A Single-arm Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Cabazitaxel and Cisplatin Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder.

INTRODUCTION: Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy improves survival in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, response rates and survival remain suboptimal. We evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of cisplatin plus cabazitaxel. METHODS: A phase II single-arm trial was designed to recruit at least 26 evaluable patients. This would give 80% power to detect the primary endpoint, an objective response rate defined as a pathologic complete response plus partial response (pathologic downstaging), measured by pathologic staging at cystectomy (p0 = 0.35 and p1 = 0.60, α = 0.05). RESULTS: Objective response was seen in 15 of 26 evaluable patients (57.7%) and more than one- third of patients achieved a pathologic complete response (9/26; 34.6%). Seventy-eight percent of the patients (21/27) completed all cycles of treatment, with only 6.7% of the reported adverse events being graded 3 or 4. There were 6 treatment-related serious adverse event reported, but no suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions. In the patients who achieved an objective response, the median progression-free survival and overall survival were not reached (median follow-up of 41.5 months). In contrast, the median progression-free survival (7.2 months) and overall survival (16.9 months) were significantly worse (P = .001, log-rank) in patients who did not achieve an objective response. CONCLUSION: Cabazitaxel plus cisplatin for neoadjuvant treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer can be considered a well-tolerated and effective regimen before definitive therapy with higher rates (57.7%) of objective response, comparing favorably to that with of cisplatin/gemcitabine (23%-26%). These results warrant further evaluation in a phase III study.

Additional Value of Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Sequences in Multiparametric Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Data from the PROMIS Study.

BACKGROUND: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI) is established in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, but the need for enhanced sequences has recently been questioned. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCE) improves accuracy over T2 and diffusion sequences. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: PROMIS was a multicentre, multireader trial, with, in this part, 497 biopsy-naïve men undergoing standardised 1.5T MP-MRI using T2, diffusion, and DCE, followed by a detailed transperineal prostate mapping (TPM) biopsy at 5 mm intervals. Likert scores of 1-5 for the presence of a significant tumour were assigned in strict sequence, for (1) T2 + diffusion and then (2) T2 + diffusion + dynamic contrast-enhanced images. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: For the primary analysis, the primary PROMIS outcome measure (Gleason score ≥4 + 3 or ≥6 mm maximum cancer length) on TPM was used, and an MRI score of ≥3 was considered positive. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Sensitivity without and with DCE was 94% and 95%, specificity 37% and 38%, positive predictive value 51% and 51%, and negative predictive value 90% and 91%, respectively (p > 0.05 in each case). The number of patients avoiding biopsy (scoring 1-2) was similar (123/497 vs 121/497, p = 0.8). The number of equivocal scores (3/5) was slightly higher without DCE (32% vs 28% p = 0.031). The proportion of MRI equivocal (3/5) and positive (4-5) cases showing significant tumours were similar (23% and 71% vs 20% and 69%). No cases of dominant Gleason 4 or higher were missed with DCE, compared with a single case with T2 + diffusion-weighted imaging. No attempt was made to correlate lesion location on MRI and histology, which may be considered a limitation. Radiologists were aware of the patient's prostate-specific antigen. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast adds little when MP-MRI is used to exclude significant prostate cancer. PATIENT SUMMARY: An intravenous injection of contrast may not be necessary when magnetic resonance imaging is used as a test to rule out significant tumours in the prostate.

A study of the clinical, treatment planning and dosimetric feasibility of dose painting in external beam radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiotherapy dose painting is a promising technique which enables dose escalation to areas of higher tumour cell density within the prostate which are associated with radioresistance, known as dominant intraprostatic lesions (DILs). The aim of this study was to determine factors affecting the feasibility of radiotherapy dose painting in patients with high and intermediate risk prostate cancer. MATERIALS & METHODS: Twenty patients were recruited into the study for imaging using a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Identified DILs were outlined and the scan registered with the planning computed tomography (CT) dataset. Intensity-modulated plans were produced and evaluated to determine the effect of the organ-at-risk constraints on the dose that could be delivered to the DILs. Measurements were made to verify that the distribution could be safely delivered. RESULTS: MRI scans were obtained for nineteen patients. Fourteen patients had one to two DILs with ten overlapping the urethra and/or rectum. The target boost of 86 Gy was achieved in seven plans but was limited to 80 Gy for five patients whose boost volume overlapped or abutted the urethra. Dosimetric measurements gave a satisfactory gamma pass rate at 3%/3 mm. CONCLUSIONS: It was feasible to produce dose-painted plans for a boost of 86 Gy for approximately half the patients with DILs. The main limiting factor was the proximity of the urethra to the boost volumes. For a small proportion of patients, rigid registration between CT and MRI images was not adequate for planning purposes.

Vertebral artery dissection in weightlifter with performance enhancing drug use.

This case report describes a transient ischaemic attack secondary to vertebral artery dissection (VAD) in a young male body builder. This occurred following weight training with weights across the back and shoulders. The patient was also known to take multiple performance enhancing agents including anabolic steroids, slimming agents, stimulants and human growth hormone. Cases of VAD have been described with cervical manipulation in the past and an association between the use of anabolic steroids and embolic strokes has been described. To the authors knowledge, this is the first case describing a link between VAD, weight training and anabolic steroids.

More than just stones: a pictorial review of common and less common gallbladder pathologies.

Although stone disease is by far the most commonly encountered pathology of the gallbladder, there are several other important disease processes affecting it. These include adenomyomatosis, cholesterolosis, polyps, porcelain gallbladder, acalculous cholecystitis, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, emphysematous cholecystitis, gallbladder cancer, and gallbladder hemorrhage. The purpose of this article was to review the different gallbladder pathologies encountered in everyday radiological practice and to describe their features in the standard imaging modalities.