Intraoperative image-guidance during robotic surgery: is there clinical evidence of enhanced patient outcomes?

BACKGROUND: To date, the benefit of image guidance during robot-assisted surgery (IGS) is an object of debate. The current study aims to address the quality of the contemporary body of literature concerning IGS in robotic surgery throughout different surgical specialties. METHODS: A systematic review of all English-language articles on IGS, from January 2013 to March 2023, was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane library's Central, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases. Comparative studies that tested performance of IGS vs control were included for the quantitative synthesis, which addressed outcomes analyzed in at least three studies: operative time, length of stay, blood loss, surgical margins, complications, number of nodal retrievals, metastatic nodes, ischemia time, and renal function loss. Bias-corrected ratio of means (ROM) and bias-corrected odds ratio (OR) compared continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Subgroup analyses according to guidance type (i.e., 3D virtual reality vs ultrasound vs near-infrared fluoresce) were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies, based on 11 surgical procedures of three specialties (general surgery, gynecology, urology), were included in the quantitative synthesis. IGS was associated with 12% reduction in length of stay (ROM 0.88; p = 0.03) and 13% reduction in blood loss (ROM 0.87; p = 0.03) but did not affect operative time (ROM 1.00; p = 0.9), or complications (OR 0.93; p = 0.4). IGS was associated with an estimated 44% increase in mean number of removed nodes (ROM 1.44; p < 0.001), and a significantly higher rate of metastatic nodal disease (OR 1.82; p < 0.001), as well as a significantly lower rate of positive surgical margins (OR 0.62; p < 0.001). In nephron sparing surgery, IGS significantly decreased renal function loss (ROM 0.37; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted surgery benefits from image guidance, especially in terms of pathologic outcomes, namely higher detection of metastatic nodes and lower surgical margins. Moreover, IGS enhances renal function preservation and lowers surgical blood loss.

Retzius sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: optimizing functional results.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to critically evaluate the existing body of evidence regarding the efficacy of Retzius-sparing radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) in achieving improved functional outcomes. Moreover, we explored possible strategies to further optimize functional outcomes. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review (PROSPERO ID CRD42024539915) was performed on 9th September 2023 on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Only original articles in the English language reporting functional outcomes after RS-RARP were included. RESULTS: Overall, the search string yielded 99 results on PubMed, 122 on Scopus, and 120 on Web Of Science. After duplicate exclusion, initial screening and eligibility evaluation, a total of 47 studies were included in the qualitative analysis, corresponding to a cohort of 13.196 patients. All studies reported continence recovery. RS-RARP appeared to achieve better and faster continence recovery compared to S-RARP. However, it should be noted that continence definition was heterogeneous and not based on validated condition-specific questionnaires. Seven (15%) studies provided for any sort of rehabilitation for urinary incontinence after RS-RARP. 22 studies analyzed potency recovery rates, showing no difference between RS-RARP and S-RARP. The evaluation of this outcome poses a great challenge due to the lack of standardized assessment tools and reporting methods. Only two studies reported on the consistent use of post-operative PDE5i as penile rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: The current review highlights the satisfactory functional results of Retzius-sparing robot assisted radical prostatectomy, which holds true irrespective of disease stage and prostate volume, with promising results even in patients previously treated for BPH or in the salvage setting. How can we optimize those results? The answer does not probably lie in further refinement of the surgical technique, but in giving greater attention to patient counselling and rehabilitation strategies in order to minimize regret and maximize satisfaction.

Prostate size ≥ 100 g and its association with long-term outcomes of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether perioperative and functional outcomes of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) may be affected by large prostate sizes (PS). METHODS: All patients treated with RS-RARP were identified and compared according to PS. The definition of PS relied on the prostatic weight at final pathology (PS < 100 g vs ≥ 100 g). Multivariable logistic regression models tested immediate and 12-month urinary continence recovery (UCR, namely, 0-1 safety pad per-day), and positive surgical margins (PSM). Multivariable Poisson log-linear regression analyses tested operative time (OT), estimated blood loss (EBL), and length of stay (LOS). The analyses relied on the database of a high-volume European institution (2010-2022). RESULTS: Of 1,555 overall patients, 1503 (96.7%) had a PS < 100 g and 52 (3.3%) had a PS ≥ 100 g. No differences were recorded in LOS (3 days), and intraoperative (1.9 vs 2.3%) as well as postoperative complications (13 vs 12%; all p values > 0.05). No significant difference was recorded in PSM (25 vs 23%, p = 0.6). In patients with PS ≥ 100 g vs < 100 g, immediate UCR rate was 42 vs 64% (p = 0.002), and 12-month UCR rate was 87 vs 88% (p = 0.3). PV ≥ 100 g independently predicted worse immediate UCR (odds ratio 0.55, 95% CI 0.30-0.98, p = 0.044), but not worse 12-month UCR (p = 0.3) or higher PSM (p = 0.7). PV ≥ 100 g independently predicted longer OT (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.12, 95% CI 1.10-1.15, p < 0.001) and higher EBL (IRR 1.26, 95% CI 1.24-1.28, p < 0.001), but not longer LOS (p = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: RS-RARP is a valid option for prostate cancer treatment, even in case of very large prostates. Specifically, no significant association was recognized between PS ≥ 100 g and PSM or 12-month UCR.

The association of type and number of high-risk criteria with cancer specific mortality in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: To assess the association between of type and number of D'Amico high-risk criteria (DHRCs) with rates of cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with external beam radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: In the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004-2016), we identified 34,908 RT patients with at least one DHRCs, namely prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >20 ng/dL (hrPSA), biopsy Grade Group (hrGG) 4-5, clinical T stage (hrcT) ≥T2c. Multivariable Cox regression models (CRM), as well as competing risks regression (CRR) model, which further adjust for other cause mortality, tested the association between DHRCs and 5-year CSM. RESULTS: Of 34,908 patients, 14,777 (42%) exclusively harbored hrGG, 5641 (16%) hrPSA, 4390 (13%) had hrcT. Only 8238 (23.7%) harbored any combination of two DHRCs and 1862 (5.3%) had all three DHRCs. Five-year CSM rates ranged from 2.4% to 5.0% when any individual DHRC was present (hrcT, hrPSA, hrGG, in that order), versus 5.2% to 10.5% when two DHRCs were present (hrPSA+hrcT, hrcT+hrGG, hrPSA+hrGG, in that order) versus 14.4% when all three DHRCs were identified. In multivariable CRM hazard ratios relative to hrcT ranged from 1.07 to 1.76 for one DHRC, 2.20 to 3.83 for combinations of two DHRCs, and 5.11 for all three DHRCs. Multivariable CRR yielded to virtually the same results. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates a stimulus-response effect according to the type and number of DHRCs. This indicates potential for risk-stratification within HR PCa patients that could be applied in clinical decision making to increase or reduce treatment intensity.

In-Hospital Venous Thromboembolism and Pulmonary Embolism After Major Urologic Cancer Surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to test for temporal trends of in-hospital venous thromboembolism (VTE) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after major urologic cancer surgery (MUCS). METHODS: In the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2010-2019), this study identified non-metastatic radical cystectomy (RC), radical prostatectomy (RP), radical nephrectomy (RN), and partial nephrectomy (PN) patients. Temporal trends of VTE and PE and multivariable logistic regression analyses (MLR) addressing VTE or PE, and mortality with VTE or PE were performed. RESULTS: Of 196,915 patients, 1180 (1.0%) exhibited VTE and 583 (0.3%) exhibited PE. The VTE rates increased from 0.6 to 0.7% (estimated annual percentage change [EAPC] + 4.0%; p = 0.01). Conversely, the PE rates decreased from 0.4 to 0.2% (EAPC - 4.5%; p = 0.01). No difference was observed in mortality with VTE (EAPC - 2.1%; p = 0.7) or with PE (EAPC - 1.2%; p = 0.8). In MLR relative to RP, RC (odds ratio [OR] 5.1), RN (OR 4.5), and PN (OR 3.6) were associated with higher VTE risk (all p < 0.001). Similarly in MLR relative to RP, RC (OR 4.6), RN (OR 3.3), and PN (OR 3.9) were associated with higher PE risk (all p < 0.001). In MLR, the risk of mortality was higher when VTE or PE was present in RC (VTE: OR 3.7, PE: OR  4.8; both p < 0.001) and RN (VTE: OR 5.2, PE: OR  8.3; both p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: RC, RN, and PN predisposes to a higher VTE and PE rates than RP. Moreover, among RC and RN patients with either VTE or PE, mortality is substantially higher than among their VTE or PE-free counterparts.

Survival after radical prostatectomy versus radiation therapy in clinical node-positive prostate cancer.

AIM: To compare overall mortality (OM), cancer-specific mortality (CSM), and other cause mortality (OCM) rates between radical prostatectomy (RP) versus radiotherapy (RT) in clinical node-positive (cN1) prostate cancer (PCa). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results (SEER) (2004-2016), we identified 4685 cN1 PCa patients, of whom 3589 (76.6%) versus 1096 (24.4%) were treated with RP versus RT. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression models tested the effect of RP versus RT on OM, while cumulative incidence plots and competing-risks regression (CRR) models addressed CSM and OCM between RP and RT patients. All analyses were repeated after the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). For CSM and OCM analyses, the propensity score was used as a covariate in the regression model. RESULTS: Overall, RT patients were older, harbored higher prostate-specific antigen values, higher clinical T and higher Gleason grade groups. PSM resulted in two equally sized groups of 894 RP versus 894 RT patients. After PSM, 5-year OM, CSM, and OCM rates were, respectively, 15.4% versus 25%, 9.3% versus 17%, and 6.1% versus 8% for RP versus RT (all p < 0.001) and yielded respective multivariate hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.63 (0.52-0.78, p < 0.001), 0.66 (0.52-0.86, p < 0.001), 0.71 (0.5-1.0, p = 0.05), all favoring RP. After IPTW, Cox regression models yielded HR of 0.55 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.46-0.66) for OM, and CRR yielded HRs of 0.49 (0.34-0.70) and 0.54 (0.36-0.79) for, respectively, CSM and OCM, all favoring RP (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: RP may hold a CSM advantage over RT in cN1 PCa patients.

Grade and stage misclassification in intermediate unfavorable-risk prostate cancer radiotherapy candidates.

BACKGROUND: We tested for upgrading (Gleason grade group [GGG] ≥ 4) and/or upstaging to non-organ-confined stage ([NOC] ≥ pT3/pN1) in intermediate unfavorable-risk (IU) prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with radical prostatectomy, since both change the considerations for dose and/or type of radiotherapy (RT) and duration of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). METHODS: We relied on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (2010-2015). Proportions of (a) upgrading, (b) upstaging, or (c) upgrading and/or upstaging were tabulated and tested in multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: We identified 7269 IU PCa patients. Upgrading was recorded in 479 (6.6%) and upstaging in 2398 (33.0%), for a total of 2616 (36.0%) upgraded and/or upstaged patients, who no longer fulfilled the IU grade and stage definition. Prostate-specific antigen, clinical stage, biopsy GGG, and percentage of positive cores, neither individually nor in multivariable logistic regression models, discriminated between upgraded and/or upstaged patients versus others. CONCLUSIONS: IU PCa patients showed very high (36%) upgrading and/or upstaging proportion. Interestingly, the overwhelming majority of those were upstaged to NOC. Conversely, very few were upgraded to GGG ≥ 4. In consequence, more than one-third of IU PCa patients treated with RT may be exposed to suboptimal dose and/or type of RT and to insufficient duration of ADT, since their true grade and stage corresponded to high-risk PCa definition, instead of IU PCa. Data about magnetic resonance imaging were not available but may potentially help with better stage discrimination.

Cancer-specific survival after radical prostatectomy versus external beam radiotherapy in high-risk and very high-risk African American prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: To test for differences in cancer-specific mortality (CSM) rates between radical prostatectomy (RP) vs external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) high-risk African American patients, as well as Johns Hopkins University (JHU) high-risk and very high-risk patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2010-2016), we identified 4165 NCCN high-risk patients, of whom 1944 (46.7%) and 2221 (53.3%) patients qualified for JHU high-risk or very high-risk definitions. Of all 4165 patients, 1390 (33.5%) were treated with RP versus 2775 (66.6%) with EBRT. Cumulative incidence plots and competing risks regression models addressed CSM before and after 1:1 propensity score matching between RP and EBRT NCCN high-risk patients. Subsequently, analyses were repeated separately in JHU high-risk and very high-risk subgroups. Finally, all analyses were repeated after landmark analyses were applied. RESULTS: In the NCCN high-risk cohort, 5-year CSM rates for RP versus EBRT were 2.4 versus 5.2%, yielding a multivariable hazard ratio of 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.30-0.84, p = 0.009) favoring RP. In JHU very high-risk patients 5-year CSM rates for RP versus EBRT were 3.7 versus 8.4%, respectively, yielding a multivariable hazard ratio of 0.51 (95% CI: 0.28-0.95, p = 0.03) favoring RP. Conversely, in JHU high-risk patients, no significant CSM difference was recorded between RP vs EBRT (5-year CSM rates: 1.3 vs 1.3%; multivariable hazard ratio: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.16-1.90, p = 0.3). Observations were confirmed in propensity score-matched and landmark analyses adjusted cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: In JHU very high-risk African American patients, RP may hold a CSM advantage over EBRT, but not in JHU high-risk African American patients.

Effect of chemotherapy in metastatic prostate cancer according to race/ethnicity groups.

BACKGROUND: No North-American study tested the survival benefit of chemotherapy in de novo metastatic prostate cancer according to race/ethnicity. We addressed this void. METHODS: We identified de novo metastatic prostate cancer patients within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2014-2015). Separate and specific Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression models tested for overall survival differences between chemotherapy-exposed versus chemotherapy-naïve patients in four race/ethnicity groups: Caucasian versus African-American versus Hispanic/Latino vs Asian. Race/ethnicity specific propensity score matching was applied. Here, additional landmark analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of 4232 de novo metastatic prostate cancer patients, 2690 (63.3%) were Caucasian versus 783 (18.5%) African-American versus 504 (11.8%) Hispanic/Latino versus 257 (6.1%) Asian. Chemotherapy rates were: 21.3% versus 20.8% versus 21.0% versus 20.2% for Caucasians versus African-Americans versus Hispanic/Latinos versus Asians, respectively. At 30 months of follow-up, overall survival rates between chemotherapy-exposed versus chemotherapy-naïve patients were 61.5 versus 53.2% (multivariable hazard ratio [mHR]: 0.76, 95 confidence interval [CI]: 0.63-0.92, p = 0.004) in Caucasians, 55.2 versus 51.6% (mHR: 0.76, 95 CI: 0.54-1.07, p = 0.11) in African-Americans, 62.8 versus 57.0% (mHR: 1.11, 95 CI: 0.73-1.71, p = 0.61) in Hispanic/Latinos and 77.7 versus 65.0% (mHR: 0.31, 95 CI: 0.11-0.89, p = 0.03) in Asians. Virtually the same findings were recorded after propensity score matching within each race/ethnicity group. CONCLUSIONS: Caucasian and Asian de novo metastatic prostate cancer patients exhibit the greatest overall survival benefit from chemotherapy exposure. Conversely, no overall survival benefit from chemotherapy exposure could be identified in either African-Americans or Hispanic/Latinos. Further studies are clearly needed to address these race/ethnicity specific disparities.

Non-organ confined stage and upgrading rates in exclusive PSA high-risk prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The pathological stage of prostate cancer with high-risk prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, but otherwise favorable and/or intermediate risk characteristics (clinical T-stage, Gleason Grade group at biopsy [B-GGG]) is unknown. We hypothesized that a considerable proportion of such patients will exhibit clinically meaningful GGG upgrading or non-organ confined (NOC) stage at radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2010-2015) we identified RP-patients with cT1c-stage and B-GGG1, B-GGG2, or B-GGG3 and PSA 20-50 ng/ml. Rates of GGG4 or GGG5 and/or rates of NOC stage (≥ pT3 and/or pN1) were analyzed. Subsequently, separate univariable and multivariable logistic regression models tested for predictors of NOC stage and upgrading at RP. RESULTS: Of 486 assessable patients, 134 (28%) exhibited B-GGG1, 209 (43%) B-GGG2, and 143 (29%) B-GGG3, respectively. The overall upgrading and NOC rates were 11% and 51% for a combined rate of upgrading and/or NOC stage of 53%. In multivariable logistic regression models predicting upgrading, only B-GGG3 was an independent predictor (odds ratio [OR]: 5.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.21-14.19; p < 0.001). Conversely, 33%-66% (OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.42-3.95; p = 0.001) and >66% of positive biopsy cores (OR: 4.85; 95% CI: 2.84-8.42; p < 0.001), as well as B-GGG2 and B-GGG3 were independent predictors for NOC stage (all p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In cT1c-stage patients with high-risk PSA baseline, but low- to intermediate risk B-GGG, the rate of upgrading to GGG4 or GGG5 is low (11%). However, NOC stage is found in the majority (51%) and can be independently predicted with percentage of positive cores at biopsy and B-GGG.

Contemporary seminal vesicle invasion rates in NCCN high-risk prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) rates in National Cancer Comprehensive Network (NCCN) high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients are not well known but essential for treatment planning. We examined SVI rates according to individual patient characteristics for purpose of treatment planning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2010-2015), 4975 NCCN high-risk patients were identified. In the development cohort (SEER geographic region of residence: South, North-East, Mid-West, n = 2456), we fitted a multivariable logistic regression model predicting SVI. Its accuracy, calibration, and decision curve analyses (DCAs) were then tested versus previous models within the external validation cohort (SEER geographic region of residence: West, n = 2519). RESULTS: Out of 4975 patients, 28% had SVI. SVI rate ranged from 8% to 89% according to clinical T stage, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), biopsy Gleason Grade Group and percentage of positive biopsy cores. In the development cohort, these variables were independent predictors of SVI. In the external validation cohort, the current model achieved 77.6% accuracy vs 73.7% for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC) vs 68.6% for Gallina et al. Calibration was better than for the two alternatives: departures from ideal predictions were 6.0% for the current model vs 9.8% for MSKCC vs 38.5% for Gallina et al. In DCAs, the current model outperformed both alternatives. Finally, different nomogram cutoffs allowed to discriminate between low versus high SVI risk patients. CONCLUSIONS: More than a quarter of NCCN high-risk PCa patients harbored SVI. Since SVI positivity rate varies from 8% to 89%, the currently developed model offers a valuable approach to distinguish between low and high SVI risk patients.

Rates of metastatic prostate cancer in newly diagnosed patients: Numbers needed to image according to risk level.

BACKGROUND: The numbers needed to image to identify pelvic lymph node and/or distant metastases in newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PCa) patients according to risk level are unknown. METHODS: Relying on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (2010-2016), we tabulated rates and proportions of patients with (a) lymph node or (b) distant metastases according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk level and calculated the number needed to image (NNI) for both endpoints. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 145,939 newly diagnosed PCa patients assessable for analyses of pelvic lymph node metastases (cN1), 4559 (3.1%) harbored cN1 stage: 13 (0.02%), 18 (0.08%), 63 (0.3%), 512 (2.8%), and 3954 (14.9%) in low, intermediate favorable, intermediate unfavorable, high, and very high-risk levels. These resulted in NNI of 4619, 1182, 319, 35, and 7, respectively. Of 181,109 newly diagnosed PCa patients assessable for analyses of distant metastases (M1a-c ), 8920 (4.9%) harbored M1a-c stage: 50 (0.07%), 45 (0.1%), 161 (0.5%), 1290 (5.1%), and 7374 (22.0%) in low, intermediate favorable, intermediate unfavorable, high, and very high-risk. These resulted in NNI of 1347, 602, 174, 20, and 5, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations perfectly validated the NCCN recommendations for imaging in newly diagnosed high and very high-risk PCa patients. However, in unfavorable intermediate-risk PCa patients, in whom bone and soft tissue imaging is recommended, the NNI might be somewhat elevated to support routine imaging in clinical practice.

Radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy is associated with higher other-cause mortality.

PURPOSE: To test the association between external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) after radical prostatectomy (RP) vs RP only on rates of other-cause mortality (OCM) in men with prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Within the 2004-2016 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we identified 181,849 localized PCa patients, of whom 168,041 received RP only vs 13,808 who received RP + EBRT. Cumulative incidence plots displayed OCM between RP vs RP + EBRT after propensity score matching for age, PSA, clinical T- and N-stages, and biopsy Gleason scores. Multivariable competing risks regression models addressed OCM, accounting prostate cancer-specific mortality (CSM) as a competing event. Stratifications were made according to low- vs intermediate- vs high-risk groups and additionally according to age groups of ≤ 60, 61-70, and ≥ 71 years, within each risk group. RESULTS: In low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients, RP + EBRT rates were 2.7, 5.4 and 17.0%, respectively. After matching, 10-year OCM rates between RP and RP + EBRT were 7.7 vs 16.2% in low-, 9.4 vs 13.6% in intermediate-, and 11.4 vs 13.5% in high-risk patients (all p < 0.001), which, respectively, resulted in multivariable HR of 2.1, 1.3, and 1.2 (all p < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, excess OCM was recorded in low-risk RP + EBRT patients of all age groups (all p ≤ 0.03), but only in the older age group in intermediate-risk patients (61-70 years, p = 0.03) and finally, only in the oldest age group in high-risk patients (≥ 71 years, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Excess OCM was recorded in patients exposed to RT after RP. Its extent was most pronounced in low-risk patients, decreased in intermediate-risk patients, and was lowest in high-risk patients.

Survival after Radical Prostatectomy versus Radiation Therapy in High-Risk and Very High-Risk Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to compare cancer-specific mortality (CSM) rates between radical prostatectomy (RP) vs external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in National Comprehensive Cancer Network© (NCCN©) high risk (HR) patients, as well as in Johns Hopkins University (JH) HR and very high risk (VHR) subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2010-2016), we identified 24,407 NCCN HR patients, of whom 10,300 (42%) vs 14,107 (58%) patients qualified for JH HR vs VHR, respectively. Overall, 9,823 (40%) underwent RP vs 14,584 (60%) EBRT. Cumulative incidence plots and competing-risks regression addressed CSM after 1:1 propensity score matching (according to age, prostate specific antigen, clinical T and N stages, and biopsy Gleason score) between RP and EBRT patients. All analyses addressed the combined NCCN HR cohort, as well as in JH HR and JH VHR subgroups. RESULTS: In the combined NCCN HR cohort 5-year CSM rates were 2.3% for RP vs 4.1% for EBRT and yielded a multivariate hazard ratio of 0.68 (95% CI 0.54-0.86, p <0.001) favoring RP. In VHR patients 5-year CSM rates were 3.5% for RP vs 6.0% for EBRT, yielding a multivariate hazard ratio of 0.58 (95% CI 0.44-0.77, p <0.001) favoring RP. Conversely, in HR patients no significant difference was recorded between RP vs EBRT (HR 0.7, 95% CI 0.39-1.25, p=0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that RP holds a CSM advantage over EBRT in the combined NCCN HR cohort, and in its subgroup of JH VHR patients.

Patients' perceptions of quality of care delivery by urology residents: A nationwide study.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of a nationwide survey among urological patients to evaluate their perception of the quality of care provided by residents. METHODS: An anonymous survey was distributed to patients who were referred to 22 Italian academic institutions. The survey aimed to investigate the professional figure of the urology resident as perceived by the patient. RESULTS: A total of 2587 patients were enrolled in this study. In all, 51.6% of patients were able to correctly identify a urology resident; however, almost 40% of respondents discriminated residents from fully trained urologists based exclusively on their young age. Overall, 98.2% patients rated the service provided by the resident as at least sufficient. Urology trainees were considered by more than 50% of the patients interviewed to have good communication skills, expertise and willingness. Overall, patients showed an excellent willingness to be managed by urology residents. The percentage of patients not available for this purpose showed an increasing trend that directly correlated with the difficulty of the procedure. Approximately 5-10% of patients were not willing to be managed by residents for simple procedures such as clinical visits, cystoscopy or sonography, and up to a third of patients were not prepared to undergo any surgical procedure performed by residents during steps in major surgery, even if the residents were adequately tutored. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that patients have a good willingness to be managed by residents during their training, especially for medium- to low-difficulty procedures. Furthermore, the majority of patients interviewed rated the residents' care delivery as sufficient. Urology trainees were considered to have good communication skills, expertise and willingness.

Plasmacytoid variant urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: effect of radical cystectomy and chemotherapy in non-metastatic and metastatic patients.

PURPOSE: Data about optimal management of plasmacytoid (PCV) bladder cancer patients are extremely scarce and limited by sample size. We focused on PCV bladder cancer patients to explore the effect of radical cystectomy (RC) and chemotherapy in non-metastatic (T 2-4N0-3M0), as well as in metastatic (TanyNanyM1) subgroups. METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database (2000-2016), we identified 332 PCV patients with muscle-invasive disease or higher (≥ T2N0M0). Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression models addressed cancer-specific mortality (CSM). RESULTS: In 332 PCV patients, median age was 68 years (Interquartile range [IQR]:58-76). Of those, 252 were non-metastatic patients (76%) vs 80 were metastatic patients (24%), at presentation. Of non-metastatic patients, 142 (56%) underwent RC and 131 (52%) underwent chemotherapy. Chemotherapy did not improve CSM in non-metastatic PCV. Conversely, RC was associated with lower CSM (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.51, p = 0.002). Median CSM-free survival was 48 vs 38 months for RC treated vs RC not treated. Of metastatic patients, 22 (28%) underwent RC and 42 (52%) underwent chemotherapy. Both chemotherapy and RC improved CSM in metastatic PCV. Median CSM-free survival was 12 vs 7 months for RC treated vs RC not treated (HR: 0.27, p < 0.001). Median CSM-free survival was 11 vs 4 months for chemotherapy exposed vs chemotherapy naïve (HR: 0.32, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Although RC resulted in lower CSM, chemotherapy failed to show that effect in non-metastatic PCV patients. Conversely, both chemotherapy and RC resulted in statistically significantly lower CSM in metastatic PCV patients.

Outcomes of robotic-assisted versus open radical cystectomy in a large-scale, contemporary cohort of bladder cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To test for differences in perioperative outcomes and total hospital costs (THC) in nonmetastatic bladder cancer patients undergoing open (ORC) versus robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). METHODS: We relied on the National Inpatient Sample database (2016-2019). Statistics consisted of trend analyses, multivariable logistic, Poisson, and linear regression models. RESULTS: Of 5280 patients, 1876 (36%) versus 3200 (60%) underwent RARC versus ORC. RARC increased from 32% to 41% (estimated annual percentage change [EAPC]: + 8.6%; p = 0.02). Rates of transfusion (8% vs. 16%), intraoperative (2% vs. 3%), wound (6% vs. 10%), and pulmonary (6% vs. 10%) complications were lower in RARC patients (all p < 0.05). Moreover, median length of stay (LOS) was shorter in RARC (6 vs. 7days; p < 0.001). Conversely, median THC (31,486 vs. 27,162$; p < 0.001) were higher in RARC. Multivariable logistic regression-derived odds ratios addressing transfusion (0.49), intraoperative (0.53), wound (0.68), and pulmonary (0.71) complications favored RARC (all p < 0.01). In multivariable Poisson and linear regression models, RARC was associated with shorter LOS (Rate ratio:0.86; p < 0.001), yet higher THC (Coef.:5,859$; p < 0.001). RARC in-hospital mortality was lower (1% vs. 2%; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: RARC complications, LOS, and mortality appear more favorable than ORC, but result in higher THC. The favorable RARC profile contributes to its increasing popularity throughout the United States.

External beam radiotherapy and radical prostatectomy are associated with better survival in Asian prostate cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: To test the effect of race/ethnicity on cancer-specific mortality after radical prostatectomy or external beam radiotherapy in localized prostate cancer patients. METHODS: In the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database 2004-2016, we identified intermediate-risk and high-risk white (n = 151 632), Asian (n = 11 189), Hispanic/Latino (n = 20 077) and African American (n = 32 550) localized prostate cancer patients, treated with external beam radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy. Race/ethnicity-stratified cancer-specific mortality analyses relied on competing risks regression, after propensity score matching for patient and cancer characteristics. RESULTS: Compared with white patients, Asian intermediate- and high-risk external beam radiotherapy patients showed lower cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio 0.58 and 0.70, respectively, both P ≤ 0.02). Additionally, Asian high-risk radical prostatectomy patients also showed lower cancer-specific mortality than white patients (hazard ratio 0.72, P = 0.04), but not Asian intermediate-risk radical prostatectomy patients (P = 0.08). Conversely, compared with white patients, African American intermediate-risk radical prostatectomy patients showed higher cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio 1.36, P = 0.01), but not African American high-risk radical prostatectomy or intermediate- and high-risk external beam radiotherapy patients (all P ≥ 0.2). Finally, compared with white people, no cancer-specific mortality differences were recorded for Hispanic/Latino patients after external beam radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy, in both risk levels (P ≥ 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Relative to white patients, an important cancer-specific mortality advantage applies to intermediate-risk and high-risk Asian prostate cancer patients treated with external beam radiotherapy, and to high-risk Asian patients treated with radical prostatectomy. These observations should be considered in pretreatment risk stratification and decision-making.

Intravesical Therapy for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: What Is the Real Impact of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Variant on Oncological Outcomes?

Background and Objectives: To evaluate the oncological impact of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) variant in patients submitted to intravesical therapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Materials and Methods: Between January 2015 and January 2020, patients with conventional urothelial NMIBC (TCC) or urothelial NMIBC with SCC variant (TCC + SCC) and submitted to adjuvant intravesical therapies were collected. Kaplan-Meier analyses targeted disease recurrence and progression. Uni- and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to test the role of SCC on disease recurrence and/or progression. Results: A total of 32 patients out of 353 had SCC at diagnosis. Recurrence was observed in 42% of TCC and 44% of TCC + SCC patients (p = 0.88), while progression was observed in 12% of both TCC and TCC + SCC patients (p = 0.78). At multivariable Cox regression analyses, the presence of SCC variant was not associated with higher rates of neither recurrence (p = 0.663) nor progression (p = 0.582). Conclusions: We presented data from the largest series on patients with TCC and concomitant SCC histological variant managed with intravesical therapy (BCG or MMC). No significant differences were found in term of recurrence and progression between TCC and TCC + SCC. Despite the limited sample size, this study paves the way for a possible implementation of the use of intravesical BCG and MMC in NMIBC with histological variants.

Non-cancer mortality in elderly prostate cancer patients treated with combination of radical prostatectomy and external beam radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND: To test for rates of other cause mortality (OCM) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in elderly prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with the combination of radical prostatectomy (RP) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) versus RP alone, since elderly PCa patients may be over-treated. METHODS: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database (2004-2016), cumulative incidence plots, after propensity score matching for cT-stage, cN-stage, prostate specific antigen, age and biopsy Gleason score, and multivariable competing risks regression models (socioeconomic status, pathological Gleason score) addressed OCM and CSM in patients (70-79, 70-74, and 75-79 years) treated with RP and EBRT versus RP alone. RESULTS: Of 18,126 eligible patients aged 70-79 years, 2520 (13.9%) underwent RP and EBRT versus 15,606 (86.1%) RP alone. After propensity score matching, 10-year OCM rates were respectively 27.9 versus 20.3% for RP and EBRT versus RP alone (p < .001), which resulted in a multivariable HR of 1.4 (p < .001). Moreover, 10-year CSM rates were respectively 13.4 versus 5.5% for RP and EBRT versus RP alone. In subgroup analyses separately addressing 70-74 year old and 75-79 years old PCa patients, 10-year OCM rates were 22.8 versus 16.2% and 39.5 versus 24.0% for respectively RP and EBRT versus RP alone patients (all p < .001). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients treated with RP and EBRT exhibited worrisome rates of OCM. These higher than expected OCM rates question the need for combination therapy (RP and EBRT) in elderly PCa patients and indicate the need for better patient selection, when combination therapy is contemplated.