Index tumor location affected early biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy in patients with negative surgical margin: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Index tumors are the most aggressive tumors of the prostate. However, their clinical significance remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the incidence of index tumor location according to the zonal origin and whether these locations affect the prognosis after radical prostatectomy in patients with negative surgical margins. METHODS: This single-centered, retrospective study evaluated 1,109 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomies. An index tumor was defined as the largest tumor in the prostate gland. We detected these locations based on McNeal's zonal origin using whole-mount sections. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) free survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model were performed to determine the predictive factors for early BCR (within 1-year). RESULTS: A total of 621 patients with negative surgical margins who did not receive adjuvant therapy were included in this study. The index tumor were located in the transitional zone in 191 patients (30.8%), the peripheral zone in 399 patients (64.3%), and the central zone in 31 patients (5.0%). In total, 22 of 621 patients (3.5%) experienced early BCR and 70 patients (11.2%) experienced overall BCR at a median follow-up of 61.7 months. According to the index tumor location, the early BCR-free rates were 99.5%, 95.7 %, and 83.3% in the transitional, peripheral, and central zones, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the index tumor in the central zone was an independent predictor of early BCR with negative surgical margins following radical prostatectomy, followed by prostatectomy pathological grade, index tumor in the peripheral zone, and high prostate-specific antigen level. CONCLUSIONS: We assessed the significance of index tumor location in patients with negative surgical margins following radical prostatectomy. Index tumors located in the central zone, although infrequent, were the strongest predictive factors for early BCR. Our results may allow urologists and patients to reconsider the therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer.

Prognostic risk stratification of patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder with recurrence after radical cystectomy.

PURPOSE: We identify clinicopathological variables predicting overall survival in patients with recurrent bladder urothelial carcinoma after radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected data on 114 patients treated with radical cystectomy for bladder urothelial carcinoma who subsequently had remote metastasis and/or local recurrence. The Kaplan-Meier method with the log rank test and multivariate Cox regression models were used to address overall survival after recurrence. RESULTS: During followup 99 of the 114 patients died. Median survival in the 114 patients was 11.2 months. One and 3-year overall survival rates were 48.0% and 12.1%, respectively. On multivariate analysis independent predictors of poorer overall survival included less than 1 year to recurrence, symptoms at recurrence, 2 or more metastatic organs at recurrence, high serum C-reactive protein, high lactate dehydrogenase, no post-recurrence platinum based chemotherapy and no metastasectomy. Based on the 4 variables (time to recurrence, symptoms, number of metastatic organs and C-reactive protein), we constructed a risk model predicting post-recurrence overall survival that classified patients into 3 groups with significantly different overall survival (p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that recurrent urothelial carcinoma after radical cystectomy is a highly aggressive, lethal disease. Seven clinicopathological factors were identified that predicted post-recurrence overall survival. Our risk model based on the 4 variables could be useful to provide relevant prognostic information to patients and physicians, and better stratify patients in clinical trials.

Advanced carcinoma of the prostatic urethra in a patient with marked response to chemotherapy, leading to preservation of the bladder.

We performed transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) for a 66-year-old man with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Pathological examination diagnosed poorly differentiated urothelial carcinoma of the urethra with broad prostatic permeation. Random bladder biopsies showed no malignancy, but a second TUR-P revealed urothelial carcinoma in the prostate and bladder neck. Computed tomography (CT) showed lymph node metastases from para-aortic to right/left external iliac and left obturator nodes, so clinical stage T3N2M0 carcinoma of the prostatic urethra was diagnosed. Given the presence of lymph node metastases, neoadjuvant chemotherapy using cisplatin 70 mg/m(2), ifosfamide 1.2 g/m(2) and docetaxel 70 mg/m(2) (PIT) was considered. After chemotherapy, CT showed complete response (CR) of all lymph nodes. Local control in the bladder was considered to be good, so total prostatectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was selected instead of total cystoprostatectomy. Pathological findings of surgical specimens showed no residual carcinoma in the prostatic urethra or lymph nodes, although prostatic adenocarcinoma was recognized. No recurrences or metastases have been encountered as of 3 years and 5 months since surgery.