Association between oral frailty and lower urinary tract symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in community-dwelling individuals: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: We assessed the association between oral frailty risk and LUTS among middle-aged and older adults in a community-dwelling population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 586 subjects aged ≥ 40 years who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project in Hirosaki, Japan. We used the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) to assess LUTS. LUTS was defined as an IPSS score of 8 or higher or meeting diagnostic criteria for OAB. Oral frailty risk was defined as experiencing two or more of the following: decreased chewing ability, decreased biting force, and dry mouth sensation. Physical performance (10-m gait speed and grip strength) was used for analysis. The association between oral frailty risk and LUTS was examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The study included 218 men and 370 women, of whom 140 had LUTS. The mean age of this cohort was 59 years. Significant differences were observed between the LUTS and non-LUTS groups, including age, hypertension, history of CVD, depressive status, sleep disturbance, and 10 m gait speed. The prevalence of oral frailty risk was significantly higher in the LUTS group than in the non-LUTS group (26% vs. 11%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that age, male gender, and oral frailty risk (odds ratio: 2.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.57-4.51, P < 0.001) were independent factors for LUTS. Moreover, oral frailty risk was an independent factor in both participants aged < 65 years and participants aged ≥ 65 years. CONCLUSIONS: Oral frailty was independently associated with LUTS.

Trends of incidence and age in adults with testicular germ cell tumors: a two-decade multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) are the most common type of cancer in adolescent boys and young adult men, but the age at onset has been increasing. However, little is known regarding the incidence and age of patients with testicular GCTs in Japan because the incidence there is low. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with GCTs in seven hospitals between 2001 and 2021. We compared the incidences of testicular GCTs, ages at onset, pathological types (seminoma or nonseminoma), and clinical stages in patients with GCTs between the periods 2001-2010 and 2011-2021. Results: We identified 193 adults (≥20 years of age) with testicular GCTs; their median age was 37 years [interquartile range (IQR), 29-47 years]. Of these patients, 87 (45.1%) were ≥40 years of age at diagnosis. The proportion of patients aged ≥40 years was significantly higher in the period 2011-2021 (54.8%) than in 2001-2010 (30.8%; P=0.001). The incidence of seminoma was significantly higher in the period 2011-2021, but clinical stage did not differ significantly between the two periods. The population-adjusted incidence among patients in their 40s was 3.4-fold higher in 2011-2021 than in 2001-2010. Conclusions: The number of patients with GCTs aged ≥40 years was significantly higher in 2011-2021, even in a population-adjusted analysis. Treatment strategies need to be adapted to older testicular germ cell tumor patients.

Comparison of efficacy and medical costs between upfront docetaxel and abiraterone treatments of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients in real-world practice: a multicenter retrospective study.

PURPOSE: We compared the real-world efficacy and medical costs for treatment with upfront docetaxel (DOC) and abiraterone acetate (ABI) up to progression-free survival 2 (PFS2) in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study included 340 patients with mHSPC treated with either upfront DOC or upfront ABI between October 2015 and December 2021. We compared PFS2 and medical costs between the two treatment groups. PFS2 was defined as the time from first-line therapy to progression on second-line therapy. Medical costs were estimated using the National Health Insurance drug prices in 2022 in Japan. RESULTS: The upfront DOC and ABI groups included 107 and 233 patients, respectively. The incidence of metastatic castration-resistant PC progression was significantly higher in the upfront DOC group compared with the incidence in the upfront ABI group. However, no significant differences in PFS2 were observed between the two treatment groups. Monthly medical costs per patient were significantly higher in the upfront ABI group ($3453) compared with the costs in the upfront DOC group ($1239, P < 0.001). The cost differences were significantly influenced by differences in the length of androgen deprivation therapy monotherapy (DOC group, 13.4 months vs. ABI group, 0.0 months). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant cost benefit in the upfront DOC group in Japanese real-world practice, while the PFS2 rates were similar between the groups. Upfront DOC was a more cost-effective option for men with mHSPC who were eligible for toxic chemotherapy.

Utility of the Age Discrepancy between Frailty-Based Biological Age and Expected Life Age in Patients with Urological Cancers.

Background: The estimation of biological age is challenging in patients with cancers. We aimed to investigate frailty-based biological ages using frailty-discriminant scores (FDS) and examined the effect of biological-expected life age discrepancy on the prognosis of patients with urological cancers. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated frailty in 1035 patients having urological cancers. Their frailty-based biological age was then defined by the FDS, which is a comprehensive frailty assessment tool, using 1790 noncancer individuals as controls. An expected life age (=chronological age + life expectancy) was subsequently calculated using the 2019 life expectancy table. The primary outcome was the estimation of the biological-expected life age discrepancy between the frailty-based biological age and expected life age in patients with urological cancers. Secondary outcomes were the evaluation of the effect of the biological-expected life age discrepancy on overall survival. Results: We included 405, 466, and 164 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, urothelial carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma, respectively. The median chronological age, life expectancy, and estimated frailty-based biological age were 71, 17, and 83 years, respectively. The biological-expected life age discrepancy in any urological cancers, localized diseases, and metastatic diseases was −4.8, −6.3, and +0.15 years, respectively. The biological-expected life age discrepancy of >5 years was significantly associated with poor overall survival. Conclusions: The biological-expected life age discrepancy between frailty-based biological age and expected life age may be helpful in understanding the role of frailty and patient/doctor conversation.

Renal metastasis of ovarian granulosa cell tumor.

Introduction: We would like to present a rare case of metastatic renal tumor. Case presentation: A 60-year-old woman presented to our department with a left renal tumor. She underwent a total hysterectomy and right adnexal resection for a stage IA ovarian granulosa cell tumor approximately 15 years ago, followed by left adnexal resection and postoperative chemotherapy with gemcitabine and paclitaxel 6 years ago. She received six courses of gemcitabine and carboplatin to treat a stage IC clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary.The patient was diagnosed with the left renal tumor and underwent a laparoscopic left nephrectomy. Immunostaining was positive for α-inhibin and SF-1 and showed FOXL2 402C→G (C134W) mutation. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with renal metastasis of a granulosa cell tumor. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is a very rare case of renal metastasis of a granulosa cell tumor with the FOXL2 mutation in an adult.

Effect of active anticancer therapy on serologic response to SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine in patients with urothelial and renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the serologic response to the BNT162b2 messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine in patients with urothelial carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: Between June 2021 and November 2021, we retrospectively evaluated blood samples from 60 healthy controls (control group), 57 patients with urothelial carcinoma, and 28 patients with renal cell carcinoma who had received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine at Hirosaki University Hospital. We determined the immunoglobulin G antibody titers against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike receptor-binding domain. Seropositivity was defined as ≥15 U/mL. We investigate factors associated with antibody titers and seropositivity in the patients with urothelial carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. RESULTS: Antibody titers in the control, urothelial carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma groups were 813, 431, and 500 U/mL, respectively. Seropositivity was 100%, 90%, and 96% in the control, urothelial carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma groups, respectively. Of the 85 patients, 37 of 57 (65%) and 21 of 28 (75%) were actively undergoing anticancer treatment for urothelial carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma, respectively. Anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike immunoglobulin G antibody titers and seropositivity was not significantly different between the patients with urothelial carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. Anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike immunoglobulin G antibody titers were not significantly associated with active anticancer therapy or steroid treatment for immune-related adverse events. Univariable logistic regression analysis revealed that older age and metastatic disease were significantly and negatively associated with seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with urothelial carcinoma or renal cell carcinoma exhibited an adequate antibody response to the BNT162b2 vaccine. Active anticancer therapy was not significantly associated with seropositivity following vaccination with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 BNT162b2 in patients with urothelial carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma.

Utility of total cell-free DNA levels for surgical damage evaluation in patients with urological surgeries.

The evaluation of surgical damage is challenging because of the lack of specific biomarkers. Total cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels have been reported to increase with external trauma and may be a biomarker for tissue damage. To investigate the utility of perioperative total cfDNA levels in evaluating surgical damage in urological surgeries. This multicenter, prospective, observational study included 196 patients scheduled for urological surgeries between September 2020 and July 2021. The primary outcome was the change in total cfDNA levels before and after urological surgery. The secondary outcome was the effect of surgical type on total cfDNA ratio before and after urological surgery. The postoperative median total cfDNA level of the 196 patients was significantly increased 2.5-fold compared to the preoperative level (185.2 ng/mL vs. 406.7 ng/mL, P < 0.001). The median total cfDNA before/after ratio was greater than four-fold for kidney transplantation, open cystectomy, and open adrenalectomy. The ratio was less than two-fold for laparoscopic adrenalectomy and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Major surgery showed a significant postoperative increase in total cfDNA levels, while minor surgery did not. Total cfDNA levels increased 2.5-fold after urological surgery and it can be used as an acute-phase biomarker for surgical damage.

Trends in the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and oncological outcomes for high-risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a multicentre retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate temporal trends in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) utilisation and outcomes in patients with locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 289 patients from seven hospitals who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for locally advanced UTUC (≥cT3 or cN+) between 2000 and 2020. These patients received RNU alone or two to four courses of NAC with either a cisplatin- or carboplatin-based regimen. We evaluated the temporal changes in NAC use and compared the visceral recurrence-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival rates. The effect of NAC on oncological outcomes was examined using multivariate Cox regression analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) models. RESULTS: Of 289 patients, 144 underwent NAC followed by RNU (NAC group) and 145 underwent RNU alone (Control [Ctrl] group). NAC use increased significantly from 19% (2006-2010), 58% (2011-2015), to 79% (2016-2020). Pathological downstaging was significantly higher in the NAC group than in the Ctrl group. The IPTW-adjusted multivariable analyses showed that NAC significantly improved the oncological outcomes in the NAC group compared with the Ctrl group. Moreover, carboplatin-based NAC significantly improved the oncological outcomes in the NAC group compared with the Ctrl group among patients with chronic kidney disease Stage ≥3. There were no significant differences in oncological outcomes between the cisplatin- and carboplatin-based regimens. CONCLUSIONS: The use of NAC for high-risk UTUC increased significantly after 2010. Platinum-based short-term NAC followed by immediate RNU may not impede and potentially improves oncological outcomes.

Oncologic and patient-reported outcomes after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in men aged ≥75 years.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate oncologic outcomes, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and frailty in older adult patients aged ≥75 years who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 752 patients who underwent RARP from July 2011 to May 2020. The PROs were evaluated by Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaire at baseline and 1 year after RARP. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to age at RARP: <70, 70-74, and ≥75 years. Oncologic outcomes and PROs were compared between the ≥75 and 70-74 years groups and between the ≥75 and <70 years groups. RESULTS: Median follow up was 47 months. Of the 752 patients, 469, 216, and 74 were classified into the <70, 70-74, and ≥75 years groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the biochemical recurrence-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival among the groups. No significant differences were observed in the PROs and pad-free rates at baseline and 1 year after RARP among the groups. The full satisfaction (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite score = 100) at 12 months after RARP was significantly higher in the ≥75 years group (27%) than in the <70 years group (15%, P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: The oncologic outcomes and PROs in select patients with prostate cancer aged ≥75 years were feasible and acceptable with RARP.

Overactive bladder and sleep disturbance have a significant effect on indoor falls: Results from the community health survey in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of overactive bladder (OAB) and frailty on indoor fall events in community-dwelling adults aged 50 or older. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 723 adults between 2016 and 2017 in Hirosaki, Japan. OAB symptoms and sleep disturbance were assessed using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Indoor fall events (falls or near-falls) within 1 year were evaluated. Frailty was evaluated by the frailty discriminant score. We investigated the association of OAB symptoms with sleep disturbance, frailty, and indoor fall events. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the effect of OAB symptoms on fall events controlling for confounding factors such as age, gender, comorbidity, frailty, and sleep disturbance. RESULTS: The median age was 64. We observed OABSS ≥6 in 98 participants (14%), nocturia ≥2 in 445 (62%), urgency score ≥3 in 80 (11%), urge incontinence score ≥3 in 36 (5.0%), PSQI ≥6 in 153 (21%), frailty in 169 (23%), and indoor fall events in 251 (35%). Older age, diabetes, OABSS, nocturia, urgency, urge incontinence, and the PSQI were significantly associated with indoor fall events. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that OAB symptoms and sleep disturbance were significantly associated with fall events. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of OAB symptoms and sleep disturbance on indoor fall events was significant. The causal relationship between OAB and falls needs further study.

The effect of frailty on the quality of life and lower urinary symptoms following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: A longitudinal analysis (FRARP-QL Study).

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the effect of frailty on health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) and lower urinary symptoms (LUTS) following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in patients with prostate cancer (CaP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We longitudinally evaluated geriatric 8 (G8), HRQOL, and LUTS for 12 months in 118 patients with RARP from January 2017 to April 2020. Patients were divided into frail (G8 ≤14) and nonfrail (G8 >14) groups. We compared the effect of frailty on HRQOL and LUTS between the frail and nonfrail groups before and 12 months after RARP. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 68 years. The number of patients in the frail and nonfrail groups were 41 and 77, respectively. No significant difference in patients' background was observed between the groups, except for the presence of cardiovascular disease (22% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.041). There was no significant difference in HRQOLs and LUTS between the groups at baseline. Similarly, HRQOLs, LUTS, and pad-free continence rates were not significantly different between the groups at 12 months after RARP. In the nonfrail group, LUTS at 12 months following RARP significantly improved compared to those at the baseline, but it did not significantly improve in the frail group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that frailty was not significantly associated with LUTS worsening. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty was not significantly associated with the worsening of HRQOL, LUTS, and pad-free continence rates in patients treated with RARP.

Effect of frailty and comorbidity on surgical contraindication in patients with localized prostate cancer (FRART-PC Study).

OBJECTIVES: To determine how frailty and comorbidities affect surgical contraindication in patients with localized prostate cancer (CaP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the effects of frailty in 479 patients with localized CaP who were treated with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), or radiotherapy (RT) eligible for surgery (RT-nonfrail), or those with RT ineligible for surgery due to frailty or comorbidity (RT-frail) from February 2017 to April 2020. We retrospectively compared the geriatric 8 screening (G8) scores between patients with surgical indications (RARP and RT-nonfrail groups) and those with surgical contraindications (RT-frail group). The effect of G8 score in the RT-frail groups was investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. We developed and validated a nomogram for surgical contraindication in patients with localized CaP. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 70 years. There were 256, 60, and 163 patients in the RARP, RT-nonfrail, and RT-frail, respectively. The G8 score in the RARP and RT-nonfrail groups was significantly higher than in the RT-frail group (15 vs. 14, respectively, P < 0.001). Age, comorbidities (cerebrocardiovascular disease or chronic respiratory disease), and G8 score were significantly associated with the RT-frail group. The nomogram showed that the area under the curve was 0.872 and 0.923 in the training and validation sets, respectively. The cutoff for surgical contraindication was >39.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The G8 score and comorbidities have a significant effect on surgical contraindication in patients with localized CaP.

Association between the baseline frailty and quality of life in patients with prostate cancer (FRAQ-PC study).

BACKGROUND: The association between baseline frailty and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with prostate cancer (PC) remains unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the association of pretreatment frailty with HRQOL in 409 patients with PC from February 2017 to April 2020. Frailty and HRQOL were evaluated using the geriatric 8 (G8) screening tool and QLQ-C30 questionnaire, respectively. The primary objective was comparison of G8 and QOL scores between the localized diseases (M0 group) and metastatic castration-sensitive PC (mCSPC group). Secondary objectives were to study the association of G8 and QOL scores in each group and effect of frailty (G8 ≤ 14) on worse QOL. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 70 years. There were 369 (surgery: 196, radiotherapy: 156, androgen deprivation therapy alone: 17) patients in the M0 and 40 patients in the mCSPC groups. There was a significant difference between the M0 and mCSPC groups in the G8 score (14.5 vs. 12.5), functioning QOL (94 vs. 87), global QOL (75 vs. 58), and 100-symptom QOL (94 vs. 85) scores. G8 scores were significantly associated with functioning, global, and 100-symptom QOL scores in both M0 and mCSPC groups. The multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that frailty (G8 ≤ 14) was significantly associated with worse global QOL, functioning QOL, and 100-symptom QOL scores. CONCLUSION: The baseline frailty and HRQOL were significantly different between the localized and metastatic disease. The baseline frailty was significantly associated with worse HRQOL in patients with PC.

Pre-dialysis serum creatinine as an independent predictor of responsiveness to zinc supplementation among patients on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether pre-dialysis level of serum creatinine (SCre) could indicate the responsiveness to zinc supplementation of patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the results of our previous randomized study of 91 patients who had been on MHD and received zinc supplementation with either zinc acetate hydrate (ZAH; zinc, 50 mg/day) or polaprezinc (PPZ; zinc, 34 mg/day). A late response to zinc supplementation was defined as a serum zinc level of < 80 µg/dL three months after the study began. Patients were divided into two groups: late response (serum zinc level < 80 µg/dL) and early response (serum zinc level ≥ 80 µg/dL). Factors independently associated with a late response to zinc supplementation were determined using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) multivariate logistic analysis. RESULTS: Of 91 patients, 86 continued to receive zinc supplementation after three months. The mean pre-dialysis SCre level was 10.0 mg/dL. The number of patients with a late response and response to zinc supplementation was 32 and 54, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the pre-dialysis SCre and the Δserum zinc change for 3 months. (r = - 0.284, P = 0.008). IPTW multivariate analysis showed that a pre-dialysis SCre level ≥ 10.0 mg/dL (odds ratio, 3.71; 95% confidence interval; 1.24-11.1, P = 0.022) was an independent factor associated with a late response to zinc supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-dialysis SCre level was independently associated with responsiveness to zinc supplementation after three months in patients on MHD.

Outcome of ABO Blood Type-Incompatible Living-Related Donor Kidney Transplantation Under a Contemporary Immunosuppression Strategy in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Because of the serious donor shortage in Japan, there is an increasing need for ABO blood type-incompatible kidney transplantation (ABOi-KT) in living-related donor kidney transplantation. We evaluated the outcomes of ABOi-KT performed at our hospitals using a contemporary immunosuppression strategy with low-dose rituximab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2006 and April 2019, 107 patients underwent living-related donor kidney transplantation at our hospitals. The patients were divided into ABO-compatible (ABOc) and ABOi groups. The basic immunosuppression regimen differed between the 2 groups in the use of low-dose rituximab and therapeutic apheresis in the ABOi group. We compared graft survival, patient survival, rejection, viral infection, and posttransplant renal function between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Of 107 recipients, 37 (35%) underwent ABOi-KT. The 5-year graft survival rates in the ABOc and ABOi group were 91% and 100%, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier analyses showed no difference in graft survival (P = .168) or patient survival (P = .873) between the groups. Biopsy-proven rejection in the ABOc and ABOi groups was observed in 13 (19%) and 7 (19%) patients, respectively (P = .965), and viral infection was observed in 21 (30%) and 10 (27%) patients (P = .747), respectively. Renal function by estimated glomerular filtration rate from 1 week to 5 years after transplantation was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of ABOi-KT with low-dose rituximab were comparable with those of ABOc-KT at our hospitals. ABOi-KT with proper immunosuppression may be an option to help resolve the severe donor shortage in Japan.

Living Kidney Transplantation From Marginal Donors Presents Feasible Donor Renal Function Despite Inferior Recipient Renal Function.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney transplantation from marginal donors is an important solution for organ shortage problems. In this study, we evaluated the safety and effectiveness of living kidney transplantation from marginal donors at our hospitals. METHODS: Between June 2006 and April 2019, 107 patients underwent living kidney transplantation at our hospitals. Marginal donors were defined as those with 1. age >70 years, 2. hypertension, 3. creatinine clearance <80 mL/min, 4. body mass index >30 kg/m2, or 5. hemoglobin A1c >6.2%. We retrospectively compared renal function and its chronological changes between marginal and standard donors. We also compared graft survival and recipient renal function between the groups. RESULTS: Thirty-one (29%) donors were defined as marginal. The primary reason for being defined as marginal was hypertension (74%). The mean age of the marginal donors (62 ± 10 years) was higher than that of standard donors (52 ± 12 years, P < .001). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before and after transplantation was lower in the marginal group, whereas the decline ratio of eGFR was not different between the marginal and standard donors. Five-year graft survival of transplantations from marginal donors (89%) was not significantly inferior to that from standard donors (95%). Meanwhile, recipient eGFR was lower in transplantation from marginal donors than standard donors from 1 month through 5 years after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding the decline ratios of donor eGFR and graft survival. Thus, transplantation from marginal donors may be a feasible solution for donor shortage problems.

Frailty is a predictor of moderate to severe pain after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: A case-control study (FRAP study).

Objective: To investigate the association of pain with frailty in patients with localized prostate cancer (PC) who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP). Materials and Methods: Between January 2017 and June 2019, we prospectively evaluated the geriatric 8 (G8) score, simplified frailty index (sFI), and numerical rating scale (NRS) of 154 patients with localized PC who underwent RARP at our institution. NRS was measured on preoperative day 0, postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and at discharge. Moderate to severe pain was defined as NRS ≥ 5, whereas frailty was defined as G8 ≤ 14. The primary objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of moderate to severe pain (NRS ≥ 5) on frailty, postoperative complications, and the use of analgesics after RARP. Our secondary objectives were the effect of frailty on postoperative complications and the use of analgesics. Results: The median age of participants was 69 years. Of 154 patients, 37 (24%) and 61 (40%) were classified to have NRS ≥ 5 and G8 ≤ 14, respectively. Patients with NRS > 5 presented significantly association with G8 < 14, whereas they did not show the association with sFI, complication, or analgesics. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that G8 ≤ 14 was significantly associated with NRS ≥ 5. Frailty was not significantly associated with postoperative complications and analgesics. Conclusions: Frailty was significantly associated with moderate to severe pain after RARP, and might be a potential predictor of postoperative pain. Frail patients require individual care to avoid painful experiences.

Utility of plasma cell-free DNA in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Cell-free DNA is suggested as a prognostic biomarker in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, it remains unknown which parameter of cell-free DNA is correlated with the progression and prognosis of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old man with newly diagnosed prostate cancer (serum prostate-specific antigen 4891 ng/mL, Gleason score 4 + 5 = 9, cT3bN1M1) was referred to our department. He first received sequential hormonal therapies and was consequently diagnosed metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer 64 months after initial treatment. He underwent serial examinations of plasma cell-free DNA, including concentration, androgen receptor amplification, TP53 point mutation, and PTEN loss. Only the cell-free DNA concentration increased along with disease progression and declined after the administration of abiraterone and enzalutamide. CONCLUSION: This case presented that cell-free DNA concentration was possibly correlated with response to castration-resistant prostate cancer treatment and disease progression. Cell-free DNA concentration was proposed as a potential prognostic biomarker of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.