Evaluation of urinary level of NMP22 as a diagnostic marker for stage pTa-pT1 bladder cancer: comparison with urinary cytology and BTA test.

BACKGROUND: In the present study we compared the clinical value of two new specific tests for transitional cell carcinoma, urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) levels and bladder tumor antigen (BTA) test, with that of urinary cytology in the follow-up of patients with superficial bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hundred and five bladder cancer patients were recruited: 30 stage pTa and 45 stage pT1 (group A), and 30 with a history of bladder cancer but no recurrence at the time of the study (group B). Urine samples were collected before any instrumental manipulation of the genitourinary tract. All patients were negative for urinary tract infections at conventional urine analysis. RESULTS: NMP22 at a cutoff value of 6 U/ml showed a sensitivity of 83.3% in pTa cases and 97.7% in pT1 cases, with a false-positive rate of 23.3%. The BTA test was positive in 26.6% of patients with cancer stage pTa and in 66.6% of pT1 stage, with 30% false-positives in the non-neoplastic group. Urinary cytology, performed on three consecutive samples, was positive in 20% of patients with cancer stage pTa and in 64.4% of pT1 stage and did not show any false-positive cases. Stratifying the neoplastic patients according to lesion grade, NMP22 (at a cutoff value of 6 U/ml) was positive in 86.2% of G1, 97.2% of G2 and 90% of G3. BTA was positive in 37.9, 52.7 and 70% of G1, G2 and G3, respectively, while urinary cytology was positive in 37.9, 44.4 and 80%.

[Conservative treatment of renal cell carcinoma: framework, incidence and classification]. / La terapia conservativa nel carcinoma renale: inquadramento, incidenza e classificazione.

Recent interest in nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma has been stimulated by advances in diagnostic imaging, following an increasing number of incidentally discovered low stage renal cell carcinoma and good long term survival in patients undergoing this form of treatment. Tosaka et al reported a 5-years survival of 94.7% in patients with incidental renal cell carcinoma compared with 60.9% in diagnosed because symptomatic. Along with a diagnosis of carcinoma more and more premature, a whole string of little lesions is present, not easily identifiable by the recent diagnostic imaging. Tosaka and others examined renal lesions going by the ultrasonography as a check-up or as a first frame in patients suffering from microscopic hematuria; they proved that neoplastic lesions represent 5.4% of all the masses identifiable by diagnostic imaging. The frequent discovery of limited carcinoma, the difficulty in the diagnostic attribution and demonstration of the good survival of patients who were treated by a nephron sparing surgery, added to the one of patients undergone to radical nephrectomy, caused an interest in nephron-sparing surgery for incidental renal carcinoma also for patients with normal controlateral kidney and not very extended tumors, usually in peripheral sites. At the moment record of cases concerning nephron sparing surgery is quite limited, any way it shows a survival equal to 90% with only two local recurrences, reported only in one experience and caused by an incomplete resection or by multicentric neoplastic lesions.

Variation in nocturnal urinary excretion of melatonin in a group of patients older than 55 years suffering from urogenital tract disorders.

Melatonin (MLT) is directly or indirectly related to cell growth (both of normal and neoplastic cells), to the immune system stimulation and to the endocrine system modulation. This controlled study was carried out to evaluate urinary excretion of MLT in patients suffering from urogenital tract disorders. Eighty-one patients affected by urogenital disorders were divided in two groups (neoplastic and non-neoplastic) and urinary excretion of MLT was evaluated. Mean diurnal (from 8 a.m. to p.m.) urinary excretion of MLT was 4.97 + 6.08 pg/12 h in non-oncologic patients and 4.82 + 6.21 pg/12 h in oncologic patients (p = 0.50). Mean nocturnal (from 8 p.m. at 8 a.m.) urinary excretion of MLT was 11.97 + 9.34 pg/12 h in non-oncologic patients while in oncologic patients it was 7.86 + 8.95 pg/12 h. Statistically significant variation in nocturnal urinary excretion of melatonin was observed in oncologic patients (p = 0.022) versus non oncologic patients.

[Orthotopic ileal neobladder: urodynamic and metabolic aspects. Our experience]. / Neovescica ileale ortotopica: aspetti urodinamici e metabolici. Nostra esperienza.

We subjected to a functional and metabolic evaluation (urodynamic examination + cystography) 10 patients underwent to radical cystectomy with a ileal orthotopic reservoir (VIP) for bladder cancer. At the moment patients have a minimum 3-years follow-up and they are out of disease. The medium capacity of the reservoir is about 447 ml, with a low pressure flow, a medium pressure of ureteral closing of 62.5 cm of H2O. At the cystography neither ureteral reflux nor post miction residuum have been proved. All the patients are continent, with the exception of one patient suffering from episodes of nocturnal enuresis. The metabolic evaluation hasn't proved substantial changes except the presence of hypocitraturia in the only patient in metabolic acidosis. In conclusion the ileal orthotopic reservoir showed a good long-term functionality without considerable complication of metabolism.

[pT1G3 bladder carcinoma: our experience]. / Carcinoma vescicale pT1G3: nostra esperienza.

Approximately 6 to 23% of the patients with transitional cell carcinoma confined to the superficial mucosa of the bladder suffer for a pT1G3 tumor. Between 1984 and 1994, 12 patients were treated for high grade stage T1 tumores. Trans-urethral resection of the bladder cancer was performed in 8 patients, supported in two cases by immunotherapy with B.C.G. and in one case by endovesical chemotherapy. Radical cystectomy was carried out in 4 patients. Our results are similar to what reported by other Authors, but we didn't have any progression in all 8 patients treated with conservative therapy.

[Interferon and vinblastine in presumably operable metastases of renal carcinoma]. / Interferone e vinblastina nelle metastasi presumibilmente operabili da carcinoma renale.

From January 1987 to December 1990, 14 consecutive patients with resectable metastases from renal cell carcinoma, underwent 3 cycles of preoperative alpha-2a Interferon (INF), 18 MUI s.c. 3 times a week, and Vinblastine (VLB), 0.15 mg/kg on day 1, every 21, days. Out of the 13 patients who completed the treatment, 4 (30.7%) achieved a clinical response (1 CR and 3 PR). Nine (69.3%) patients were submitted to surgery: all, including the CRer, had residual cancer and only 4 were radically resected. The latter were further submitted to 3 INF and VLB cycles: 2 relapsed after 7 and respectively 30 months, whilst 2 (15.4%) are alive disease-free at 12 and 52 months respectively.

Dexamethasone plus ondansetron versus dexamethasone plus alizapride in the prevention of emesis induced by cisplatin-containing chemotherapies for urological cancers.

Thirty-six consecutive patients, who were to be treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy for testicular or bladder cancer, underwent a single-blind randomized study to compare the antiemetic therapies with dexamethasone (DEX)+ondansetron (OND) and DEX + alizapride (ALI). Eighteen patients were assigned to each arm. DEX, 20 mg in 100 ml saline was administered i.v. 30 min prior to cisplatin, OND, 8 mg, or ALI, 100 mg in 100 ml saline were administered i.v. 15 min prior to cisplatin and repeated 4 and eventually 8 h later. Chemotherapy regimens contained cisplatin 25 mg/m2 for 4 consecutive days to be repeated for 4 courses every 4 weeks. During the first course a complete emetic control was observed in 15 (83%) and partial in 3 of the 18 patients treated with DEX + OND versus only 2 complete and 7 partial responses and 9 (50%) failures among the 18 patients treated with DEX + ALI. Thirty-one patients were evaluable for 4 courses of therapy. Complete emetic control was achieved in 11 (69%) and partial in 5 (31%) among the 16 patients treated with DEX + OND, versus only 1 (7%) partial response and 14 (93%) failures among the 15 treated with DEX + ALI (p < 0.001). Furthermore, DEX + OND gave a complete antiemetic control in 13 out of 14 patients who had failed DEX + ALI. Delayed vomiting was observed in 4 (22%) of 18 patients primarily treated with DEX + OND and in 1 (7%) of the 15 patients subsequently treated. Constipation and headache occurred more frequently among patients treated with DEX + OND, but there was no significant difference with DEX + ALI. Hiccup was significantly more frequent among patients treated with DEX + ALI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Chemotherapy of urologic metastases]. / Chemioterapia nelle metastasi urologiche.

Antiblastic chemotherapy of the urological tumors proves to be effective in germ-cell testicular tumor, in bladder cancer and in penis cancer, while a real effective anti-cancer therapy for prostatic and renal cell cancer has not found yet. There is not a significant difference between BVP and BEP regimens as first-line treatments of the good risk germ-cell testicular tumors. On the contrary BEP showed a lower toxicity and an higher efficacy in the treatment of the poor risk patients. Considering salvage therapies, PEI regimen proves to be as the most effective, also in the management of patients pretreated with BEP; high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplant is currently examined as third-line therapy. In the treatment of bladder cancer the most effective drugs are Methotrexate, Adriamycin, Vinblastine and Cyclophosphamide, that, when combined, are sensitively more efficacious. The different chemotherapies achieved elevated percentage of Complete and Partial Responses (CR+PR): however these results are maintained in only 10% of the cases. So far the aim of the last studies is to improve the results both with a modification of posology and of the schedule of administration, and with the employ of growth-factors to reduce toxicity. An appreciable improvement in the treatment of locally advanced penis cancer has been achieved employing VBM regimen as adjuvant therapy, especially for patients with extrinsic lymph-nodal metastases, who underwent bilateral inguinal and iliac lymphadenectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Adjuvant chemotherapy]. / Chemioterapia adiuvante.

The authors treated 10 advanced renal cell carcinoma with circadian venous continuous infusion of 5-Fluoro 2-Deoxyuridine (FUDR). The drug was delivered by Medtronic Synchromed implantable pump in 14-day cycles alternating with 14-day intervals of physiologic saline infusion. Of the patient observed for at least 8 months (range: 8-32, median: 22.1) 1 showed progression. Circadian continuous central venous infusion of FUDR is minimally toxic. The FUDR can be delivered safely and conveniently in this way for long spans. This therapy is administrated in on entirely out patient setting, and associated with a normal quality of life.