Prognostic model using postoperative normalization of C-reactive protein levels in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma treated with radical nephroureterectomy.

INTRODUCTION: To improve the prediction of outcomes in patients who will undergo radical nephroureterectomy (RN U) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), we investigated the preoperative prognostic factors and developed a risk classification model. METHODS: A total of 144 patients who underwent RNU with history of neither neoadjuvant nor adjuvant chemotherapy between 2008 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Associations between perioperative/clinicopathologic factors and outcomes, including cancer-specific survival (CSS), were assessed. We specifically focused on preoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and its postoperative normalization. RESULTS: Non-normalization of postoperative serum CRP level and pathologic T3 stage were identified as independent predictive factors of shorter CSS in univariate and multivariate analysis (p=0.0150 and 0.0037, hazard ratio: 3.628 and 4.470, respectively). We classified the patients into three groups using these factors and found that five-year CSS was 88%, 42.5%, and 0% in the low-risk group (zero factors), intermediate-risk group (one factor), and high-risk group (two factors), respectively (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Non-normalization of postoperative serum CRP level and pathologic T stage were identified as independent postoperative prognostic factors in patients with UTUC who underwent RNU. These factors can stratify three prognostic groups and may help urologists in clinical decision-making for adjuvant therapy.

Multidisciplinary treatment for small cell carcinoma of the bladder: a case report.

Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the urinary bladder is a rare and highly aggressive subtype of bladder cancer. Most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, and its therapeutic strategy remains unestablished. Here, we report a case of bladder SCC in which multidisciplinary treatment has resulted in relatively long-term survival. A 68-year-old man presented with gross hematuria. A cystoscopy revealed an invasive bladder tumor. A transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) was performed, and the pathological diagnosis was SCC. After systemic chemotherapy using etoposide and carboplatin and subsequent TURBT, a radical cystectomy and ileal conduit were performed. Three months postoperatively, the patient had a recurrence in the para-aortic lymph node. Systemic combination chemotherapy with carboplatin plus irinotecan (CBDCA + CPT-11) was administered, followed by amrubicin and an immune checkpoint inhibitor. In addition to this treatment, radiation therapy for the metastatic region led to the reduction of pain and shrinkage of the metastatic lesion. The patient survived for 2 years after the initial diagnosis. Our report indicates that multidisciplinary treatment can be effective for SCC of the bladder, and a therapeutic strategy including the identification of novel biomarkers should be established.

Ureteral obstruction following transurethral resection of bladder cancer within the Hutch's diverticulum.

Here, we report a rare case of bladder cancer within the left congenital periureteral diverticulum, termed the Hutch's diverticulum. Following transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, repeated pyelonephritis was caused by stricture of the diverticulum orifice and ureter. We attempted transurethral dilation and ureteral stenting, but the obstruction did not improve. The patient's renal dysfunction showed gradual progression due to recurrent left pyelonephritis as well as the ureteral obstruction. Therefore, we finally performed a partial cystectomy, involving stricture and ureteral reimplantation. No tumor recurrence was observed over 39 months, and renal dysfunction did not progress following partial cystectomy.

Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma in real-world clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) using regimens including gemcitabine and platinum on the improvement of the prognosis of patients with locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) has been recently demonstrated. This study aimed to determine the utility of ACT for patients with locally advanced UTUC in real-world clinical practice and the differences in efficacy among regimens. METHODS: Of 206 UTUC patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy, 78 were pathologically diagnosed as T3 or higher and/or had pathologically identified lymph node metastasis; 36 in the ACT group and 42 in the non-ACT group were evaluated for patient background, recurrence, and prognosis. In the ACT group, either cisplatin (GC group, 12 cases) or carboplatin (GCa group, 24 cases) was administered as the platinum agent to be combined with gemcitabine. RESULT: The median patient age in the ACT group and that in the non-ACT group was 71 and 79 years, respectively (p<0.0001). There was no significant difference between these two groups in terms of other patient parameters. The two- and five-year cancer-specific survival (CSS ) and the two- and five-year disease-free survival (DFS) for the ACT group were 81.7%, 66.0%, 60.6%, and 56.6%, respectively, and for the non-ACT group were 68.4%, 40.5%, 42.8%, and 29.3%, respectively (p=0.0399 for CSS and p=0.0814 for DFS). There was no significant difference in CSS and DFS between the GC group and GCa group (p=0.9846 and p=0.9389, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In real-world clinical practice in Japan, UTUC patients who receive ACT after radical nephroureterectomy may be expected to have better cancer control than those who do not receive ACT.

Peritoneal and pulmonary tuberculosis following intravesical administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin for bladder cancer.

We report a rare case of peritoneal and pulmonary tuberculosis after intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). A 76-year-old man diagnosed as high-grade urothelial carcinoma (UC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) was treated with intravesical BCG instillation and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT). Three months later, TUR-BT for recurrent tumors and multiple site biopsy of bladder mucosa were performed. During TUR-BT, near perforation in the posterior wall was observed, and was disappeared after observation with urethral catheterization for 1 week. Two weeks later, he was admitted with a complaint of abdominal distention, and a computed tomography (CT) showed ascites. One week later, CT showed pleural effusion and worsening of ascites. Drainage of pleural effusion and ascites puncture was performed, and elevated adenosine deaminase (ADA) and lymphocytes count were subsequently found. In laparoscopic examination, numerous white nodules were observed in the peritoneum and omentum, and Langhans giant cells were pathologically identified in biopsy specimens. Mycobacterium culture confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The patient was then diagnosed with pulmonary and peritoneal tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculous agents consisting of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFP), and ethambutol (EB) were administered. Six months later, a CT scan showed no evidence of pleural effusion or ascites. There has been no recurrence of either urothelial cancer or tuberculosis during follow-up for 2 years.

Clinical Risk Factors for Death Caused by Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase: Producing Bacteria.

OBJECTIVES: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria often causes bacteremia, leading serious outcomes. In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis to identify the risk factors associated with death by bacteremia of ESBL-producing bacteria. METHODS: Patients with bacteremia by ESBL-producing bacteria were retrospectively collected in Kobe University Hospital, Japan, between January 2011 and December 2015. Potential risk factors for death caused by ESBL-bacteremia were analyzed for patients' outcome (recovery or death) by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients (64 male and 37 female) were recruited. The most frequently detected ESBL-producing bacteria were Escherichia coli (91 cases; 90.1%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (8 cases; 7.9%). Most frequently used antibiotics after the detection of bacteremia was meropenem (66.3%; 67/101) followed by cefmetazole (51.5%; 52/101). Univariate analysis showed a significantly positive correlation with mortality in ICU admission (p < 0.001), circulatory diseases (p = 0.022), shock (p = 0.044), and respirator requirement (p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis showed ICU admission remained significant risk factor for mortality (p = 0.0192). CONCLUSIONS: We showed ICU admission was significantly correlated with death from bacteremia by ESBL-producing bacteria. These factors should be monitored to estimate severity of ESBL causing-bacteremia for better patients' outcomes.