Comparison of Health-Related Quality of Life Changes in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic versus Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: A Systematic review.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of RALP and LRP on health-related QoL following radical prostatectomy, focusing on studies performed via validated QoL questionnaires measuring particularly general health-related QoL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using Web of Science, PubMed (MEDLINE) on 15 January 2023 with the following search terms solely or in combination: "robotic radical prostatectomy", "laparoscopic radical prostatectomy," and "quality of life". After retrieving the titles and abstracts of selected articles, the full texts of related articles were screened. RESULTS: After full-text evaluation, among 185 articles, 23 articles were found eligible for inclusion. Hoze et al. reported that the global health status at the 12th month of the surgery was almost the same in both groups according to EORTC- QLQ-C30 scores (76.3 in the RALRP group vs. 76.1 in the LRP group). Wang et al. reported a 75 point of EORTC-QOL-C30 global health status ten years after LRP. Wyler et al. found that the 1-3 month EORTC-QLQ-C30 global health score was significantly worser than the baseline score, 65.3±18.3 vs. 77.2±18.2; however, it returned to baseline in 13-24 months (77.7±16.8) even proceed baseline score in experienced hands at 49-58 months follow up, 78.2±17.8 vs. 85.3±15.5. The frequently used patient-reported quality of life questionnaire following RALRP was EORTC-QLQ. CONCLUSION: Both robotic-assisted and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy are valid treatment options to achieve a good quality of life following surgery. The intermediate and long-term results in regard to QoL are comparable between the two procedures. RALRP might be superior to LRP in terms of immediate health-related quality of life, which might contribute to early recovery of urinary function.

Risk Factors for Testicular Cancer: Environment, Genes and Infections-Is It All?

The incidence of testicular cancer is steadily increasing over the past several decades in different developed countries. If on one side better diagnosis and treatment have shone a light on this disease, on the other side, differently from other malignant diseases, few risk factors have been identified. The reasons for the increase in testicular cancer are however unknown while risk factors are still poorly understood. Several studies have suggested that exposure to various factors in adolescence as well as in adulthood could be linked to the development of testicular cancer. Nevertheless, the role of environment, infections, and occupational exposure are undoubtedly associated with an increase or a decrease in this risk. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the most recent evidence regarding the risk factors associated with testicular cancer, starting from the most commonly evaluated (cryptorchidism, family history, infections) to the newer identified and hypothesized risk factors.

Impact of Variant Histology on Clinical and Pathological Outcomes in Patients with the Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of variant histology on pathological outcomes and survival in patients operated for the upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Methods: Data of 128 patients who were operated for UTUC between 2001 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with pure urothelial carcinoma and patients with variant histology were compared in terms of demographics, pathological outcomes, and survival. Results: The mean age of the patients was 65±11 years, female to male ratio was 30/98 and median follow-up period was 26.5 (1-176) months. Variant histology was detected in 14.8% of patients. Variant histology was found to be associated with surgical margin positivity, lymph node metastasis, presence of lymphovascular invasion, high tumor stage and grade (p=0.001, p=0.012, p=0.001, p=0.002, and p=0.009, respectively). Three-year cancer-specific and overall survival rates were 79.6% and 77.3%, respectively. There was no statistically significant relationship between variant histology with cancer-specific and overall survival (p=0.514 and p=0.515, respectively). Conclusion: Variant histology of UTUC was found to be associated with locally advanced disease, but its effect on survival could not be demonstrated.

A New Technique for Continent Urinary Diversion: Initial Experience and Description of the Technique.

PURPOSE: Orthotopic neobladder is a well-established surgical solution for continent urinary diversion after radical cystectomy. Nevertheless, it still represents a challenging surgery. Some critical issues of orthotopic bladder substitution include relevant complication rates, renal function impairment, urinary incontinence and patient quality of life. We present a new ileal neobladder technique, Vesuvian Orthotopic Neobladder (VON), performed for the first time at our institution in 2020. The main purpose of this new surgical procedure is to simplify and speed up the reservoir reconstruction through a ten standardized technical steps and obtain an appropriate bladder capacity at the same time.   METHODS: Inclusion criteria were muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma or non muscle-invasive high risk bladder cancer patients fit for bladder substitution. The exclusion criteria were locally advanced cancer, presence of hydronephrosis, renal or hepatic impairment. A chest-abdominal CT scan and urinary cytology were performed before the procedure. Patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, as required. Overall, operative time, bladder reconfiguration time, hospitalization time, catheterization time were recorded. All complications associated with the procedure were classified according to the Clavien Dindo score. The bladder volume was evaluated by ultrasound three months after the surgery.   RESULTS: A total of six male patients diagnosed with non-metastatic muscle-invasive or high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy followed by VON reconfiguration were included in the study. Mean age was 62.8 (±4.9) years; all selected patients enjoyed good health conditions (Charlson Comorbidity Index 4-6). One patient presented with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Four patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Mean overall operative time was 273.3 (±18.6) minutes. Average time for neobladder reconstruction was 63.7 (±16.1) minutes. There were no intraoperative complications. A single case of urethral anastomosis leakage occurred and was treated conservatively. Bladder volume on ultrasound evaluation ranged between 250 and 290 ml.  Day time and nocturnal continence were observed in four and three patients, respectively.   CONCLUSION: The new VON technique is a good alternative to traditional orthotopic bladder procedures. VON reconstruction seems to offer the advantage of speeding up the procedure, reducing intestinal compromise with good storage capacity. The ten surgical steps can be considered a good starting point for further improvements in surgical technique. More robust data regarding the number of procedures and the duration of follow-up is required.

Safety of Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques in Large Adrenal Lesions: A Single-Centre Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare perioperative outcomes of minimally invasive surgery for ≥5 cm and <5 cm adrenal lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, between October 2007 and September 2019. METHODOLOGY: Data of 83 patients operated for adrenal lesions was collected retrospectively. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the size of the adrenal gland as <5 cm and ≥5 cm. The groups were compared in terms of perioperative outcomes. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 51 (41-60) years, with a female-to-male ratio of 27/56. The median follow-up period was 27 (11.5-91) months. Of 83 adrenal masses, 60 (72.3%) were in the <5 cm group and 23 (27.7%) were in the ≥5 cm group. Fifteen (18.1%) patients underwent adrenalectomy for lung cancer metastasis, whereas three (3.6%) for renal cell carcinoma metastasis. The overall rate of post-operative complications was 10.8%. Post-operative complication rates were similar in each group (p=0.433). Operation time was found to be significantly higher in patients with large adrenal masses (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive surgical techniques have the same perioperative results in the group with adrenal lesions ≥5 cm compared to <5 cm and may be safely employed in this group of patients. KEY WORDS: Laparoscopy, Robotic assisted laparoscopy, Adrenalectomy, Metastasectomy, Adrenal gland neoplasms.

Comparison of clamping strategies in minimally invasive partial nephrectomy for cT1 tumors.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether artery only (AO) clamping promises any advantage over artery and vein (AV) clamping in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy with minimally invasive surgical techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 68 partial nephrectomy patients who were treated with minimally invasive techniques (robot-assisted laparoscopic or pure laparoscopic) for solitary, unilateral, cT1 renal masses during the period of 2008-2019 in a single institution. Patients were divided into two groups according to clamping strategy (AO and AV). The two groups were compared to each other in terms of perioperative outcomes and long-term functional results. RESULTS: The mean patient age and median follow-up period were 56.8 ± 10.8 years and 13.5 (9-44.5) months, respectively. Warm ischemia time, estimated blood loss, transfusion rate and length of hospital stay were similar between the two groups, while operative time was significantly higher in the AO clamping group (p = .726, p = .604, p = .675, p = .103, and p = .038, respectively). Patients who underwent AV clamping had a significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and higher chronic kidney disease rates six months postoperatively (p = .001 and p = .044, respectively) and at the last follow-up (p = .020 and p = .048, respectively). The percentage of eGFR change at six months and the last follow-up was higher in the AV clamp group but the difference was not statistically significant (p = .056 and p = .082, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest AO clamping is safe and comparable to AV clamping. In our study, AO clamping was found to be superior to AV in terms of long-term eGFR preservation.

The SPARE score reliably predicts the conversion from open partial to radical nephrectomy.

AIM: To assess the power of nephrometry scores to predict the intraoperative conversion from partial nephrectomy (PN) to radical nephrectomy (RN). METHODS: We identified all the patients at our institution who were scheduled for PN between April 2012 and December 2017. Patients who underwent robotic or laparoscopic surgery were excluded. A total of 149 patients (94 men) who underwent open surgery and had complete data were included. The power of the R.E.N.A.L., PADUA, SPARE, and DAP scores to predict the conversion to RN, and the threshold values were assessed. In the multivariate analysis, the predictive power of the nephrometry scores was tested by separately including them in different models. RESULTS: The median age was 57 (48-67) years, while the median follow-up was 15 (7-29.5) months. The overall conversion rate was 10.7%. The optimal cut-off values for the R.E.N.A.L., PADUA, SPARE, and DAP scores were 7.5, 9.5, 5.5 and 7.5, respectively. The SPARE score had the highest area under the curve (AUC=0.807, P<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, the SPARE score had the highest odds ratio (OR 12.561; confidence interval 3.456-45.534, P<0.001]. CONCLUSION: A high SPARE score was significantly associated with the conversion to RN in patients who underwent open PN.

Minimally Invasive Partial Nephrectomy in the Era of Robotic Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to compare the operative features, complication rates, functional, and pathological outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RPN). METHODS: The demographics, perioperative, and follow-up data of patients who underwent partial nephrectomy between January 2007 and April 2020 with minimally invasive methods were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with minimum 3 months follow-up were enrolled in the present study. Perioperative and pathological outcomes were compared between the patients underwent LPN and RPN. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients (65 LPN and 20 RPN) were included in the present study. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 56.31±10.48 years. Female-to-male ratio was 30/55. Patients in the RPN group had higher R.E.N.A.L. and PADUA scores (p=0.039 and p=0.030, respectively). Median warm ischemia time, median operation time, median intraoperative estimated blood loss, mean post-operative hemoglobin change, and median hospitalization time were similar between groups (p=0.133, p=0.753, p=0.079, p=0.882, and p=0.473, respectively). Artery-only clamping rate was significantly higher in RPN group (p=0.033). The cost of RPN was significantly greater than LPN (p<0.001). Transfusion rates, post-operative complication rates, percent of estimated glomerular filtration rate change at the last follow-up, and trifecta achievement were similar between the groups (p=0.622, p=0.238, p=0.428, and p=0.349, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this series, similar perioperative and functional outcomes were achieved by RPN compared to LPN in more complex renal masses.

Predictors of ISUP score upgrade in patients with low-risk prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The literature contains few studies that focus on the relationship between International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) score upgrade and complete blood count (CBC) parameters for patients with low-risk prostate cancer and studies achieved inconclusive results. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed our institutional database for patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) between 1994 and 2017. In total, we included 633 patients with low-risk prostate cancer in the study. We investigated the effects of clinicopathologic factors on ISUP score upgrade. Moreover, we compared RP pathologic outcomes between the patients with and without ISUP score upgrade. RESULTS: The mean age and follow-up periods were 61.09±6.61 years and 41.9±1.8 months, respectively. ISUP score upgrade was observed in 207 patients (32.7%). In multivariate analysis, high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density and percentage of positive cores were found to be significantly associated with ISUP score upgrade (p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio, and eosinophil-lymphocyte ratio were found to have no effect on ISUP score upgrade (p = 0.856, p = 0.353, p = 0.128, and p = 0.074, respectively). The percentage of tumors, surgical margin positivity, seminal vesicle invasion rate, and extraprostatic extension rate in RP pathology were higher in patients with ISUP score upgrade (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of the patients in our series had ISUP score upgrade in RP pathology. PSA density and the percentage of positive cores were found to be the factors significantly associated with ISUP score upgrade. CBC-related factors had no effect on ISUP score upgrade.

Clinicopathological predictors of positive 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in PSA-only recurrence of localized prostate cancer following definitive therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effect of clinicopathological factors on 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT positivity at the time of biochemical recurrence (BCR) of localized prostate cancer (PCa) following definitive therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database for PCa patients who had BCR and subsequently underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT between April 2014 and February 2018. A total of 51 patients who were metastasis-free before PSMA imaging and previously treated with definitive therapy (radical prostatectomy or external beam radiotherapy) for localized disease (pT1c-T3b pN0-1 cM0) were included. RESULTS: 37 out of 51 patients (72.5%) had positive 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans. Age at diagnosis, Gleason score (GS), D'Amico risk status of PCa, initial PSA level before treatment and PSA doubling time were not associated with PSMA positivity. Pre-scan PSA levels of > 0.2 ng/ml and PSA velocity of ≥ 1 ng/ml/year were significantly associated with increased PSMA positivity, whereas history of androgen deprivation therapy showed a trend towards significance. The optimal cutoffs for distinguishing between positive and negative scans were ≥ 0.71 ng/ml for pre-scan PSA and ≥ 1.22 ng/ml/yr for PSA velocity. In multivariable analysis, log pre-scan PSA and pre-scan PSA level > 0.2 ng/ml remained significant predictors for PSMA positivity, whereas the association of PSA velocity and of ADT was lost. CONCLUSIONS: In BCR of localized PCa following definitive therapy, pre-scan PSA was strongly associated with positive 68Ga-PSMA-11 scan, even at PSA levels ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 ng/ml. Therefore, clinical and pathological predictors of positive 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in PSA-only recurrence of localized prostate cancer need to be further elucidated.

Urinary and Fecal Diversion Following Pelvic Exenteration: Comparison of Double-Barrelled and Plain Wet Colostomy.

PURPOSE: To assess early and late-term outcomes of patients who had undergone pelvic exenteration and simultaneous fecal and urinary diversion with plain wet colostomy (PWC) or double-barrelled wet colostomy (DBWC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of all patients who had undergone pelvic exenteration and urinary diversion between 2006 and 2017 at our hospital were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: In total, 15 patients with a mean age of 56 ± 13 years were included in the study. Simultaneous urinary and fecal diversions were carried out as PWC (n = 8), or DBWC (n = 7). No significant differences were found between PWC and DBWC groups in terms of operation time (373.7 ± 66.5 versus 394.2 ± 133.2 min, P = .955), estimated blood loss (862.8 ± 462.4 versus 726.2 ± 489.4 mL, P = .613), length of hospital stay (13.2 ± 9.1 versus 14.1 ±6.9 days), early complications (25% versus 28.6%, P = 1.0) and late term complications (37.5% versus 42.9%, P = 1.0). The rate of recurrent pyelonephritis in PWC group was higher than DBWC group but not statistically significant (37.5% versus 14.3%, P = .569). Overall survival (OS) of the patients was 385 ± 91 days. There was no difference between OS of patients with PWC and DBWC (414 ± 165 versus 352 ± 70 days, P = .618). CONCLUSION: PWC and DBWC are valid options for creating simultaneous urinary and fecal diversion after extensive pelvic surgery in patients with short life expectancy. DBWC might be superior to PWC in terms of decreased risk of recurrent pyelonephritis.

The Safety and Efficacy of Adjuvant Hemostatic Agents During Laparoscopic Nephron-Sparing Surgery: Comparison of Tachosil and Floseal Versus No Hemostatic Agents.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of TachoSil and Floseal during laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery (LNSS), and to evaluate postoperative complications, especially hemorrhage and urinary leakage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of all patients that underwent LNSS for a small renal mass (SRM) performed by the same experienced surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the following 3 groups, based on hemostatic agent: group 1: no adjuvant hemostatic agent (no AHA); group 2: TachoSil; group 3: Floseal. RESULTS: The study included 79 patients; no AHA group: n = 18; TachoSil group: n = 25; Floseal group: n = 36. The 3 groups were similar in terms of diameter [29.6 ± 11.5 mm, 26.4 ± 13.4 mm and 30.4 ± 9.6 mm, respectively (P = .218)] and PADUA scores [6.9 ± 0.9, 6.7 ± 1 and 6.9 ± 0.9, respectively (P =.540)]. Mean duration of surgery was significantly shorter in the Floseal group (120.9 ± 23.1 minutes) than in the no AHA group (156.6 ± 34.4 minutes). Mean ischemia time was longest in the no AHA group (24.3 ± 4 minutes) and shortest in the Floseal group(21.3 ± 4.3 minutes). Intra-abdominal (IA) catheter drainage on postoperative day 1 was significantly higher in the no AHA group thanin the TachoSil and Floseal groups [156.9 ±78.3 mL vs. 72.6 ± 64.5 and 60.8 ± 30.2 mL, respectively (P < .05)]. Mean duration of hospitalization was 3.2 ± 0.5 days in the no AHA group that was significantly longer than in the Floseal group (2.8 ± 0.7 days) (P = .043). There were not any differences in intraoperative complications, the transfusion rate, surgical margin positivity, or postoperative complications between the 3 groups (P = .596, P =.403, P = 1.0, P = .876, respectively). However, pseudoaneurism as a late term complication occurred in 27.7% patients in the no AHA group. CONCLUSION: TachoSil and Floseal are safe and effective adjuvant treatments for patients undergoing LNSS. They might be useful especially in preventing pseudo aneurisms, shortening intraoperative ischemia time and hospital stay and decreasing postoperative drainage. Shortened operation and warm ischemia time may also be attributed to long learning curve of LNSS.

The Ewing's Sarcoma Family of Tumors of Urinary Bladder: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Only 15 cases of Ewing's Sarcoma (EWS) family of tumors of urinary bladder have been documented in the literature to date. CASE REPORT: We presented here a 38 year-old female with primary urinary bladder EWS with no distant metastases. She had presented with macroscopic hematuria and had undergone transurethral resection of the tumor within the following week. Microscopic examination revealed a tumor diffusely infiltrating the lamina propria and muscularis propria under an intact urothelium, which was composed of small round blue cells with scant cytoplasm, monotonous round or oval nuclei, stippled chromatin and small nucleoli. Immunohistochemistry showed strong vimentin, synaptophysin and membranous CD99 expression by the tumor. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis displayed the EWSR1 rearrangement. Radical cystectomy with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, extended lymph node dissection, and ileal conduit were performed. As adjuvant chemotherapy, she received vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and mesna, alternating with courses of etoposide, iphosphamide and mesna. She is alive and well with no evidence of disease 14 months after the surgery. CONCLUSION: Surgery supported with chemotherapy should be considered as an option, especially in advanced Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors of urinary bladder.

Survival following laparoscopic adrenalectomy for solitary metastasis of lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine if L/S ADX is a safe and effective procedure for the management of solitary adrenal metastasis of lung cancer, and if it improves survival in lung cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of patients that were diagnosed as lung cancer and underwent L/S ADX for suspected adrenal gland metastasis were retrospectively analyzed. Patient demographics, prior interventions and medical treatments for lung cancer, adrenal mass characteristics, surgical features, postoperative course, and histopathological findings were examined. RESULTS: In total, 13 patients underwent 15 L/S ADXs due to suspected solitary adrenal metastasis of lung cancer. Mean age of the patients was 60.5 ± 7.3 years. Mean adrenal mass size based on CT was 35 ± 26.9 mm. The surgical margin was tumor-free in eight of the ADXs. Surgical margin positivity was observed in seven ADXs, and local recurrence was observed in only two patients (28.5 %) with surgical margin positivity. Mean estimated survival in the patients with metachronous adrenal metastasis was lower than in those with synchronous adrenal metastasis (33.1 ± 5.4 vs. 33.2 ± 7.5 months, respectively). Estimated survival in the patients with NSCLC was higher than in those with SCLC (33.9 ± 5.7 vs. 24 ± 4.2 months, respectively); the difference was not significant (P = 0.736). Estimated overall survival was 33.4 ± 5.2 months. CONCLUSION: Resection of adrenal metastases of lung cancer via L/S ADX could be considered a viable method for achieving disease-free status and prolonging survival, especially in chemo-frayed patients.

The Pathologic Point of View of Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy in the Era of Radiologic Imaging: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION/AIM: This study aimed to determine if laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is feasible for the treatment of adrenal malignancies and metastasis, and to review the final pathology findings in order to clarify the indications for surgery. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The medical records of all patients that underwent LA at 3 university hospitals between January 1, 2008, and May 1, 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: In total, 189 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were completed successfully. Mean duration of surgery was 79.3 ± 38.6 min and mean estimated intraoperative blood loss was 39.9 ml. Intraoperatively, 4 patients had major complications: spleen injury (n = 1), renal vein injury (n = 2) and diaphragm injury (n = 2). Histopathological examination showed that there were 20 different types of lesions. Surgical margins (SMs) were tumor free in 95.2% of the patients. Moreover, SMs were tumor free in all patients with adrenocortical carcinomas; however, positive margins were noted in 7 of 23 patients (30.4%) with malignant adrenal tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings support the use of laparoscopy for metastatic adrenal masses, despite a high positive margin rate. LA is a safe, feasible and cost-effective procedure for the management of benign and malignant adrenal masses.

Does solitary- and organ-confined metastasectomy really improve survival in advanced urologic malignancies?

The role of metastasectomy on survival in advanced/urologic malignancies still remains unclear. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common solid tumor within the kidney. 25-30 % of patients have metastases at manifestation. Urothelial carcinoma (UC) consists of bladder carcinoma, upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma and urethral carcinoma. Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide. Half of patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer have lymph node or distant metastases. In metastatic disease first-line treatment is multi-agent platinum-based systemic chemotherapy. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men between the age of 15 and 35. Testicular tumors represent excellent oncologic outcomes. Prostate cancer is the most common solid tumor in Europe. Surgical resection of metastases can be considered as a treatment choice in advanced/metastatic urologic malignancies to improve survival rates, particularly in RCC and UC. Metastasectomy can be suggested in conjunction with effective chemotherapy if complete resection is possible. Solitary metastasectomy can represent better survival rates compared to multiple metastasectomy even if multiple metastases confined to single organ. Site of metastases is one of the main determinants of successful metastasectomy such as lung metastasectomy in urothelial cell carcinoma and liver metastasectomy in RCC may lead to better oncologic outcomes. Due to the lack of the relevant data it is not possible to make an evidence-based recommendation on the role of metastasectomy for solitary-/organ-confined metastases of prostate cancer, testicular cancer and penile cancer.

Predictors of prostate cancer in ultrasound-guided transperineal saturation biopsy in Turkish men with multiple prior negative biopsies.

BACKGROUND: Transperineal prostate biopsy (STPB) is associated with an improved cancer detection rate and an increase in anterior and apical prostate cancers compared to standard transrectal biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 48 men with at least two sets of prior prostate biopsies underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided STPB. Prostate rebiopsy indications were serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels greater than 2.5 ng/mL and/or abnormal digital rectal examination and/or presence of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN; ≥2 cores) or atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) at previous biopsies. The procedure was performed at dorsal lithotomy position under general anesthesia using a perineal 0.5 cm brachytherapy template attached to the transrectal ultrasound probe. Specimens from each zone were sent separately for pathological examination. RESULTS: Mean PSA level at STPB was 15.9 ng/mL (range 4.03 to 59.57). An average of 54.5 cores was obtained. Prostate adenocarcinoma was detected in 15 of 48 (31%) patients. Mean percentage of malignant cores was 11.9%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age and presence of ASAP or HGPIN at previous biopsies were independent predictors of prostate cancer (p<0.05). No major complications, including sepsis and severe urinary or rectal bleeding, were observed in any of the patients. Five patients (10%) developed acute urinary retention after the procedure requiring urethral catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable number of patients with negative multiple biopsies were diagnosed with prostate cancer. STPB is a well-tolerated procedure with minimal morbidity, which can be considered for the diagnosis of prostate cancer in patients with previous negative biopsies.

A preoperative prognostic model predicting recurrence-free survival for patients with kidney cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a preoperative prognostic model in order to predict recurrence-free survival in patients with nonmetastatic kidney cancer. METHODS: A multi-institutional data base of 1889 patients who underwent surgical resection between 1987 and 2007 for kidney cancer was retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative variables were defined as age, gender, presentation, size, presence of radiological lymph nodes and clinical stage. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the variables were performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. A model was developed with preoperative variables as predictors of recurrence after nephrectomy. Internal validation was performed by Harrell's concordance index. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 23.6 months (1-222 months). During the follow-up, 258 patients (13.7%) developed cancer recurrence. The median follow-up for patients who did not develop recurrence was 25 months. The median time from surgery to recurrence was 13 months. The 5-year freedom from recurrence probability was 78.6%. All variables except age were associated with freedom from recurrence in multivariate analyses (P < 0.05). Age was marginally significant in the univariate analysis. All variables were included in the predictive model. The calculated c-index was 0.747. CONCLUSIONS: This preoperative model utilizes easy to obtain clinical variables and predicts the likelihood of development of recurrent disease in patients with kidney tumors.

Expression of glutathione-S-transferases isoenzymes and p53 in exfoliated human bladder cancer cells.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the usefulness of glutathione-S-transferases (GST) isoenzymes and p53 immunostaining as a marker of malignancy in urinary cytology, and evaluates their potential effect in increasing diagnostic accuracy in a series of urine cytologic samples. They are also correlated with cytopathology diagnosis and histopathologic diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the slides from 124 bladder carcinoma patients prepared by the cytocentrifugation method were observed. The cytomorphologic properties of these cancer cells were determined. Moreover, the immunocytochemical distributions of GST alpha (GSTA), pi (GSTP), mu (GSTM4), theta (GSTT1) isoenzymes and p53 protein were studied for the patients. RESULTS: The urothelial cancer cells had small cytoplasm and rough nuclear membrane. The chromatin granules were heterogeneously distributed in each malignant cell's nucleus. There was a pleomorphism of the malignant cells' nuclei. According to immunocytopathologic observations, the urothelial cancer cells had stronger staining intensity than the benign cells had in 48% of cases for GSTA, 46% of cases for GSTP, 38% of cases for GSTM4, and 42% of cases for GSTT1. For all papillary cases, the malignant cells were stained negative, while the benign cells were positive. For 83% of patients, the malignant cells were stained positive for p53. There was a significant difference in GSTA (P = 0.006), GSTT1 (P = 0.004), GSTP (P = 0.000) and p53 (P = 0.000) expressions for benign cells whereas, a non-statistical difference in the malignant cells for GSTA, GSTT1, GSTP, GSTM4, and p53 expressions (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: GST isoenzymes and p53 immunostaining were not found to be markers of malignancy in urinary cytology.

Proteasome inhibitor bortezomib increases radiation sensitivity in androgen independent human prostate cancer cells.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of a strong proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib alone or in combination with radiotherapy on androgen-independent DU145 human prostate cancer cells. Proteasomes play important roles in cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and cellular resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. METHODS: Increasing concentrations of bortezomib alone or in combination with radiation were applied to DU145 cells and IC(50) values that inhibited cell growth by 50% were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium-bromide assay. Apoptosis was determined using annexin V staining by flow cytometry. mRNA levels of proapoptotic caspase-3 and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 genes were examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The IC(50) value of bortezomib was found to be 28 microm although 400- and 800-cGy radiation decreased the cell proliferation by 14% and 28%, respectively. In 400- and 800-cGy radiation applied DU145 cells, IC(50) value of bortezomib decreased to 23- and 12 microm, respectively. Exposure to 5 microm bortezomib for 48 hours caused apoptosis in 35% of the population whereas 800-cGy radiation resulted apoptosis in 14% of cells. However, 42% of DU145 cells that were exposed to 800 cGy and 5 microm bortezomib underwent apoptosis. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction results showed a significant decrease in mRNA levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 gene and an increase in proapoptotic caspase-3 gene expression in the combination group compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS: Bortezomib increases radiation sensitivity in androgen-independent human DU145 prostate cancer cells through inhibition of Bcl-2 and induction of caspase-3 genes.