The Association Between Duration of Antibiotics and Infectious Complications Following Radical Cystectomy: Analysis of the 2019-2021 NSQIP Database

OBJECTIVES

To identify the impact of the duration of peri-operative antibiotics on infectious complications following radical cystectomy.

METHODS

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) targeted database was queried for patients undergoing radical cystectomy from 2019 to 2021. Baseline patient characteristics were collected. Antibiotic duration was classified as <24 hours (short), 24-72 hours (intermediate) or >72 hours (long). Infectious complication data were collected including surgical site infection (SSI), urinary tract infection (UTI), organ space infection, pneumonia, sepsis, and clostridium difficile infection up to 30 days after surgery. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to compare duration of antibiotic therapy to infectious outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 4363 patients who underwent radical cystectomy, 3250 (74%), 827 (19%) and 286 (6.6%) received short, intermediate, and long duration of peri-operative antibiotics, respectively. Infectious complication occurred in 954 (22%) patients, including 227 (5.2%) SSI, 280 (6.4%) UTI, 268(6.1%) organ space infection, 87 (2%) pneumonia, and 378 (8.7%) sepsis. Clostridium difficile infection occurred in 89 (2%) patients. On multivariable analysis, there was no significant difference in overall infectious complication rates with long-duration antibiotics. However, intermediate duration of antibiotics in open surgery was associated with a decreased risk of SSI (OR 0.58; 95%CI 0.37-0.91) compared to those treated with short-term antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

Despite guideline recommendations, 26% of patients in this database received >24 hours of peri-operative antibiotics without decreased risk of overall infectious complication. An intermediate course of antibiotics decreased risk of SSI in open surgery compared to the guideline recommend <24-hour course. Greater education regarding antibiotic stewardship and further studies investigating infectious complications are warranted.

Effect of United States Medical Licensing Examination Score Cutoffs on Recruitment of Underrepresented Applicants in the Urology Match

OBJECTIVE

To determine how the use of United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) score cutoffs during the screening process of the Urology Residency Match Program may affect recruitment of applicants who are underrepresented in medicine (URM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Deidentified data from the Association of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC) Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) system was reviewed, representing all applicants to our institution's urology residency program from 2018 to 2022. We analyzed self-reported demographic variables including race/ethnicity, age, sex/gender, as well as USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores. Chi-square tests and ANOVA were used to determine the association between race/ethnicity and other sociodemographic factors and academic metrics. Applicants were stratified according to USMLE Step 1 cutoff scores and the distribution of applicants by race/ethnicity was assessed using a Gaussian nonlinear regression fit.

RESULTS

A total of 1258 applicants submitted applications to our program during the 5-year period, including 872 males (69.3%) and 386 females (30.7%). Most applicants were White (43.5%), followed by Asian (28.3%), Hispanic/Latino (11.7%), and Black (7.0%). There was an association between race/ethnicity and USMLE scores. Median USMLE Step 1 scores for White, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, and Black applicants were 242, 242, 237, and 232, respectively (P < .001). As cutoff score increases, percentage of URM applicants decreases.

CONCLUSION

The use of cutoffs based on USMLE scores disproportionately affects URM applicants. Transitioning from numeric scores to pass/fail may enhance holistic review processes and increase the representation of URM applicants offered interviews at urology residency programs.

Pelvic lymphadenectomy: Evaluating nodal stage migration and will rogers effect in bladder cancer

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) alongside radical cystectomy (RC), provides crucial diagnostic and therapeutic value in patients with bladder cancer. With the advent of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and prospective data supporting standard PLND, controversy remains regarding the optimal PLND extent and patient selection. Nearly 40% of patients may not receive adequate PLND, even though 25% of patients have positive lymph nodes (LN) at time of RC. We hypothesized that PLND still remains an important facet of bladder cancer treatment. To clarify the prognostic importance of nodal yield, we performed a retrospective investigation of a heterogenous population (pTanyNx/0M0) of patients undergoing RC.

METHODS

From the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, we identified pTanyNx/0M0 bladder cancer patients undergoing RC from 2004 to 2015. Kaplan Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models assessed cancer-specific survival. Patients were analyzed with PLND performed as the primary covariate. Survival analysis then stratified patients undergoing PLND by LN yield, both as a continuous and categorial variable (≤10, 11-20, 21-30, and >30), and T stage.

RESULTS

The final cohort included pTanyNx/0M0 patients with urothelial bladder cancer (n = 12,096); median follow up was 39 (IQR: 17-77) months. PLND was performed in 81.45% of patients with a median LN yield of 14 (IQR: 7-23). Most commonly, patients had T2 disease (44.68%). After controlling for age and T stage, patients receiving PLND had improved CSS (HR = 0.56, [95% CI: 0.51-0.62]) compared to those that did not receive PLND. When grouping patients by LN yield, survival improved in a "dose dependent" manner (>30 LN: HR = 0.76, [95% CI: 0.66-0.87]). We noted similar results when stratifying patients into non-muscle-invasive (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large contemporary series of pTanyNx/0M0 bladder cancer patients, we found a significant oncologic benefit to PLND. Higher LN yield correlated to improved CSS in non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive disease. Our data support the possibility of occult micrometastasis even in non-muscle-invasive disease. Additionally, in light of recent advances in adjuvant immunotherapy, our results emphasize the importance of adequate nodal yield for accurate staging and optimal treatment.

Annual trends of cystectomy complications: A contemporary analysis of the NSQIP database

INTRODUCTION

Despite significant morbidity, radical cystectomy (RC) is standard of care for muscle invasive bladder cancer, certain high-risk nonmuscle invasive tumors and after failure of intravesical or trimodal therapy. Modern efforts have hastened the recovery after this surgery without impact on overall complication rates. Our primary aim was to examine changes in complication rates of RC over time.

METHODS

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database included 11,351 RC from 2006 to 2018 for nondisseminated bladder cancer. Baseline characteristics and complication rates were studied across time periods: 2006 to 2011, 2012 to 2014, and 2015 to 2018. Thirty-day complications, readmissions, and mortality were identified.

RESULTS

Overall complication rates decreased over time (56.5%, 57.4%, 50.6%, P < 0.01). Infectious complications were stable, including UTIs (10.1%, 8.8%, 8.3% respectively, P = 0.11) and sepsis (10.4%, 8.8%, 8.7% respectively, P = 0.20). On multivariable analysis, ASA≥3 (OR 1.399, 95% CI 1.279-1.530) was associated with increased complications, while procedures in 2015 to 2018 (OR 0.825, 95% CI 0.722-0.942), laparoscopic/robotic approach (OR 0.555, 95%CI 0.494-0.622), and ileal conduit (OR 0.796, 95% CI 0.719-0.882) were associated with decreased complication rates. Other outcomes of interest included mean length of stay (LOS), which decreased over time (10.5, 9.8, 8.6 days, respectively, P < 0.01) and readmission (20.0%, 21.3%, 21.0%, respectively, P = 0.84) and mortality rates were stable (2.7%, 1.7%, 2.0%, respectively, P = 0.13).

CONCLUSION

Decreased early complications and LOS after RC over time may reflect beneficial effects of recent advances in bladder cancer treatment such as enhanced recovery after surgery protocols and minimally invasive techniques. Further opportunities to improve long term outcomes, readmissions and infection rates are needed.

Associations between Etiologic or Prognostic Tumor Tissue Markers and Neighborhood Contextual Factors in Male Health Professionals Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence that unfavorable neighborhood contexts may influence prostate cancer progression. Whether these associations may be explained in part by differences in tumor-level somatic alterations remain unclear.

METHODS

Data on tumor markers (PTEN, p53, ERG, and SPINK1) were obtained from 1,157 participants with prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Neighborhood greenness, socioeconomic status, and the income Index of Concentration at Extremes were obtained from satellite and census data and linked to participants' address at diagnosis and at study enrollment. Exposures were scaled to an interquartile range and modeled as tertiles. Bivariate associations between tertiles of neighborhood factors and tumor markers were assessed in covariate adjusted logistic regression models to estimate ORs and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

There was no association between any of the neighborhood contextual factors and PTEN, p53, ERG, or SPINK1 in bivariate or multivariable adjusted models. Results were generally consistent when modeling exposure using exposure at diagnosis or at study enrollment.

CONCLUSIONS

In this multilevel study of men with prostate cancer, we found no evidence of associations between neighborhood context and tumor tissue markers.

IMPACT

Our results provide some of the first empirical data in support of the hypothesis that prostate cancer risk conferred by tumor tissue markers may arise independently of underlying neighborhood context. Prospective studies in more diverse populations are needed to confirm these findings.

Metastasis-Directed Therapy for Oligometastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: An Alternative to ADT?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The standard treatment of patients with metastatic prostate cancer is systemic treatment with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). The spectrum-based model of metastatic disease includes the presence of an oligometastatic state, an intermediary between localized and widespread metastatic disease, in which radical local treatment might improve systemic control. Our purpose is to review the literature on metastasis-directed therapy in the treatment of oligometastatic prostate cancer.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several prospective clinical trials have reported improvements in ADT-free survival and progression-free survival with metastasis-directed therapy of oligometastatic prostate cancer. Retrospective studies have found improvements in oncologic outcomes for patients with oligometastatic prostate cancer undergoing metastasis-directed therapy, and several recent prospective clinical trials have confirmed these results. Advancements in imaging as well as an understanding of the genomics of oligometastatic prostate cancer may allow for better patient selection for metastasis-directed therapy and the potential for cure in selected patients.

Factors associated with clinical trial participation for patients with renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Recruitment of a diverse and representative study population is critical to the external validity of oncology clinical trials. The primary objective of this study was to characterize the factors associated with clinical trial participation for patients with renal cell carcinoma and the secondary objective was to examine differences in survival outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used a matched case-control design by querying the National Cancer Database for patients with renal cell carcinoma who were coded as having enrolled in a clinical trial. Trial patients were matched in a 1:5 ratio to the control cohort based on clinical stage and then sociodemographic variables were compared between the 2 groups. Multivariable conditional logistic regression models evaluated factors associated with clinical trial participation. The trial patient cohort was then matched again in a 1:10 ratio based on age, clinical stage, and comorbidities. Log-rank test was used to compare overall survival (OS) between these groups.

RESULTS

From 2004 to 2014, 681 patients enrolled in clinical trials were identified. Clinical trial patients were significantly younger and had a lower Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score. On multivariate analysis, male patients and white patients were more likely to participate compared to their Black counterparts. Having Medicaid or Medicare negatively associated with trial participation. Median OS was greater among clinical trial participants.

CONCLUSION

Patient sociodemographic factors remain significantly associated with clinical trial participation and trial participants experienced superior OS to their matched counterparts.

Contemporary analysis of complications after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection: Data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2006-2018

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Background: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) offers therapeutic and diagnostic value for patients with testicular cancer. Specific indications for RPLND include management of patients with stage I-II nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT), advanced NSGCTs with post-chemotherapy masses, and seminomas with early metastatic disease. While RPLND is an invasive and complex operation, prior research suggests complication rates are relatively low and may vary based on patient characteristics and disease-related factors. We examined the incidence of complications after RPLND and aimed to determine risk factors associated with these complications. Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2006-2018 was queried for RPLND in patients with testis cancer who were identified by ICD 9 and 10 codes. All reported postoperative complications were examined and categorized by type and organ system. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to determine risk factors associated with complications. Results: 368 RPLND procedures over the 13 year interval met inclusion criteria. The overall complication rate was 23.91% (n=88). The most common complication was bleeding requiring transfusion (n=59, 16.03%). Risk factors associated with any complication included older age (OR 1.041, p=0.003), longer operative time (OR 1.007, p<0.001), and major concomitant procedure (OR 2.429, p=0.015). As shown in the table, risk factors associated with transfusion included older age (OR 1.040, p=0.019), longer operative time (OR 1.009, p<0.001), and major concomitant procedure (OR 3.296, p=0.004). Higher pre-operative hematocrit was associated with decreased risk of transfusion (OR 0.883, p<0.001). M+ (metastatic) disease and longer operative time were associated with an increased risk for wound, infectious, and respiratory complications. Conclusions: Based on our analysis, almost one in four patients undergoing RPLND experienced a complication. Bleeding requiring transfusion was the most common complication and was associated with patient age, preoperative hematocrit, operative time, and major concomitant procedure. Urologic surgeons may seek to optimize hematocrit prior to surgery, especially when major concomitant procedure may be necessary. [Table: see text]

Characteristics of Medical Schools in the United States Associated With Successful Match into Urology Residency Programs: Analysis of the 2016-2021 Urology Resident Cohort

OBJECTIVE

To determine the characteristics of US medical schools associated with successful urology match applicants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using publicly available data, demographics and bibliometrics were collected for 1814 current urology residents who attend a US-based Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Accredited program, reflecting matched applicants over a 6-year period from 2016-2021. A generated list of US feeder medical schools for urology was analyzed for correlative and predictive factors. Statistical analyses to characterize these factors included Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (PCC) and univariable and multivariable linear regression, respectively, as needed.

RESULTS

There were 516 (28.45%) female residents and 58 (3.20%) international medical graduates. The mean number of published papers and abstracts ± SD pre-residency was 5.54 ± 7.20 with a mean h-index of 1.97 ± 2.24. The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine had the highest percentage of successful matches into urology (n = 7, 3.65%), while the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine produced the highest absolute number (n = 41, 3.30%). The presence of a home urology program and pre-residency h-index had the strongest correlation with producing urology residents (PCC = 0.5769 and 0.3709, respectively, P<.0001).

CONCLUSION

Understanding the characteristics of a successful urology match applicant and the medical schools that produce them will be vital as USMLE Step 1 exam becomes pass/fail. Further research into these schools' curricula is required to better understand the effect of early exposure to urology on matching into urology.

Chemotherapy Refractory Spindle-Cell Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Bladder Treated With Consolidative Ovarian-Sparing Radical Surgery

We present a case of chemotherapy refractory spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma of the lower urinary tract in a 15-month-old female that ultimately required consolidative surgery with cystectomy, urethrectomy, ovarian-sparing hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, anterior vaginal wall resection, and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection. Genitourinary reconstruction was performed by ileal conduit creation and vaginoplasty. After completion of her maintenance postoperative chemotherapy regimen, the patient has remained disease-free for approximately 27 months.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Urological Care

Patients receiving palliative care (PC) can present with or develop a host of urological needs or complications. These needs can include attention to sexual health, urinary incontinence, genitourinary bleeding, and urinary tract obstruction by benign, malignant, or urinary stone diseases. These varied conditions require that PC clinicians understand invasive and noninvasive medical, surgical, and radiation options for treatment. This article, written by a team of urologists, geriatricians, and PC specialists, offers information and guidance to PC teams in an accessible "Top Ten Tips" format to increase comfort with and skills around assessment, evaluation, and specialist referral for urological conditions common in the PC setting.

Wound Complication Rates after Inguinal Lymph Node Dissection: Contemporary Analysis of the NSQIP Database

BACKGROUND

Inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND) is used for diagnosis and treatment in penile cancer (PC), vulvar cancer (VC), and melanomas draining to the inguinal lymph nodes. However, ILND is often characterized by its morbidity and high wound complication rate. Consequently, we aimed to characterize wound complication rates after ILND.

STUDY DESIGN

The NSQIP database was queried for ILND performed from 2005 to 2018 for melanoma, PC, or VC. Thirty-day wound complications included wound disruption and superficial, deep, and organ-space surgical site infection. Multivariable logistic regression was performed with covariates, including cancer type, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥3, BMI ≥30, smoking history, diabetes, operative time, and concomitant pelvic lymph node dissection.

RESULTS

A total of 1,099 patients had an ILND with 92, 115, and 892 ILNDs performed for PC, VC, and melanoma, respectively. Wound complications occurred in 161 (14.6%) patients, including 12 (13.0%), 17(14.8%), and 132 (14.8%) patients with PC, VC, and melanoma, respectively. Median length of stay was 1 day (interquartile range 0 to 3 days), and median operative time was 152 minutes (interquartile 83 to 192 minutes). Readmission rate was 12.7%. Wound complications were associated with longer operative time per 10 minutes (odds ratio 1.038, 95% CI 1.019 to 1.056, p < 0.001), BMI ≥30 (odds ratio 1.976, 95% CI 1.386 to 2.818, p < 0.001), and concomitant pelvic lymph node dissection (odds ratio 1.561, 95% CI 1.056 to 2.306, p = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

Predictors of wound complications after ILND include BMI ≥30, longer operative time, and concomitant pelvic lymph node dissection. There have been efforts to decrease ILND complication rates, including minimally invasive techniques and modified templates, which are not captured by NSQIP, and such approaches may be considered especially for those with increased complication risks.

Single-Port Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: Short-Term Outcomes and Learning Curve

Introduction and Objective: In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the da Vinci single-port (SP) system, in which four instruments are still utilized, but enter through a single-site access trocar. Herein, we report the largest case series for SP robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) to date. Our primary aim is to analyze the perioperative and short-term outcomes of this procedure. Our secondary aim is an assessment of the learning curve with this new platform. Methods: A total of 157 patients underwent SP RARP by two surgeons who have completed >3000 multiport robotic surgeries collectively. Institutional Review Board-approved prospectively collected data were used. Basic demographic preoperative variables and perioperative outcomes were analyzed. Results: Median patient age and prostate-specific antigen was 63 years and 6.3 ng/mL before treatment (interquartile range [IQR] 4.7-8.2 ng/mL). Average prostate weight was 47 g. The median operating time was 195 minutes (IQR 165-221.25 minutes) with a median estimated blood loss of 100 mL (IQR 100-200 mL). Surgeon 1's operating time stabilized around case #56, and Surgeon 2 around case #26. Surgeon 2 used the transperitoneal approach for the first 7 cases. There were no intraoperative complications. There were six total postoperative complications (3.8%) and four (2.5%) were Clavien-Dindo scale ≥IIIa. One hundred ten patients went home same day, 45 stayed 1 night at the hospital, with only 2 patients requiring stay in the hospital for more than 1 night (70%, 29%, and 1% respectively). With the median follow-up period of 9 months, rates of biochemical recurrence, pad-free, and potency preservation were 8.3%, 82.5%, and 64.4%, respectively. Conclusions: This case series confirms the safety and efficacy of SP RARP with acceptable short-term outcomes. There is a significant learning curve for this new modality. Shorter hospital stay appears to be an early benefit of the SP platform.

Changes in prostate cancer survival among insured patients in relation to USPSTF screening recommendations

BACKGROUND

To investigate the effects of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's (USPSTF) 2012 recommendation against prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer on survival disparities based on insurance status. Prior to the USPSTF's 2012 screening recommendation, previous studies found that insured patients with prostate cancer had better outcomes than uninsured patients.

METHODS

Using the SEER 18 database, we examined prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) based on diagnostic time period and insurance status. Patients were designated as belonging to the pre-USPSTF era if diagnosed in 2010-2012 or post-USPSTF era if diagnosed in 2014-2016. PCSS was measured with the Kaplan-Meier method, while disparities were measured with the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

During the pre-USPSTF era, uninsured patients experienced worse PCSS compared to insured patients (adjusted HR 1.256, 95% CI 1.037-1.520, p = 0.020). This survival disparity was no longer observed during the post-USPSTF era as a result of decreased PCSS among insured patients combined with unchanged PCSS among uninsured patients (adjusted HR 0.946, 95% CI 0.642-1.394, p = 0.780).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the underlying reasons are not clear, the USPSTF's 2012 PSA screening recommendation may have hindered insured patients from being regularly screened for prostate cancer and selectively led to worse outcomes for insured patients without affecting the survival of uninsured patients.

The Impact of Venous Thromboembolism on Mortality and Morbidity During Nephrectomy for Renal Mass

OBJECTIVES

To determine the morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with having concurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) at the time of surgical resection of a renal mass.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We identified 108,430 patients undergoing elective partial or radical nephrectomy for a renal mass from 2013 to 2017 using the Premier Healthcare database. The association of VTE with 90-day complication rates, mortality, ICU admission, readmission, and direct hospital costs (2019 US dollars) was determined with multivariable logistic regression and quantile regression models, respectively.

RESULTS

Of the 108,430 patients who underwent elective partial or radical nephrectomy, 1.2% (n=1,301) of patients were diagnosed with a preoperative VTE. Patients with preoperative VTE have higher rates of minor (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.34-1.62, p<0.0001) and major complications (OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.23-2.86, p<0.0001), mortality (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.6-2.57, p<0.0001), and readmissions (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.57-1.90, p<0.0001) compared to patients without preoperative VTE at the time of nephrectomy. Notably, the predicted probability for a major complication was significantly higher among patients with preoperative VTE who underwent either partial or radical nephrectomy, irrespective of the surgical approach utilized. Furthermore, rates of all types of complications except endocrine and soft tissue were significantly increased in patients undergoing nephrectomy with preoperative VTE compared to those without VTE.

CONCLUSIONS

VTE at the time of nephrectomy is associated with significantly higher rates of major complications, increased mortality, and higher overall costs. Taken together, these findings have important implications for the counseling and management of renal masses in presence of VTE.

Comparison of perioperative complications for extended vs standard pelvic lymph node dissection in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is widely performed for staging in men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer. Our goal was to synthesize all available evidence and data to evaluate perioperative complications for two templates of PLND, standard (sPLND) vs extended (ePLND), at the time of RP in patients with prostate cancer.

METHODS

A meta-analysis was performed on relevant literature about complications during PLND. Pubmed, Scopus, WebofScience, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched through July 2021. Meta-analysis was conducted with both fixed-effects and random-effects models to estimate risk ratios (RRs) between treatments. A subgroup analysis was also conducted based on surgery type - open vs robotic.

RESULTS

13 (1 randomized clinical trial and 12 observational studies) studies published between 1997 and 2019 with a total of 7,036 patients were analyzed. Pooled data showed complications in a random-effects model was lower in the sPLND group than the ePLND group (RR, 0.62; 95% CI 0.40-0.97). In a subgroup analysis, neither the open surgery subgroup nor the robotic surgery subgroup showed significant differences in complication rate between sPLND and ePLND.

CONCLUSION

ePLND is associated with a significantly greater risk of perioperative complication compared to sPLND, but not when comparing these templates performed via a robotic approach. Additional studies comparing the complication rates of sPLND and ePLND when utilizing a robotic approach should be conducted.

Genomic analysis and long-term outcomes of a phase 1 clinical trial on cytoreductive radical prostatectomy

Purpose

Approximately 7% of patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PCa) in the US will have have metastatic disease. The dogma that there is no role for surgery in this population has been questioned recently. Here we report long-term outcomes of a phase 1 clinical trial on cytoreductive radical prostatectomy.

Materials and methods

This is a multicenter phase 1 trial. The major inclusion criterion was biopsy proven N1M0 or NxM1a/b PCa. Primary end point was the Clavien-Dindo-based major complication rate. Secondary outcomes were biochemical progression and overall survival. RNA-seq correlative study was conducted in nine select cases as a pilot study.

Results

Final accrual was 32 patients of which 25 and 7 were cNxM1 and cN1M0, respectively. With the median follow-up of 46 months (interquartile range 31.7 - 52.7 months), 25 out of the 32 patients (75%) were alive at the time of last contact. There were three disparate groups based on the oncologic outcome: favorable, intermediate, and poor. In seven men with favorable response, androgen deprivation therapy was switched to intermittent approach and five remain free of any evidence of disease after more than two years off all systemic therapy with the normalization of serum testosterone. Of these five patients, three had M1 disease. Long-term use of one pad or less per day was 80%. RNA-seq analysis revealed an enriched downregulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α signature in the favorable group.

Conclusion

Overall long-term oncologic outcome of cytoreductive radical prostatectomy was significantly higher than historical results. Importantly, the combination of surgery with systemic therapy may result in a long durable response in a minority of men who present with metastatic PCa.

Contemporary analysis of cystectomy complications

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Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) is a curative treatment for patients with invasive bladder cancer, but carries significant morbidity. Modern improvements in perioperative care have decreased length of stay (LOS) without effect on complication or readmission rates. Herein, we examine contemporary changes in complication rates of RC. Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for RC performed from 2006-2018 for nondisseminated bladder cancer identified by CPT, ICD-9 and 10 codes. Demographics and outcomes were studied across time periods: 2006-2011, 2012-2014 and 2015-2018. 30 day complications were classified as minor (urinary tract infection (UTI), superficial incisional surgical site infection (SSI), pneumonia, blood transfusion) or major (readmission, reoperation, sepsis/septic shock, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), stroke, reintubation, renal failure, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolus (PE), dehiscence, cardiac arrest, deep incisional SSI, organ/space SSI, death). Results: We identified 11,351 RC performed during the study period. Baseline characteristics were similar across the different time periods. Mean length of stay (10.5, 9.8 and 8.6 days, respectively, p<0.001) decreased over time while readmission (20.0, 21.3, and 21.0%, respectively) and mortality rates were stable (2.7, 1.7, 2.0%, respectively). There was a significant decrease in overall minor complications over time, including superficial SSIs and transfusions (Table). The rate of major complications decreased over time, though not statistically significantly. Deep SSIs and PEs significantly decreased, while sepsis rates remained stable and high over time (Table). Rates of UTI was stable over time (10.1%, 8.8%, 8.3%, respectively, p=0.11). Conclusions: An analysis of the contemporary era shows continued decrease in LOS after RC and a decrease in overall complications. This may reflect beneficial effects of changes in perioperative bladder cancer management such as increased use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, enhanced recovery after surgery protocols and laparoscopic/robotic techniques. Further efforts to improve care must target infectious complications and readmissions.[Table: see text]

Editorial by Bendu K. Konneh, John T. Lafin and Aditya Bagrodia on pp. 341-342 of this issue: MicroRNA-371a-3p as a blood-based biomarker in testis cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs involved in the regulation of mRNA transcription and translation, and possess all desirable features of an ideal tumor marker. Of almost 31 different miRNA clusters identified in germ cell tumors (GCTs), miR-371a-3p has shown exceptionally high sensitivity and specificity for both seminomatous and nonseminomatous GCTs. It is easily obtainable and correlates well with tumor burden. Recent multi-institutional prospective studies have shown promising test characteristics for miR-371a-3p as a diagnostic blood-based biomarker for GCT prior to orchiectomy including 80%-100% sensitivity and 90%-100% specificity. This accuracy may address other unmet needs in the management of patients with GCT. Early studies have suggested the utility of miR-371a-3p in detecting occult nodal metastasis in high-risk clinical stage I and early stage II disease. Ongoing clinical trials including SWOG 1823 and AGCT1531 are specifically designed to confirm the utility of miR-371a-3p in clinical stage I GCT. Despite its strong association with viable GCT after treatment with chemotherapy, miR-371a-3p does not seem to accurately predict the presence of teratoma in residual lesions. Also, standardization of extraction and interpretation methods is a necessary step to assure uniform results across different institutions.

Marginal improvement in survival among patients diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in the second-line antiandrogen therapy era

Since 2004, multiple blockbuster drugs have been approved for men with metastatic prostate cancer. Nevertheless, it has been reported that no improvement in survival was observed between 2004 and 2009. Herein, we have analyzed the SEER database to assess the survival outcome of metastatic prostate cancer patients since 2000. The results demonstrated that there was an improvement in both overall and prostate cancer-specific survival for 4 months among men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer from 2010 to 2016 when compared to those in the pre-2010 period. Interestingly, this survival benefit was limited to patients with bone and visceral metastasis (M1b and M1c stages). Collectively, our observation suggests that despite the new treatment agents such as second-line antiandrogen therapies introduced in the modern era, the improvement in survival of metastatic prostate cancer patients has been surprisingly small.

Factors associated with palliative care utilization in advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma

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Background: Palliative care (PC) offers various benefits for patient with cancer that include, but are not limited to, decrease in disease-specific symptoms and improvement in functional status. Several oncological guidelines have adopted early integration of PC into oncologic care to improve quality of life among patients with advanced malignancies. However, PC utilization patterns and factors associated with its use in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain poorly understood. Methods: Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we abstracted patients with Stage III and IV RCC from 2004-2014 and evaluated PC utilization amongst this cohort. Socioeconomic and clinical factors were compared for patient receiving and not receiving PC for advanced RCC. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors that were associated with receipt of PC among the overall cohort and treatment-based cohorts. Results: Among 20,122 and 42,014 patients with Stage III and IV RCC, 329 and 9,317 patients received PC, respectively. From 2004 to 2014, PC utilization was stable at ̃1% for Stage III RCC and minimally increased from 17% to 20% for Stage IV RCC. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that increased comorbidities, insurance status, higher education status, facility location, care at a comprehensive cancer program or integrated network, sarcomatoid histology, and prior treatments significantly increased likelihood of palliative care utilization. We uncover socioeconomic and clinical factors that are associated with receipt of palliative care use in a treatment-specific manner. Conclusions: While PC utilization has minimally increased for Stage IV RCC, there are several demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors that predict PC use, especially in a treatment-specific manner, among patients with advanced RCC. Taken together, this suggests the need for more equitable and systematic use of PC among patients with advanced RCC.

Abrogation of survival disparity between insured and uninsured individuals after the USPSTF's 2012 prostate-specific antigen-based prostate cancer screening recommendation

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Background: In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer. Studies have found that insured patients with prostate cancer have better outcomes than uninsured patients. We examined the recommendation’s effects on survival disparities based on insurance status as well as socioeconomic quintile, marital status, and housing (urban/rural). Methods: Using the SEER18 database, we examined prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) based on diagnostic time period and one of four factors: insurance status, socioeconomic quintile, marital status, and housing (urban/rural). The SEER-designated socioeconomic quintile was based on variables including median household income and education index. Patients were designated as belonging to the pre-USPSTF era if diagnosed in 2010-2012 or post-USPSTF era if diagnosed in 2014-2016. Disparities were measured with the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: We identified 282,994 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. During the pre-USPSTF era, uninsured patients experienced worse PCSS compared to insured patients (adjusted HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.06-1.58, p = 0.01). This survival disparity narrowed during the post-USPSTF era as a result of decreased PCSS among insured patients combined with unchanged PCSS among uninsured patients. Moreover, the survival disparity was no longer observed during the post-USPSTF era (aHR 0.91, 95% CI 0.61-1.38, p = 0.67). The survival disparity based on socioeconomic quintile also narrowed but remained significant. In contrast, the survival disparity based on marital status widened, while housing status was not associated with survival disparities in either era. Conclusions: From the pre- to the post-USPSTF era, insured patients with prostate cancer observed a significant decrease in survival that made their survival outcomes similar to that of uninsured patients. Although the underlying reasons are not clear, the USPSTF’s 2012 PSA screening recommendation may have hindered insured patients from being regularly screened for prostate cancer and selectively led to worse outcomes for insured patients without improving the survival of uninsured patients.[Table: see text]

Trends in the use of administrative databases in urologic oncology: 2000 – 2019

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Background: Administrative databases (AD) provide investigators with nationally representative study populations to answer research questions using large sample sizes. We aimed to quantify the trends and incidence of AD use in published manuscripts in urologic oncology. We examined six commonly used databases: National Cancer Database (NCDB), Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Database (SEER), SEER-Medicare (SEER-M), Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), and Premier Healthcare Database (PHD). Methods: A literature review powered by PubMed and DistillerSR from 7/1/2000 to 6/30/2019 aggregated manuscripts that used the aforementioned databases to study a genitourinary malignancy. Included publications were categorized by database used, corresponding author department affiliation, organ, journal, year, and contribution – defined as temporal treatment trends, outcomes and survival, comparative effectiveness research, or cost-effectiveness. Results: There were 2,265 publications across 302 journals that met the inclusion criteria. Between 2000 and 2019 the compound annual growth rate of these publications was 18.7%. SEER contributed most heavily over the study period, with a 14.6% growth rate. NCDB use grew 75.6% annually starting in 2012. Prostate cancer comprised the majority of publications (51.3%), followed by kidney (23.1%) and bladder (22.5%) cancer. Journals publishing these manuscripts had a median impact factor of 3.28 (IQR = 1.84 – 5.74) in 2019. Urologists published 52.5% of AD manuscripts over the study period. Conclusions: Our results show substantial growth in the use of ADs for the study of urologic oncology. Given the broad use of ADs, investigators and specialty societies should advocate for continued improvement in the data captured by them.

Quantifying publication rates and time to publication for urologic oncology podium presentations

357

Background: The American Urological Association (AUA) annual meetings serve as a large platform for unpublished research. Among the selected abstracts, podium presentations represent the most impactful submissions. Furthermore, between large meeting attendance and social media promotion, authors can disseminate their findings to a potentially large audience prior to final manuscript publication. While all AUA abstracts do undergo peer review, it is not with the same level of scrutiny that full-length manuscripts receive. Thus, we investigated the publication rates, impact factors, and time to publication of urologic oncology podium presentations at the AUA. Methods: Of 875 podium presentation abstracts from the 2017 AUA Annual meeting, 394 (45.0%) were classified as urologic oncology. We chose 2017 to allow for a three-year window for publication. Abstracts were assessed for subsequent publication between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2020 with a pre-determined PubMed search protocol. Abstract authors were searched for individually, with key terms being added sequentially until <30 results were generated in PubMed. Each search result was then reviewed until a matching publication was found. Abstracts were deemed published if at least one author of the presented abstract was a manuscript author and/or at least one conclusion in the presented abstract was included in the conclusions of the publication. Publication rates, time to publication, and 2019 journal impact factors were collected. Results: Of 394 urologic oncology podium presentations at the 2017 AUA, 228 (57.9%) focused on prostate cancer, while 81 (20.6%) and 58 (14.7%) presentations focused on kidney and bladder cancer, respectively (table). Overall, 211 (53.6%) podium presentations were published. Median time from presentation to publication was 13.6 months (IQR: 7.5-21.5). There were 9 (2.3%) publications that were published prior to the submission deadline and 57 (14.5%) podium presentations that were published prior to the 2017 AUA meeting. The number of articles published at one, two and three years after the meeting was 90, 170 and 202, respectively. The median journal impact factor of all published works was 3.4 (IQR: 2.7-5.9). Conclusions: While AUA podium presentations disseminate valuable data, approximately half of these presentations were not published in peer-reviewed journals within three years. Therefore, care must be taken when promoting data or adopting new practices based on these presentations alone. [Table: see text]

Delaying surgery for clinical T1b-T2bN0M0 renal cell carcinoma: Oncologic implications in the COVID-19 era and beyond

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Background: During COVID-19, many operating rooms were reserved exclusively for emergent cases. As a result, many elective surgeries for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were deferred, with an unknown impact on outcomes. Since surveillance is commonplace for small renal masses, we focused on larger, organ-confined, RCCs. Our primary endpoint was pT3a upstaging and our secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Methods: We retrospectively abstracted cT1b-cT2bN0M0 RCC patients from the National Cancer Database (NCDB), stratifying them by clinical stage and time from diagnosis to surgery. We selected only those patients who underwent surgery. Patients were grouped by having surgery within <1 month, 1-3 months, or >3 months after diagnosis. Logistic regression models measured pT3a upstaging risk. Kaplan Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models assessed OS. Results: 29,746 patients underwent partial or radical nephrectomy. Delaying surgery >3 months after diagnosis did not confer pT3a upstaging risk among cT1b (OR=0.90; 95%CI: 0.77–1.05, p = 0.170), cT2a (OR=0.90; 95%CI: 0.69–1.19, p=0.454), or cT2b (OR=0.96; 95%CI:0.62–1.51, p=0.873) masses (Table). In all clinical stage strata, non-clear cell RCCs were significantly less likely to be upstaged (p<0.001). A sensitivity analysis, performed for delays of <1, 1-3, 3-6, and >6 months, also showed no increase in upstaging risk. Conclusions: Delaying surgery up to, and even beyond, 3 months does not significantly increase risk of tumor progression in clinically localized RCC. However, if deciding to delay surgery due to COVID-19, tumor histology, growth kinetics, patient comorbidities, and hospital capacity/resources, should be considered. [Table: see text]

Factors associated with palliative care (PC) utilization in advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

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Background: Palliative care (PC) offers various benefits for patient with cancer that include, but are not limited to, decrease in disease-specific symptoms and improvement in functional status. Several oncological guidelines have adopted early integration of PC into oncologic care to improve quality of life among patients with advanced malignancies. However, PC utilization patterns and factors associated with its use in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain poorly understood. Methods: Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we abstracted patients with stage III and IV RCC from 2004-2014 and evaluated PC utilization amongst this cohort. Socioeconomic and clinical factors were compared for patient receiving and not receiving PC for advanced RCC. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors that were associated with receipt of PC. Results: We identified 20,122 and 42,014 patients with stage III and IV RCC, respectively. Among this cohort, 329 and 9,317 patients received PC for stage III and IV RCC, respectively. From 2004 to 2014, PC utilization has been stable at ~1% for stage III RCC and has significantly increased from 17% to 20% for stage IV RCC. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that Blacks, income >$48,000, regions outside of Northeast, stage III RCC, and patients that received surgery were less likely to receive PC. Patients that were female, with more comorbidities, uninsured or with government insurance, lower educational status, treated at academic or integrated cancer program, with sarcomatoid histology, receiving systemic therapy were more likely to receive PC. Conclusions: While PC utilization has significantly increased for stage IV RCC, there are several demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors that predict PC usage among patients with advanced RCC. Taken together, this suggests the need for more equitable and systematic use of PC among patients with advanced RCC.

Factors Associated With Receipt of Partial Nephrectomy or Minimally Invasive Surgery for Patients With Clinical T1a and T1b Renal Masses: Implications for Regionalization of Care

PURPOSE

To identify factors associated with receipt of partial nephrectomy (PN) and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in patients with clinical T1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB).

METHODS

We queried the NCDB from 2010 to 2014 identifying patients treated surgically for cT1a-bN0M0 RCC. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between socioeconomic, clinical, and treatment factors, and receipt of MIS or PN within the T1 patient population.

RESULTS

Our cohort included 69,694 patients (cT1a, n = 44,043; cT1b, n = 25,651). For cT1a tumors, 70% of patients received PN and 65% underwent MIS. For cT1b tumors, 32% of patients received PN and 62% underwent MIS. cT1a and cT1b patients with household income < $62,000, without private insurance, and treated outside academic centers were less likely to receive MIS or PN. cT1a patients traveling > 31 miles were more likely to undergo MIS. For both cT1a/b, the farther a patient traveled for treatment, the more likely a PN was performed.

CONCLUSION

Data showed an increase in utilization of MIS and PN from 2010 to 2014. However, patients in the lowest socioeconomic groups were less likely to travel and were more likely to receive more invasive treatments. On the basis of these findings, additional research is needed into how regionalization of RCC surgery affects treatment disparities.

Observation with or without late radiotherapy is equivalent to early radiotherapy in high-risk prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: A SEER-Medicare analysis on trends, survival outcomes, and complications

Background

We aimed to illustrate national trends of post-radical prostatectomy (RP) radiotherapy (RT) and compare outcomes and toxicities in patients receiving eRT versus observation with or without late radiotherapy (lRT).

Methods

Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data from 2001 to 2011, we identified 7557 patients with high-risk pathologic features after RP (≥pT3N0 and/or positive surgical margins). Our study cohort consisted of patients receiving RT within 6 months of surgery (eRT), those receiving RT after 6 months (lRT), and those never receiving RT (observation). Another subcohort, delayed RT (dRT), encompassed both lRT and observation. Trends of post-RP RT were compared using the Cochran–Armitage trend test. Cox regression models identified factors predictive of worse survival outcomes. Kaplan–Meier analyses compared the eRT and the dRT groups.

Results

Among those with pathologically confirmed high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) after RP, 12.7% (n = 959), 13.2% (n = 1710), and 74.1% (n = 4888) underwent eRT, lRT, and observation without RT, respectively. Of these strategies, the proportion of men on observation without RT increased significantly over time (p = 0.004). The multivariable Cox regression model demonstrated similar outcomes between the eRT and the dRT groups. At a median follow-up of 5.9 years, five-year overall and cancer-specific survival outcomes were more favorable in the dRT group, when compared to the eRT group.

Conclusions

A blanket adoption of the eRT in high-risk PCa based on clinical trials with limited follow-up may result in overtreatment of a significant number of men and expose them to unnecessary radiation toxicity.

Delaying surgery for clinical T1b-T2bN0M0 renal cell carcinoma: Oncologic implications in the COVID-19 era and beyond

Purpose

During COVID-19, many operating rooms were reserved exclusively for emergent cases. As a result, many elective surgeries for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were deferred, with an unknown impact on outcomes. Since surveillance is commonplace for small renal masses, we focused on larger, organ-confined RCCs. Our primary endpoint was pT3a upstaging and our secondary endpoint was overall survival.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively abstracted cT1b-T2bN0M0 RCC patients from the National Cancer Database, stratifying them by clinical stage and time from diagnosis to surgery. We selected only those patients who underwent surgery. Patients were grouped by having surgery within 1 month, 1–3 months, or >3 months after diagnosis. Logistic regression models measured pT3a upstaging risk. Kaplan Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models assessed overall survival.

Results

A total of 29,746 patients underwent partial or radical nephrectomy. Delaying surgery >3 months after diagnosis did not confer pT3a upstaging risk among cT1b (OR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.77–1.05, P = 0.170), cT2a (OR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.69–1.19, P = 0.454), or cT2b (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.62–1.51, P = 0.873). In all clinical stage strata, nonclear cell RCCs were significantly less likely to be upstaged (P <0.001). A sensitivity analysis, performed for delays of <1, 1–3, 3–6, and >6 months, also showed no increase in upstaging risk.

Conclusion

Delaying surgery up to, and even beyond, 3 months does not significantly increase risk of tumor progression in clinically localized RCC. However, if deciding to delay surgery due to COVID-19, tumor histology, growth kinetics, patient comorbidities, and hospital capacity/resources, should be considered.

Fourteen-Core Systematic Biopsy That Includes Two Anterior Cores in Men With PI-RADS Lesion ≥ 3 is Comparable With Magnetic Resonance Imaging-ultrasound Fusion Biopsy in Detecting Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer: A Single-institution Experience

INTRODUCTION

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-ultrasound fusion targeted prostate biopsy (FB) has been advocated by many experts as a replacement for the standard template biopsy. Herein, we compared pathology results and cancer detection rates of FB with our standard 14-core systematic prostate biopsy (SB) that includes 2 anterior cores.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred two men with elevated prostate-specific antigen and suspicious lesions on multiparametric MRI, Prostate Imaging Reporting And Data System (PI-RADS) v2 score ≥ 3, underwent FB. Each target lesion was biopsied 3 times; our SB was performed concurrently. Biopsy results were compared for overall and clinically significant (cs), defined as Gleason score ≥ 7, cancer detection.

RESULTS

Fifty-two percent of patients had positive biopsy results, and of those, 44 had cs prostate cancer (PCa). The overall detection rates for FB and SB were 39% and 50%, respectively, and there was no statistical difference in the detection rate of csPCa detection rate (P = .42). Of 17 patients diagnosed with a high-risk PCa, defined as Gleason score ≥ 8, SB identified 15, whereas FB identified 10. Within the SB group, 21 had positive anterior core biopsies, of which 11 were cs.

CONCLUSION

Expanding the standard template prostate biopsies to include 2 anterior horn sampling may be just as effective as FB in men with PI-RADS lesion ≥ 3, thereby mitigating the increased cost associated with FB.

Abrogation of survival disparity between Black and White individuals after the USPSTF's 2012 prostate-specific antigen-based prostate cancer screening recommendation

BACKGROUND

In May 2012, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer (PCa), assigning it a grade D. This decision then was modified in 2018 to a grade C for men aged 55 to 69 years. The authors hypothesized that changes in screening practices would reduce survival outcomes for both Black and White men but maintain racial discrepancies in outcomes.

METHODS

Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, the authors examined PCa-specific survival based on race and year of diagnosis. The period between January 2010 and December 2012 was categorized as the pre-USPSTF era, whereas the period between January 2014 and December 2016 was classified as the post-USPSTF era. The year 2013 was considered the transition year and was excluded from the analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 49,388 men were identified in the pre-USPSTF era who were diagnosed with PCa, approximately 83.7% of whom were White and 16.3% of whom were Black. In the post-USPSTF era, a total of 41,829 men were diagnosed with PCa, approximately 82.7% of whom were White and 17.3% of whom were Black. When compared with the pre-USPSTF era, men diagnosed in the post-USPSTF era were found to have more adverse clinical features. In the pre-USPSTF era, White men were less likely to die of PCa than Black men. This survival disparity between White and Black men was no longer observed in the post-USPSTF era.

CONCLUSIONS

In men diagnosed with PCa between 2014 and 2016, a survival disparity between White and Black men was not observed due to a decrease in survival among White men while the survival of Black men remained steady.

Impact of pathologic lymph node-positive renal cell carcinoma on survival in patients without metastasis: Evidence in support of expanding the definition of stage IV kidney cancer

BACKGROUND

Stage III renal cell carcinoma (RCC) encompasses both lymph node-positive (pT1-3N1M0) and lymph node-negative (pT3N0M0) disease. However, prior institutional studies have indicated that among patients with stage III disease, those with lymph node disease have worse oncologic outcomes and experience survival that is similar to that of patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage IV disease. The objective of the current study was to validate these findings using a large, nationally representative sample of patients with kidney cancer.

METHODS

Patients with AJCC stage III or stage IV RCC were identified using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Patients were categorized as having lymph node-positive stage III (pT1-3N1M0), lymph node-negative stage III (pT3N0M0), or stage IV metastatic (pT1-3 N0M1) disease. Cox proportional hazards models compared outcomes while adjusting for comorbidities. Kaplan-Meier estimates illustrated relative survival when comparing staging groups.

RESULTS

A total of 8988 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 6587 patients classified as having lymph node-negative stage III disease, 2218 as having lymph node-positive stage III disease, and 183 as having stage IV disease. Superior survival was noted among patients with lymph node-negative stage III disease, but similar survival was noted between patients with lymph node-positive stage III and stage IV RCC, with 5-year survival rates of 61.9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 60.3%-63.4%), 22.7% (95% CI, 20.6%-24.9%), and 15.6% (95% CI, 11.1%-23.8%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Current RCC staging systems group pT1-3N1M0 and pT3N0M0 disease as stage III disease. However, the results of the current validation study suggest the need for further stratification and even placement of patients with pT1-3N1M0 disease into the stage IV category. Staging that accurately reflects oncologic prognosis may help clinicians better counsel and select patients who might derive the most benefit from lymphadenectomy, adjuvant systemic therapy, more rigorous imaging surveillance, and clinical trial participation.

Urologic oncology surgery during COVID-19: a rapid review of current triage guidance documents

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic placed urologic surgeons, and especially urologic oncologists, in an unprecedented situation. Providers and healthcare systems were forced to rapidly create triage schemas in order to preserve resources and reduce potential viral transmission while continuing to provide care for patients. We reviewed United States and international triage proposals from professional societies, peer-reviewed publications, and publicly available institutional guidelines to identify common themes and critical differences. To date, there are varying levels of agreement on the optimal triaging of urologic oncology cases. As the need to preserve resources and prevent viral transmission grows, prioritizing only high priority surgical cases is paramount. A similar approach to prioritization will also be needed as nonemergent cases are allowed to proceed in the coming weeks. While these decisions will often be made on a case-by-case basis, more nuanced surgeon-driven consensus guidelines are needed for the near future.

The patient-urologist relationship in the COVID-19 era and beyond

The COVID-19 pandemic has impeded health care delivery and may permanently transform the patient-urologist relationship. Here we examine the long-term implications of COVID-19 pandemic on this relationship and explore the impact it has on urologic care in the post-COVID-19 era.

Association of lymph node count and survival after primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT)

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Background: RPLND for clinical stage (CS) I & IIA/B NSGCT has both staging and therapeutic implications. Single center studies have reported on the impact of lymph node count on outcome after 1° RPLND for men with NSGCT. However, this has yet to be corroborated in a nationally representative dataset. Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, patients who received a 1° RPLND from 2004-2014 for CS I & IIA/B NSGCT were identified. The analytic cohort was stratified according to LN count (≤20, 21-40, and > 40 LNs). Sociodemographic characteristics were compared among groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was calculated and pairwise comparisons performed. Based on sensitivity analyses to determine LN cutoff that impacts survival, subsequent analysis compared patients with ≤20 and > 20 LNs resected. Multivariate analysis using stepwise regression was used to determine factors associated with receipt of an RPLND with > 20 LNs resected. Results: Of 1,376 men who received 1° RPLND for Stage I or IIA/B NSGCT, 35.6%, 27.4%, and 14% had ≤20, 21-40, and > 40 LNs resected, respectively. LN count was associated with overall survival (OS), with 95%, 97%, and 98% 8-year OS for men with LN count ≤20, 21-40, and > 40 LNs, respectively. OS in men with ≤20 vs 21-40 (p = 0.018) and > 40 LNs (p = 0.042) resected differed significantly. However, no significant difference was observed when 21-40 vs > 40 LNs were resected (p = 0.677). Therefore, subsequent analysis compared those who had ≤20 and > 20 LN resected, and OS between these two groups differed significantly (Figure). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients with private insurance, surgery having been performed at an academic center or in the Northeast, and those with pT2 disease were more likely to have > 20 LNs resected at the time of RPLND. Conclusions: Lymph node count after 1° RPLND for NSGCT is significantly associated with overall survival, with more favorable survival seen in those who receive an RPLND with > 20 LNs resected when compared to ≤20 LNs.

Accuracy of clinical staging in stage I and IIa/b testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) and implications on survival

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Background: Clinical stage (CS) dictates treatment in men with testicular cancer and its inaccuracy may affect clinical outcome. We evaluate the accuracy of clinical staging in men with CS I and CS IIA/B NSGCT and explore the implications of inaccurate staging on overall survival. Methods: Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we abstracted all patients with clinical Stage I-IIB NSGCT who received a primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) from 2004 to 2014. Primary RPLND was defined as RPLND performed for CS I-IIB patients without prior chemotherapy. CS was cross-tabulated with pathologic nodal staging data. Survival for patients who were accurately staged (CS I patients with pN0 disease, CS IIA patients with pN1 disease) and for CS I patients found to have pN+ disease was determined using the Kaplan Meier method. Results: 1,639 CS I-IIB patients underwent primary RPLND. Among CS I patients, 23% had upstaging of disease (pN1-3), of which 13.9%, 8%, and 1.1% were pN1, pN2, and pN3, respectively (Table). Pathologic N1-3 disease was higher in CS IB vs. CS IA patients (35.1% vs 14.2%, respectively). Of CS IIA patients, 23.1% had pN0 disease, while 44.8%, 13.4%, and 1.3% had pN1, pN2, and pN3 disease, respectively. At a median follow-up of 56.3 months, mortality rates for CS I patients who had pN1, pN2, and pN3 disease were 2.8%, 4%, and 9.1%, respectively, and < 1% for men with pN0 disease. 10-year overall survival for CS1 patients was significantly less favorable if upstaged to pN2 or pN3 disease after RPLND vs. pN0 or pN1. Conclusions: Nearly a quarter of patients with CS I NSGCT are under-staged and are found to have pN1-3 after RPLND. Nodal disease burden is associated with survival. Novel imaging techniques and biomarkers are needed to improve the sensitivity of detecting NSGCT. [Table: see text]

Trends in the use of administrative databases in urologic oncology: 2000-2019

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Background: Administrative databases (AD) provide investigators with nationally representative study populations to answer research questions using large sample sizes. Their use has significantly grown over the past 20 years, particularly in urologic oncology. We aimed to quantify the trends and incidence of AD use in published manuscripts in urologic oncology. We examined six commonly used databases: National Cancer Database (NCDB), Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Database (SEER), SEER-Medicare (SEER-M), Nationwide Inpatient Sample, National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, and Premier Healthcare Database. Methods: A literature review powered by PubMed and DistillerSR from 2000 to 2019 aggregated manuscripts that used the aforementioned databases to study a genitourinary malignancy. Included publications were categorized by database used, corresponding author department affiliation, organ, journal, year, and contribution - defined as temporal treatment trends, outcomes and survival, comparative effectiveness research, and cost-effectiveness. Results: There were 2265 publications across 307 journals that met the inclusion criteria. Between 2000 and 2019 the compound annual growth rate of these publications was 18.7%. SEER contributed most heavily over the study period, with a 14.6% growth rate. NCDB use grew 75.6% annually starting in 2012. Prostate cancer comprised the majority of publications (51.3%), followed by kidney (23.1%) and bladder (22.5%) cancer. Journals publishing these manuscripts had a median impact factor of 2.78 (range 0.36 - 223.68) in 2018. Urologists published 52.5% of AD manuscripts over the study period, with epidemiologists and radiation oncologists publishing 18.2% and 10.6%, respectively. Conclusions: Our results show substantial growth in the use of ADs for the study of genitourinary oncology. The increased use is likely multi-factorial and may be driven by increasing competition to secure funding, ability to answer questions previously limited by sample size, and improved quality of databases. Given the broad use of ADs, investigators and specialty societies should advocate for continued improvement in the data captured by them.

Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection as Primary Treatment for Men With Testicular Seminoma: Utilization and Survival Analysis Using the National Cancer Data Base, 2004-2014

BACKGROUND

The role of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) as first-line treatment for testicular seminoma is less well defined than for testicular nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors. We describe utilization of primary RPLND in the United States and report on overall survival (OS) after surgery for these men.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using 2004-2014 data from the National Cancer Data Base, we identified 62,727 men with primary testicular cancer, 31,068 of whom were diagnosed as having seminoma. After excluding men with benign, non-germ cell, and nonseminomatous germ-cell tumor histologies, those who did not undergo RPLND, those where clinical stage and survival data were unavailable, and those with testicular seminoma who underwent RPLND in the postchemotherapy setting (n = 47), 365 men comprised our final cohort. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize clinical and demographic factors. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine OS.

RESULTS

A total of 365 men with testicular seminoma underwent primary RPLND. At a median follow-up of 4.1 years, there were 16 deaths in the entire cohort. Five-year OS was 94.2%. Subset analysis of men with stage I and IIA/B disease who underwent primary RPLND revealed 5-year OS rates of 97.3% and 92.0%, respectively (P = .035). OS did not significantly differ in patients with stage IIA versus IIB disease (91.8% vs. 92.3%, respectively, P = .907).

CONCLUSION

Although RPLND is rarely used as primary therapy in testicular seminoma, OS rates appear to be comparable to rates reported in the literature for primary chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Ongoing prospective trials will clarify the role of RPLND in the management of testicular seminoma.

Individual and joint effects of metformin and statins on mortality among patients with high-risk prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Pre-clinical studies suggest that metformin and statins may delay prostate cancer (PCa) metastases; however, data in humans are limited. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first human study aimed to quantify the individual and joint effects of statin and metformin use among patients with high-risk PCa.

METHODS

This population-based retrospective cohort study identified patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database. Exposure to metformin and statins was ascertained from Medicare Prescription Drug Event files. The association with all-cause and PCa mortality were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard model with competing causes of death, where propensity scores were used to adjusted imbalances in covariates across groups.

RESULTS

Based on 12 700 patients with high-risk PCa, statin alone or in combination with metformin was significantly associated with reduced all-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 0.89; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.83, 0.96; and HR: 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67-0.83, respectively) and PCa mortality (HR, 0.80; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.92) and 0.64; 95% CI, d 0.51-0.81, respectively. The effects were more pronounced in post-diagnostic users: combination use of metformin/statins was associated with a 32% reduction in all-cause mortality (95% CI, 0.57-0.80), and 54% reduction in PCa mortality (95% CI, 0.30-0.69). No significant association of metformin alone was observed with either all-cause mortality or PCa mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Statin use alone or in combination with metformin was associated with lower all-cause and PCa mortality among high-risk patients, particularly in post-diagnostic settings; further studies are warranted.