Postoperative recurrence detection using individualized circulating tumor DNA in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Biomarkers that could detect the postoperative recurrence of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) have not been established. In this prospective study, we aim to evaluate the utility of individualized circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring using digital PCR (dPCR) as a tumor recurrence biomarker for UTUC in the perioperative period. Twenty-three patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) were included. In each patient, whole exome sequencing by next-generation sequencing and TERT promoter sequencing of tumor DNA were carried out. Case-specific gene mutations were selected from sequencing analysis to examine ctDNA by dPCR analysis. We also prospectively collected plasma and urine ctDNA from each patient. The longitudinal variant allele frequencies of ctDNA during the perioperative period were plotted. Case-specific gene mutations were detected in 22 cases (96%) from ctDNA in the preoperative samples. Frequently detected genes were TERT (39%), FGFR3 (26%), TP53 (22%), and HRAS (13%). In all cases, we obtained plasma and urine samples for 241 time points and undertook individualized ctDNA monitoring for 2 years after RNU. Ten patients with intravesical recurrence had case-specific ctDNA detected in urine at the time of recurrence. The mean lead time of urinary ctDNA in intravesical recurrence was 60 days (range, 0-202 days). Two patients with distal metastasis had case-specific ctDNA in plasma at the time of metastasis. In UTUC, tumor-specific gene mutations can be monitored postoperatively as ctDNA in plasma and urine. Individualized ctDNA might be a minimally invasive biomarker for the early detection of postoperative recurrence.

Association between response to enfortumab vedotin and peripheral neuropathy in urothelial carcinoma patients: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Enfortumab vedotin (EV) was approved for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who progressed after anticancer therapy on September 2021 in Japan. The association between the occurrence of EV-related side effects and clinical outcome remains to be elucidated. METHODS: We identified 97 mUC patients treated with EV therapy at our five institutions from the date of approval to March 2023. The median follow-up period was 7.0 months. We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety of EV. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 71 years old, 39% had PS of 1 or more, and 56.7% had primary tumor in upper urinary tract. Overall response rate (ORR) to EV therapy, median progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were 43.3%, 7.52 months, and 12.78 months, respectively. Any grade of treatment-related skin disorder, dysgeusia, peripheral neuropathy, gastrointestinal disorder, and hyperglycemia occurred in 61 (62.9%), 36 (37.1%), 34 (35.1%), 29 (29.9%), and 18 (18.6%) patients, respectively. The patients with EV-associated peripheral neuropathy had significantly higher ORR (58.8% vs. 34.9%, P = .032) and longer median PFS (8.05 vs. 6.31 months, P = .017) and OS (not reached vs. 11.57 months, P = .008, respectively) than those without. The occurrence of peripheral neuropathy after EV treatment and the presence of peritoneal dissemination were factors independently associated with PFS (hazard ratio = 0.46, P = .008 and hazard raito = 3.83, P = .004, respectively) and OS (hazard ratio = 0.30, P = .005 and hazard raito = 4.53, P = .002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of EV-related peripheral neuropathy might be associated with the efficacy of EV therapy in mUC patients.

Prevalence of germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants in Japanese patients treated with castration-resistant prostate cancer and efficacy of CRPC treatment in real-world clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: The companion diagnosis for olaparib, a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor for prostate cancer, aims to detect BRCA1/2 gene variants. In clinical practice, the frequency of germline BRCA1/2 variants in patients receiving castration-resistant prostate cancer treatment is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of germline BRCA1/2 variants and their relationship to prognosis and treatment efficacy in castration-resistant prostate cancer. METHODS: Between June 2021 and 2023, 92 patients receiving castration-resistant prostate cancer treatment were examined for germline BRCA1/2 variants using BRACAnalysis CDx®. Furthermore, the associations between BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants and clinical outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 92 patients referred for genetic testing, 6 (6.5%) carried germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2. The BRCA2 variant was the most frequent (n = 5), followed by BRCA1 variant (n = 1). Among the five variants in BRCA2, the p.Asp427Thrfs*3 variant was identified for the first time in prostate cancer. Overall survival from castration-resistant prostate cancer for patients with BRCA1/2 variants was significantly shorter than for patients without BRCA1/2 variants (P = 0.043). Progression-free survival of androgen receptor signaling inhibitors for patients with BRCA1/2 variants was significantly shorter than for those without (P = 0.003). Progression-free survival of taxane chemotherapy was significantly shorter in patients with BRCA1/2 variants than in those without (P = 0.0149). CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice, 6.5% of patients treated with castration-resistant prostate cancer carried germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants. Japanese castration-resistant prostate cancer patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutants have a poor prognosis and may be less responsive to treatment with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors and taxane-based chemotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Clinical practice guidelines for molecular tumor markers, 2nd edition review part 1.

With advances in gene and protein analysis technologies, many target molecules that may be useful in cancer diagnosis have been reported. Therefore, the "Tumor Marker Study Group" was established in 1981 with the aim of "discovering clinically" useful molecules. Later, the name was changed to "Japanese Society for Molecular Tumor Marker Research" in 2000 in response to the remarkable progress in gene-related research. Currently, the world of cancer treatment is shifting from the era of representative tumor markers of each cancer type used for tumor diagnosis and treatment evaluation to the study of companion markers for molecular-targeted therapeutics that target cancer cells. Therefore, the first edition of the Molecular Tumor Marker Guidelines, which summarizes tumor markers and companion markers in each cancer type, was published in 2016. After publication of the first edition, the gene panel testing using next-generation sequencing became available in Japan in June 2019 for insured patients. In addition, immune checkpoint inhibitors have been indicated for a wide range of cancer types. Therefore, the 2nd edition of the Molecular Tumor Marker Guidelines was published in September 2021 to address the need to revise the guidelines. Here, we present an English version of the review (Part 1) of the Molecular Tumor Marker Guidelines, Second Edition.

[A Case of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma with Arthritis and Colitis Due to Immune-Related Adverse Events During Ipilimumab-Nivolumab Combination Therapy].

A 73-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma underwent a left-sided open radical nephrectomy at our center. The pathological diagnosis was Fuhrman Grade 2, stage pT3a, clear cell renal cell carcinoma. A follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan revealed lung metastases 9 months after the surgery. The patient was started on ipilimumab with nivolumab combination therapy; however, after two cycles of administration, he developed arthralgia and swelling of the knee. Furthermore, he developed diarrhea almost simultaneously, resulting in the interruption of the ipilimumab plus nivolumab treatment. We diagnosed arthritis and colitis with immune-related adverse events (irAE) and initiated steroid therapy with rehabilitation. His condition improved dramatically, and nivolumab treatment could be resumed after 3 months of treatment interruption.

High platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in triple-negative breast cancer associates with immunosuppressive status of TILs.

BACKGROUND: Rating lymphocytes (TILs) are a prognostic marker in breast cancer and high TIL infiltration correlates with better patient outcomes. Meanwhile, parameters involving immune cells in peripheral blood have also been established as prognostic markers. High platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (PLRs) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) are related to poor outcomes in breast cancer, but their mechanisms remain unknown. To date, TILs and these parameters have been examined separately. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between TILs and the peripheral blood markers, PLR and NLR, in the same patients, using surgical specimens from 502 patients with invasive breast carcinoma without preoperative chemotherapy. For analysis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patient outcomes, 59 patients who received preoperative chemotherapy were also examined. For immune cell profiling, multiplexed fluorescent immunohistochemistry (mfIHC) of CD3, CD4, CD8, FOXP3 and T-bet, was conducted. RESULTS: A positive correlation between PLR and TIL was observed in TNBC (P = 0.013). On mfIHC, tumors in patients with high PLR and NLR contained more CD3+CD4+FOXP3+ T-cells (P = 0.049 and 0.019, respectively), while no trend was observed in CD8+ T-cells. TNBC patients had different patterns of outcomes according to TIL and PLR, with the TIL-high/PLR-low group having the lowest rate of disease relapse and death, and the longest distant metastasis-free and overall survivals, while the TIL-low/PLR-high group had the shortest survivals. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the combination of PLR with TIL assessment may enable more accurate prediction of patient outcomes with TNBC.

Pretreatment tumour immune microenvironment predicts clinical response and prognosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy setting.

BACKGROUND: We examined the relationship between the tumour microenvironment and the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with cT2-4aN0M0 bladder cancer using multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry. METHODS: The study retrospectively evaluated 51 patients who underwent radical cystectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for cT2-4aN0M0 muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Patients were divided into responders (

Immune microenvironment, homologous recombination deficiency, and therapeutic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer: Japan Breast Cancer Research Group (JBCRG)22 TR.

BACKGROUND: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a biologically diverse disease, with characteristics such as homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), gene mutation, and immune reactions. Japan Breast Cancer Research Group 22 is a multicenter trial examining TNBC's response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) according to the HRD status. This translational research investigated the clinical significance of the immune microenvironment of TNBC in association with HRD, tumor BRCA1/2 (tBRCA1/2) mutation, and response to NAC. METHODS: Patients aged below 65 years with high HRD or germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA1/2) mutation randomly received paclitaxel + carboplatin (group A1) or eribulin + carboplatin (A2), followed by anthracycline. Patients aged below 65 years with low HRD or those aged 65 years or older without gBRCA1/2 mutation randomly received eribulin + cyclophosphamide (B1) or eribulin + capecitabine (B2); nonresponders to the first four cycles of the therapy received anthracycline. A pathological complete response (pCR) was defined as the absence of residual cancer cells in the tissues. Pretreatment biopsy specimens were stained by multiplexed fluorescent immunohistochemistry using antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, Foxp3, CD204, and pan-cytokeratin. Immune cells with specific phenotypes were counted per mm2 in cancer cell nests (intratumor) and stromal regions. The immune cell densities were compared with clinicopathological and genetic factors including tumor response. RESULTS: This study analyzed 66 samples. T1 tumors had a significantly higher density of intratumoral CD8+ T cells than T2 or larger tumors. The tBRCA1/2 mutation or HRD status was not associated with the density of any immune cell. The density of intratumoral and stromal CD4+ T cells was higher in patients showing pCR than in those without pCR. In a multivariate analysis, intratumoral and stromal CD4+ T cell density significantly predicted pCR independent of age, chemotherapy dose, HRD status, and treatment groups (P = 0.009 and 0.0057, respectively). In a subgroup analysis, the predictive value of intratumoral and stromal CD4+ T cell density persisted in the platinum-containing chemotherapy group (A1+A2) but not in the non-platinum-containing group (B1+B2). CONCLUSIONS: Intratumoral and stromal CD4+ T cell density was an independent predictor of pCR in patients with TNBC. A larger study is warranted to confirm the results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000023162.

[The Analysis of Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy].

The relationship between the tumor microenvironment and the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is unclear in patients with cT2-4aN0M0 muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We examined the tumor microenvironment in these patients via multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry. This comprehensive analysis of the immune microenvironment of a muscle- invasive bladder cancer specimen revealed that preexisting tumor-infiltrating proliferating CD8+ T cells and CD204+ cells are indicators of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and that CD204+ cells can be considered an unfavorable prognostic factor in these patients.

Plasma cell infiltration and treatment effect in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL)-high breast tumours have a high rate of pathological complete response (pCR) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In our routine pathological diagnoses of biopsy specimens from pCR cases, we have observed a high infiltration of plasma cells (PCs). A positive correlation of PCs with favourable patient outcome has recently been reported, but little is known about how PCs contribute to local tumour immunity. METHODS: We retrospectively examined biopsy specimens from 146 patients with invasive breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CD138+ PC infiltration was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Multiplexed fluorescent immunohistochemistry (mfIHC) with T and B cell markers was also conducted to elucidate the profile of immune cells. RESULTS: Greater PC infiltration was observed in the pCR group (p = 0.028) and this trend was confirmed in another patient cohort. With mfIHC, we observed significantly more CD8+, T-bet+CD4+, and CD8+FOXP3+ T cells, total B cells and PCs in pCR cases. Such cases were also characterised by high expression of both PD-1 and PD-L1 on B cells and PCs. In patients with hormone receptor-negative tumours, high PC infiltration was correlated with significantly longer disease-free survival (p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: We found that higher PC infiltration in biopsy specimens before neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with pCR. With mfIHC, we also revealed that the local cytotoxic immune response was clearly enhanced in pCR cases, as was the infiltration of B cells including PCs. Moreover, higher PC levels were correlated with favourable outcomes in hormone receptor-negative breast cancer patients.

Histological characteristics of lung adenocarcinoma with uncommon actionable alterations: special emphasis on MET exon 14 skipping alterations.

AIMS: In the evolving era of precision medicine, increasing emphasis is placed on detecting molecular alterations driving the development of specific cancers and targeting them with matched therapies that can yield the best outcomes for patients. Lung adenocarcinomas with uncommon actionable alterations, including MET exon 14 skipping (METex14), ERBB2 and BRAF mutations, are rare and poorly characterised cancers. METHODS AND RESULTS: To more clearly understand the histopathological features of lung adenocarcinoma with uncommon actionable alterations, we compared the histological features of 678 cases with mitogenic driver alterations from 996 surgically resected lung adenocarcinomas. Genomic data from our cohort revealed METex14, ERBB2 and BRAF mutations in 13, 16 and 15 cases, respectively. Patients who had lung adenocarcinoma with METex14 were often elderly females. Histological features such as clear cell features (23%), hyaline globules (31%) and nuclear pleomorphism (39%) were the most frequently identified in METex14-positive cases; among those, three cases (23%) had tumour cells with bizarre giant or multilobulated nuclei. Additionally, the micropapillary pattern was the most frequently identified in ERBB2-mutated lung adenocarcinoma (31%). Lung adenocarcinoma with BRAF mutations tended to be less invasive, and the BRAF V600E mutation was identified in only one case with lepidic adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemically, all METex14, ERBB2 and BRAF-positive tumours, except for invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma, were positive for thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1). CONCLUSIONS: Our data from Japanese patients showed that lung adenocarcinoma with METex14 had unique clinicopathological characteristics: tumour cells with marked nuclear pleomorphism, hyaline globules and expression of TTF-1 in elderly women who never or lightly smoked.

Prognostic outcomes and safety in patients treated with pembrolizumab for advanced urothelial carcinoma: experience in real-world clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic outcomes and safety following treatment with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) have not been fully elucidated in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncological efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy in Japanese patients with advanced UC in a routine clinical setting. METHODS: This retrospective study included 41 consecutive Japanese patients with advanced UC treated with pembrolizumab as second-line or greater therapy at Iwate Medical University Hospital from January 2018 to April 2019. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 6.2 months. The objective response rate, median progression-free survival, and median overall survival were 15%, 2.5 months, and 11.9 months, respectively. Univariate analysis identified poor performance status (> 1), liver metastasis, two or more metastatic organs, low hemoglobin levels, two or more prior regimens, high baseline C-reactive protein levels, higher relative C-reactive protein level change after 6 weeks, and higher relative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio change after 6 weeks as significant predictors of overall survival. Among these factors, poor performance status (> 1), two or more metastatic organs, and higher relative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio change after 6 weeks were identified as independent predictors of overall survival in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of pembrolizumab can result in favorable cancer control outcomes in Japanese patients with advanced UC, and the prognosis of these patients can be stratified according to three potential parameters, including poor performance status, high number of metastatic organs, and higher relative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio change.

Predictive factors for short-term biochemical recurrence-free survival after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in high-risk prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the short-term oncological outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy to determine the predictive factors associated with biochemical recurrence in high-risk prostate cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 331 patients with localized prostate cancer underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Of them, 113 patients were diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer according to the D'Amico risk group classification. We evaluated the association between pre- or postoperative predictive factors and biochemical recurrence using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The 2-year biochemical recurrence-free survival rate was 65.0% in the high-risk group. On univariate analyses, PSA level > 20 ng/mL, Gleason pattern 5 component on biopsy, pathological stage T3 or higher, perineural invasion, and positive surgical margin were predictive factors for biochemical recurrence. On multivariate analysis, PSA level > 20 ng/mL, Gleason pattern 5 component on biopsy, perineural invasion, and positive surgical margin were identified as independent predictive factors. The 2-year biochemical recurrence-free survival rate was 36.5% for patients with PSA level > 20 ng/mL and/or Gleason pattern 5 component on biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: PSA level > 20 ng/mL and/or presence of the Gleason pattern 5 component on biopsy are predictive factors for early biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in high-risk prostate cancer patients. We considered that these patients require a combined modality therapy to improve their prognosis.

Single-stage laparoscopic surgery for bilateral organ tumors using a transumbilical approach with a zigzag incision: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Reduced port laparoscopic surgery (RPLS) is comparable to conventional multiport laparoscopic surgery and has the potential to provide improved cosmesis and decreased pain; as such, it satisfies a growing demand for less invasive surgical procedures. Moreover, a zigzag incision of the umbilicus results in a less visible scar in plastic surgery. Here we report a series of two cases with bilateral organ tumors treated by single-stage RPLS using a combination of a transumbilical approach and a zigzag incision. CASE PRESENTATION: Case 1: A 63-year-old man was diagnosed with right renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (clear cell carcinoma, pT1a, venous invasion (-)) and a splenic tumor (cavernous hemangioma). Case 2: An 84-year-old woman was diagnosed with concurrent left RCC (clear cell carcinoma, pT1b, 65 × 65 mm, venous invasion (+)) and ascending colon cancer (adenocarcinoma pT3 with no nodal involvement (0/48)). The perioperative course was uneventful in both cases. However, an additional incision was required in Case 2 for specimen excision. Therefore, the scars were more obvious in Case 2 than in Case 1. CONCLUSIONS: Although more cases are required to evaluate the superiority of this technique, this novel procedure could be considered for patients with bilateral lesions.

Appropriate preoperative membranous urethral length predicts recovery of urinary continence after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: We investigated that preoperative membranous urethral length (MUL) would be associated with the recovery of urinary continence after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 204 patients who underwent RALP between May 2013 and March 2016. All patients underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preoperatively to measure MUL. Urinary continence was defined as the use of one pad or less (safety pad). The 204 patients were divided into two groups: continence group, those who achieved recovery of continence at 3, 6, and 12 months after RALP, and incontinence group, those who did not. We retrospectively analyzed the patients in terms of preoperative clinical factors including age, body mass index (BMI), estimated prostate volume, neurovascular bundle salvage, history of preoperative hormonal therapy, and MUL. RESULTS: The safety pad use rate was 69.6%, 86.9%, and 91.1% at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. On univariate and multivariate analyses, MUL were significant factors in every term of recovery of urinary continence in both groups. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the preoperative MUL that could best predict early recovery of urinary continence at 3 months after RALP was 12 mm. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that preoperative MUL > 12 mm would be a predictor of early recovery of urinary continence after RALP.

Case of complete response to neoadjuvant therapy using nivolumab in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Here, we report a case of a 68-year-old woman with cT4N0M1 (liver invasion and multiple lung metastases) metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We could carry out less invasive nephrectomy with partial hepatectomy because nivolumab administration as second-line therapy reduced the primary tumor remarkably. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of nivolumab before carrying out surgery, and histological findings showed a pathological complete response.

[A Case of Renal Pelvic Cancer with Acquired Hemophilia and Leukemoid Reaction].

A 71-year-old man was referred to us with a right renal mass that was discovered by computed tomography (CT) examination for acquired hemophilia and leukemoid reaction. He presented with persistent low-grade fever and purpura on the lower legs caused by acquired hemophilia. Contrastenhanced CT scan showed a right renal tumor 6.0×7.4 cm in diameterwith inhomogeneous enhancement. The result of his urine cytology was negative. After improvement of his coagulation by treatment with immunosuppressants and steroids, he underwent open nephrectomy. Histology of renal tissue revealed urothelial carcinoma (G3, pT4, N1). After surgery, his complete blood counts and coagulation improved without administration of immunosuppressants and steroids. Therefore, he was diagnosed with renal pelvic cancer with acquired hemophilia and leukemoid reaction.

A case of postoperative pancreatitis in patients with renal cell carcinoma with an inferior vena cava tumor thrombus treated by presurgical lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab.

Pancreatic injury is a rare, but noted complication of nephrectomy. We report a case involving a 56-year-old man who presented with cT3bN0M0 left locally advanced renal cell carcinoma with an inferior vena cava thrombus. Nephrectomy with thrombectomy was performed given the remarkable shrinkage of the primary tumor and thrombus following lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab administration. The patient developed postoperative pancreatitis associated with unrecognized minor pancreatic injury, which was treated conservatively. To our knowledge, this has been the first case that underwent nephrectomy for RCC with an IVC thrombus after presurgical lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab and received conservative treatment for postoperative pancreatitis.

A case of complete response to avelumab plus axitinib combination therapy for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma in a kidney undergoing dialysis.

Introduction: Combination therapies of immune checkpoint and tyrosine kinase inhibitors for end-stage kidney disease and patients on hemodialysis need careful consideration as few case reports provide suitable management decisions. Case presentation: A 70-year-old man who had undergone hemodialysis for 6 years due to nephrosclerosis. Avelumab plus axitinib combination therapy was performed for repeated lung metastasis, and a complete response was achieved without major side effects. Conclusion: A complete response was achieved after Ave plus Axi combination therapy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma in a patient undergoing dialysis. This suggests that Ave plus Axi combination therapy may be safe and effective for dialysis patients.