Focused ultrasound and prostate cancer

Focused ultrasound (FUS) has been utilized for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Initially, FUS was performed as a whole-gland treatment comparable to radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. However, after overall downward stage migration due to health screening programs involving prostate-specific antigen testing, as well as advances in conservative or observative strategies such as active surveillance, FUS has evolved from a whole-gland treatment to a focal treatment. This new treatment technique aims to ablate tumors while preserving the normal prostate tissue, thereby ensuring better preservation of urinary and erectile function. In this article, we review the mechanism and clinical outcomes of the FUS procedure.

Application of the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Risk Models in Patients with Metastatic Non-Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Study Using the Korean Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Registry / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) risk models were developed predominantly with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Accordingly, whether these two models could be applied to metastatic non-clear cell RCC (mNCCRCC) as well has not been well-known and was investigated herein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the Korean metastatic RCC registry, a total of 156 patients (8.1%) with mNCCRCC among the entire cohort of 1,922 patients were analyzed. Both models were applied to predict first-line progression-free survival (PFS), total PFS, and cancer-specific survival (CSS). RESULTS: The median first-line PFS, total PFS, and CSS were 5, 6, and 24 months, respectively. The IMDC risk model reliably discriminated three risk groups to predict survival: the median first-line PFS, total PFS, and CSS for the favorable, intermediate, and poor risk groups were 9, 5, and, 2 months (p=0.001); 14, 7, and 2 months (p < 0.001); and 41, 21, and 8 months (p < 0.001), all respectively. The MSKCC risk model also reliably differentiated three risk groups: 9, 5, and, 2 months (p=0.005); 10, 7, and 3 months (p=0.002); and 50, 21, and 8 months (p < 0.001), also all respectively. The concordance indices were 0.632 with the IMDC model and 0.643 with the MSKCC model for first-line PFS: 0.748 and 0.655 for CSS. CONCLUSION: The current IMDC and MSKCC risk models reliably predict first-line PFS, total PFS, and CSS in mNCCRCC.

Elevated Ki-67 (MIB-1) Expression as an Independent Predictor for Poor Prognosis After Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer

PURPOSE: We tried to investigate the clinical impact of Ki-67 (MIB-1) expression on the oncological and survival outcomes in patients with bladder cancer (BCa) after the radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 230 patients who were treated by radical cystectomy for BCa. Multivariate Cox-proportional hazards models and logistic regression tests were performed to evaluate the prognostic value of each variable. RESULTS: The patients with positive Ki-67 expression showed significant worse clinical characteristics and pathologic outcomes than negative Ki-67 group. Furthermore, the patients with Ki-67 expression showed significant worse recurrence (p=0.018) and cancer-specific mortality free survival (p=0.019) than negative Ki-67 group. The overall survival was also revealed to be inferior in Ki-67 positive group than Ki-67 negative group but the statistical significance was marginal (p=0.062). Subsequent multivariate Cox analyses showed that Ki-67 was independent predictor for disease recurrence after surgery (hazard ratio, 3.142; 95% CI, 1.287–7.671; p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, high Ki-67 expression was significantly related with worse clinical outcomes after radical cystectomy in the patients with BCa. Further prospective and basic researches are needed to validate the true prognostic value of Ki-67.

Comparisons between Standard and Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissections During Radical Cystectomy in Patients with Bladder Cancer: Emphasis on Staging Ability and Perioperative Complications

PURPOSE: We compared the staging ability and early complications of standard and extended pelvic lymph node dissection (sPLND and ePLND, respectively) in patients with localized bladder cancer during radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively collected and analyzed the data of 261 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for localized bladder cancer. The resected lymph nodes were categorized according to anatomic locations and were carefully inspected by an experienced pathologist. The perioperative complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo classification system. RESULTS: The 2 groups showed no significant differences in preoperative characteristics except for preoperative clinical stage (p=0.015). There were no significant differences in pathologic outcomes including pathologic stage, positive surgical margin, and lymphovascular invasion (all p>0.05), but the sPLND group showed a significantly higher cellular grade (p<0.001). The ePLND group showed a higher number of removed lymph nodes than the sPLND group (p=0.015) and a higher rate of positive lymph node invasion (35.8% vs. 28.9%). There were no significant differences in complication rates according to the extent of lymph dissection and urinary diversion type, respectively (p=0.063 and p=0.486). CONCLUSIONS: The ePLND showed more accurate nodal staging ability with comparable complication rates when compared to sPLND in patients who underwent radical cystectomy for localized bladder cancer. A further, larger prospective study is needed to confirm the result of the present study.

Epidemiology of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Emphasis on the Status in Korea

A comprehensive and correct understanding of epidemiologic finding about lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is important for several reasons. First, LUTS are highly prevalent in both genders all around the world and are expected to be a major concern to physicians in the near future because of the rapid rise in the elderly population. Second, it is crucial to observe trends in prevalence when national health care policy is established. By using a Medline search with various terms related to LUTS and prevalence, a review of epidemiologic studies was undertaken with an emphasis on the status in Korea. Despite the suggestions made by the International Continence Society, the lack of uniform definitions and the lack of a unified threshold of symptoms are the biggest obstacles in epidemiologic study with regard to LUTS. Most Korean epidemiologic studies on LUTS have been reported since 2000 and reveal that the prevalences of specific clinical conditions, such as LUTS, benign prostatic hyperplasia, overactive bladder, and detrusor underactivity, are in line with prevalences in Western counties. However, the prevalence of nocturia is somewhat different from that in Western countries. Many epidemiologic studies of LUTS have provided us with valuable information and a better understanding of the clinical conditions. Given that the impact of these clinical conditions on quality of life and health care cost will be emphasized more in the near future, more studies on optimal management approaches to LUTS are needed on the basis of this knowledge.

Changes in Bladder Wall Thickness and Detrusor Wall Thickness After Surgical Treatment of Benign Prostatic Enlargement in Patients With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Preliminary Report

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the perioperative changes in bladder wall thickness and detrusor wall thickness after transurethral prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one men who were treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptoms with transurethral prostatectomy were prospectively analyzed from May 2012 to July 2013. Prostate size, detrusor wall thickness, and bladder wall thickness were assessed by transrectal and transabdominal ultrasonography perioperatively. All postoperative evaluations were performed 1 month after the surgery. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 69.0 years, the mean prostate-specific antigen concentration was 8.1 ng/mL, and the mean prostate volume was 63.2 mL. The mean bladder wall thickness was 5.1 mm (standard deviation [SD], +/-1.6), 5.1 mm (SD, +/-1.6), and 5.0 mm (SD, +/-1.4) preoperatively and 4.5 mm (SD, +/-1.5), 4.5 mm (SD, +/-1.3), and 4.6 mm (SD, +/-1.2) postoperatively in the anterior wall, dome, and trigone, respectively (p=0.178, p=0.086, and p=0.339, respectively). The mean detrusor wall thickness was 0.9 mm (SD, +/-0.4) preoperatively and 0.7 mm (SD, +/-0.3) postoperatively (p=0.001). A subgroup analysis stratifying patients into a large prostate group (weight, > or =45 g) and a high Abrams-Griffiths number group (>30) showed a significant decrease in detrusor wall thickness (p=0.002, p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: There was a decrease in detrusor wall thickness after transurethral prostatectomy. The large prostate group and the high Abrams-Griffiths number group showed a significant decrease in detrusor wall thickness after surgery.