Effect of optimal neoadjuvant chemotherapy on oncological outcomes of locally advanced bladder cancer with laparoscopic radical cystectomy: A matched-pair analysis in a multicenter cohort

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of optimal neoadjuvant chemotherapy of at least three cycles of cisplatin-based regimen on oncological outcomes of clinical stage T3 or higher bladder cancer treated with laparoscopic radical cystectomy.

METHODS

Laparoscopic radical cystectomies carried out at 10 institutions were included in this retrospective study. The outcomes of patients who received optimal neoadjuvant chemotherapy and those who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy were compared using propensity score matching in clinical stage T3-4 or T2 cohorts, separately.

RESULTS

Of the 455 patients screened, matched pairs of 54 patients in the clinical T3-4 cohort and 68 patients in the clinical T2 cohort were finally analyzed. In the cT3-4 cohort, the 5-year overall survival (78% vs 41%; P = 0.014), cancer-specific survival (81% vs 44%; P = 0.008) and recurrence-free survival (71% vs 53%; P = 0.049) were significantly higher in the optimal neoadjuvant chemotherapy group than in the no neoadjuvant chemotherapy group; no significant survival difference was shown between the two groups in the cT2 cohort. In the cT3-4 cohort, the incidence of local recurrence (4% vs 26%; P = 0.025) and abdominal or intrapelvic recurrence, including peritoneal carcinomatosis (7% vs 30%; P = 0.038), was significantly lower in the optimal neoadjuvant chemotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of optimal neoadjuvant chemotherapy has a significant survival benefit. It decreases the incidence of local and atypical recurrence patterns in patients with clinical stage T3 or higher locally advanced bladder cancer undergoing laparoscopic radical cystectomy.

Phase II open-label study of S-588410 as maintenance monotherapy after first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma

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Background: S-588410 is a cancer peptide vaccine composed of 5 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*24:02-restricted epitope peptides derived from 5 cancer-testis antigens: DEPDC1, MPHOSPH1, URLC10, CDCA1 and KOC1; all of which are highly expressed in urothelial carcinoma. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of S-588410 maintenance therapy on peptide-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) induction in patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Methods: An open-label, multicenter phase II trial was performed across 62 sites in Japan, the United Kingdom, France and Bulgaria (EudraCT 2013-005274-22). Eligible patients had completed ≥4 cycles of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy without disease progression. HLA-A*24:02-positive patients received S-588410 (1 mg of each of 5 peptides mixed with Montanide ISA 51 VG) subcutaneously weekly for 12 weeks, then every 2 weeks for up to 2 years. HLA-A*24:02-negative patients were enrolled in an observation group and did not receive study drug. The primary endpoint for the S-588410 group was the CTL induction rate at 12 weeks, defined as the proportion of patients who showed increased CTL activity for ≥1 peptide. Secondary endpoints included CTL induction rate after 1 year, antitumor effect defined by immune-related response criteria, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: A total of 81 patients with platinum-sensitive advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma were enrolled (S-588410 group, n=45; observation group, n=36) between April 2014 and November 2017. Most patients were male and Asian with a mean age of 67 years. CTLs were induced in 42 (93.3%) patients who received S-588410 for 12 weeks (P<0.0001, one-sided binomial test where the CTL induction rate is ≤50% as the null hypothesis). The CTL induction rate steadily increased to 95.6% within 48 weeks. CTL activity was high for the DEPDC1, MPHOSPH1 and URLC10 peptides. The response rate (immune-related complete response [CR] or partial response [PR]) was 8.9% (4/45 patients) in the S-588410 group and 0% in the observation group. Tumor imaging showed gradual (PR, n=3) and durable (CR, n=1) tumor shrinkage after ≥36 weeks in the S-588410 group. Median PFS was 18.1 weeks in the S-588410 group and 12.5 weeks in the observation group. Median OS was 71 and 99 weeks, respectively. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse event was injection site reaction (42/45 patients [93.3%]; Grades 1–3). Pyrexia, rash and pruritus were also observed in the S-588410 group, but not the observation group. Conclusions: S-588410 showed a potent immune response and acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, potentially offering a clinical benefit as post-chemotherapy maintenance therapy. Clinical trial information: EudraCT 2013-005274-22.

Functional and genomic characterization of patient-derived xenograft model to study the adaptation to mTORC1 inhibitor in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Resistance to the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, which are a standard treatment for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), eventually develops in most cases. In this study, we established a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model which acquired resistance to the mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus, and explored the underlying mechanisms of resistance acquisition. Temsirolimus was administered to PDX model mice, and one cohort of PDX models acquired resistance after repeated passages. PDX tumors were genetically analyzed by whole-exome sequencing and detected several genetic alterations specific to resistant tumors. Among them, mutations in ANKRD12 and DNMT1 were already identified in the early passage of a resistant PDX model, and we focused on a DNMT1 mutation as a potential candidate for developing the resistant phenotype. While DNMT1 expression in temsirolimus-resistant tumors was comparable with the control tumors, DNMT enzyme activity was decreased in resistant tumors compared with controls. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9-mediated heterozygous knockdown of DNMT1 in the temsirolimus-sensitive ccRCC (786-O) cell line was shown to result in a temsirolimus-resistant phenotype in vitro and in vivo. Integrated gene profiles using methylation and microarray analyses of PDX tumors suggested a global shift for the hypomethylation status including promotor regions, and showed the upregulation of several molecules that regulate the mTOR pathway in temsirolimus-resistant tumors. Present study showed the feasibility of PDX model to explore the mechanisms of mTOR resistance acquisition and suggested that genetic alterations, including that of DNMT1, which alter the methylation status in cancer cells, are one of the potential mechanisms of developing resistance to temsirolimus.

Effect of Continued Perioperative Anticoagulant Therapy on Bleeding Outcomes Following Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of continued perioperative anticoagulant drug administration on bleeding and complications in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

METHODS

Between January 2014 and January 2020, 620 patients with prostate cancer underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomies and were retrospectively reviewed. Fourteen patients who discontinued antithrombotic therapy were excluded. Among the 606 included patients, 31 continued anticoagulant therapy during the perioperative phase (anticoagulant group). The anticoagulant group outcomes were compared with those of patients who continued clopidogrel and prasugrel (thienopyridine group = 13), aspirin monotherapy (aspirin group = 61), and no chronic antithrombotic agent (control group = 501). The primary outcome was the incidence of bleeding complications requiring transfusion, additional intervention, or readmission. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of thrombotic complications, estimated blood loss, and overall complication rates.

RESULTS

Among the 31 patients in the anticoagulant group, 20 (65%) used directed oral anticoagulants, 11 (35%) used warfarin, and 5 used combined aspirin. Only 1 (3%) patient in the anticoagulant group required postoperative transfusion, and none required additional interventions or readmission. No significant differences were detected between the anticoagulant and other groups (anticoagulant vs thienopyridine, aspirin, and control groups) regarding bleeding complications (3% vs 8%, P = .51; 0%, P = .34; 0.4%, P = .17, respectively), thrombotic complications (3% vs 0%, P = .70; 2%, P = .56; 0.2%, P = .11, respectively), estimated blood loss (200 vs 100 mL, P = .63; 175 mL, P = .64; 165 mL, P = .74, respectively), or other high-grade complications (6% vs 0%, P = .49; 2%, P = .26; 3%, P = .24, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Perioperative continuation of anticoagulant use is feasible for patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Cryptic species in a Vulnerable seabird: shorttailed albatross consists of two species

The occurrence of cryptic species within a threatened taxon is rare, but where they do occur, understanding species boundaries is essential for planning an effective conservation strategy. The short-tailed albatross Phoebastria albatrus is a Vulnerable seabird that mainly breeds on Torishima and the Senkaku Islands in the western North Pacific. Although it has been tacitly regarded as a single management unit with 2 breeding sites, the species is known to comprise 2 genetically separated populations (Senkaku-type and Torishima-type). However, morphological examination of birds from both populations has not been conducted owing to the difficulty in accessing the Senkaku Islands. In this study, we examined the morphological differences between immigrants from the Senkaku Islands to Torishima (Senkaku-type) and native birds on Torishima (Torishima-type) and found significant differences in morphological characteristics between the 2 bird types. In general, Torishima-type birds were larger than Senkaku-type birds, whereas Senkaku-type birds had relatively longer beaks. Based on the morphological differences found in this study as well as genetic and ecological differences revealed in previous studies, we believe that Senkaku- and Torishima-type birds should be classified as different cryptic species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cryptic species being identified in a threatened avian species.

Quantitative analysis of the isolation area after larger-size laser balloon ablation

Background

The visually guided laser balloon ablation is a balloon-based catheter ablation technology used for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in recent years. This balloon catheter consists of a compliant balloon that has the capability of real-time endoscopic visualization of the targeted pulmonary vein (PV). The sizeable balloon is usually inflated to obtain optimal PV occlusion. The isolation area after laser balloon (LB) ablation was reported to be smaller than that after cryoballoon ablation. However, when LB is inflated with its maximum pressure, it can visualize wide-area PV antrum. Thereby, we suspected that larger-size LB can create wider isolation area.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the isolation area after LB ablation at the size larger than appropriate size for ablation in the pulmonary vein carina region.

Methods

We assessed 66 patients with AF who underwent LB ablation at the larger inflation size in our hospital during the period from July 2018 to July 2019. After LB ablation, we created voltage maps with a circular mapping catheter and calculated isolation areas with CARTO system.

Results

Figure shows a larger LB with its maximum pressure. PV antrum isolation was extended to the posterior wall in all patients. The left- and right-sided pulmonary vein antrum isolation area were 15.1±3.9 and 19.4±4.3 cm2, respectively.

Conclusion

LB at the larger inflation size with its maximum pressure can isolate wider-area circumferential PV antrum than previously reported. This method may be a new way of pulmonary vein antrum isolation.

Left atrial voltage mapping after PVI.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Masked acute rejection of the graft kidney under the recovery of native kidneys in a patient who underwent simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients with liver failure and irreversible renal dysfunction. However, some studies have reported the recovery of native renal function after simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 33-year-old woman initially underwent living-donor liver transplantation for liver failure. When graft liver failure developed, she also sustained acute renal failure and required continuous hemodiafiltration for 6 weeks. Simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation from a brain-dead donor recovered her liver and renal function. A 1-year protocol graft kidney biopsy revealed acute cellular rejection despite stable serum creatinine levels. Renal scintigraphy showed functional native kidneys masking acute rejection of the graft kidney. The rejection was improved by pulse steroid therapy.

CONCLUSION

Acute rejection of the graft kidney may silently progress due to recovery of the native kidney function after simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation. Renal scintigraphy and graft kidney biopsy should be considered even if blood tests indicate stable total renal function.

Increased risk of disease progression in younger men: Analysis of factors predicting biochemical failure and castration-resistant prostate cancer after high-dose intensity-modulated radiation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of the effect of age on disease control in men who received high-dose intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for nonmetastatic prostate cancer (NMPCa).

METHODS

NMPCa patients with favorable intermediate to very high-risk features (National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk classification) treated with IMRT at our institution between September 2000 and May 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Treatment consisted of high-dose IMRT (74-78 Gy/37-39 fractions) combined with 6 months of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. Multivariable analysis using Fine and Gray's regression model was performed to evaluate whether age at initiation of IMRT was associated with biochemical failure (BF) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) progression.

RESULTS

A total of 367 patients were analyzed. The median follow-up period was 8.8 years after IMRT. The 5- and 10-year BF rates were 22.1 and 31.7%, and those of CRPC rates were 4.5 and 12.6%, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that a younger age (cut-off: 70 years old) at the initiation of IMRT was significantly correlated with both a higher BF rate (hazard ratio: 1.691, P= 0.0064) and higher CRPC rate (hazard ratio: 2.579, P = 0.0079).

CONCLUSIONS

Younger men with NMPCa had increased risks of BF and CRPC after high-dose IMRT, and may benefit from more intensive treatments. Our findings should be further tested in prospective studies.

Solitary recurrence of prostate cancer surrounded by seminal vesicle/vas deferens-like epithelium

INTRODUCTION

Clinical recurrence of prostate cancer after curative treatment with a limited number of metastases is often termed as oligorecurrence. We report a case of solitary recurrence of prostate cancer surrounded by epithelium of the seminal vesicle or vas deferens.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 54-year-old man diagnosed with localized prostate cancer underwent radiation therapy. Six years later, imaging studies detected a solitary recurrence. We performed metastasectomy, and histopathological examination revealed the metastatic lesion surrounded by the epithelium of the seminal vesicle or vas deferens. Surgical resection achieved a complete biochemical response.

CONCLUSION

We presented with a case of prostate cancer metastasis surrounded by the epithelium of the seminal vesicle or vas deferens.

Long-term clinical outcomes of salvage pelvic radiation therapy for oligo-recurrent pelvic lymph nodes after definitive external-beam radiation therapy for non-metastatic prostate cancer

Although salvage external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is an attractive treatment option for pelvic lymph nodal recurrence (PeNR) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa), limited data are available regarding its long-term efficacy. This study examined the long-term clinical outcomes of patients who underwent salvage pelvic radiation therapy (sPRT) for oligo-recurrent pelvic lymph nodes after definitive EBRT for non-metastatic PCa. Patients who developed PeNR after definitive EBRT and were subsequently treated with sPRT at our institution between November 2007 and December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The prescribed dose was 45-50.4 Gy (1.8-2 Gy per fraction) to the upper pelvis, with up to 54-66 Gy (1.8-2 Gy per fraction) for recurrent nodes. Long-term hormonal therapy was used as neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy. The study population consisted of 12 consecutive patients with PeNR after definitive EBRT (median age: 73 years). The median follow-up period was 58.9 months. The 5-year overall survival, PCa-specific survival, biochemical failure-free, clinical failure-free, and castration-resistant PCa-free rates were 82.5, 100.0, 62.3, 81.8, and 81.8%, respectively. No grade 2 or higher sPRT-related late toxicities occurred. In conclusion, more than half of the study patients treated with sPRT had a long-term disease-free status with acceptable morbidities. Moreover, most of the patients maintained hormonal sensitivity. Therefore, this approach may be a promising treatment method for oligo-recurrent pelvic lymph nodes.

99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine Cortical Renography Predicts Outcomes in Adult Living Donor Renal Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND

The clinical utility of ^99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine cortical renography for the prediction of graft function in kidney transplant recipients has been unknown.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed post-transplant cortical renograms in 40 kidney transplant recipients. We analyzed the correlation between T_1/2 (elimination half-life) and graft function (measured-to-expected glomerular filtration rate [GFR]) 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months post operation compared with whole-kidney renograms.

RESULTS

Delayed drainage (T_1/2 > 11 minutes) was observed in 22 recipients (55%). T_1/2 and postoperative GFR ratio were inversely correlated (1 week: R² = 0.317, P = .0002; 1 month: R² = 0.206, P = .003; 3 months: R² = 0.117, P = .031; 6 months: R² = 0.161, P = .010). Recipients with delayed drainage had a significantly lower GFR ratio than those with normal drainage 1 week (median, 0.93 vs 1.32; P = .001), 1 month (median, 1.65 vs 2.23; P = .0010), 3 months (median, 1.55 vs 2.17; P = .041), and 6 months (median, 1.67 vs 2.34; P = .018) post operation, respectively. Whole-kidney renograms failed to discriminate recipients with lower GFR ratio at 1, 3, and 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

T_1/2 in post-transplant cortical renography was inversely correlated with early graft function and may predict early post-transplant graft function.

Cell-type-independent expression of inwardly rectifying potassium currents in mouse fungiform taste bud cells

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels play key roles in functions, including maintaining the resting membrane potential and regulating the action potential duration in excitable cells. Using in situ whole-cell recordings, we investigated Kir currents in mouse fungiform taste bud cells (TBCs) and immunologically identified the cell types (type I-III) expressing these currents. We demonstrated that Kir currents occur in a cell-type-independent manner. The activation potentials we measured were -80 to -90 mV, and the magnitude of the currents increased as the membrane potentials decreased, irrespective of the cell types. The maximum current densities at -120 mV showed no significant differences among cell types (p>0.05, one-way ANOVA). The density of Kir currents was not correlated with the density of either transient inward currents or outwardly rectifying currents, although there was significant correlation between transient inward and outwardly rectifying current densities (p<0.05, test for no correlation). RT-PCR studies employing total RNA extracted from peeled lingual epithelia detected mRNAs for Kir1, Kir2, Kir4, Kir6, and Kir7 families. These findings indicate that TBCs express several types of Kir channels functionally, which may contribute to regulation of the resting membrane potential and signal transduction of taste.

Downregulation of RalGTPase-activating protein promotes invasion of prostatic epithelial cells and progression from intraepithelial neoplasia to cancer during prostate carcinogenesis

RalGTPase-activating protein (RalGAP) is an important negative regulator of small GTPases RalA/B that mediates various oncogenic signaling pathways in various cancers. Although the Ral pathway has been implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression, the significance of RalGAP in PCa has been largely unknown. We examined RalGAPα2 expression using immunohistochemistry on two independent tissue microarray sets. Both datasets demonstrated that the expression of RalGAPα2 was significantly downregulated in PCa tissues compared to adjacent benign prostatic epithelia. Silencing of RalGAPα2 by short hairpin RNA enhanced migration and invasion abilities of benign and malignant prostate epithelial cell lines without affecting cell proliferation. Exogenous expression of wild-type RalGAP, but not the GTPase-activating protein activity-deficient mutant of RalGAP, suppressed migration and invasion of multiple PCa cell lines and was phenocopied by pharmacological inhibition of RalA/B. Loss of Ralgapa2 promoted local microscopic invasion of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia without affecting tumor growth in a Pten-deficient mouse model for prostate tumorigenesis. Our findings demonstrate the functional significance of RalGAP downregulation to promote invasion ability, which is a property necessary for prostate carcinogenesis. Thus, loss of RalGAP function has a distinct role in promoting progression from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia to invasive adenocarcinoma.

Successful surgical management of recurrent urachal adenocarcinoma: A case report

Urachal carcinoma is a rare neoplasm for which there is a lack of a standard effective chemotherapeutic treatment. There is also no standard treatment available for recurrent metastatic urachal carcinoma and the prognosis is generally poor. We report a case of urachal carcinoma where the patient achieved long-term disease-free survival after repeated surgeries for recurrent lung metastases.

Detectability of prostate cancer in different parts of the gland with 3-Tesla multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging: correlation with whole-mount histopathology

BACKGROUND

We investigated whether the detectability of prostate cancer with 3-Tesla (3T) multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) differs by tumor location.

METHODS

We identified 136 patients with prostate cancer who underwent 3-T mpMRI before prostatectomy at a single academic center. Two uroradiologists scored all MRIs with Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADS v2). A genitourinary pathologist mapped tumor foci from serial whole-mount radical prostatectomy sections. We assessed concordance of images with cancer sites. Tumor foci with Gleason score ≥  3 + 4 or volume ≥ 0.5 mL were considered significant.

RESULTS

A total of 122 foci in 106 cases were identified with mpMRI. Twenty-four were PI-RADS 3, 52 were 4, and 46 were 5. A total of 274 tumor foci were identified with whole-mount pathology. The sensitivity stratified by location to detect significant cancer with a PI-RADS cutoff value of 3 was 56.0% overall, 50.0% in the peripheral zone (PZ), 71.2% in the transitional zone (TZ), 62.4% anterior, 49.5% posterior, 42.0% apical, 63.6% in the midgland, and 43.8% in the gland base. In multivariate analysis, tumor location was not a significant predictor of identification by mpMRI. Tumor volume, Gleason score, and index tumor status were significantly associated with identification by mpMRI.

CONCLUSIONS

mpMRI detected the majority of high-grade and large cancers, but had low sensitivity in the PZ, posterior, and apex and base of the gland. The high prevalence of low-volume, low-Gleason score index tumors, as well as satellite tumors in those areas, accounted for the difference.

Laparoscopic excision of an acquired ureteral diverticulum: A case report

Ureteral diverticula, especially acquired diverticula, are rare. Surgery is indicated when a diverticulum is accompanied by complications such as stones, pyelonephritis, stenosis, and signs of malignancy. A 59-year-old woman visited our urology department with asymptomatic macrohematuria. Enhanced CT scan revealed a right ureteral diverticulum with a 16-mm diameter that contained two tiny stones inside. After 8 months, the size of these stones increased; therefore, the patient underwent laparoscopic resection of the ureteral diverticulum and end-to-end anastomosis of the ureter. Subsequent histopathology of the excised specimen revealed an acquired diverticulum. Follow-up intravenous pyelography showed adequate urine passage with only minor dilatation of the pelvis at 3 months after the operation. The laparoscopic approach is believed to be feasible for ureteral diverticula cases that require ureteral end-to-end anastomosis.

Feasibility of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for metastatic adrenal tumors in selected patients: a retrospective multicenter study of Japanese populations

BACKGROUND

Because of the small numbers of cases in single centers, the indications for and survival benefits of adrenalectomy for adrenal metastasis remain unclear. We evaluated the outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for patients with adrenal metastasis.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the records of 67 patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy for metastatic disease from 2003 to 2017 at 11 hospitals. Associations of clinical, surgical, and pathologic features with overall survival (OS) and positive surgical margins were evaluated using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and univariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Lung cancer (30%) and renal cell carcinoma (30%) were the most common primary tumor types. Intraoperative complications were observed in seven patients (10%) and postoperative complications in seven (10%). The surgical margin was positive in 10 patients (15%). The median OS was 3.8 years. Univariate analysis showed that the tumor size, episodes of extra-adrenal metastasis before adrenalectomy, extra-adrenal metastasis at the time of adrenalectomy, and positive surgical margins were significantly associated with shorter OS (p = 0.022, p = 0.005, p < 0.001, and p = 0.022, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that extra-adrenal metastasis at the time of adrenalectomy and positive surgical margins remained statistically significant (p = 0.022 and p = 0.049, respectively). In the univariate analysis, the tumor size was significantly associated with positive surgical margins (p = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal metastasis can be safely performed in selected patients, and patients with isolated adrenal metastasis and negative surgical margins seem to have more favorable outcomes.

Impact of tumor size on patient survival after radical nephrectomy for pathological T3a renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

We recently reported the results from a multi-institutional retrospective outcome study involving 814 patients with renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) who had undergone radical surgery and whose diagnoses were confirmed via a central pathological review. This study aimed to clarify the impact of tumor size on survival outcomes in patients with pT3aN0M0 RCC after radical nephrectomy using this cohort.

METHODS

Using the Kaplan-Meier method, overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were estimated for 103 pT3aN0M0 patients. The differences in the OS, CSS and RFS according to tumor size were evaluated using the log-rank test. To identify independent prognostic factors that affected each survival outcome, clinicopathological factors were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses, and the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The OS, CSS and RFS rates for 26 patients with pT3a RCCs ≤4 cm were significantly better than those for 77 patients with pT3a RCCs that were 4-7 cm or >7 cm (P = 0.0064, 0.0169 and 0.0001, respectively). Tumor size and venous invasion were independent prognosticators for OS, CSS and RFS. The OS and CSS for patients with pT3a tumors ≤4 cm were comparable with those for patients with pT1 RCCs, and the RFS for patients with pT3a RCCs ≤4 cm was similar to that for patients with pT1b RCCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor size significantly influenced the prognosis for patients with pT3aN0M0 RCC. This study's results suggest that the postoperative management of pT3a RCCs could be individualized according to tumor size.

Analytical performance of a new automated chemiluminescent magnetic immunoassays for soluble PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 in human plasma

Current clinically approved biomarkers for the PD-1 blockade cancer immunotherapy are based entirely on the properties of tumour cells. With increasing awareness of clinical responses, more precise biomarkers for the efficacy are required based on immune properties. In particular, expression levels of immune checkpoint-associated molecules such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 would be critical to evaluate the immune state of individuals. Although quantification of their soluble form leased from the membrane will provide quick evaluation of patients’ immune status, available methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to measure these soluble factors have limitations in sensitivity and reproducibility for clinical use. To overcome these problems, we developed a rapid and sensitive immunoassay system based on chemiluminescent magnetic technology. The system is fully automated, providing high reproducibility. Application of this system to plasma of patients with several types of tumours demonstrated that soluble PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 levels were increased compared to those of healthy controls and varied among tumour types. The sensitivity and detection range were sufficient for evaluating plasma concentrations before and after the surgical ablation of cancers. Therefore, our newly developed system shows potential for accurate detection of soluble PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 levels in the clinical practice.

RBM10-TFE3 renal cell carcinoma characterised by paracentric inversion with consistent closely split signals in break-apart fluorescence in-situ hybridisation: study of 10 cases and a literature review

AIMS

Xp11 rearrangement in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) typically involves gene fusion to the gene encoding transcription factor E3 (TFE3), a member of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor family on chromosome Xp11.2. Dual-colour break-apart fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) is recommended to confirm histological diagnoses. Recently, RNA-binding motif protein 10 (RBM10), encoded by a gene on chromosome Xp11.3, was identified as a chimeric partner of TFE3; thus, RBM10-TFE3 fusion results from paracentric inversion. RBM10-TFE3 RCC may yield a false-negative result in FISH analysis of TFE3 expression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinicopathological features of RBM10-TFE3 RCC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Ten patients with RBM10-TFE3 RCC aged 31-71 years were investigated. Histological analysis, immunostaining, dual-colour break-apart FISH for TFE3, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analysis were performed. No patient had a history of exposure to chemotherapy. Two of these patients died of RCC, and three were alive but developed metastases. Microscopically, the tumours were composed of a mixed architecture of tubulocystic and papillary patterns with scattered psammoma bodies. The tumours showed strong nuclear immunoreactivity for TFE3. FISH showed consistent closely spaced split signals in the RCCs of four patients, and polysomic signals with occasional closely spaced split signals in the RCCs of six patients. Of the latter six patients, five had renal failure, and four developed tumours in kidneys subjected to haemodialysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that the carcinogenesis of RBM10-TFE3 RCC in some, but not all, patients may be associated with chronic kidney disease. The aggressive nature of RBM10-TFE3 RCC should be considered, as five patients experienced metastases.