Metastatic renal cell carcinoma management.

PURPOSE: To assess the current treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, focusing on medical treatment options. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The most important recent publications have been selected after a literature search employing PubMed using the search terms: advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma, anti-angiogenesis drugs and systemic therapy; also significant meeting abstracts were consulted. RESULTS: Progress in understanding the molecular basis of renal cell carcinoma, especially related to genetics and angiogenesis, has been achieved mainly through of the study of von Hippel-Lindau disease. A great variety of active agents have been developed and tested in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients. New specific molecular therapies in metastatic disease are discussed. Sunitinib, Sorafenib and Bevacizumab increase the progression-free survival when compared to therapy with cytokines. Temsirolimus increases overall survival in high-risk patients. Growth factors and regulatory enzymes, such as carbonic anhydrase IX may be targets for future therapies. CONCLUSIONS: A broader knowledge of clear cell carcinoma molecular biology has permitted the beginning of a new era in mRCC therapy. Benefits of these novel agents in terms of progression-free and overall survival have been observed in patients with mRCC, and, in many cases, have become the standard of care. Sunitinib is now considered the new reference first-line treatment for mRCC. Despite all the progress in recent years, complete responses are still very rare. Currently, many important issues regarding the use of these agents in the management of metastatic renal cancer still need to be properly addressed.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma management: [review]

PURPOSE: To assess the current treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, focusing on medical treatment options. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The most important recent publications have been selected after a literature search employing PubMed using the search terms: advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma, anti-angiogenesis drugs and systemic therapy; also significant meeting abstracts were consulted. RESULTS: Progress in understanding the molecular basis of renal cell carcinoma, especially related to genetics and angiogenesis, has been achieved mainly through of the study of von Hippel-Lindau disease. A great variety of active agents have been developed and tested in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients. New specific molecular therapies in metastatic disease are discussed. Sunitinib, Sorafenib and Bevacizumab increase the progression-free survival when compared to therapy with cytokines. Temsirolimus increases overall survival in high-risk patients. Growth factors and regulatory enzymes, such as carbonic anhydrase IX may be targets for future therapies. CONCLUSIONS: A broader knowledge of clear cell carcinoma molecular biology has permitted the beginning of a new era in mRCC therapy. Benefits of these novel agents in terms of progression-free and overall survival have been observed in patients with mRCC, and, in many cases, have become the standard of care. Sunitinib is now considered the new reference first-line treatment for mRCC. Despite all the progress in recent years, complete responses are still very rare. Currently, many important issues regarding the use of these agents in the management of metastatic renal cancer still need to be properly addressed.

Localized renal cell carcinoma management: an update.

OBJECTIVE: To review the current modalities of treatment for localized renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search for keywords: renal cell carcinoma, radical nephrectomy, nephron sparing surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and cryoablation was performed for the years 2000 through 2008. The most relevant publications were examined. RESULTS: New epidemiologic data and current treatment of renal cancer were covered. Concerning the treatment of clinically localized disease, the literature supports the standardization of partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic approaches as therapeutic options with better functional results and oncologic success comparable to standard radical resection. Promising initial results are now available for minimally invasive therapies, such as cryotherapy and radiofrequency ablation. Active surveillance has been reported with acceptable results, including for those who are poor surgical candidates. CONCLUSIONS: This review covers current advances in radical and conservative treatments of localized kidney cancer. The current status of nephron-sparing surgery, ablative therapies, and active surveillance based on natural history has resulted in great progress in the management of localized renal cell carcinoma.

Localized renal cell carcinoma management: an update: [review]

OBJECTIVE: To review the current modalities of treatment for localized renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search for keywords: renal cell carcinoma, radical nephrectomy, nephron sparing surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and cryoablation was performed for the years 2000 through 2008. The most relevant publications were examined. RESULTS: New epidemiologic data and current treatment of renal cancer were covered. Concerning the treatment of clinically localized disease, the literature supports the standardization of partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic approaches as therapeutic options with better functional results and oncologic success comparable to standard radical resection. Promising initial results are now available for minimally invasive therapies, such as cryotherapy and radiofrequency ablation. Active surveillance has been reported with acceptable results, including for those who are poor surgical candidates. CONCLUSIONS: This review covers current advances in radical and conservative treatments of localized kidney cancer. The current status of nephron-sparing surgery, ablative therapies, and active surveillance based on natural history has resulted in great progress in the management of localized renal cell carcinoma.

Use of the gamma probe in sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the reproducibility of the sentinel lymph node technique in patients with prostate cancer and verify if there is improved accuracy over modified lymphadenectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with biopsy proven prostate cancer were enrolled in this study. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed after the transrectal administration of Tc sulfur colloid guided by ultrasound, with one injection in each prostate lobe. Images were obtained 15 and 180 min after injection. Sentinel lymph node was harvested during surgery using a gamma probe, followed by extended lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in this study was 66 years. An average of 3.36 sentinel lymph nodes was found for each patient. Radioactive lymph nodes were identified by the gamma probe in 21 out of 23 patients. In one of the patients there was no radiopharmaceutical migration from the injection site and in another the sentinel lymph node was visualized by lymphoscintigraphy but was not found during surgery. Three patients had lymph node metastasis; in one of these patients the sentinel lymph node was the only positive node and was found outside the modified lymphadenectomy region (obturator fossa and the external iliac). CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy in prostate cancer adds important information to the staging of patients, not always attained through the lymphadenectomy restricted to the obturator fossa and external iliac. Such information is essential for the choice of the best treatment to be applied.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with subnormal serum levels of free testosterone in men.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and serum levels of free (FT) and total (TT) testosterone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 746 men, of whom 116 (15.6%) were diabetics. Both groups, diabetic and nondiabetic, were paired according to age. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated, and a stratification analysis correlating DM and elevated BMI (>25 kg/m(2)) and WHR (>1) with the presence of subnormal FT and TT levels was performed. RESULTS: FT and TT serum levels were subnormal in 46% and 34% of diabetics, respectively, and in 24% and 23% of nondiabetics. Subnormal FT levels were strongly correlated with DM (odds ratio (OR) 2.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-4.1) but not with elevated BMI (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0-2.0). Subnormal TT levels were more strongly associated with elevated BMI and WHR (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.7-3.9 and 2.0; 1.4-2.9) than with DM (1.7; 1.1-2.6 and 2.0; 1.3-3.2). CONCLUSION: These data strongly suggest that DM is associated with subnormal FT levels, and that TT levels are influenced more by obesity and central adiposity.

Glycosylated haemoglobin levels and the severity of erectile function in diabetic men.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between the levels of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with diabetes mellitus (DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included sexually active men with a diagnosis of DM attending a urological medical centre from January 2000 to December 2001. The 115 men with ED (95%) completed the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire, and fasting serum glucose and HbA1c serum levels were measured. The relationship between the severity of ED and serum HbA1c levels was assessed. RESULTS: Of men with HbA1c levels of < 8%, half had mild, and 18% and 32% had moderate and severe ED, respectively (P = 0.038); of men with HbA1c levels of > or = 8%, 25%, 29%, and 46% had mild, moderate and severe ED, respectively (P = 0.008). In addition, men with HbA1c levels of > or = 11% had a statistically higher prevalence of severe ED (P = 0.002). There was no difference in severity of ED in the HbA1c subgroups when the duration of DM was < or = 5 years (P = 0.87), but most men with HbA1c levels of > or = 8% and a history of DM of 6-10 or > 10 years had severe ED (P < 0.03). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the severity of ED is associated with increasing HbA1c levels in diabetic men.

Value of prostate specific antigen in predicting the existence of bone metastasis in scintigraphy

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the ability of serum concentration of prostate specific antigen (PSA) between 2 cutting points to predict the existence of bone metastasis confirmed by bone scintigraphy in man with prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fourteen consecutive patients with prostate cancer were evaluated during the present study in the period from 1998 to 2001. From all patients, PSA serum concentrations and bone scintigraphy were obtained. For the study, 2 cutting points of PSA (10 and 20 ng/mL) were adopted to predict the existence of bone metastasis. RESULTS: From the 214 patients, 35 (16.3 percent) presented positive scintigraphic examinations for the presence of bone metastasis. No patient presented bone metastasis in scintigraphy if having PSA < 10 ng/mL, and in only 1 patient (0.46 percent) with bone metastasis PSA concentration was < 20 ng/mL. Therefore, when the cutting point adopted for PSA serum concentration was 10 ng/mL, a negative predictive value for bone metastasis was 100 percent with sensitivity rates of 100 percent. Nevertheless, the positive predictive value and the specificity of the method were, respectively, 24.5 percent and 39.7 percent. When the cutting point of PSA serum concentration was 20 ng/mL, an increment was observed in rates of positive predictive value and specificity (41.5 percent and 73.2 percent), respectively, without substantial changes in negative predictive value (99.2 percent) and sensitivity (97.1 percent) of the method. CONCLUSIONS: Data of present study allow for the conclusion that PSA serum concentration over 20 ng/mL was a more accurate cutting point than PSA serum concentration over 10 ng/mL to predict the presence of bone metastasis in scintigraphy

Value of prostate specific antigen in predicting the existence of bone metastasis in scintigraphy.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the ability of serum concentration of prostate specific antigen (PSA) between 2 cutting points to predict the existence of bone metastasis confirmed by bone scintigraphy in man with prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fourteen consecutive patients with prostate cancer were evaluated during the present study in the period from 1998 to 2001. From all patients, PSA serum concentrations and bone scintigraphy were obtained. For the study, 2 cutting points of PSA (10 and 20 ng/mL) were adopted to predict the existence of bone metastasis. RESULTS: From the 214 patients, 35 (16.3 x 0025;) presented positive scintigraphic examinations for the presence of bone metastasis. No patient presented bone metastasis in scintigraphy if having PSA < 10 ng/mL, and in only 1 patient (0.46 x 0025;) with bone metastasis PSA concentration was < 20 ng/mL. Therefore, when the cutting point adopted for PSA serum concentration was 10 ng/mL, a negative predictive value for bone metastasis was 100 x 0025; with sensitivity rates of 100%. Nevertheless, the positive predictive value and the specificity of the method were, respectively, 24.5 x 0025; and 39.7 x 0025;. When the cutting point of PSA serum concentration was 20 ng/mL, an increment was observed in rates of positive predictive value and specificity (41.5 x 0025; and 73.2 x 0025;), respectively, without substantial changes in negative predictive value (99.2 x 0025;) and sensitivity (97.1 x 0025;) of the method. CONCLUSIONS: Data of present study allow for the conclusion that PSA serum concentration over 20 ng/mL was a more accurate cutting point than PSA serum concentration over 10 ng/mL to predict the presence of bone metastasis in scintigraphy.

Ginecomastia como forma de apresentaçäo de tumor de células de Leydig: relato de caso / Leydig cell tumor presenting with gynecomastia: a case report

A avaliaçäo de um paciente masculino, apresentando-se com ginecomastia, é uma situaçäo que requer uma criteriosa avaliaçäo diagnóstica. Os autores apresentam um caso de tumor de células de Leydig cuja principal manifestaçäo clínica foi ginecomastia. Paciente masculino de 34 anos com aumento progressivo do volume mamário, sem qualquer outra sintomatologia associada. Foi submetido à avaliaçäo hormonal, verificando-se prolactina, estradiol e androstenediona aumentados, avaliaçäo ecográfica, diagnosticou lesäo em testículo direito. Submetido à exploraçäo cirúrgica do testículo, diagnosticou-se tumor de células de Leydig. Os autores enfatizam a importância da avaliaçäo diagnóstica em pacientes com ginecomastia

Carcinoma de uretra feminina / Urethral carcinoma female

O câncer da uretra feminina é uma patologia rara, com maior incidência em mulheres acima dos 50 anos. O prognóstico é diretamente relacionado com a localizaçäo do tumor e o tratamento compreende a remoçäo cirúrgica com ou sem radioterapia associada. Relatamos um caso de carcinoma epidermóide de uretra em uma mulher de 58 anos, tratado com uretrectomia total complementada, um ano após, com um procedimento de derivaçäo urinária continente.

Sarcoma retroperitoneal: relato de caso / Retroperitoneal sarcoma: case report

Os autores relatam um caso de sarcoma retroperitoneal em um homem de 84 anos que consultou por massa abdominal palpável. As características deste tumor, as dificuldades diagnósticas e os procedimentos cirúrgicos säo discutidos. Também säo discutidos a necessidade de um seguimento regular. O prognóstico costuma ser muito ruim.