Tumor heterogeneity of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mutations in invasive bladder cancer: implications for perioperative anti-FGFR3 treatment

BACKGROUND

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) is an actionable target in bladder cancer. Preclinical studies show that anti-FGFR3 treatment slows down tumor growth, suggesting that this tyrosine kinase receptor is a candidate for personalized bladder cancer treatment, particularly in patients with mutated FGFR3. We addressed tumor heterogeneity in a large multicenter, multi-laboratory study, as this may have significant impact on therapeutic response.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated possible FGFR3 heterogeneity by the PCR-SNaPshot method in the superficial and deep compartments of tumors obtained by transurethral resection (TUR, n = 61) and in radical cystectomy (RC, n = 614) specimens and corresponding cancer-positive lymph nodes (LN+, n = 201).

RESULTS

We found FGFR3 mutations in 13/34 (38%) T1 and 8/27 (30%) ≥T2-TUR samples, with 100% concordance between superficial and deeper parts in T1-TUR samples. Of eight FGFR3 mutant ≥T2-TUR samples, only 4 (50%) displayed the mutation in the deeper part. We found 67/614 (11%) FGFR3 mutations in RC specimens. FGFR3 mutation was associated with pN0 (P < 0.001) at RC. In 10/201 (5%) LN+, an FGFR3 mutation was found, all concordant with the corresponding RC specimen. In the remaining 191 cases, RC and LN+ were both wild type.

CONCLUSIONS

FGFR3 mutation status seems promising to guide decision-making on adjuvant anti-FGFR3 therapy as it appeared homogeneous in RC and LN+. Based on the results of TUR, the deep part of the tumor needs to be assessed if neoadjuvant anti-FGFR3 treatment is considered. We conclude that studies on the heterogeneity of actionable molecular targets should precede clinical trials with these drugs in the perioperative setting.

Residual pathologic stage at radical cystectomy and risk stratification of patients with pT2N0 bladder cancer

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Background: We hypothesized that in patients with pT2N0 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder, residual muscle-invasive disease at radical cystectomy (RC) may confer poorer outcomes than residual non-muscle invasive disease due to larger tumor volume and/or biologically more aggressive disease. Patients with high-risk pT2N0 disease may be candidates for trials of adjuvant therapy. Methods: Patients from the BCRC database with pT2N0 stage (N = 208) at TUR (transurethral resection) whose tumors were organ-confined at RC (≤pT2N0) were analyzed. T1N0 patients (N=33) with pT2 disease at RC were also examined in order to include all pT2 patients. None of the patients had received perioperative chemotherapy. The effect of residual pT-stage at RC on outcomes was evaluated in Kaplan-Meier, as well as in univariable and multivariable Cox-regression models. Covariates consisted of age, gender, grade, lymphovascular invasion, concomitant carcinoma-in-situ (CIS), number of lymph nodes removed, and the year of surgery. Results: Among baseline T2N0 patients, residual pT-stage at RC was pT0 in 24 (11.5%), pTa in 9 (4.3%), pCIS in 22 (10.6%), pT1 in 35 (16.8%), and pT2 in 118 patients (56.7%). The median follow-up was 50.1 months. The 5-year recurrence-free survivals of patients with residual pT0/pTa/pCis, pT1 and pT2 were 100%, 85% and 75%, respectively. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rates for the same patient cohorts were 100%, 93%, and 81%, respectively. In multivariable analyses, the effect of residual stage <pT2 at RC achieved independent predictor status for recurrence (adjusted HR 0.20; p = 0.002), as well as for cancer-specific survival (adjusted HR: 0.24; p = 0.02). Initial T1 patients who were pT2 at RC did not have statistically different outcomes compared to initial T2 followed by pT2 at RC. Conclusions: Patients with pT2N0 TCC of the urinary bladder with residual non-muscle invasive disease at RC have significantly better long-term outcomes compared to residual muscle-invasive disease. With further validation, these data may facilitate the risk-stratification of patients with pT2N0 disease and enable the selection of high-risk patients for trials of adjuvant therapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The mechanism of the growth-inhibitory effect of coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) on human bladder cancer: a functional analysis of car protein structure

The coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is identified as a high-affinity receptor for adenovirus type 5. We observed that invasive bladder cancer specimens had significantly reduced CAR mRNA levels compared with superficial bladder cancer specimens, which suggests that CAR may play a role in the progression of bladder cancer. Elevated CAR expression in the T24 cell line (CAR-negative cells) increased its sensitivity to adenovirus infection and significantly inhibited its in vitro growth, accompanied by p21 and hypophosphorylated retinoblastoma accumulation. Conversely, decreased CAR levels in both RT4 and 253J cell lines (CAR-positive cells) promoted their in vitro growth. To unveil the mechanism of action of CAR, we showed that the extracellular domain of CAR facilitated intercellular adhesion. Furthermore, interrupting intercellular adhesion of CAR by a specific antibody alleviates the growth-inhibitory effect of CAR. We also demonstrated that both the transmembrane and intracellular domains of CAR were critical for its growth-inhibitory activity. These data indicate that the cell-cell contact initiated by membrane-bound CAR can elicit a negative signal cascade to modulate cell cycle regulators inside the nucleus of bladder cancer cells. Therefore, the presence of CAR cannot only facilitate viral uptake of adenovirus but also inhibit cell growth. These results can be integrated to formulate a new strategy for bladder cancer therapy.

The mismatch repair gene hMSH2 is mutated in the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP

PURPOSE

Mismatch repair genes are responsible for the coordinated correction of misincorporated nucleotides formed during DNA replication. Inactivating and inherited mutations in the prototypic mismatch repair gene hMSH2 have been described in a cancer predisposition syndrome known as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer. Patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer are at increased risk for colon cancer and extracolonic cancers such as upper tract transitional cell carcinoma but not prostate cancer. We investigated expression of hMSH2 in prostate cancer cell lines using genetic and molecular analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the 3 well described prostate cancer cell lines, DU145, LNCaP and PC3. Western blot analysis with monoclonal antibody to hMSH2 was used to assess expression. Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction of genomic DNA were used to identify genetic alterations in the hMSH2 gene. Single cell cloning, dinucleotide repeats and BAT-26 were used to assess the cell lines for microsatellite instability.

RESULTS

The prostate cancer cell line LNCaP did not express hMSH2 and was found to have a homozygous deletion of hMSH2 exons 9 to 16, resulting in truncation of the protein. While microsatellite analysis did not reveal alterations at the BAT-26 locus, single cell cloning produced several LNCaP subclones with alteration at 1 dinucleotide repeat.

CONCLUSIONS

The well described prostate cancer cell line LNCaP has a mutation in the hMSH2 gene, resulting in loss of expression and possible evidence of microsatellite instability. To our knowledge our finding is the first demonstration of a genetic alteration in hMSH2 in a prostate cancer cell line.

Transvaginal repair of postcystectomy peritoneovaginal fistulae

To our knowledge, peritoneovaginal fistula is a complication of cystectomy that has not been reported before. We describe 2 patients in whom a transvaginal approach using a Martius flap was utilized to repair persistent vaginal leakage after cystectomy. At a mean follow-up of 20 months, both patients are free from vaginal leakage and have no evidence of recurrent fistula. This approach offers a safe and effective way to repair a peritoneovaginal fistula in a cystectomy patient.

Expression of the human mismatch repair gene hMSH2: a potential marker for urothelial malignancy

BACKGROUND

The human mismatch repair (MMR) gene hMSH2 (human mutS homolog-2) is a DNA repair gene that has been reported to be mutated in 40% of hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) kindreds and a small percentage of sporadic tumors. HNPCC is a cancer predisposition syndrome with an increased risk of carcinoma of the colon, endometrium, stomach, small intestine, ovary, ureter, and renal pelvis. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated increased hMSH2 expression in sporadic colon carcinoma and in the replicative compartment of normal epithelium. A recent immunohistochemical analysis of hMSH2 in bladder tumors correlated reduced hMSH2 expression with recurrence and higher tumor grade. In the current study, we examined hMSH2 expression in urothelial malignancy using immunohistochemical analysis and developed a molecular assay for the detection of hMSH2 expression in bladder washes.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical analysis of 17 tumors from the genitourinary tract and reverse transcription coupled with polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of 40 bladder washes were used to investigate hMSH2 expression in noninvasive and invasive urothelial malignancies.

RESULTS

Increased expression of hMSH2 was detected in all tumors examined using immunohistochemical analysis independent of grade or stage. Reverse transcription-PCR of hMSH2 mRNA from bladder washes detected 17 of 21 patients with primary or recurrent urothelial neoplasms or tumors involving the urothelial system. Four patients with urothelial malignancies without detectable hMSH2 expression from their bladder washes had high grade lesions. Ten of 13 patients without pathologic or cystoscopic evidence of bladder tumors were negative for hMSH2 expression in bladder washes. Two patients with bladder tumors and bladder washes that were positive for hMSH2 subsequently were found to be negative for hMSH2 after treatment of their tumors and at last follow-up had remained recurrence free for at least 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study suggest that hMSH2 expression is increased in low and high grade urothelial neoplasms, similar to the expression pattern in sporadic colon carcinoma. However, a fraction of high grade lesions may not express hMSH2 as detected by RT-PCR from bladder washes. The ability to detect hMSH2 expression in bladder washes may allow the use of hMSH2 expression as a marker for urothelial malignancy. In addition, the ability to define hMSH2 deficient tumors using bladder washes may have prognostic significance in the treatment of patients with urothelial carcinoma.

Expression of the human mismatch repair gene hMSH2: a potential marker for urothelial malignancy

BACKGROUND

The human mismatch repair (MMR) gene hMSH2 (human mutS homolog-2) is a DNA repair gene that has been reported to be mutated in 40% of hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) kindreds and a small percentage of sporadic tumors. HNPCC is a cancer predisposition syndrome with an increased risk of carcinoma of the colon, endometrium, stomach, small intestine, ovary, ureter, and renal pelvis. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated increased hMSH2 expression in sporadic colon carcinoma and in the replicative compartment of normal epithelium. A recent immunohistochemical analysis of hMSH2 in bladder tumors correlated reduced hMSH2 expression with recurrence and higher tumor grade. In the current study, we examined hMSH2 expression in urothelial malignancy using immunohistochemical analysis and developed a molecular assay for the detection of hMSH2 expression in bladder washes.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical analysis of 17 tumors from the genitourinary tract and reverse transcription coupled with polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of 40 bladder washes were used to investigate hMSH2 expression in noninvasive and invasive urothelial malignancies.

RESULTS

Increased expression of hMSH2 was detected in all tumors examined using immunohistochemical analysis independent of grade or stage. Reverse transcription-PCR of hMSH2 mRNA from bladder washes detected 17 of 21 patients with primary or recurrent urothelial neoplasms or tumors involving the urothelial system. Four patients with urothelial malignancies without detectable hMSH2 expression from their bladder washes had high grade lesions. Ten of 13 patients without pathologic or cystoscopic evidence of bladder tumors were negative for hMSH2 expression in bladder washes. Two patients with bladder tumors and bladder washes that were positive for hMSH2 subsequently were found to be negative for hMSH2 after treatment of their tumors and at last follow-up had remained recurrence free for at least 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study suggest that hMSH2 expression is increased in low and high grade urothelial neoplasms, similar to the expression pattern in sporadic colon carcinoma. However, a fraction of high grade lesions may not express hMSH2 as detected by RT-PCR from bladder washes. The ability to detect hMSH2 expression in bladder washes may allow the use of hMSH2 expression as a marker for urothelial malignancy. In addition, the ability to define hMSH2 deficient tumors using bladder washes may have prognostic significance in the treatment of patients with urothelial carcinoma.

Rare presentation of actinomycosis as an abdominal mass: report of a case

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article was to report an unusual presentation of abdominal actinomycosis masquerading as a tumor.

METHODS

The patient was a 54-year-old male who presented with vague abdominal discomfort and a palpable left lower quadrant mass defined on CT scan. Multiple intraoperative core biopsies were nondiagnostic, and he underwent en bloc resection of the mass and adjacent organs for a presumed tumor.

RESULTS

Examination of tissue from deep within the excised specimen revealed sulfur granules diagnostic for actinomycosis.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal actinomycosis is an extremely rare infection that can mimic multiple disease processes and requires accurate diagnosis for successful therapy. This novel presentation and a review of the literature are reported.

The prognostic significance of S-phase analysis in stage Ta/T1 bladder cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group Study

OBJECTIVES

An intergroup study (SWOG 8795) comparing two forms of adjunctive therapy (immuno and chemo), bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and mitomycin C (MMC), furnished preregistration index tumors for 244 patients with superficial, papillary stage Ta/T1 TCC. These were examined by flow cytometry to learn whether DNA ploidy or proliferation (low vs high S-phase fraction (SPF) helped to predict disease recurrence or progression.

METHODS

Cell cycle analysis using commercially available (Multicycle) programs was performed on 249 Ta/T1 bladder cancers. Tumor grade, available for 223 cases, was assigned by a single study pathologist. The SWOG statistical office reviewed follow-up information and other data and performed statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Disease recurrence occurred in half the cases studied. The most parsimonious model predictive of recurrence included only treatment arm and tumor grade, with the MMC arm and tumor grade greater than I indicating worse prognosis (p = 0. 014). Neither ploidy nor SPF predicted recurrence-free survival or contributed prognostic information that was additive to tumor grade. Within 5 years of follow-up, disease progression or death from bladder cancer occurred for 29/223 (13%) of patients. The most parsimonious model for progression-free survival included only grade greater than I (p<0.001) and high SPF (p = 0.029) (relative risk: tumor grade, 4.3, high SPF, 1.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge of tumor proliferation (low versus high SPF) contributes prognostic information about tumor progression that is additive to tumor grade.

The growth inhibitory effect of p21 adenovirus on human bladder cancer cells

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether p21 (WAF-1/CIP1) should be considered a potential candidate for human bladder cancer gene therapy, we determined: (1) the basal level of p21 expression in bladder cancer cell lines, (2) the response of bladder cancer cells to increased p21 expression following p21 adenovirus infection, and (3) the mechanism of growth inhibition produced by p21 overexpression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five established human bladder cancer cell lines and one primary culture derived from an invasive transitional cell carcinoma were used in this study. To examine the effect of p21 protein on the growth of human bladder cancer cells, a recombinant adenovirus vector system containing p21 cDNA, under the control of cytomegalovirus promoter, was constructed. A control virus containing p21 in an antisense orientation was used to eliminate potential artifacts caused by viral toxicity.

RESULTS

Human bladder cancer cell lines exhibit variable endogenous p21 levels which correlate with the in vitro growth status. Significant, but highly variable increases in the steady-state level of p21 were detected in p21 adenovirus infected cells. Human bladder cancer cell lines responded heterogeneously to p21 adenovirus infection. Growth of the WH cell line was substantially inhibited in a dose and time-course dependent fashion. The mechanism of p21 growth inhibition was found to be due to G0/G1 arrest and not the induction of apoptosis. In contrast, p21 adenovirus failed to inhibit the growth of T24 bladder cancer cells because T24 cells were resistant to viral infection. The 253J bladder cancer cells exhibited marked sensitivity to adenovirus; substantial growth inhibition was seen with both sense and antisense p21 very early in the time course of infection.

CONCLUSIONS

We found significant variation in the basal level of p21 protein expression in several human bladder cancer cell lines. Increased p21 expression as a result of adenoviral infection may be a potent growth suppressor in some human bladder cancer because it elicits cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 stage, but not the induction of apoptosis. Bladder cancer cells exhibit a wide spectrum of sensitivity to adenoviral infection that may be caused by the presence of viral receptor heterogeneity. This wide spectrum of sensitivity has significant basic scientific and clinical implications and warrants further study.

Solitary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the contralateral adrenal gland 22 years after nephrectomy

A case of solitary metastasis to the contralateral adrenal 22 years after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is described. This case highlights the variable behavior of RCC, the tendency for adrenal metastasis, and the potential for prolonged survival after resection of late solitary metastases.

Prospective determination of the hormonal response after cessation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist treatment in patients with prostate cancer

OBJECTIVES

To determine the hormonal (luteinizing hormone [LH] and testosterone) and biochemical (serum prostate-specific antigen [PSA]) response to withdrawal of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists in patients who received more than 2 years of LHRH therapy for advanced prostate cancer.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with clinical Stage T3 or higher prostate cancer and no evidence of clinical or biochemical progression, who had received 2 years or more of LHRH therapy, were enrolled at the time of their scheduled 3-month depot injection. Patients underwent history, physical examination, and measurement of serum PSA, LH, and testosterone at baseline, monthly for 3 months, and then every 3 months for 1 year following LHRH withdrawal.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 70.3 years (range 56 to 84). Patients previously received LHRH agonist for a mean of 38.6 months (range 25 to 82). All patients had castrate levels of testosterone (median 10.0 ng/dL) and suppressed LH levels (median 0.1 mIU/mL) at baseline. Median baseline PSA was 0.15 ng/mL. On multiple groupwise comparison, there was no significant change (compared with baseline) in LH or testosterone until 6 months after withdrawal and no change in PSA throughout the duration of the study (median PSA at 1 2 months 0.30 ng/mL). Despite significant increases in LH and testosterone when compared with baseline beginning at 6 months, both LH and testosterone remained markedly suppressed, with median testosterone remaining in the castrate range at both 6 and 9 months and significantly below the lower limit of normal at 12 months (median 111.0 ng/dL). Despite no statistically significant change for the entire cohort in serum PSA, a rising PSA was noted in 4 patients between 3 and 9 months, and LHRH therapy was reinitiated. The remaining patients continued to have suppressed LH and testosterone, with 4 patients remaining in the castrate range at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The recovery of function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis after prolonged LHRH administration is variable. Castrate levels of testosterone and suppressed LH may persist even up to 1 year after discontinuing LHRH. These results have significant implications regarding the interpretation of clinical trials incorporating neoadjuvant and adjuvant hormonal therapy. Further studies are needed to expand on these preliminary observations and should also address the feasibility of incorporating LHRH withdrawal into clinical practice.

Loss of adenoviral receptor expression in human bladder cancer cells: a potential impact on the efficacy of gene therapy

There is great interest in the development of gene therapeutic strategies for the treatment of benign and malignant diseases. Recombinant adenovirus has a wide spectrum of tissue specificity and is an efficient vector delivery system. Successful gene delivery, however, requires viral entry into the target cells via specific receptor-mediated uptake. Recently, a cDNA clone (the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor [CAR]) encoding a 46-kDa protein was identified as the receptor for group C adenovirus (e.g., adenovirus type 2 and 5). Currently, little is known regarding the expression of adenoviral receptor in normal tissue and cancer. In this paper, we have documented a significant difference in viral receptor levels that may be due to transcriptional regulation of the CAR gene in several human bladder cancer cell lines. The differences in viral receptor levels in these cells correlated with their sensitivity to viral infection. Transfection of receptor-negative cell line with CAR cDNA led to increased virus binding and increased susceptibility to adenovirus-mediated gene delivery. Our results demonstrate that the expression of adenoviral receptor is variable among human bladder cancer cells. This variability may have a significant impact on the outcome of adenovirus-based gene therapy.

Prognostic factors, recurrence, and survival in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: a 30-year experience in 252 patients

OBJECTIVES

To review a large single-center experience of patients treated for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) with extended follow-up in order to identify patterns of recurrence, assess patient outcomes, and determine the impact of traditional prognostic factors.

METHODS

We reviewed 252 patients treated surgically for upper tract TCC with a median follow-up of 64 months. Most patients (77%) underwent nephroureterectomy, whereas 17% were treated with a parenchymal sparing approach. Traditional prognostic factors including age, sex, tumor stage, grade, location, and type of surgical treatment were analyzed with respect to disease recurrence and survival.

RESULTS

Disease relapse occurred in 67 patients (27%) at a median time of 12.0 months. Recurrences were local in the retroperitoneum (9%), the bladder (51%), remaining upper tract (18%), or distant in the lung, bone, or liver (22%). The 6 patients with local relapse were among the 73 patients with pT3 or pT4 tumors, and all died of TCC at a median time from diagnosis of 37 months. Significant prognostic factors for recurrence by univariate analysis were tumor grade (P = 0.0014) and stage (P = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, only tumor stage (P = 0.017) and treatment modality (P = 0.020) were predictors of recurrence. Actuarial 5-year disease-specific survival rates by primary tumor stage were 100% for Ta/cis, 91.7% for T1, 72.6% for T2, and 40.5% for T3. Patients with primary Stage T4 tumors had a median survival of 6 months. Although tumor stage and grade correlated with disease-specific survival on univariate analysis, only patient age (P = 0.042) and stage (P = 0.0001) were significant on multivariate analysis with the type of surgical procedure performed approaching significance (P = 0.0504).

CONCLUSIONS

Primary tumor stage and surgical procedure performed (radical versus parenchymal sparing) are important predictors of disease recurrence. Patient age and tumor stage were the only predictors of disease-specific survival on multivariate analysis with the type of surgical procedure approaching significance. Radical nephroureterectomy achieves excellent local control even in the setting of locally advanced (pT3 or T4) disease. The major clinical feature in this setting is distant failure, and the development of effective systemic therapy is needed to improve the outcome in these patients.

Advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: patterns of failure, survival and impact of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy

PURPOSE

We review the outcome of patients with advanced stage III or IV transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract and the impact of postoperative radiotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified 74 patients who were treated surgically with curative intent for stage III (49) or IV (25) transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Median followup was 21 months (range 1 to 236) for all patients and 60 months (range 29 to 172) for those alive at last contact. A median dose of 40 Gy. adjuvant radiotherapy was delivered to the tumor bed and regional nodes of 15 patients (30%) with stage III and 13 (52%) with stage IV disease.

RESULTS

The actuarial 5-year overall and disease specific survival for patients with stage III disease was 28 and 40%, respectively. Median disease specific survival was 37 months. Median overall and disease specific survival for patients with stage IV disease was 7 months. Isolated local recurrence was identified in 5 of 49 patients with stage III and only 1 of 25 with stage IV disease. The 5-year actuarial disease specific survival rate in patients with stage III disease whether or not they were treated with postoperative radiotherapy was 45 versus 40%, respectively. For patients with stage IV disease median survival was 7 and 9 months for those who were and those who were not treated with postoperative radiotherapy, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with stages III and IV transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract have a high risk of disease relapse and cancer mortality. The major clinical feature is distant failure with isolated local relapse uncommon following initial aggressive surgical therapy. There is no survival benefit with postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. More effective systemic adjuvant therapy is necessary to improve the outcome of these patients.

Further experience with split-cuff nipple ureteral reimplantation in urinary diversion

PURPOSE

The intermediate followup results with split-cuff nipple ureteral reimplantation in larger numbers of urinary diversion patients are reviewed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Split-cuff nipple ureteroenteric anastomosis was performed in 98 ureters of 51 adult patients. Mean duration of followup was 23 months (range 3 to 62). Two minor variations in technique compared to the original report are presented.

RESULTS

Urinary reflux was prevented in 97.6 and 96.8% of cases at 1 and 2-year followup, respectively. Ureteroenteric anastomotic obstruction occurred in 3.1% of ureters by 3 months postoperatively. No cases of anastomotic leak or later obstruction occurred. Four episodes of acute pyelonephritis occurred in the early postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

The split-cuff nipple ureteral reimplant technique in urinary diversion continues to provide excellent results with low rates of reflux or obstruction. The 2 described minor technical modifications further simplify the procedure.

Further experience with split-cuff nipple ureteral reimplantation in urinary diversion

PURPOSE

The intermediate followup results with split-cuff nipple ureteral reimplantation in larger numbers of urinary diversion patients are reviewed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Split-cuff nipple ureteroenteric anastomosis was performed in 98 ureters of 51 adult patients. Mean duration of followup was 23 months (range 3 to 62). Two minor variations in technique compared to the original report are presented.

RESULTS

Urinary reflux was prevented in 97.6 and 96.8% of cases at 1 and 2-year followup, respectively. Ureteroenteric anastomotic obstruction occurred in 3.1% of ureters by 3 months postoperatively. No cases of anastomotic leak or later obstruction occurred. Four episodes of acute pyelonephritis occurred in the early postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

The split-cuff nipple ureteral reimplant technique in urinary diversion continues to provide excellent results with low rates of reflux or obstruction. The 2 described minor technical modifications further simplify the procedure.

Oral bropirimine immunotherapy of bladder carcinoma in situ after prior intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin

OBJECTIVES

Bropirimine is an oral immunomodulator that has demonstrated anticancer activity in transitional cell carcinoma in situ (CIS) in both the bladder and upper urinary tract. Activity also has been documented in patients after prior therapy with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG). To more accurately estimate bropirimine's efficacy in BCG-resistant bladder CIS, a Phase II trial was performed. A separate analysis was performed in additional patients intolerant of BCG toxicity.

METHODS

Patients received bropirimine 3.0 g/day by mouth for 3 consecutive days, weekly, for up to 1 year. Bladder biopsies and cytologic examination were performed quarterly. Complete response (CR) required negative biopsy and cytology results.

RESULTS

Twenty-one of 86 patients entered were not evaluable. CR was seen in 21 (32%; 95th percentile confidence interval [CI], 21% to 44%) of 65 evaluable patients, including 14 (30%, CI 17% to 43%) of 47 BCG-resistant, and 7 (39%, CI 16% to 61%) of 18 BCG-intolerant patients. Overall, by intent-to-treat analysis, CR was thus seen in 21 (24%) of 86 subjects. Most BCG-resistant patients were failures to BCG without relapse, and had received 12 to 36 (median 12) BCG treatments; intolerant patients had received 4 to 11 treatments (median 6). Response duration ranged from 65 to 810 days, with median not yet reached (but greater than 12 months). Thirteen (15%) of 86 stopped bropirimine due to toxicity. Progression to invasive or metastatic disease during or immediately after therapy was documented in only 4 patients (6%), all nonresponders.

CONCLUSIONS

Bropirimine may be an alternative to cystectomy for some patients with bladder CIS who have failed or have not tolerated BCG. Further evaluation to improve responses and durability is warranted.

Risk of concurrent prostate cancer in cystoprostatectomy specimens is related to volume of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVES

To assess the relationship of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) with both incidental and clinical carcinoma of the prostate.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed prostate histology in 48 men (group 1) who underwent surgical removal of the prostate for diagnoses other than prostate cancer, as well as in 64 men (group 2) who underwent radical prostatectomies. Both groups were assessed for the presence and extent of high-grade (HG-) PIN and compared with respect to patient age, Gleason score, and volume of prostate cancer.

RESULTS

HG-PIN was present in 40 of 48 (83%) group 1 cases. Forty-six percent of these cases (22 of 48) had incidental prostate cancer. Twenty-nine of 48 (60%) group 1 patients with HG-PIN had multifocal or extensive disease. Twenty of 22 (91%) incidental prostate cancers were present in 29 prostates with multifocal or extensive HG-PIN. In contrast, only 2 of 19 (11%) cases with absent to focal HG-PIN had prostate cancer. The association of multifocal or extensive HG-PIN with incidental prostate cancer was significant (P = 0.001); the relationships of extent of HG-PIN and cancer volume (P = 0.06) or high Gleason score (P = 0.017) were not significant. HG-PIN was present in 61 of 64 (95%) group 2 cases. The associations of extent of HG-PIN and cancer volume (P = 0.169) or high Gleason score (P = 0.156) were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the low rate of incidental prostate cancer in specimens with absent to focal HG-PIN and the high rate of cancer in specimens with multifocal or extensive HG-PIN suggest that HG-PIN is a marker for concurrent prostate cancer and that the risk of concurrent prostate cancer is related to the volume of HG-PIN in the prostate gland.

Comparison of three assays for total serum prostate-specific antigen and percentage of free prostate-specific antigen in predicting prostate histology

OBJECTIVES

To determine the statistical performance of three different assays for prostate specific antigen (PSA) and the percentage of free PSA with respect to the differentiation of histologic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer in men who underwent surgical removal of prostate tissue.

METHODS

Serum of 86 men scheduled for prostate surgery (transurethral resection of the prostate [TURP], simple open prostatectomy, radical prostatectomy, cystoprostatectomy) was frozen and subjected to measurement in batches using three different assays for total PSA (Hybritech Tandem-E, Abbott IMx, Tosoh AIA-600) and free PSA by the Hybritech method after a single freeze-thaw cycle. The histologic diagnosis of the removed tissue (35 BPH and 51 cancer) was used as a "gold standard" for classification of disease status. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic efficiency were calculated for the three total PSA assays and the free/total PSA ratios for the entire cohort and subsets. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to compare the performance of the assays and ratios.

RESULTS

Mean and median total PSA values differed slightly between the three assays for all patients, and for those with BPH and cancer, but this difference was not significant. Because of a considerable overlap, the differences between the mean PSA values for men with BPH and prostate cancer were not significant. At a cutpoint of 4.0 ng/mL, sensitivity with respect to the differentiation between BPH and prostate cancer was 68.6% for all three total PSA assays; the respective AUCs (0.613-0.625) were not significantly different. While the performance of the free/total PSA ratios was superior, the differences were only significant when subsets of patients were considered with a total PSA between 4 and 10 ng/mL or 4 and 15 ng/mL (AUCs 0.789-0.816). Likewise, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic efficiency was better in these subsets of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study in which a "gold standard" based on histologic analysis of the entire (or large part of) the prostate gland was used to classify disease status, the three assays for total serum PSA (Hybritech Tandem-E, Abbott IMx, and Tosoh AIA-600) performed very similarly with identical sensitivities (at a cutpoint of 4.0 ng/mL) and comparable AUCs with respect to the differentiation of men with histologic BPH and prostate cancer. The ratios of free/total PSA calculated as free PSA by the Hybritech manual immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) method over all three total PSA assays, performed marginally better in the entire patient population. However, in the subsets of patients with a PSA of 4-10 ng/mL and 4-15 ng/mL, all three ratios performed significantly better than the three total PSA assays. The proper choice of a cutpoint for the ratio (15%, 17%, 19%, or 21%) depends on the desirability of maximizing either sensitivity or specificity while optimizing diagnostic efficiency.

Early results with split-cuff nipple ureteral reimplants in urinary diversion

PURPOSE

A split-cuff nipple technique was developed for ureteral reimplantation in urinary diversion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ureteroenteric anastomosis was performed with a uniform split-cuff nipple technique in 46 ureters of 24 adult patients undergoing various forms of conduit or continent urinary diversion. The outcome of 42 reimplants in 22 patients (mean followup 22.5 months, minimum 10) was analyzed. The technique is described in detail.

RESULTS

Reflux was prevented in 97.6% and 95% of cases at initial and 2-year followup, respectively. Neither anastomotic leakage nor obstruction occurred. There were 2 episodes of pyelonephritis in the early postoperative period. Results are compared with those in the literature of ureteroenteric anastomoses in general and of various split-cuff nipple techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

The technique is easy to perform. Favorable early results warrant continued use of the procedure. Long-term followup in a larger number of patients is indicated.

Lymphoproliferative disease presenting as obstructive uropathy after renal transplantation

Lymphoproliferative disorders occur with a greater frequency in recipients of solid organ transplants. Unlike in the general population, these tumors tend to arise in extranodal sites and are often confined to a single organ. We report on a patient with lymphoproliferative disease confined to the hilum of the renal allograft. The only clinical clue to the presence of the tumor was an increase in the serum creatinine secondary to ureteral obstruction by the mass.

The assessment and management of renal vascular hypertension after kidney transplantation

The clinical setting that suggests transplant renal artery stenosis, its various forms, and the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system in its pathogenesis has been reviewed. Both captopril-enhanced renography and pulse duplex Doppler ultrasound are useful noninvasive screening tests for renal artery stenosis. Some form of angiography remains essential in defining the extent of the lesion and in planning therapy. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is the first-line therapy for most cases. Open surgical repair provides the most definitive treatment but has greater morbidity. Medical therapy alone is appropriate in patients with significant chronic allograft rejection or other comorbidities that preclude intervention for the renal artery stenosis.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the seminal vesicle

A case of leiomyosarcoma of the seminal vesicle is described in a 68-year-old man. Digital rectal examination and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan disclosed a large pelvic mass in the region of the prostate, whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested that the mass arose from the right seminal vesicle. Biopsy of the mass revealed a high-grade malignancy, thus a radical cystoprostatectomy was performed. Pathologic examination revealed a leiomyosarcoma arising from the right seminal vesicle. The patient is well and free of recurrent disease 13 months following surgery.

Factors influencing adrenal metastasis in renal cell carcinoma

The factors predisposing to adrenal metastasis in renal cell carcinoma were reviewed in 695 cases. The overall incidence of adrenal metastasis was 4.3%. The risk of adrenal metastasis correlated with tumors that were on the left side, large and replacing the entire kidney, upper pole in location and of advanced T stage. Nevertheless, microscopic and/or contralateral adrenal metastasis was noted in patients with smaller, lower pole or mid renal tumors. Of 30 patients with adrenal metastasis 9 (30%) had clinical evidence of widespread disease. Among the patients who underwent complete surgical resection 14% had either positive lymph nodes or other non-adrenal metastases. Of the patients undergoing resection 81% died, with a mean postoperative survival of 27 months. Sustained disease-free survival was noted in 3 patients (0.43% of the entire series) whose complete pathological staging was pT1-3b, N0, M0. The need and benefit of adrenalectomy during surgery for renal cell carcinoma are extremely limited.

Fate of renal allografts transplanted in patients with urinary diversion

Fifty-five kidneys were transplanted into 50 patients with supravesical urinary diversion at 16 transplant centers between 1970 and 1991. Of the 32 males and 18 females, 40 were adults (> or = 18 years) and 10 were less than 18 years old at the time of first transplant. Mean follow-up was 7.8 years. At last follow-up, 94% of recipients were alive and 73% of the kidneys were functioning. Fifteen kidneys were lost: 9 to rejection, 3 to noncompliance, and 3 patients died with a functioning kidney. Ten (18%) transplants were followed by surgical complications. Twenty-four (44%) were followed by medical complications of which urinary tract infection was most common. Recipients age 18 or younger had more urinary tract infections than older patients. No patient had urinary stones and no patient required medical treatment for metabolic abnormalities. We conclude that drainage of kidney transplants into a supravesical urinary diversion is an effective treatment for end-stage renal disease patients without adequate urinary bladders.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the ureteral stump 23 years after radical nephrectomy for adenocarcinoma

We report a case of simultaneous invasive transitional cell carcinoma in a ureteral stump and superficial bladder tumor occurring 23 years after ipsilateral radical nephrectomy for adenocarcinoma of the kidney. We review the literature on similar cases and discuss potential etiologies of tumor formation in the ureteral stump.

Testicular tumors in men with human immunodeficiency virus

During a 2-year period 5 men positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented with 6 testis tumors among a total of 3,015 men seen at our hospital acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) clinic. This testis tumor incidence of 0.2% is 57 times that of the United States average of 3.5 cases per 100,000 men. Two patients were only HIV positive and 3 others already had AIDS-related complex for 2 to 15 months at the time of tumor diagnosis. Tumor histology was mixed germ cell tumor in 4 patients, pure seminoma in 1 and Burkitt's lymphoma in 1. Patients underwent routine staging evaluations. Three patients had low stage mixed germ cell tumor (clinical stage 1 or 2A) and underwent retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, which revealed pathological stage 1 or 2A disease in 1 and 2, respectively. These patients did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Two patients had advanced mixed germ cell tumor (clinical stage 2C) or Burkitt's lymphoma (clinical stage 4) and received combination chemotherapy from the onset. Outcome was evaluated with regard to progression of HIV disease and tumor status. The 2 patients who were only HIV positive remained so for 9 and 48 months. The 3 patients with AIDS-related complex had progression to AIDS within 1 to 9 months and 2 of these patients died 1 1/2 and 7 months after tumor diagnosis. All 3 patients with resected low stage disease had tumor recurrence within 1 to 9 months and were begun on platinum-based combination chemotherapy. The risk of false low clinical staging and early tumor progression may be higher in HIV positive men than in other testis tumor patients. Patient ability to tolerate chemotherapy and to obtain a satisfactory tumor response appeared to be primarily related to lack of progression of HIV disease to frank AIDS.

Long-term patient survival after cystectomy for regional metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

The records of 280 patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder between 1971 and 1986 were reviewed. A total of 42 patients had either 1 (stage pN1) or more than 1 (stage pN2) positive lymph nodes (20 and 22 patients, respectively). The over-all 3-year survival rate for patients with positive lymph nodes was 27%, and it was 30 and 18.5% for stages pN1 and pN2 disease, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed a sustained survival advantage for stage pN1 over pN2 disease for the first 3 years (p less than 0.05) but the difference was not significant at 5 years of followup. Eleven patients with negative lymph nodes but local extension of tumor into the prostatic stroma and/or ducts had a 5-year survival rate of 36%, which equaled the survival of 49 stage pT3b,pN0 cancer patients in the same series. Surgical mortality for the entire population of 280 patients was 2.1% and there was no increase in mortality or morbidity among the node positive patients. Based on the findings of improved survival of stages pN1 and pT3b,N0 cancer patients compared to stage pN2 cancer patients, the tumor, nodes and metastasis classification offers more specific prognostic information than does a single designation of Jewett stage D disease.

Predictors of residual mass histology after chemotherapy for advanced testis cancer

The records of 15 patients with Stage B3 or B2/C germ cell testis tumors who underwent full surgical debulking of a residual mass after completion of chemotherapy were reviewed retrospectively to look for predictors of residual mass histology. The density, character, and change in volume of the retroperitoneal mass on computerized tomography before and after chemotherapy were compared with the histology in the primary tumor and in the residual mass. One of 6 patients without teratoma in the primary tumor had a 97 percent reduction in the mass which contained residual teratoma. Two patients with residual seminoma had a 50 percent decrease in tumor volume, and both patients died of tumor progression despite salvage chemotherapy. Two patients with pure seminomas had only residual fibrosis in masses that decreased in volume by 77 and 75 percent, respectively. One of these masses was discrete and the other was diffuse. Seven of 9 patients (78%) with teratoma in the primary tumor had either teratoma (4 of 9, 44%) or carcinoma (3 of 9, 33%) in the residual mass, and the change in mass volume ranged from a 93 percent decrease to a 540 percent increase in size. All 7 patients with residual teratoma and/or carcinoma remain free of disease after observation or further chemotherapy. For the entire series, the mass density and character did not correlate consistently with the primary tumor or residual mass histology. Residual fibrosis alone or teratoma and/or carcinoma were seen with least (0 to 50%) and greatest (more than 90%) decreases in mass volume.

Long-term survival and late development of bladder cancer in renal transplant patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

We describe a renal transplant recipient in whom progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder developed. Despite these potentially fatal sequelae of chronic immunosuppression the patient remains free of recurrent disease.

Functional characteristics of the Camey ileal bladder

We studied postoperatively 14 men who underwent urinary diversion with a Camey ileal bladder in association with radical cystoprostatectomy. Clinical and urodynamic evaluations revealed that the ileal bladder provides a moderate pressure reservoir (mean pressure at capacity 37 cm. water) and offers the patient reliable daytime continence. The mean capacity of 362 ml. allows for a voiding interval of 2.2 hours but it is not adequate for storage of urine produced through the night, so that nocturnal enuresis results universally. Even after 2 years of followup the tubular-shaped ileal reservoir maintained physiological contraction waves of segmentation and peristalsis typical of human ileum. Voiding is accomplished by abdominal straining and an intraluminal pressure of more than 50 cm. water is required to maintain the urine flow. Mean peak flow rate was 19 ml. per second. Reflux was prevented successfully in 86 per cent of the renal units. Metabolic acidosis was seen in 43 per cent of the patients. While the ileal bladder falls short of being the ideal form of continent urinary diversion, it offers a psychologically attractive technique to selected and highly motivated male patients faced with the need for urinary diversion.

Experience with the ileal bladder (Camey procedure) and cecoileal reservoirs for continent urinary diversion

I have reviewed our own experience with the ileal bladder and with cecal and cecoileal reservoirs, along with the reported experiences of other investigators. Both of these major classes of diversion offer continent nonrefluxing storage of urine. I advise patients who are candidates for either type of procedure to weigh the prospect of urethral voiding (but enuresis with the ileal bladder) v a continent abdominal stoma that requires self-catheterization of variable difficulty with a cecoileal reservoir. The perfect urinary diversion does not exist. Greater experience in time and numbers is required to know if the newer procedures reviewed here are even as good as the ileal conduit. However, the potential for greater preservation of renal function and significantly improved quality of life cannot be denied.

Uncommon sites of recurrent seminoma and implications for therapy

Three patients with advanced seminoma that metastasized to the prostate, the kidney, and a lumbar vertebra are presented. The implications of such metastases regarding the management of residual lesions after chemotherapy are discussed.

Further experience with ileocecal conduit urinary diversion

Ileocecal conduit urinary diversion was performed on 18 patients. Over-all surgical complications were few. Creation of a sutured ileal intussusception across the ileocecal valve prevented reflux in 9 of 12 patients (75 per cent) followed for 8 to 25 months. A stapling technique prevented reflux in all 5 patients followed for 8 to 12 months. These modifications may allow chronically reliable nonrefluxing urinary diversion along with the previously recognized advantages of the ileocecal segment.

Increasing incidence of testicular cancer in blacks

Retrospective review of two consecutive five-year periods at a hospital with a large black patient population reveals an increasing incidence of testicular tumors in blacks.

Renovascular hypertension following renal transplantation

The authors address the multifactored origins of renovascular hypertension following renal transplantation and present the experience with digital subtraction angiography and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty as well as standard angiography and surgical repair in the diagnosis and treatment of transplant renal artery stenosis. The roles of the renin-angiotensin system of the native kidney and of the allograft in sustaining hypertension after transplantation are reviewed in detail.

Prospective evaluation of renal allograft dysfunction with 99mtechnetium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid renal scans

A prospective, single-blinded study was done to determine the ability of serial 99mtechnetium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid scans to diagnose renal allograft rejection. Among 28 transplant recipients 111 renal scans were obtained 1 day postoperatively and every 3 to 4 days thereafter for 3 weeks in all patients retaining an allograft. Computer-generated time-activity blood flow curves were analyzed semiquantitatively for the 1) interval between curve peaks of the allograft and iliac artery, 2) renal transit time and 3) renal washout of radionuclide. Excretory function was assessed by degree and interval to appearance of radionuclide in the calices and bladder. Deterioration of renal blood flow and excretion compared to the initial scan was considered rejection. Of 52 scans performed during clinical rejection 47 (90.4 per cent) were interpreted as showing rejection (sensitivity). Of 53 scans interpreted as showing rejection 47 (88.7 per cent) were positive for clinical rejection. The remaining 6 patients (initial false positive results) suffered clinical rejection within 24 to 72 hours. We conclude that 99mtechnetium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid renal scans are useful in the differential diagnosis of renal allograft dysfunction.

Urologic complications in 505 renal transplants with early catheter removal

Of 505 consecutive renal transplants urologic complications occurred in 4.1 per cent of cadaver, 2.6 per cent of living related, 1.9 per cent of diabetic and 3.8 per cent of nondiabetic allografts. Over-all, patient survival and graft salvage rates were 94 and 83 per cent, respectively. Principles of prevention, diagnosis and management of these complications are discussed. In contrast to prior standards the bladder catheter was removed within 36 hours postoperatively in nearly all cases without any increase in morbidity.

Renal trauma requiring surgery: an analysis of 185 cases

Successful management of patients with renal trauma requires definition of the extent of injury and knowledge of the indications for exploration. The 185 consecutive cases of renal trauma requiring surgery at Parkland Memorial Hospital between 1976 and 1980 are reviewed. Injury was due to penetrating trauma in 85% of cases, and blunt trauma in 15%. The most common associated injuries following penetrating trauma were to liver, small bowel, stomach, and colon; splenic injury was more common in blunt trauma. Renal pedicle injuries in 26 patients (14%) had an operative mortality of 12% compared to 5.4% for the entire group. Renal salvage occurred in 85, 70, and 64% of stab wounds, gunshots, and blunt trauma, respectively. The importance of prompt and accurate radiographic assessment of injury with aggressive use of renal arteriography is stressed.