Fewer systematic prostate core biopsies in clinical stage T1c prostate cancer leads to biochemical recurrence after brachytherapy as monotherapy.

BACKGROUND: After brachytherapy, fewer prostate biopsy cores at diagnosis can underestimate the pathological characteristics of prostate cancer (PCa) with lower concordance, resulting in improper treatment, particularly in patients with low-risk nonpalpable cT1c PCa. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the number of biopsy cores at diagnosis and long-term clinical outcomes after brachytherapy for cT1c PCa. METHODS: We reviewed 516 patients with localized cT1c PCa with Gleason scores of 3 + 3 = 6 or 3 + 4 = 7 who underwent brachytherapy as monotherapy without hormonal therapy between January 2005 and September 2014 at our institution. Clinical staging was based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer manual for staging. Thus, the cT1c category is based solely on digital rectal examination. The primary outcome was biochemical recurrence (BCR). Based on the optimized cutoff value for biopsy core number obtained from receiver operating characteristic analysis, patients were divided into the biopsy cores ≤8 (N = 123) and ≥9 (N = 393) groups. The BCR-free survival rate was compared between the groups. Prognostic factors for BCR were evaluated, including age, initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, Gleason score, positive core rate, PSA density, prostate magnetic resonance imaging findings, and biopsy core number. RESULTS: The median patient age was 66.0 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 61.0-71.0 years), and the median follow-up time was 11.1 years (IQR: 9.5-13.3 years). The median number of core biopsies was 12 (IQR: 9-12). The area under the curve was 0.637 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53-0.75), and the optimal biopsy core cutoff value for BCR prediction was 8.5 (sensitivity = 43.5%, specificity = 77.1%). Although fewer patients had Gleason scores of 3 + 4 = 7 (19/123 [15%] vs. 125/393 [32%], p < 0.02) in the biopsy cores ≤8 group, the 10-year BCR-free survival rate was significantly lower in the biopsy cores ≤8 group than in the biopsy cores ≥9 group (93.8% vs. 96.3%, p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that a lower biopsy core number (hazard ratio: 0.828, 95% CI: 0.71-0.97, p < 0.03) and a Gleason score of 3 + 4 = 7 (hazard ratio: 3.26, 95% CI: 1.37-7.73, p < 0.01) significantly predicted BCR. CONCLUSIONS: A low number of prostate core biopsies results in worse BCR-free survival after brachytherapy as monotherapy in patients with cT1c PCa.

History of Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer May Have a Worse Prognostic Impact in cT2-4aN0M0 Bladder Cancer Patients Treated With Radical Cystectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether a history of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) plays a prognostic role in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treated with radical cystectomy in the era when neoadjuvant chemotherapy was established as standard therapy for MIBC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 282 patients who were diagnosed with cT2-T4aN0M0 bladder cancer treated with open radical cystectomy at our institutions were included. Initially diagnosed MIBC without a history of NMIBC was defined as primary MIBC group (n = 231), and MIBC that progressed from NMIBC was defined as progressive MIBC (n = 51). RESULTS: The rate of cT3/4a tumors was significantly higher in the primary MIBC group than in the progressive MIBC group (P = .004). Five-year recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates for the primary MIBC group versus progressive MIBC group were 68.2% versus 55.9% (P = .039) and 76.1% versus 61.6% (P = .005), respectively. Progressive MIBC (hazard ratio, 2.170; P = .008) was independently associated with cancer death. In the primary MIBC group, the 5-year CSS rate in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 85.4%, which was significantly higher than that in patients without (71.5%, P = .023). In the progressive MIBC group, no significant differences were observed in CSS between patients treated with and without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: MIBC that progressed from NMIBC had a significantly worse clinical outcome than MIBC without a history of NMIBC and may not respond as well to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These results are informative, even for NMIBC patients treated with conservative intravesical therapy.

Can urologists introduce the concept of "oligometastasis" for metastatic bladder cancer after total cystectomy?

We investigated whether the concept of oligometastasis may be introduced to the clinical management of metastatic bladder cancer patients. Our study population comprised 128 patients diagnosed with metastatic bladder cancer after total cystectomy at our 6 institutions between 2004 and 2014. We extracted independent predictors for identifying a favorable. Occurrence that fulfilled all 4 criteria which were independently associated with cancer-specific death was defined as oligometastasis: a solitary metastatic organ; number of metastatic lesions of 3 or less; the largest diameter of metastatic foci of 5cm or less; and no liver metastasis. We evaluated differences in clinical outcomes between patients with oligometastasis (oligometastasis group) and those without oligometastasis (non-oligometastasis group). Overall, there were 43 patients in the oligometastasis group. The 2-year cancer-specific survival rate in the oligometastasis group was 53.3%, which was significantly higher than that in the non-oligometastasis group (16.1%, p<0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed that non-oligometastasis (p<0.001), not performing salvage chemotherapy (p<0.001), and not performing metastatectomy (p=0.028) were independent risk factors for cancer-specific death. In the subgroup of 83 patients who received salvage chemotherapy, 30 were in the oligometastasis group. The 2-year cancer-specific survival rate in the oligometastasis group was 55.0%, which was significantly higher than that in the non-oligometastasis group (22.0%, p=0.005). Non-oligometastasis (p=0.009) was the only independent risk factor for cancer-specific death. We presented that urothelial carcinoma with oligometastasis had a favorable prognosis and responded to systemic chemotherapy. Oligometastasis may be treated as a separate entity in the field of metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

[Influence of androgen deprivation therapy on prostate volume in patients with prostate cancer undergoing prostate brachytherapy with permanent seed implantation].

OBJECTIVE: Enlarged prostate often causes pubic arch interference during needle insertion on transperineal interstitial permanent prostate brachytherapy. Pre-treatment hormonal therapy is necessary for downsizing the prostate gland in such cases. The degree of prostate downsizing with anti-androgen treatment before iodine 125 permanent seed implant brachytherapy and its relation to clinical as well as pathological parameters were assessed. METHODS: From September 2003 to March 2005, 110 patients underwent permanent seed implantation and 86 patients of all received antiandrogen depriviation prior to the treatment at our institute. Prostate volume was measured using transrectal ultrasound at the time of cancer diagnosis and before the seed implant. Correlations between prostate downsizing and clinical as well as pathological parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean percent volume of the prostate after the size reduction with average of 6.0 months antiandrogen monotherapy, 7.7 months LHRH agoniost and 8.2 months maximum androgen blockage (MAB) was 83%, 63%, and 60%, respectively. Mann-Whitney U test revealed that the degree of prostate downsizing is significantly correlated with the prostate volume in patients with prostate cancer utilizing LHRH agonists. CONCLUSIONS: Antiandrogen monotherapy can be an alternative for prostate downsizing before interstitial brachytherapy. Utilizing LHRH agonists or MAB is recommended for cases with larger gland volume.

[Experience of brachytherapy using I-125 seed permanent implants for localized prostate cancer].

PURPOSE: We report here our experience of brachytherapy using I-125 seeds for localized prostate cancer in 100 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out brachytherapy with I-125 seed permanent implants in 100 patients with localized prostate cancer between September 2003 and October 2004. Preplanning dosimetry was done using transrectal ultrasonic images obtained three or four weeks prior to treatment. Using transrectal ultrasound, we inserted I-125 seeds in the prostate through needles according to the preplanning diagram. We then examined the results on prostate CT performed one month later. RESULTS: It was necessary to describe transrectal ultrasonic image such as preplanning. There were several cases in which the source arrangement of the schedule was corrected immediately before the operation. In the examination after one month, the numerical value at the start of treatment initially was not satisfactory, but we eventually obtained a result that could to be evaluated. CONCLUSION: We carried out permanent implant brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer using I-125 seeds and reported our experience.

[Seed loss through the urinary tract and retrieval after prostate seed implant].

This study describes our experience with seed loss and retrieval through the urinary tract following seed implants for prostate cancer, and offers Japanese guidelines for safety and management. Two hundred consecutive patients were analyzed. All patients were preplanned with a modified peripheral loading technique and implanted with a Mick applicator under ultrasound guidance. All patients were instructed to return excreted seeds, if any, to our center. Seed loss occurred in 6% of patients and 0.13% of seeds. Seed loss tended to occur in the early period through either urine or ejaculation.