survival in Patients with Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Sunitinib is a first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Little is known about the predictive factors of sunitinib-induced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in Asian populations. We investigated whether body composition predicts sunitinib-induced DLT. We retrospectively reviewed sunitinib-treated Korean patients with clear cell mRCC from eight institutions. Body composition was measured using computed tomography. DLT was defined as any adverse event leading to dose reduction or treatment discontinuation. Univariate analysis was used to compare body composition indices, and logistic regression analyses were performed for factors predicting early DLT. Overall, 111/311 (32.5%) of patients experienced DLT. Significant differences were observed in the subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI; p = 0.001) and visceral adipose tissue index (VATI; p < 0.001) between patients with and without DLT. Multivariate analyses revealed that VATI (odds ratio: 1.013; p = 0.029) was significantly associated with early DLT. Additionally, 20% of patients who had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 23 kg/m2 and a low VATI experienced DLT, whereas 34.3% of the remaining groups had DLT (p = 0.034). Significant differences were observed for median progression-free survival (13.0 vs. 26.0 months, respectively; p = 0.006) between patients with low and high VATI. Visceral adiposity was a significant predictor of sunitinib-associated DLT and survival. Patients with a low VATI and a BMI greater than 23 kg/m2 experienced lower DLTs.

Fanconi Anemia Pathway Activation by FOXM1 Is Critical to Bladder Cancer Recurrence and Anticancer Drug Resistance.

Although the 5-year survival rate of patients diagnosed with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has reached 85%, more than 50% of patients suffer from frequent recurrences. To identify molecular targets associated with recurrence of NMIBC, we analyzed gene expression data and found that FOXM1 and FANCD2 were involved in recurrence. Therefore, we investigated how these genes were involved in the mechanism of recurrence and confirmed their usefulness as biomarkers. Investigation have shown that FOXM1 directly regulated the transcription of FANCD2, which is the key gene of the Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway. Depletion of FOXM1 resulted in DNA repair defects in the FA pathway and in decreased resistance to chemotherapy. Thus, the FANCD2-associated FA pathway activated by FOXM1 is an important mechanism involved in chemotherapy-related recurrence. In conclusion, FOXM1 and FANCD2 can be used as prognostic factors that are associated with high risk of recurrence and with anticancer drug resistance properties in NMIBC patients.

Effects of poloxamer-based thermo-sensitive sol-gel agent on urethral stricture after transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of poloxamer-based thermo-sensitive sol-gel instillation, after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), for preventing urethral stricture. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 198 patients underwent TURP for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Recruited patients were randomly divided into two groups: groups A and B. Patients in Group A (100 patients, experimental group) received poloxamer-based thermo-sensitive sol-gel instillation and patients in the Group B (98 patients, control group) received lubricant instillation after TURP. Each patient was evaluated at 4 (V1), 12 (V2), and 24 weeks (V3) after TURP. The effectiveness of poloxamer-based thermo-sensitive sol-gel instillation was evaluated based on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS-Quality of Life (QoL), Overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB-q), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax ), post-void residual urine volume (PVR), and cystoscopy. RESULTS: Amongst the initial 198 participants, 80 patients in Group A and 83 in Group B completed the study. There were no significant differences in IPSS-QoL and OAB-q between the groups. However, Qmax was significantly different between groups A and B, at a mean (SD) of 18.92 (9.98) vs 15.58 (9.24) mL/s (P = 0.028) at 24 weeks after TURP. On cystoscopic examination, urethral stricture after TURP was found in two of the 80 patients in Group A and 10 of 83 in Group B (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Poloxamer-based thermo-sensitive sol-gel instillation after TURP lowered the incidence of urethral stricture.

Short rare minisatellite variant of BORIS-MS2 is related to bladder cancer susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: BORIS/CTCFL, a paralog of CTCF and member of the cancer-testicular antigen family, is abnormally activated in multiple cancers. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between polymorphic variants of the BORIS minisatellite 2 (BORIS-MS2), located within the 5' upstream promoter region of BORIS, and bladder cancer. METHODS: We used case-control study with 516 controls and 113 bladder cancer patients. To evaluate whether minisatellite variants play a role in BORIS expression, we examined the transcript levels of a reporter gene linked to these minisatellites in cell lines. We also examined BORIS expression in cancerous and non-cancerous bladder tissue. RESULTS: A statistically significant association was identified between the short rare allele (13-repeat) and bladder cancer incidence (odds ratio (OR) 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.14, 7.74]; P = 0.020). In particular, short rare alleles in the younger group (aged < 65) were associated with statistically significant increase in bladder cancer risk (OR 5.38, CI [1.32, 21.87]; P = 0.01). The BORIS-MS2 region acted as a negative regulator, and the expression level of the luciferase reporter in bladder cancer cells was less effectively inhibited than in normal cells. Furthermore, the expression of BORIS mRNA significantly differed (P < 0.05) between normal and cancerous muscle-invasive bladder cancer tissues, and relationship to clinical parameters was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The short rare allele of BORIS-MS2 could be used to identify bladder cancer risk. BORIS expression levels have been shown to increase with the progression of bladder cancer, could be used as a biomarker for its progression.

Effectiveness of hyaluronic acid/carboxymethylcellulose in preventing adhesive bowel obstruction after laparoscopic radical cystectomy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Adhesive bowel obstruction is one of the most frequent complications after radical cystectomy, prolonging hospital stay and fasting period and increasing medical expenses. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid/carboxymethylcellulose (HA/CMC) in preventing adhesive bowel obstruction after laparoscopic radical cystectomy. METHODS: Randomized, controlled, single-blinded study was performed. Of 76 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, 38 received HA/CMC instillation and 38 did not. The primary endpoint was the rate of postoperative adhesive bowel obstruction. The secondary endpoint was the rate of other postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: None of the patients who received HA/CMC instillation experienced postoperative adhesive bowel obstructions, compared with six (15.79%) patients in the control group (p = 0.025). Of the six patients with ileus, two underwent adhesiolysis. There were no significant differences between the two groups in other postoperative outcomes. CONCLUSION: HA/CMC instillation during laparoscopic radical cystectomy may reduce the incidence of postoperative adhesive bowel obstruction without adverse effects.

Association between the length of the MUC8-minisatellite 5 region and susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), mucins display disease-related alterations caused by airway mucus obstruction. MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC8 are known as the major secretory mucins in human airway epithelial cells. Analysis of mucin genes has identified the presence of several features with a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR; minisatellites) in the central region of each mucin. In our previous study, six minisatellites in the region of the MUC8 gene were identified, and the MUC8-MS5 minisatellite showed the highest heterozygosity among them. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between MUC8-MS5 and susceptibility to asthma and COPD. A case-control study was performed with 229 controls, 123 COPD cases and 77 asthma cases. A significant association (OR 3.96) between short alleles (2/2 repeats) and the occurrence of COPD was observed [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32-11.88; p = 0.008]. Hence, the increased frequency of 2/2 homo-short alleles were also found in asthma cases (3.11; CI 0.88-11.05; p = 0.066), though this association was not statistically significant. These results revealed a genetic association between MUC8 and COPD, and that the specific short minisatellite alleles (2/2) of MUC8-MS5 may be a risk factor for COPD.

Non-selective rapid electro-oxidation of persistent, refractory VOCs in industrial wastewater using a highly catalytic and dimensionally stable IrPd/Ti composite electrode.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are highly toxic contaminants commonly dissolved in industrial wastewater. Therefore, treatment of VOC-containing wastewater requires a robust and rapid reaction because liquid VOCs can become volatile secondary pollutants. In this study, electro-oxidation with catalytic composite dimensionally stable anodes (DSAs)-a promising process for degrading organic pollutants-was applied to remove various VOCs (chloroform, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene). Excellent treatment efficiency of VOCs was demonstrated. To evaluate the VOC removal rate of each DSA, a titanium plate, a frequently used substratum, was coated with four different highly electrocatalytic composite materials (platinum group metals), Ir, IrPt, IrRu, and IrPd. Ir was used as a base catalyst to maintain the electrochemical stability of the anode. Current density and electrolyte concentration were evaluated over various ranges (20-45 mA/cm2 and 0.01-0.15 mol/L as NaCl, respectively) to determine the optimum operating condition. Results indicated that chloroform was the most refractory VOC tested due to its robust chemical bond strength. Moreover, the optimum current density and electrolyte concentration were 25 mA/cm2 and 0.05 M, respectively, representing the most cost-effective condition. Four DSAs were examined (Ir/Ti, IrPt/Ti, IrRu/Ti, and IrPd/Ti). The IrPd/Ti anode was the most suitable for treatment of VOCs presenting the highest chloroform removal performance of 78.8%, energy consumption of 0.38 kWh per unit mass (g) of oxidized chloroform, and the least volatilized fraction of 4.4%. IrPd/Ti was the most suitable anode material for VOC treatment because of its unique structure, high wettability, and high surface area.

Drug resistance of bladder cancer cells through activation of ABCG2 by FOXM1.

Recurrence is a serious problem in patients with bladder cancer. The hypothesis for recurrence was that the proliferation of drug-resistant cells was reported, and this study focused on drug resistance due to drug efflux. Previous studies have identified FOXM1 as the key gene for recurrence. We found that FOXM1 inhibition decreased drug efflux activity and increased sensitivity to Doxorubicin. Therefore, we examined whether the expression of ABC transporter gene related to drug efflux is regulated by FOXM1. As a result, ABCG2, one of the genes involved in drug efflux, has been identified as a new target for FOXM1. We also demonstrated direct transcriptional regulation of ABCG2 by FOXM1 using ChIP assay. Consequently, in the presence of the drug, FOXM1 is proposed to directly activate ABCG2 to increase the drug efflux activation and drug resistance, thereby involving chemoresistance of bladder cancer cells. Therefore, we suggest that FOXM1 and ABCG2 may be useful targets and important parameters in the treatment of bladder cancer. [BMB Reports 2018; 51(2): 98-103].

Clinical outcomes of the sequential use of pazopanib followed by everolimus for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A multicentre study in Korea.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the real-world clinical outcomes of first-line pazopanib and second-line everolimus in Korean patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). METHODS: Data of patients who had mRCC with clear-cell component between 2001 and 2015 at multiple institutions were collected retrospectively. To be included in the analysis, patients had to meet the following criteria: age ≥18 years; received first-line targeted therapy with pazopanib; and received second-line targeted therapy with everolimus. The primary outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events (AEs). RESULT: A total of 36 patients were included in the analysis. The median followup period was 33.5 months (range 17-49.5). The median PFS was eight months (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.4-9.6) after treatment with pazopanib and three months (95% CI 1.9-4.1) with everolimus. The median OS was 27 months (95% CI 16.6-37.4). The median treatment duration was seven months (range 4.3-10.8) after treatment with pazopanib and 3.5 months (range 3-4) with everolimus. Multivariate analysis revealed that the Heng risk criteria were independently associated with OS (p<0.001). Almost every patient experienced some form of AE, the majority of which were mostly mild or moderate in severity. The most common AEs were diarrhea (50%), hypertension (44.4%), and fatigue (41.7%) after treatment with pazopanib, and anemia (47.2%), stomatitis (41.7%), and fatigue (38.9%) with everolimus. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes for the patients treated with pazopanib followed by everolimus in Korea as observed by us were consistent with those reported by previous studies. The Heng risk criteria were significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with mRCC. AEs were mainly mild to moderate and readily managed.

Penile Glans Necrosis Developing after Internal Pudendal Arterial Embolization: A Case Report.

Penile glans ischemia or necrosis developing after internal pudendal arterial embolization is very rare; no relevantreport has yet appeared. A 53-year-old male who visited our emergency room because of massive urethral bleedingwas diagnosed with an internal pudendal artery-urethral fistula; he underwent selective embolization of the internalpudendal artery. However, unexpected penile glans ischemic necrosis developed after embolization. We successfullytreated the patients with intravenous infusion of alprostadil, oral pentoxifylline and tadalafil.

Pancreatic resection for renal cell carcinoma metastasis: a case review.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney malignancy. The pancreas is an infrequent site of metastasis in relation to any type of malignancy. However, RCC is one of the tumor types that most frequently metastasize to the pancreas. In this study, we report our experiences with two patients who underwent pancreatic resection for metastatic RCC tumors; of these two patients, one patient had a tumor was a metachronous pancreas-only tumor, and the other patient's tumor was synchronous with hematogenous lung metastasis. Following left-side pancreatic resection, the patients were administered tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Penile Cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the clinicopathologic characteristics of penile cancer, including patterns of therapy, oncologic results, and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2005 and July 2015, 71 patients at 6 institutions who had undergone penectomy or penile biopsy were enrolled. Their medical records were reviewed to identify the mode of therapy, pathology reports, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate. RESULTS: Clinicopathologic and outcome information was available for 52 male patients (mean age, 64.3 years; mean follow-up, 61.4 months). At presentation, 17 patients were node-positive, and 4 had metastatic disease. Management was partial penectomy in 34 patients, total penectomy in 12 patients, and chemotherapy or radiotherapy in 6 patients. The pathology reports were squamous cell carcinoma in 50 patients and other types of carcinoma in the remaining 2 patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a 5-year CSS rate of 84.0%. In univariate and multivariate analyses, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage and pathologic grade were associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Partial penectomy was the most common treatment of penile lesions. The oncologic outcomes were good, with a 5-year CSS of 84.0%. The AJCC stage and pathologic grade were independent prognostic factors for survival.

Discontinuation of Dapoxetine Treatment in Patients With Premature Ejaculation: A 2-Year Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Although dapoxetine is the only oral pharmacologic agent approved for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) and is very effective, the discontinuation rate is high. AIM: To assess the discontinuation rate of patients with PE and the reasons for discontinuation in real-world practice. METHODS: In total, 182 consecutive patients were enrolled. Type of PE, self-estimated intravaginal ejaculation latency time, and medical history were evaluated in all patients who also completed the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Visits were scheduled 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after initiation of therapy; treatment status and the reasons for discontinuation in those who did discontinue were checked. The relations of discontinuation rates were compared with various parameters and the time to discontinuation after treatment commencement. RESULTS: Of all patients, 9.9% continued treatment to 2 years. The cumulative discontinuation rates at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were 26.4%, 61.6%, 79.1%, 87.3%, and 90.1%, respectively. Moreover, 79.1% of all patients discontinued treatment within 6 months. After 12 months, the discontinuation rate decreased sharply. The reasons for discontinuation were cost (29.9%), disappointment that PE was not curable and that dapoxetine was required every time sexual intercourse was contemplated (25%), side effects (11.6%), perceived poor efficacy (9.8%), a search for other treatment options (5.5%), and unknown (18.3%). Patients with acquired PE (vs lifelong PE), with intravaginal ejaculation latency time longer than 2 minutes before treatment, on phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, and with IIEF erectile function scores lower than 26 tended to discontinue early and thus exhibited high dropout rates. CONCLUSION: The treatment discontinuation rate of dapoxetine was very high. The main reasons for discontinuation were the cost and disappointment that treatment was required every time adequate sexual function was required. Park HJ, Park NC, Kim TN, et al. Discontinuation of Dapoxetine Treatment in Patients With Premature Ejaculation: A 2-Year Prospective Observational Study. Sex Med 2017;5:e99-e105.