Role of PSA Kinetics in Hormone-refractory Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the predictive effect of PSA derivatives and time markers that is prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time (PSADT) and PSA velocity (PSAV) on survival in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPCa). STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive, analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY:  Department of Urology, Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey, between 2012 and 2020. METHODOLOGY: One hundred patients, who were treated with prostate cancer, were subjected. The PSA values were noted, nadir PSA values were detected, times to nadir PSA, HRPCa, and follow-up times were recorded. PSADT and PSAV were calculated. The relationships between the groups were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate overall survival between the groups. RESULTS:  The patients were grouped according to the mean PSADT, median PSAV, median nadir PSA, and mean time to HRPCA. The survival of those with high PSADT, low PSAV and low nadir PSA were found to be significantly longer (p=0.006, p<0.001, p<0.001). High PSAV was also associated with significantly increased PSA, nadir PSA and death (p<0.001, p=0.47, and p<0.001, p=0.52, respectively). The survival of those with a longer time to HPRCa was found to be significantly longer (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of survival between patients who received chemotherapy after HRPCa and those who did not (p=0.477). PSAV (p=0.007 HR: 1.004 95% CI: 1.001 - 1.007), bone metastasis at diagnosis (p=0.001 HR: 0.357 95% CI: 0.197 - 0.645) and time to HRPCa development (p=0.001 HR: 0.936 95% CI: 0.900 - 0.974) were significantly effective to the survival.              Conclusion: PSADT, PSAV, and nadir PSA serve as independent prognostic markers for survival in patients with HRPCa. These three PSA derived calculation products, with the help of other parameters, could work as prognostic factors, and help clinicians predict survival in men with HRPCa. Key Words: PSA kinetics, Hormone-refractory prostate cancer, Survival, Prognostic factors.

Multiparametric MRI fusion-guided prostate biopsy in biopsy naive patients: Preliminary results from 80 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the early results of transrectal prostate biopsies performed under the guidance of multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in biopsy naive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Biopsy naive patients who had prostate-specific antigen level 4-10 ng/mL and/or abnormal digital rectal examination findings and provided informed consent were examined using mpMRI. The study included 80 patients with an MRI-defined lesion with a Prostate Imaging and Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) score of ≥3. All mpMRIs were reported by the same uro-radiologist according to PIRADS version 2. An MRI-targeted biopsy was performed by an ultrasonography system with rigid fusion registration software. The first two to five core biopsies per MRI-defined lesions were obtained, and then a standard random 12-core biopsy was performed. Transrectal biopsies were performed under local anesthesia or sedoanalgesia. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients, 29 (36.3%) were found to have cancer using the conventional 12-core biopsy, but only 20 (25%) were found to have prostate cancer using the MRI-targeted prostate biopsy. Combining the two biopsy methods (conventional+MRI-targeted), cancer detection rate increased to 43.8% (35/80 patients). The cancer detection rate using the combined method was statistically higher than that using the conventional biopsy method (p=0.03). Using the conventional biopsy method, 960 core biopsies were collected from 80 patients. Of the 960 core biopsies, 111 (11.6%) were found to be cancer. Further, 101 suspected lesions were detected using mpMRI in 80 patients. In addition, 397 core biopsies were obtained from these lesions. Of the 397 core biopsies, 62 (15.6%) were reported as prostate cancer. The core positivity rate of MR-targeted biopsy was statistically higher than that of conventional biopsy (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of MRI-targeted prostate biopsy combined with conventional biopsy suggested that the combined biopsy method was crucial in prostate cancer diagnosis especially in patients with prostate cancer suspicion and no biopsy history. However, larger sample prospective studies are needed to validate the effectiveness of MRI-targeted biopsy and combined biopsy methods.

Can neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and lymph node density be used as prognostic factors in patients undergoing radical cystectomy?

OBJECTIVE: To assessment the role of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and postoperative lymph node density in predicting prognosis in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Preoperatively, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts as well as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios were recorded in 201 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Patients with an infection were excluded. Based on the pathology reports, the number of positive lymph nodes was divided by the total number of lymph nodes to calculate lymph node density. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 37.22 ± 35.922 months in patients without lymph node involvement and 27.75 ± 31.501 months in those with lymph node involvement (P = 0.015). Median lymph node density was 17% (4-80) in patients with lymph node involvement. There was no difference according to lymph node density lower than 17% and greater than 17% (P = 0.336). There was no significant difference between patients with an NLR below or above 2.5 in terms of overall survival (P = 0.702). Pathological T stage was associated with survival (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer, lymph node density and preoperative NLR were not found to be independent predictors of prognosis.

The Treatment of Recurrent Urothelial Tumors of the Upper Urinary System and at Urostomy Site following Radical Cystectomy with Intraureteral Bacillus Calmette-Guérin and Cryotherapy.

Urinary bladder carcinoma is the second most common cancer of the urinary system. The recurrence rate in the upper urinary system (UUS) for urothelial cancers is around 3% following radical cystectomy. The followup generally consists of imaging studies and urinary cytology, although there are no prospective data on the frequency, the mode, and the duration of followup. In patients carefully selected according to risk factors, kidney-sparing minimally invasive methods (ureteroscopic procedures, percutaneous approach, and local drug instillation) appear as contemporary alternatives for low-grade and low-stage primary UUS. In this paper, we present the patient who underwent radical cystectomy with urinary diversion ureterocutaneostomy, was diagnosed with widespread bilateral UUS tumors and recurrent tumor at the urostomy site at active followup, for which he was given local Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and cryotherapy, and was followed by disease-free for 2 years thereafter.

Primary obstructive megaureter with giant ureteral stone: a case report.

A 19-year-old male patient was admitted with flank pain, which had lasted intermittently for four years. In X-ray, there was a radiopacity with a dimension of 6 × 4 cm on the left pelvic bone. Intravenous pyelography revealed a huge left megaureter with a stone in the lower end and grade V hydronephrosis. A left ureterolithotomy, left nipple ureteroneocystostomy, and psoas hitch operation was performed. A voiding cystourethrogram taken three months after the operation showed no reflux, and in IVP there was reduced dilatation of the collecting system when compared to the ureter before the operation.

Small cell prostate carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Small cell prostate cancer constitutes less than 1% of all prostate cancers and has a poor prognosis. A 60-year-old male patient presented with dysuria, pollakiuria, and nocturia of about 1-year duration.The total PSA level at admission was 47.50 ng/mL. The prostate needle biopsy result was reported as adenocarcinoma Gleason 5 + 3. The patient underwent transurethral prostate resection (TUR-P) and bilateral orchiectomy. The TUR-P pathology result was consistent with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. He was offered systemic chemotherapy but refused it. Examinations and tests at the third postoperative month showed diffuse liver metastasis and vertebral bone metastasis. He died at the 6 months after surgery.

Assessment of the effects of zoledronic Acid therapy on bone metabolic indicators in hormone-resistant prostate cancer patients with bone metastatasis.

Purpose. Assessment of effects of zoledronic acid therapy on bone metabolic indicators in hormone-resistant prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis. Material and Methods. Hormone-resistant prostate cancer patients who were identified to have metastases in their bone scintigraphy were taken to trial group. Before administration of zoledronic acid, routine tests for serum calcium, total alkalen phosphates were studied. Sample sera for bone metabolic indicators BALP, PINP, and ICTP were collected. Bone pain was assessed via visual analogue scale and performance via Karnofsky performance scale. Four mg zoledronic acid was administered intravenously once a month. Results. When serum levels of bone forming indicators PINP; BALP were compared before and after therapy, there were insignificant decreases (P = .33, P = .21, resp.). Serum levels of bone destruction indicator ICTP was compared, and there was a significant decrease after zoledronic acid therapy (P = .04). When performances of the patients were compared during therapy period, performances decreased significantly due to progress of illness (P = .01). All patients had ostalgia caused by bone metastases at various degrees. Significant decrease in pain scores was observed (P < .01). Conclusion. Zoledronic acid therapy decreased bone destruction and was effective in palliation of pain in patient with bone metastasis. Using bone metabolic indicators during followup of zoledronic acid therapy might be useful.

What is the role of percutaneous needle core biopsy in diagnosis of renal masses?

OBJECTIVE: To define the accuracy and acceptability of ultrasonography-guided percutaneous needle core biopsy in diagnosis of renal masses. METHODS: The data of 42 consecutive patients on whom needle biopsies were performed and were surgically treated for suspicious renal masses in our clinic between January 2001 and April 2008 were evaluated. In all patients, needle biopsies were done percutaneously with an 18-gauge needle under local anesthesia in prone position with ultrasonography guidance. Two cores were taken from each tumor. The pathology results of biopsy and surgical specimens were compared. RESULTS: The mean age was 56.1 years (range, 21-77 years). The mean follow-up period was calculated as 44.8 months (range, 10-85 months). The abdominal computed tomography imaging showed that the mean mass size was 63.9 mm (range, 25-140 mm). Of 42 patients, 39 were diagnosed (92.8%) after the first biopsy. The accuracy of percutaneous needle biopsy in differentiating between malignant and benign masses was calculated as 90% (36/40).The accuracy of histopathological diagnostic typing as against the postsurgical pathologic examination results was 77.5% (31/40) and the accuracy in the Fuhrman grade was 51.5% (17/33). The sensitivity was calculated as 91.4% and specificity as 60%. Its negative predictive value was 50% and positive predictive value was 94.1%. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, percutaneous renal needle core biopsy has an acceptable sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of renal masses. The major limitation of percutaneous core biopsy is the technical failure that leads to insufficient material for accurate diagnosis.

Malignant transformation in abdominal cryptorchid testis 40 years after treatment of seminoma confined to other testis.

This report describes an exceptionally rare case of a 64-year-old man with seminoma in abdominal cryptorchidism, leading to intestinal obstruction 40 years after curative treatment for seminoma of the other (descended) testis.

Two-dimensional agnor evaluation as a prognostic variable in urinary bladder carcinoma: a different approach via total agnor area/nucleus area per cell.

Traditional criterions are not sufficient to predict accurately the recurrence of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the AgNORs via total AgNOR area/nucleus area (TAA/NA) for each cell as a prognostic parameter, in TCC of urinary bladder. Tumor tissues of 20 consecutive cases of male bladder cancer patients were divided into two groups as middle differentiated (LG) and high grade (HG). The extra-tumoral tissue (ETT) samples of 10 males served as control group. A second control group (HC) consisted of five healthy and normal bladder tissue samples. The 3 microm of sections from each paraffin embedded tumoral, extra-tumoral and normal tissue samples served as patient and control groups. After deparaffinization and rehydratation steps, silver (AgNO(3)) staining of nucleolar organizer regions-associated proteins (AgNORs) was performed. Instead of Giemsa stain, we used Hematoxylin for contra staining. The images of the 100 analyzable nuclei from each tissue sample, transferred by means of a video camera and video capture card from microscope and recorded onto a computer. Software was prepared in Delphi language for analysis. Mean (E+02) TAA/NA values of HC, ETT, LG and HG groups were 6.97+2.80, 5.70+1.82, 7.80+3.22 and 9.24+3.88, respectively. Statistical comparisons have shown significant differences between all groups. In conclusion, mean TAA/NA per cell has a potential to be a prognostic parameter. Therefore, further evaluation of big patient series will be useful.

Direct nipple ureteroneocystostomy in adults with primary obstructed megaureter.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the results of direct nipple ureteroneocystostomy technique in adults with primary obstructed megaureter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five patients with a mean age of 32.5 years had a total of 6 primary obstructed megaureters with complaints of flank pain. Two patients were female and 3 were male. In patient 1 disease was bilateral, in 3 it was on the right side and in 1 it was on the left side. In male patient 1 a thick walled right ureter could be directly inserted into the bladder without eversion or tapering. The left nipple was created with spatulation. In 2 cases the ureters were thin walled (2 mm or less) and the nipples were created without spatulation. In the other 2 cases the nipples were created following spatulation since the ureteral walls were thicker (2 to 3 mm). RESULTS: Mean followup was 36 months. Flank pain complaints resolved in the postoperative period. Early postoperative Whitaker tests revealed nonobstructed renal units. At later followup visits excretory urograms and/or ultrasound showed partially resolved hydroureteronephrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Ease of application, a high success rate and no need to taper or plicate the ureter, or prepare a submucosal tunnel might be the reasons to consider the direct nipple technique for megaureters of different etiologies.

Effects of sildenafil citrate on ejaculation latency, detumescence time, and refractory period: placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover laboratory setting study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether sildenafil citrate (SC) prolongs ejaculation latency and detumescence time and shortens the refractory period in a laboratory setting. METHODS: Two successive double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover laboratory studies were performed with 30 different healthy volunteers in each study (total of 60). In the first study, the subject ingested placebo or SC. Real-time penile tumescence and rigidity monitoring and audiovisual sexual stimulation was performed. When the subject had his best erection, he applied vibratory stimulation until he ejaculated, and then audiovisual sexual stimulation was stopped. Monitoring was continued until he lost rigidity. The test was repeated with the second medication in 7 to 15 days. In the second study, another group of 30 volunteers were tested, as in the first study, and audiovisual sexual stimulation was continued for an additional hour after ejaculation. RESULTS: In the first study, the time to ejaculation with vibratory stimulation was 2.23 and 3.89 minutes (P = 0.01) and the time to minimal tip rigidity after ejaculation was 1.93 and 3.1 minutes (P <0,001) in the placebo and SC groups, respectively. In the second study, the time to ejaculation with vibratory stimulation was 2.23 and 4.91 minutes (P = 0.006), the time to best tip rigidity after ejaculation was 19.10 and 15.66 minutes (P = 0.242), and the area under the curve of tip rigidity in 3 minutes after ejaculation was 73.61 and 144.05 (P <0.001) in the placebo and SC groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this laboratory setting, SC seemed to prolong the ejaculation latency time. The detumescence time was also longer, with better quality. However, we did not show that SC shortens the refractory period after ejaculation.

Does radical nephrectomy with immunochemotherapy have any superiority over embolization alone in metastatic renal cell carcinoma? A preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the results and effects of radical nephrectomy followed by immunochemotherapy and embolization alone on the survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 20 patients with histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma. Ten patients were in the combined therapy group and the other 10 patients who were unable to undergo nephrectomy because of poor performance status or unresectable tumor were in the embolization group. Radical nephrectomy was performed on patients with good performance status (WHO criteria 0-1). Immunochemotherapy (interferon alpha 2a and 5-fluorouracil) was started within 1 month after surgery. A dose of 9 x 10(6) U/day interferon alpha 2a was subcutaneously administered 3 times a week. A dose of 750 mg/m2 5-fluorouracil was administered intravenously during 4 h in the first 5 days of treatment. 5-Fluorouracil therapy was converted to weekly intervals after the first 12 days. Combined therapy was continued for 3 months. Ethanol was used for transarterial embolization. The main renal arteries and parasitic arteries of the tumor were embolized. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age distribution, sex, affected side, tumor size and T stage between the groups. After completion of the combined therapy, 6 patients showed progression at the first control. Only 1 patient (10 %) had stable disease throughout the 10 months after combined therapy. One patient died of myocardial infarction on the 4th day in the embolization group. While progressive disease within the first 3 months was detected in 6 patients, the other 3 patients (30%) had stable disease for 14, 17 and 55 months, respectively. There was no complete response in any group and no patient was alive (died of renal cell carcinoma) at the time of the analysis of the study data. Whereas the median survival time was 11 months (1-80) (mean +/- SE: 22.2 +/- 9.1) in the combined group, this time was a median of 1 month (1-74) (mean +/- SE: 17.5 +/- 8.6) in the embolization group. There was no statistically significant difference in survival time between the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this preliminary report, the clinical findings in embolization-group patients were definitively worse than the nephrectomy plus immunochemotherapy-group patients. In spite of these differences, combination therapy using radical nephrectomy and immunochemotherapy could not show superiority to embolization alone, especially in terms of survival time.