Neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy for clinically node-positive penile squamous cell carcinoma: An international, multicenter, real-world study

9

Background: The efficacy of neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy (NAPC) in penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) was provided by small clinical trials, leaving clinicians with scant evidence-based guidance. Thus, we aimed to analyze real-world outcomes of patients with PSCC who received NAPC prior to surgical resection. Methods: Patients from 9 tertiary care centers who had undergone NAPC prior surgical resection for PSCC were included with locally advanced (cTany, cN+), non-metastatic (M0) disease. The primary and secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), Response was determined via best overall response measured with RECIST 1.1 criteria. Results: 167 patients were included, 137 (84%), of which received TIP prior to surgical resection. Ninety-two (55%) patients died during follow up, and the mean follow up for survivors was 57 months. The median OS was 42 months, while the median PFS was 17 months. The table details the response rates to NAPC, the associated survival, and Cox Proportional Hazards Modelling of OS and PFS. Predictors for OS and RFS included lymphovascular invasion, positive number of lymph nodes, extranodal extension, downstaging, best overall response, and ypN status. Figure 1 demonstrates OS outcomes by RECIST best response after chemotherapy, presence of downstaging after NAPC, ypN stage, and presence of extranodal extension. Conclusions: Upfront NAPC is effective in patients with lymph node metastases from penile carcinoma. Unsurprisingly, patients who demonstrated a robust response to therapy had improved survival outcomes compared to those who had not—as measured by RECIST criteria, tumor downstaging, pN staging, and presence of extranodal extension. This study represents the largest conglomeration of multi-institutional penile carcinoma patients treated with NAPC, and provides further supportive data for multimodal therapy for advanced penile cancer patients while prospective clinical trials complete accrual. [Table: see text]

The international penile advanced cancer trial (InPACT): The first phase III trial for squamous carcinoma of the penis with regional lymph node metastases

TPS7

Background: Penis cancer is a rare but potentially fatal disease. A limited body of evidence exists on which to base the majority of management decisions for patients with regional nodal metastases. Five-year survival for patients with a single involved inguinal lymph node treated with surgery alone is approximately 80%, whilst it ranges from 0 to 12% for patients with pelvic node involvement (N3). Additional strategies are required for the management regionally-advanced disease. InPACT (NCT02305654) aims to determine prospectively the relative benefits and sequencing of surgery, chemotherapy, and chemoradiotherapy in the management of patients with penis cancer who present with palpable or radiologically evident inguinal lymph node metastases. InPACT addresses the following questions: Is there a role for neoadjuvant therapy and, if so, which of the two options (chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) before surgery gives superior outcomes? Among patients whose inguinal node histology predicts a high risk of recurrence, does prophylactic pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) plus chemoradiation to the inguinal and pelvic fields improve survival compared to chemoradiation alone? Methods: A Bayesian trial design aims to include a wide population of patients and incorporates two randomisations: InPACT-neoadjuvant and InPACT-pelvis. Participants are stratified by disease burden (extent of nodal involvement), by the presence or absence of high-risk radiological features, and by GFR. Participants with high disease burden where neoadjuvant treatment is thought to be indicated are randomised to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Participants with intermediate disease burden are randomised to one of 3 arms: Surgery alone or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery, or neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery. Participants in the low-burden group proceed directly to surgery. Participants with postoperative inguinal node pathology that shows high-risk features may then proceed to InPACT-pelvis where randomisation is between adjuvant chemoradiotherapy ± PLND for those not previously treated with chemoradiotherapy & between PLND & observation for those previously treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The study aims to recruit 200 participants. The primary outcome measure is overall survival, with secondary outcome measures of disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, and freedom from locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis. Feasibility, toxicity, the type/extent of surgical complications, and quality of life will be assessed as secondary endpoints for all the InPACT treatment arms. To October 2021, 65 participants have been recruited with centres open in the UK, US and Canada. Clinical trial information: NCT02305654.

Phase II trial of MEDI0457 and durvalumab for patients with recurrent/metastatic HPV-associated cancers

2595

Background: Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 or 18 drives oncogenesis for the majority of patients (pts) with cervical, anal, and some penile cancers via viral oncoproteins E6 and E7. While anti-PD1/PD-L1 antibodies have activity in pts with HPV-associated cancers, the majority do not derive benefit from these agents as monotherapy. MEDI0457, a therapeutic DNA vaccine containing plasmids for E6 and E7 oncogenes for HPV-16/18 and IL-12 adjuvant, has been shown to be safe and to provoke an immune response against the expressed antigens. We tested MEDI0457 with the anti-PD-L1 antibody durvalumab for pts with recurrent or metastatic HPV-associated cancers with the goal of improving anti-tumor activity. Methods: Pts with HPV-16/18 cervical cancer or rare (anal, penile, vaginal, or vulvar) HPV- associated cancers that were recurrent and/or metastatic following standard therapies were eligible. No prior immunotherapy was allowed. Pts received 7 mg of MEDI0457 intramuscularly (weeks 1, 3, 7, 12, and every 8 weeks thereafter) and durvalumab 1500 mg intravenously every 4 weeks starting at week 4. The primary endpoint was best overall response according to RECIST 1.1. Adverse events (AE) were assessed using CTCAE v4.03. A Simon two-stage phase 2 trial (Ho: p <.15; Ha: p≥.35) using a one-sided alpha =.05 and beta =.20 was conducted. ≥2 responses were needed in both the “cervical” and non-cervical cohorts during the first stage in order for the trial to proceed. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated via Kaplan-Meier. Results: 41 pts were screened between 11/2018-10/2020. 21 pts (12 cervical, 7 anal, 2 penile) were treated. All 21 were evaluable for toxicity and 19 for response. Median age was 49 years (range, 29-75), and 18 (86%) were female. There were 17 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and 4 cervical adenocarcinomas. Grade ≥3 AEs occurred in 3 (14%) pts and included transaminitis, elevated lipase/amylase, hyponatremia, and neutropenia. No AE required study discontinuation. Overall response rate (ORR) was 21% (95% CI, 6-46%) and disease control rate (DCR) was 42% (95% CI, 20-67%). There was one patient with a complete response, 3 with partial response, and 4 with stable disease. All responses were noted among SCCs (1 cervical, 2 anal, 1 penile). Median duration of response among responders is 16 months (range, 11-27). Median PFS was 3.7 months (95% CI, 2.8-9.2), and median OS was 13.5 months (95% CI, 10.1-NA). 6-month PFS rate was 36% (95% CI, 20-65). Conclusions: The combination of MEDI0457 and durvalumab demonstrated acceptable safety/tolerability in pts with advanced HPV-16/18 cancers. Despite a clinically meaningful DCR, the low ORR among pts with cervical cancer led to study discontinuation for futility. Correlative studies are ongoing to characterize pts with prolonged disease control with study treatment. Clinical trial information: NCT03439085.

Neoadjuvant apalutamide (APA) plus leuprolide (LHRHa) with or without abiraterone (AA) in localized high-risk prostate cancer (LHRPC)

5504

Background: Novel androgen signaling inhibitors (ASI) with medical castration may improve outcomes in LHRPC. We previously reported relapse free survival association with pathologic measures of tumor regression. However a wide range of persistent cancers was recorded. To build on our findings and test candidate predictors of outcome, we conducted a study examining APA effect in LHRPC. Methods: This is a phase II neoadjuvant study of 6 months APA+LHRHa +/- AA (randomized 1:1) in LHRPC (≥ cT2 + Gleason Score ≥ 8 or ≥ cT2b + Gleason ≥ 7 + PSA > 10 ng/mL) followed by radical prostatectomy (RP). We studied treatment effect by pathology measures [path. stage, tumor volume (TV), tumor cellularity % (TC), tumor epithelial volume (TEV: TC x TV)]. Tumor expression of candidate markers of outcome was assessed in the diagnostic biopsy by IHC [AR signaling (AR-N, ARC19, ARV7, PSA), PTEN, glucocorticoid receptor (GR), Ki67, p53, RB] and DNA/RNA seq. A previously identified candidate predictive molecular signature (AR-N overexpression, nARV7 absence, no GR overexpression, Ki67 ≤10%) was tested. Univariate (Fisher’s exact, Wilcoxon) and multivariate (logistic, linear models) analyses employed. Results: Sixty three -of 65 pts enrolled- had RP. PS-ECOG 0, median age 65 (43-77). Treatment was well tolerated with Grade 3 hypertension in 7 (2 APA + LHRHa). Presurgical PSA was ≤0.1 in 62/63 (98%). Organ confined disease (≤ypT2N0) found in 13/32(41%) APA+LHRHa vs. 12/31 (39%) APA+AA+LHRHa treated. 2 (3%) had pathologic complete remission (APA+AA+LHRHa), 6 (10%) minimal residual disease (5 on APA +LHRHa). Despite uniformity in PSA response, we recorded heterogeneity in measures of tumor viability: TV (0-11.5cc), TC (1-80%), TEV (0-6.1cc). ≤ypT2N0 associates with diagnostic biopsy positivity for the prespecified molecular signature (p <0.0001), PTEN expression (p: 0.004), absence of cribriform/ intraductal spread (p 0.002) but not with Gleason Score. On multivariate analysis only the prespecified biopsy signature associates with outcome (p 0.003). Findings were replicated when analyzed by TV, TC and TEV measures. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant Apalutamide plus LHRHa is tolerable and results in tumor regression in a subset of LHRPC patients. Dual ASI treatment does not further improve outcomes. Biopsy positive for a prespecified molecular signature, associated with response. Study results emphasize the need to consider biologic heterogeneity and pursue validation of predictors of response in order to improve therapeutic outcomes in LHRPC. Clinical trial information: NCT03279250 .

p16INK4a expression and survival outcomes in patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma: The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Experience

5

Background: Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma (PSCC) is associated with high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in about 50% of cases. The immunohistochemical test for p16INK4a (p16) is highly correlated with HR-HPV expression and used as prognostic marker for squamous cell carcinomas in various sites. The prognostic role of this marker in PSCC remains unclear. We studied whether the expression of HPV or p16INK4a is associated with survival in a large PSCC cohort. Methods: We conducted a single institution analysis of PSCC patients who received treatment between 1991-2017.Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PSCC and available tissue were tested for HR-HPV status using the Cobas PCR assay. Histological subtype, tumor grade, LVI and p16 staining patterns were confirmed by an experienced pathologist. Patient characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics of clinico-pathologic variables. Kaplan-Meier was used to estimate median overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS). Log rank test, univariate and multivariate Cox models were applied to identify the prognostic factors for survival. Results: We identified 147 patients with PSCC, with available tissue for testing. The median follow-up was 5.2 years (95% CI; 4.48, 6.68y). Patients with p16(+) tumors showed a significantly longer median OS and CSS in comparison to the p16(–) group (p=0.038 and p=0.012), with respective 5 year OS probability of 73% (95% CI; 0.74, 0.98) in comparison to 56% (95% CI; 0.46, 0.67) and 5 year CSS probability of 89% (95% CI; 0.7, 1) in comparison to 64% (95% CI; 0.54, 0.75). In contrast, HPV status by PCR did not predict survival outcomes, with 5 year CSS probability for HPV(+) of 75% (95% CI; 0.61, 0.91) compared to 65% (95% CI; 0.55, 0.78) for HPV(–) patients. Multivariable analysis to evaluate the association with CSS, showed that p16(+) along with lymph node status was associated with lower risk of death (HR=0.28, 95%CI; 0.09-0.8, p=0.002), and OS (HR=0.49, 95%CI; 0.19-1.24, p=0.13) after adjusting for the covariates. Conclusions: Tumor p16 status was an independent prognostic factor for CSS in our PSCC cohort providing unique information above that of lymph node status alone.

Tumor immune microenvironment alterations in penile squamous cell carcinoma using multiplex immunofluorescence and image analysis approaches

4

Background: Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare but often fatal disease. In this study, we characterize the poorly understood immune microenvironment using multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) and image analysis approaches in 54 patients with PSCC. Methods: Representative blocks of 54 PSCC patients were stained for six immune markers: CD3, CD8, CD68, PD-1, PD-L1, Pancytokeratin and DAPI. Two experienced pathologists using an image analysis system (InForm 2.2.4) divided them into the tumor and stroma compartment and assessed the different densities of cell phenotypes using R studio with results expressed as cells/mm2. The statistical correlations were performed using Fisher’s exact test, Pearson and Log-rank test for Kaplan Meyer plots. Results: 54 patients with confirmed diagnosis of PSCC had a median age of 62 (IQR 50-70). All samples were from the primary penile tumor with the majority of cases being HPV(–) (62%). We observed significantly higher stromal cytotoxic T cells in HPV(+) cases compared to HPV(–) ( P=0.04). Using the mean macrophage count as cutoff for positivity, high densities of total tumor macrophages CD68+ were associated with significantly improved estimated median cancer specific survival (CSS) (NA, P=0.04), median overall survival (OS) (68mos vs NA P=0.02) and lower risk of regional recurrence ( P=0.04). On the other hand, the high densities of stromal cytotoxic T cells antigen-experienced (CD3+CD8+PD-1+), was associated with significantly worse median OS (27 vs 102mos P=0.05) and median disease free survival (DFS) (18.2mos vs NA P= 0.07). Also, high densities of stromal T cells antigen-experienced (CD3+PDL-1+), were associated with significantly better CSS (NA, P=0.06) and better median OS (142.1 vs 68.8mos P=0.14). Conclusions: Using novel multiplex image analysis to assess the immune microenvironment in primary PSCC, we showed that high macrophage levels were associated with lower risk of recurrence and improved survival outcomes. Moreover, a low level of exhausted stromal cytotoxic PD-1+ T cells was associated with improved PSCC survival. Further characterization of T cell subsets in relation to tumor HPV status is ongoing.

Randomized phase II trial of presurgical androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with or without axitinib in prostate cancer (PCa) presenting with lymph node (LN) metastasis

5078

Background: Strategies integrating androgen targeted and locoregional therapies are being increasingly used in PCa with regional spread, but are rarely curative. Angiogenesis inhibitors delay progression in castration resistant PCa and may synergize with ADT through endothelial cell apoptosis in hormone naïve patients (pts). We hypothesized that the frontline combination of ADT with the potent VEGF inhibitor Axi would improve PCa control relative to ADT alone and allow for meaningful time off systemic therapy after surgical consolidation. Methods: Pts with either clinically detected LN+ (TxN1M0 or TxNxM1a) or very high risk for LN PCa were treated with ADT for 2 mos and then randomized 2:1 to respectively add open label Axi (5 mg PO bid) vs. continue ADT alone for 4 mos until surgery. Those responding with PSA ≤5 ng/mL were offered prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy (RP). ADT +/- Axi was withheld postoperatively and PSA measured q3 mos until 1 y. Primary objective: proportion of pts progression free (FFP) 12 mos after RP, defined as PSA ≤1.0 ng/mL and no radiation or ADT, aiming to detect a 35% difference favoring ADT+Axi. Results: 72 pts completed accrual. We report on the 54 pts with LN+ disease: median age 62 y (range 42-76), pretreatment PSA 22.9 ng/mL (range 3.6 - 404.4), 38 N1 / 16 M1a. Table shows presurgical therapy outcomes. Path responses in the prostate were similar between arms, but in 5 ADT+Axi vs. 0 ADT LN+ pts there was no residual nodal disease. Testosterone recovery: 24/26 ADT+Axi and 9/9 ADT RP pts by 6 mos. 21/36 ADT+Axi and 15/18 ADT pts have failed; 1 y FFP estimates 48.0% (SE 8.6%) and 16.7% (SE 8.3%), respectively (p = 0.02). 1 y undetectable PSA 9 pts (6 ADT+Axi). No grade 4 toxicities or unexpected side-effects were observed. Conclusions: 1 year after RP, ADT+Axi resulted in proportionally greater number of LN+ PCa pts off treatment and progression free than ADT alone. Tissue analysis is evaluating predictors of benefit to further develop angiogenesis inhibition as part of combination strategies for hormone naïve PCa. Clinical trial information: NCT01409200. [Table: see text]

Aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC) molecular signature in castration-sensitive, de novo metastatic prostate cancer (M1PCa)

5052

Background: AVPC are a subset of prostate cancers (PC) that share clinical features with the small-cell prostate carcinomas, a rare morphological variant with atypical and virulent behavior. They are estimated to represent 30% of lethal PC and are characterized by a molecular signature of combined defects (≥2) in Tp53, RB1 and PTEN (AVPC_MS). The AVPC_MS is associated with androgen indifference in preclinical models and predicts for benefit from the addition of carboplatin to cabazitaxel in men with castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The prevalence and significance of the AVPC_MS in castration sensitive M1PC is unknown. Methods: In a Phase II trial 119 men with M1PC treated with 6 months of standard systemic therapy (SST) were randomized to the addition of local therapy. PCa samples obtained at diagnosis and after 6 months of SST were stained for markers including Tp53, RB1 and PTEN, and subject to whole genome sequencing. Tp53 was considered defective if expressed in ≥ 10% of tumor cells, and RB1 and PTEN if in ≤ 10%. Progression free survival (PFS) was estimated from SST start. Results: To date specimens from 38 men have been evaluated. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results are shown below. The median PFS of men with AVPC_MSPOSITIVE vs AVPC_MSNEGATIVEbaseline prostate tumors was 9.3 vs 15 months (HR 1.09, 95%CI 0.42-2.87, P=0.852). Conclusions: The rate at which the AVPC molecular signature is detected in castration sensitive M1PCa appears similar to that in CRPC. This may have therapeutic implications. Updated molecular and outcome data will be presented upon acceptance. [Table: see text]

Complex biologic heterogeneity of de novo hormone naïve metastatic prostate cancer (HNPCa): Comparison of early progressors and prolonged responders to initial systemic treatment

5055

Background: Given the absence of biologically based biomarkers current therapy allocation strategies for men with mHNPCa are based on anatomic distribution and volume of metastases. We sought to determine the strength of the association between clinical predictors (including met volume) and outcomes in men with mHNPCa at extremes of response to initial systemic therapy (ST). Methods: Data from a population screened for a phase II trial of Best ST +/- local therapy in mHNPCa was analyzed (NCT01751438). Pts had to have sustained responses to ST (≥6 mos) in order to be randomized. Early Progressors (EP, castration resistant progression <6 mos from start of ST per PCWG2) were not randomized. Prolonged Responders (PR) were defined as those with progression free survivals (PFS) > median for the 109 randomized pts. Baseline demographics were compared between groups (Fisher’s exact test for categorical and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables) and Kaplan Meier estimates of OS determined. Immunohistochemistry and genomic sequencing of untreated tumor biopsies are ongoing. Results: Of 208 screened pts, 27 (13%) were identified as EPs, with a median PFS of 5.9 mos (95%CI: 5.3-6.5). The median PFS for the randomized cohort was 16.8 mos (95%CI: 12.7-37.6). 55 (50%) pts were identified as PRs, with median PFS not reached (NR) at a median follow up of 31 mos (range: 7.5-75). Patients’ demographics are below (Table), grouped by EP and PR cohorts. Median OS was 24.8 mos vs NR in the Eps compared to PRs (p<0.001). Conclusions: The EP group was enriched for high risk features and had a worse outcome. However, 33% of men in the EP group had low volume disease and 22% in the PR group had high volume disease. This suggests that clinical volume is an inadequate predictor of biologic response and highlights the need for biologic sub-typing of de novo mHNPCa. [Table: see text]

Penile squamous cell carcinoma is genomically similar to other HPV-driven tumors

505

Background: PSCC is rare with limited treatment options for advanced disease. There have been no published genome-wide studies on the genetic alterations of PSCCs or on the differences between HPV (+) and HPV (−) PSCCs. We report the largest WES analysis of PSCC. Methods: We identified 34 pts diagnosed with PSCC, at MD Anderson, with primary tumors or metastatic lesions sufficient for WES. Patients, tumor and surgical characteristics were available through the MD Anderson prospective registry. Genomic DNAs from both Fresh frozen macrodissected tumors and paired-normal penile tissues were analyzed by WES. Results: Patients clinical characteristics are summarized in table 1. Eight of the most frequently mutated PSCC genes (NOTCH1 (35%), TP53 (35%), CDKN2A (24%), PIK3CA (21%), CASP8 (21%), FAT1 (18%), FBXW7 (15%) and EP300 (12%)) were significantly mutated in other SCC tumor types. Importantly, 8/8 and 5/8 genes were significant in head and neck SCC and cervical SCC, respectively, including 3 (CASP8, FXBW7, and EP300) genes that are only significant in these tumor types. TP53 mutations were associated with HPV (-) PSCC and were absent in HPV (+) SCC (P= 0.03). EP300 mutations were associated with advanced primary tumor stage. Of note we did not identify unique mutations associated with lymph node status. Conclusions: This is the largest systematic analyses of PSCC genomics uncovering the involvement of multiple cancer genes that are likely to be contributing to tumor development including; TP53, squamous differentiation, cell cycle, and chromatin regulation. PSCC are genomically similar to other HPV related SCC, and provide a therapeutic rationale for considering strategies successful in HPV related cancers. [Table: see text]

Intraoperative and early postoperative outcomes in post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy using validated grading classifications

535

Background: Post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (PC-RPLND) is an integral treatment modality in the management of advanced germ cell tumors. We sought to define the complication profile of PC-RPLND using validated grading systems for intraoperative adverse events (iAE) and early postoperative complications. Methods: After IRB approval, we analyzed perioperative outcomes of 453 patients (pts) who underwent PC-RPLND between 2000 and June 2018. iAE and early postoperative complications (within 90 days) were graded using Kaafarani and Clavien-Dindo classification, respectively. Logistic regression models were conducted to assess patient and tumor factors associated with iAEs and postoperative complications. Results: Of the 453 pts, 287 (63%) were clinical stage III and had a median post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal mass size of 4.1 cm (IQR 2.4-7.4 cm). There were 132 iAE, which occurred in 115 (25%) pts. Early postoperative complications occurred in 255 (56%) pts. Major iAE (grade ≥ 3) was observed in 15 (3%) pts and major postoperative complications (grade ≥ 3) were noted in 83 (18%) pts. The most common iAE was vascular injury (112 of 132 events, 85%), which occurred in 92 (20%) pts. The most common postoperative complication was ileus, occurring in 121 (27%) pts. Residual retroperitoneal mass size (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.09–1.20, p<0.001), non-pulmonary metastases (OR = 3.18; 95% CI: 1.68–6.00, p<0.001), previous laparotomy (OR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.01–3.66, p=0.047), previous RPLND (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.01–5.59, p=0.046), and adjuvant surgical procedures (OR = 13.54; 95% CI: 7.01–26.14, p<0.001) increased the risk of iAE and postoperative complications. Postoperative complications were more likely for patients that experienced an iAE (OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.58–3.97, p<0.001). Conclusions: This is the first analysis of PC-RPLND defining morbidity using validated classifications of severity for iAE and postoperative complications. Larger retroperitoneal mass, non-pulmonary metastases, previous surgery and adjuvant surgical procedures increased the risk of perioperative complications. iAE increased the risk of postoperative complications.

Improving risk-stratification of localized prostate cancer in a prospective active surveillance cohort

104

Background: Prospective active surveillance (AS) studies in men with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa) have demonstrated feasibility, but no consensus supports an optimal monitoring scheme. To expand our findings on AS disease reclassification, we examined predictors of disease reclassification in a prospective single-institution AS study. Methods: Men with localized PCa diagnosed within 6 months (mos) of AS enrollment were stratified into four groups: group 1 (Gr 1) was defined by a Gleason score (GS) ≤6 (3+3), one positive (pos) core ( < 3 mm), and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level < 4 ng/mL (adjusted by prostate size); Gr IIa by GS 6, one pos core, and either tumor length ≥3 mm or PSA ≥4 ng/mL; Gr IIb by GS6, > one pos core, and any PSA level or tumor length; Gr IIc by GS7, > one pos core or any PSA. Monitoring included PSA and digital rectal exam every 6 mo. Biopsy (BX) was repeated at 1 year and then on a predetermined BX scheme. Patients with reclassified disease (upgrading, increase in pos cores and/or tumor length) were offered treatment. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to determine the association of baseline clinicopathologic parameters with time to reclassification. Results: Between 2006 and 2015, 803 patients met criteria for inclusion: Gr I, 242; Gr IIa, 67; Gr IIb, 376; Gr IIc, 118. Median age was 64 years (range, 36–83), 662 (82.4%) were white, 703 (87.5%) had cT1c disease, 687 (85.6%) had GS 6, and median PSA level was 4.2 ng/mL (range 0.2–34). At a median follow-up of 2.9 years, 249 (31.0%) men had disease reclassification and 258 (32.1%) left AS to pursue curative treatment. Overall, 82% of reclassifications occurred within 3 years of study enrollment. Stratification to group IIb/IIc was significantly associated with time to reclassification compared to Gr I/IIa (HR 2.13, 95 CI 1.63-2.80, p < 0.001) while CAPRA score did not show a significant difference (p = 0.27). Conclusions: Grouping patients on characteristics including tumor length and pos core number may improve risk stratification in localized PCa. Risk-based surveillance protocols merit further evaluation. Clinical trial information: NCT00490763.

Investigation of mechanisms of resistance to ipilimumab therapy with a pre-surgical trial in patients with high-risk, localized prostate cancer

5081

Background: Anti-CTLA-4 therapy ipilimumab (BMS) has led to clinical benefit in patients with metastatic melanoma. However, in multiple clinical trials in patients with prostate cancer, ipilimumab has not demonstrated significant clinical benefit. To identify potential immune inhibitory pathways responsible for resistance to ipilimumab therapy, we evaluated tumor samples from a pre-surgical clinical trial and performed correlative laboratory studies. Methods: We carried out a pre-surgical clinical trial with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), (leuprolide acetate, Tap Pharmaceuticals) plus ipilimumab in patients with localized, high-risk prostate cancer. Each patient received one injection of leuprolide (22.5 mg) on week 0 and ipilimumab (10 mg/kg) on weeks 1 and 4. Patients then underwent surgery at week 8. Tumor tissues were collected at baseline and then at surgery for flow cytometry, IHC, multiplex immunofluorescence, and gene profiling analyses. In vitro studies were carried out for functional analysis. Results: Sixteen patients completed treatment with ipilimumab plus ADT and surgery. We observed a significant increase of immune cells including T cells and macrophages into prostate tumors after ipilimumab therapy, similar to data observed in ipilimumab-treated melanoma samples. However, compared to melanoma tumors, we found higher expression of PD-L1 and VISTA inhibitory molecules on CD68+ macrophages in prostate tumors. Interestingly, PD-L1 and VISTA were expressed on distinct subset of CD68+ macrophages, with high expression of CD163, suggesting an M2 subtype. In vitro studies demonstrated that engagement of PD-L1 and/or VISTA pathways inhibited T cell responses. Co-culture with monocytes resulted in suppression of T cell function, which can be reversed with anti-VISTA blocking antibody. Conclusions: These data suggest that evolving compensatory inhibitory pathways including PD-L1 and VISTA may mediate resistance of prostate cancer to ipilimumab therapy. Concurrent blockade of other immune checkpoints such as PD1/PD-L1 and/or VISTA may be necessary to provide significant clinical benefits for patients with prostate cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT01194271.

Examining the effect that prior bladder manipulation and BCG treatment have on false positive rates of blue-light cystoscopy biopsies

416

Background: One of the criticisms of blue-light cystoscopy (BL) is the relatively high rate of false positive biopsies when used in the real world setting. There is no consensus on which patient factors, if any, might be contributing to this high false positive rate. The purpose of this study is to determine whether having a cystoscopy, TURBT or BCG treatment recently resulted in higher rates of false positive blue-light (BL) biopsies. Methods: We performed an IRB-approved retrospective study looking at a total of 116 consecutive patients who underwent simultaneous BL and WL between January 2013 to December 2014. Pathology and operative reports were reviewed to determine the grade and stage of the tumors. Clinical notes were utilized to determine how recently they had a cystoscopy, TURBT, and BCG treatment. The false positive rates of both BL and WL were calculated, and Fisher’s exact test was utilized to determine if the time from the patients’ most recent bladder manipulation or BCG treatment had a significant effect on the false positive BL rate. Results: Of the 46 (28.6%) BL positive biopsies, 29 (63.0%) were false positives. When stratified by potential causes of false positive for BL we found the following: one (3.4%) had bladder manipulation within 14 days, 8 (27.6%) within 30 days, 19 (65.5%) within 60 days, and 10 (34.5%) had bladder manipulation beyond 60 days prior to the biopsy. When looking at intravesical BCG as a cause for false positive, we found prior BCG use in 18 (62%) patients of those with false positive BL compared to 12 (70.6%) patients of those with true positive BL biopsies (p = 1.0). Of the 18 patients with false positive BL biopsies who had BCG previously: 1 (5.6%) had BCG within 6 weeks, 5 (27.8%) had BCG within 12 weeks, and 13 (72.2%) had BCG greater than 12 weeks prior to biopsy. None of these associations were found to be statistically significant. Despite the high percentage of false positive lesions, it is important to note that in patients who had tumors visualized only with BL, 11 (26.8%) were high-grade, including one patient with T1 tumor and 8 with CIS. Conclusions: There was no relationship between recent bladder manipulation or BCG treatment and false positive BL biopsies.

Blue-light cystoscopy’s effects on management of bladder cancer when compared to traditional white-light cystoscopy

378

Background: Fluorescence cystoscopy (also known as blue-light cystoscopy (BL)) is an adjunct to white light cystoscopy (WL) and aids in visualization of tumors that may be missed with WL as well as allow more complete resection of tumors. Herein we present the impact of BL on subsequent patient management in a real world setting. Methods: A total of 116 consecutive patients who underwent simultaneous BL and WL from January 2013 through December 2014 were included in the study. Pathology and operative reports were reviewed to determine the grade and stage of the tumors and whether they were viewed under BL or WL. Results: Of the 116 patients, a total of 161 biopsies and/or transurethral resected specimens were analyzed. Of these, 46 (28.6%) lesions were seen only with BL, none were seen only with white light, 109 (67.7%) were seen with both, and 7 (4.4%) were identified via random biopsies. Of the 46 lesions seen only on BL, 17 (37%) were positive for cancer, while, of the 109 lesions seen with WL and BL, 84 (77%) were positive. Of the 17 (37%) true positive tumors seen only on BL, the stage and grades were; 5 (29.4%) low-grade Ta, 2 (11.8%) high-grade Ta, 1 (5.9%) high-grade T1, and 9 (52.9%) CIS. There were no instances of a tumor being found on WL that was not also visualized with BL. In this patient cohort, the false positive rates were 23% and 63% for WL and BL, respectively. The false negative rates were 0.9% and 2.1% for WL and BL, respectively. For the 46 (28.6%) lesions that were visible by BL, WL cystoscopy was not able to visualize 10 (21.7%) tumors visualized by BL. In addition, there was one patient who had multiple lesions sent for pathology by BL and WL, and the lesions identified by BL were of higher stage than the lesions visualized by WL. Conclusions: BL identified additional tumors that would have been missed with WL. Moreover, in patients who had tumors visualized only with BL, 11 (26.8%) were high-grade, including one (2.4%) patient with T1 tumor and 8 (19.5%) with CIS. Thus, BL identified a number of high-risk tumors, which had a significant impact on the subsequent management of patients with bladder cancer.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of pomegranate extract on rising PSA levels in men following primary therapy for prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

The primary objective of this study was to compare the effects of pomegranate juice on PSA doubling times (PSADT) in subjects with rising PSA levels after primary therapy for prostate cancer.

METHODS

Double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-institutional study, evaluated the effects of pomegranate liquid extract on serum PSA levels. The primary end point of this study was change in serum PSADT. Additional secondary and exploratory objectives were to evaluate the safety of pomegranate juice and to determine the interaction of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) AA genotype and pomegranate treatment on PSADT.

RESULTS

One-hundred eighty-three eligible subjects were randomly assigned to the active and placebo groups with a ratio of 2:1 (extract N=102; placebo N=64; juice N=17). The majority of adverse events were of moderate or mild grade. Median PSADT increased from 11.1 months at baseline to 15.6 months in the placebo group (P<0.001) compared with an increase from 12.9 months at baseline to 14.5 months in the extract group (P=0.13) and an increase from 12.7 at baseline to 20.3 in the juice group (P=0.004). However, none of these changes were statistically significant between the three groups (P>0.05). Placebo AA patients experienced a 1.8 month change in median PSADT from 10.9 months at baseline to 12.7 months (P=0.22), while extract patients experienced a 12 month change in median PSADT from 13.6 at baseline to 25.6 months (P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with placebo, pomegranate extract did not significantly prolong PSADT in prostate cancer patients with rising PSA after primary therapy. A significant prolongation in PSADT was observed in both the treatment and placebo arms. Men with the MnSOD AA genotype may represent a group that is more sensitive to the antiproliferative effects of pomegranate on PSADT; however, this finding requires prospective hypothesis testing and validation.

Integrating chemohormonal therapy and surgery in known or suspected lymph node metastatic prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer persisting in the primary site after systemic therapy may contribute to emergence of resistance and progression. We previously demonstrated molecular characteristics of lethal cancer in the prostatectomy specimens of patients presenting with lymph node metastasis after chemohormonal treatment. Here we report the post-treatment outcomes of these patients and assess whether a link exists between surgery and treatment-free/cancer-free survival.

METHODS

Patients with either clinically detected lymph node metastasis or primaries at high risk for nodal dissemination were treated with androgen ablation and docetaxel. Those responding with PSA concentration <1 ng ml(-1) were recommended surgery 1 year from enrollment. ADT was withheld postoperatively. The rate of survival without biochemical progression 1 year after surgery was measured to screen for efficacy.

RESULTS

Forty patients were enrolled and 39 were evaluable. Three patients (7.7%) declined surgery. Of the remaining 36, 4 patients experienced disease progression during treatment and 4 more did not reach PSA <1. Twenty-six patients (67%) completed surgery, and 13 (33%) were also progression-free 1 year postoperatively (8 with undetectable PSA). With a median follow-up of 61 months, time to treatment failure was 27 months in the patients undergoing surgery. The most frequent patterns of first disease recurrence were biochemical (10 patients) and systemic (5).

CONCLUSIONS

Half of the patients undergoing surgery were off treatment and progression-free 1 year following completion of all therapy. These results suggest that integration of surgery is feasible and may be superior to systemic therapy alone for selected prostate cancer patients presenting with nodal metastasis.

Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in penile squamous cell carcinoma

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Background: PD-1 protein is a co-inhibitory receptor expressed on B cells, T cell, and NK cells. Its ligand PD-L1 (B7-H1) leads to inhibition of T cell proliferation and cytokine production and is not expressed on normal tissues other than macrophages, but is expressed on various human carcinomas. Expression of PD-L1 in the HPV-associated disease penile carcinoma is unknown. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor specimens were obtained from 19 patients. PD-L1 staining was done with an E1L3N rabbit monoclonal antibody with the summary of a positive score using H-score membrane staining, which considers both intensity and percentage of cells, with >5% score as a positive. HPV status was also evaluated using FISH or p16 immunohistochemical staining to evaluate for correlation with PD-L1. Results: 23 samples between primaries and lymph nodes were collected from the 19 patients with 5/23 samples (22%) positive for anti-PDL1 staining. 6 samples (26%) were positive for HPV by at least one method of testing with 2/6 (33%) HPV positive patients having positive PD-L1 membrane staining. In both of these samples, there was equivocal peritumoral inflammatory infiltration of PD-L1 cells. Conclusions: This analysis shows that PD-L1 is expressed in penile squamous cell carcinomas and may indicate a role for future anti-PD-L1/PD-1 drugs as therapeutic options. Further analyses of correlated clinical features, survival, and separate PD-L1 staining in peritumoral inflammatory cells are underway.

Effect of neoadjuvant systemic therapy prior to radical prostatectomy in high-risk prostate cancer on surgical morbidity: Contemporary results utilizing the Clavien System

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Background: There is limited evidence definingthe morbidity of radical prostatectomy (RP) with curative intent for patients with high risk prostate cancer. Multimodality treatment for men with high risk prostate cancer using neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by surgery is being increasingly explored. Methods: We analyzed 215 consecutive patients with high risk and very high risk prostate cancer who underwent robotic or open RP with extended pelvic lymph node dissection previously untreated or received neoadjuvant systemic therapy between 2006 and 2010 at a single tertiary care academic center. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of complications. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between patients who underwent neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by RP versus RP alone except for PSA (PSA< or equal to 4 ng/ml: 75.4% vs. 15.5%, p<0.001) and preoperative hemoglobin (13.8 g/dl vs. 14.4 g/dl, p=0.003), respectively. Twenty nine percent of patients (63 of 215 patients) experienced a complication of any grade ≤90 d after surgery 6% experienced Grade ≥3, with no significant difference between either cohort (p=0.50). On multivariate analysis, estimated blood loss [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.10; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.2, p=0.03), length of stay (OR 1.75; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.4, p=0.001) and preoperative hemoglobin (OR 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.94, p=0.02) were independent predictors of the occurrence of any grade complication. Considering grade 3 or 4 complications, procedure time (OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.0 to 4.8, p=0.05) and estimated blood loss (OR 1.39; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.96, p=0.06) were significant predictors of major complications. Conclusions: Postoperative morbidity in patients with high risk prostate cancer following RP with or without the use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy is comparable to contemporary RP series of low to intermediate risk disease reporting outcomes in a similar fashion. Use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy prior to RP was safe and did not appear to increase the risk of having a perioperative complication.

Controversies in ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy

Patients with penile cancer who are proven to have negative inguinal lymph nodes have an excellent prognosis. Furthermore, patients with small-volume inguinal node involvement can often be cured by surgery alone. Lymphadenectomy has clear survival benefits for patients when applied to those with lymph node metastasis. However, the current morbidity of the standard technique of lymphadenectomy is an impediment to its universal application, and innovative strategies to reduce the morbidity of staging/treatment that do not compromise oncologic control must be developed and standardized. The optimal integration of multimodality therapy to improve survival in advanced disease will occur only through collaborative studies between centers with significant patient volume, which would be facilitated through the development of regional referral centers.

Interferon-alpha prevents selection of doxorubicin-resistant undifferentiated-androgen-insensitive metastatic human prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND

We determined whether treatment of metastatic prostate cancer cells with doxorubicin (DOX) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) prevented the emergence of highly undifferentiated tumor cells.

METHODS

The state of cell differentiation was determined by analysis of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), E-cadherin, keratin, and vimentin.

RESULTS

Human prostate cancer LNCaP-LN3 cells growing in culture as multicell spheroids expressed higher levels of E-cadherin and E-cadherin-associated beta-catenin than LNCaP-LN3 cells growing as monolayers. Treatment of cells with DOX downregulated PSA, E-cadherin, and keratin, and upregulated expression of vimentin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA. While treatment of cells with IFN-alpha did not alter gene expression, the addition of IFN-alpha to cultures treated with DOX produced synergistic toxicity and abrogated the changes in gene expression observed in cells treated with DOX alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with IFN-alpha and DOX should be further explored as a therapeutic strategy for androgen-insensitive prostate cancer.

Blockade of NF-kappaB activity in human prostate cancer cells is associated with suppression of angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis

Since the NF-kappaB/relA transcription factor is constitutively activated in human prostate cancer cells, we determined whether blocking NF-kappaB/relA activity in human prostate cancer cells affected their angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis in an orthotopic nude mouse model. Highly metastatic PC-3M human prostate cancer cells were transfected with a mutated IkappaBalpha (IkappaBalphaM), which blocks NF-kappaB activity. Parental (PC-3M), control vector-transfected (PC-3M-Neo), and IkappaBalphaM-transfected (PC-3M-IkappaBalphaM) cells were injected into the prostate gland of nude mice. PC-3M and PC-3M-Neo cells produced rapidly growing tumors and regional lymph node metastasis, whereas PC-3M-IkappaBalphaM cells produced slow growing tumors with low metastatic potential. NF-kappaB signaling blockade significantly inhibited in vitro and in vivo expression of three major proangiogenic molecules, VEGF, IL-8, and MMP-9, and hence decreased neoplastic angiogenesis. Inhibition of NF-kappaB activity in PC-3M cells also resulted in the downregulation of MMP-9 mRNA and collagenase activity, resulting in decreased invasion through Matrigel. Collectively, these data suggest that blockade of NF-kappaB activity in PC-3M cells inhibits angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis.

Genetic abnormalities specifically associated with varying metastatic potential of prostate cancer cell lines as detected by comparative genomic hybridization

Established recently are two in vivo prostate tumor progression models in which subclones of the PC3M and LNCaP cell lines were selected for varying growth characteristics and metastatic potential after successive orthotopic implantation in the prostate of nude mice. In this study, we used comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to compare the chromosomal abnormalities between the parental cell lines and their respective variants and to determine if specific chromosomal abnormalities can be identified that are associated with different growth properties. PC3M and its derivative cell lines PC3M-Pro4 and PC3M-LN4 shared gains of 8q22--qter, 10q21--q22, and Xq27--qter and loss of 13q33--qter. PC3M-Pro4, a derivative line that produced significantly larger tumors in the prostate, had a unique gain of 3q13. In contrast, PC3M-LN4, the derivative line that produced significantly larger metastatic tumors in the lymph nodes and had higher incidences of distant metastases, had a specific gain of 1q21--q22 and losses of 10q23--qter and 18q12--q21. In the second in vivo model, LNCaP and its derivative cell lines shared gain of 3q27--qter and loss on 13q21--qter. The derivative line that produced significantly larger tumors in the prostate, LNCaP-Pro5, had a unique gain on 13q12--q13. In comparison, LNCaP-LN3, a derivative line that had a significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastases and produced significantly larger metastatic tumors in the lymph nodes, had specific losses of 16q23--qter and 21q. Interestingly, some regions of loss (e.g., 10q23-->qter, 16q23-->qter, and 18q12-->q21) detected in the variant cell lines correlated well with abnormalities seen in clinical prostate cancer cases. Thus, our data suggest not only that these cell lines are relevant in vivo models for prostate cancer progression, but also that CGH is a valuable tool for uncovering chromosomal regions that are important for aggressive growth and metastasis of prostate cancer cells.

Tumor stage, vascular invasion and the percentage of poorly differentiated cancer: independent prognosticators for inguinal lymph node metastasis in penile squamous cancer

PURPOSE

We determine if histopathological factors of the primary penile tumor can stratify the risk of the development of inguinal lymph node metastases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical records of 48 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis who underwent resection of the primary lesion and either inguinal lymph node dissection or were observed for signs of recurrence (median followup 59 months) were reviewed. Parameters examined included pathological tumor stage, quantified depth of invasion and tumor thickness, histological and nuclear grade, percentage of poorly differentiated cancer in the primary tumor, number of mitoses and presence or absence of vascular invasion. Variables were compared in 18 lymph node positive and 30 lymph node negative cases.

RESULTS

Pathological tumor stage, vascular invasion and presence of greater than 50% poorly differentiated cancer were the strongest predictors of nodal metastasis on univariate and multivariate regression analyses. None of 15 pT1 tumors exhibited vascular invasion or lymph node metastases. Of 33 patients with pT2 or greater tumors 21 (64%) had vascular invasion and 18 (55%) had metastases. Only 4 of 25 patients (15%) with 50% or less poorly differentiated cancer in the penile tumor had metastases compared with 14 of 23 patients (61%) with greater than 50% poorly differentiated cancer (p = 0.001). No other variables tested were significantly different among the patient cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathological stage of the penile tumor, vascular invasion and greater than 50% poorly differentiated cancer were independent prognostic factors for inguinal lymph node metastasis. Prophylactic lymphadenectomy in compliant patients with pT1 lesions without vascular invasion and 50% or less poorly differentiated cancer does not appear warranted.

Relative expression of type IV collagenase, E-cadherin, and vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor in prostatectomy specimens distinguishes organ-confined from pathologically advanced prostate cancers

The tumor grade (Gleason score) in the biopsy and pretherapy prostate-specific antigen level do not accurately predict disease outcome of individual patients' prostate cancer. We used a rapid colorimetric in situ hybridization technique to evaluate the expression level of E-cadherin (which affects cell cohesion); matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) types 2 and 9 (which affect invasion); and vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (which affects angiogenesis) in archival prostatectomy specimens from 40 patients. Intratumoral heterogeneity for gene expression (edge versus center versus perineural area) was more pronounced in advanced cancers than in those that were organ confined. Regardless of Gleason score, the highest expression level for E-cadherin was found in the center or perineural area of the tumors, whereas the highest expression levels for MMP-2 and MMP-9 were associated with the invasive edge. The relationship between advancing pathological stage and expression of all four metastasis-related genes was highly significant. Decreased expression of E-cadherin and increased expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor were associated with the Gleason score of the tumors. Irrespective of serum prostate-specific antigen level or Gleason score, the ratio between expression of MMPs and E-cadherin at the invasive edge of tumors exhibited the strongest association with nonorgan-confined prostate cancer. These data suggest that the relative expression of metastasis-related genes in radical prostatectomy specimens can distinguish between organ-confined and advanced prostate cancers and provides the rationale for a prospective study correlating gene expression in pretherapy core biopsies with outcome.

Interleukin 8 expression regulates tumorigenicity and metastases in androgen-independent prostate cancer

Interleukin 8 (IL-8) is mitogenic and chemotactic for endothelial cells. Within a neoplasm, IL-8 is secreted by inflammatory and neoplastic cells. The highly metastatic PC-3M-LN4 cell line overexpresses IL-8 relative to the poorly metastatic PC-3P cell line. We evaluated whether IL-8 expression by human prostate cancer growing within the prostate of athymic nude mice regulates tumor angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis. PC-3P cells were transfected with the full-length sense IL-8 cDNA, whereas PC-3M-LN4 cells were transfected with the full-sequence antisense IL-8 cDNA. Control cells were transfected with the neomycin resistance gene (Neo). In vitro, sense-transfected PC-3P cells overexpressed IL-8-specific mRNA and protein, which resulted in up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) mRNA, and collagenase activity, resulting in increased invasion through Matrigel. After antisense transfection of the PC-3M-LN4 cells, IL-8 and MMP-9 expression, collagenase activity, and invasion were markedly reduced relative to controls. After orthotopic implantation, the sense-transfected PC-3P cells were highly tumorigenic and metastatic, with significantly increased neovascularity and IL-8 expression compared with either PC-3P cells or controls. Antisense transfection significantly reduced the expression of IL-8 and MMP-9 and tumor-induced neovascularity, resulting in inhibition of tumorigenicity and metastasis. These results demonstrate that IL-8 expression regulates angiogenesis in prostate cancer, in part by induction of MMP-9 expression, and subsequently regulates the growth and metastasis of human prostate cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and hormonal therapy followed by radical prostatectomy: feasibility and preliminary results

PURPOSE

We assessed the feasibility and efficacy of integrating chemotherapy and androgen ablation with radical prostatectomy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. The neoadjuvant approach was adopted because it allows an in situ assessment of antitumoral activity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-three patients were enrolled who met the clinical criteria of stage T1-2, Gleason score of >/= 8 or T2b-T2c, Gleason score of 7 and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level greater than 10 ng/mL (n = 15), or clinical stage T3 (n = 18). Therapy consisted of 12 weeks of ketoconazole and doxorubicin alternating with vinblastine, estramustine, and androgen ablation followed by prostatectomy. The ability of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and hormonal therapy to induce a 20% rate of pT0 in the prostatectomy specimen as well as surgical feasibility were assessed.

RESULTS

Chemotherapy complications were comparable to those reported with this regimen previously. No major intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative complications occurred in 10 (33%) of 30 patients. One patient died at home after discharge (postoperative day 17; no autopsy was performed). Ten (33%) of the 30 patients had organ-confined disease, and 20 (70%) of 30 had extraprostatic extension; 11 (37%) of the 30 had positive lymph nodes. Only five (17%) of 30 exhibited positive surgical margins. All patients achieved an undetectable PSA level postoperatively, and 20 of the surviving 29 patients remain without disease recurrence with a median follow-up of 13 months (range, 9 to 18 months).

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy and androgen ablation followed by radical prostatectomy was feasible in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. Although the goal of achieving a 20% rate for pT0 status was not achieved, we believe this type of integrated therapeutic strategy should be investigated further for its ability to alter the course of regionally advanced prostate cancer.

Racial differences in the androgen/androgen receptor pathway in prostate cancer

Pathologic and epidemiologic data suggest that while little racial variation exists in prostate cancer prevalence ("autopsy cancer"), striking racial variation exists for the clinically diagnosed form of the disease. A review of the available literature was performed to define whether racial differences in serum androgen levels or qualitative or quantitative differences in the androgen receptor were correlated with prostate cancer incidence or severity. Black men were found to be exposed to higher circulating testosterone levels from birth to about age 35 years. Such differences were not consistently noted among older men. Significant differences also were found for dihydrotestosterone metabolites among black, white, and Asian men. Unique racial genetic polymorphisms were noted for the gene for 5 alpha-reductase type 2 among black and Asian men. Novel androgen receptor mutations recently have been described among Japanese, but not white, men with latent prostate cancer. Finally, androgen receptor gene polymorphisms leading to shorter or longer glutamine and glycine residues in the receptor protein are correlated with racial variation in the incidence and severity of prostate cancer. This same polymorphism also could explain racial variation in serum prostate-specific antigen levels. Collectively, these data strongly suggest racial differences within the androgen/androgen receptor pathway not only exist but could be one cause of clinically observed differences in the biology of prostate cancer among racial groups.

Highly metastatic human prostate cancer growing within the prostate of athymic mice overexpresses vascular endothelial growth factor

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor progression and metastasis. It is mediated by the release of angiogenic factors by the tumor or host. We analyzed the expression of angiogenic factors by the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP and two derived variants, in vitro and in vivo, to determine whether metastatic cell lines express higher levels of these factors. The production of three angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and interleukin 8 (IL-8), by LNCaP and its variants, LNCaP-LN3 (highly metastatic) and LNCaP-Pro5 (slightly metastatic), was measured by ELISA. VEGF, bFGF, and IL-8 mRNA expression was determined in vitro by Northern blot analysis. VEGF mRNA expression was determined in vivo by in situ hybridization. VEGF and flk-1 protein expression and microvessel density of LNCaP cell tumors were quantified by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, VEGF production by LNCaP-LN3 (3.15+/-0.04 pg/ml/10(3) cells) was significantly higher than those of both LNCaP (2.38+/-0.34 pg/ml/10(3) cells) and LNCaP-Pro5 (1.67+/-0.37 pg/ml/10(3) cells; P = 0.049 and 0.001, respectively). None of the three cell lines produced detectable levels of bFGF or IL-8 in vitro. In vivo, LNCaP-LN3 tumors exhibited higher levels of VEGF mRNA and protein (152.2+/-28.5 and 200.5+/-28.3) and of flk-1 protein (156.5+/-20.6) and had higher microvessel density (16.4+/-4.2) than either LNCaP tumors (89+/-17.5, 173.3+/-23.0, 124.6+/-21.6, and 12.4+/-3.5, respectively) or LNCaP-Pro5 tumors (63+/-14.7, 141.2+/-38.1, 126.1+/-20, and 5.8+/-2.2, respectively). In conclusion, metastatic human prostate cancer cells exhibited enhanced VEGF production and tumor vascularity compared with prostate cancer cells of lower metastatic potential. Thus, VEGF may play an important role in prostate cancer metastasis.

A feasibility study of cryotherapy followed by radical prostatectomy for locally advanced prostate cancer

PURPOSE

There has been a significant shift toward multimodality therapy to try to eradicate extracapsular disease better in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. We assess the feasibility and complications of initial cryotherapy followed by radical prostatectomy, and evaluate the frequency and location of viable benign and malignant prostate tissue and positive surgical margins after this treatment combination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 12 patients with clinical stage T3 cancer or clinical stages T1c to T2, Gleason score 8 to 10 cancer on the initial biopsy were treated with initial cryotherapy followed by open surgical exploration 2 to 8 days later. If pelvic lymph nodes were negative, radical prostatectomy was performed. Prostate specific antigen was measured approximately every 3 months postoperatively, and complications were assessed by retrospective chart review and a quality of life survey.

RESULTS

Radical prostatectomy was aborted in 5 patients with positive pelvic lymph nodes. Of the 7 patients who underwent prostatectomy 4 had no residual prostate cancer in the specimen (pathological stage pT0 disease). All 7 of these patients had focal areas of viable normal prostate glands. Only 1 of the 7 patients had a positive surgical margin and biochemical failure (mean followup 22.6 months). The main complications of cryotherapy followed by radical prostatectomy were urinary incontinence and impotence.

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant cryotherapy achieved complete tumor destruction in 4 of 7 patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. Cryotherapy followed by radical prostatectomy was associated with substantial morbidity, mainly in terms of urinary incontinence.

Combination chemotherapy for metastatic or locally advanced genitourinary squamous cell carcinoma: a phase II study of methotrexate, cisplatin and bleomycin

PURPOSE

The prognosis of patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of genitourinary origin is poor. While single agent chemotherapy results mainly in partial responses of short duration, data on the efficacy of combination chemotherapy are extremely limited. We determined the response rate and toxicity of a combination of 3 of the most active agents, methotrexate, cisplatin and bleomycin, in patients with advanced genitourinary squamous cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with metastatic or locally advanced genitourinary squamous cell carcinoma were eligible for study. Treatment consisted of 200 mg./m.2 methotrexate on days 1, 15 and 22, and 20 mg./m.2 cisplatin and 10 mg./m.2 bleomycin on days 2 through 6 during a 28-day cycle.

RESULTS

Of the 30 patients who enrolled in the trial 29 were evaluable for response. Objective response was achieved in 16 patients (55%, 95% confidence interval 36 to 72), 4 of whom achieved a complete response (14%). Median objective response duration was 4.7 months (range 1.9 to 39.5). Median survival of the entire group was 11.5 months (range 1.5 to 87.0). Of the patients 9 achieved disease-free status, including 6 following consolidation surgery or radiation therapy. Median survival of these 9 patients (34.4 months, range 9.6 to 87.0) was significantly greater (p = 0.0003) than that of patients who did not become disease-free (7.0 months, range 1.5 to 38.6). Grade III or IV hematological toxicity in 116 courses included neutropenia (13%) and thrombocytopenia (6%). Among 30 patients evaluable for toxicity serious nonhematological toxic effects included stomatitis (3%) and renal toxicity (7%). There was 1 death from neutropenic sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS

Methotrexate, cisplatin and bleomycin combination chemotherapy for genitourinary squamous cell carcinoma results in a high but short lived overall response rate, and a low complete response rate with manageable toxicity. A multidisciplinary approach to achieve disease-free status may provide the best opportunity to effect survival and should be the focus of future trials.

Prostate cancer in African-American men: outcome following radiation therapy with or without adjuvant androgen ablation

PURPOSE

To compare the outcome of irradiated clinically localized prostate cancer in African-American and white patients.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

This was a retrospective review of 1,201 men, 116 African-American and 1,085 white, with T1-T3, N0/NX, M0 prostate cancer receiving external radiation between 1987 and 1996. Pretreatment characteristics, treatment parameters, and outcome (relapse or rising prostate-specific antigen [PSA] levels, local recurrence, metastatic relapse, and survival) were compared between the groups using univariate and multivariate statistical methods.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between African-American and white patients in T-stage, Gleason score, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) level, and testosterone level. African-Americans had a significantly lower incidence of abnormal digital rectal findings and a proportionally higher incidence of obstructive urinary symptoms at presentation and tended to be somewhat younger. A major difference between the two groups was in the significantly higher PSA levels among African-Americans (median, 14 ng/ml) than among white patients (median, 9.5 ng/ml). This translated into a higher incidence of unfavorable disease according to our criteria (39% vs. 25%) among African-Americans and, thus, to the more frequent use of adjuvant androgen ablation and to somewhat higher radiation doses in these patients. With a median follow-up of 42 months the overall 6-year freedom from relapse for African-Americans was 63% compared to 61% for whites (p = 0.634). We found no significant differences in biochemical relapse rates between any subgroups of African-Americans and whites. Specifically, even patients who did not have androgen ablation, when stratified by PSA levels, had similar outcomes regardless of race. Likewise, local recurrence and metastasis rates were not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although African-American patients tend to have higher pretreatment PSA levels than white patients, the outcome for the disease is similar in the two groups when stratified by known pretreatment prognostic factors. Our data provide no evidence for the hypothesis that prostate cancer in African-Americans is intrinsically more virulent than in whites.

Prostate specific antigen and pathological features of prostate cancer in black and white patients: a comparative study based on radical prostatectomy specimens

PURPOSE

We compared the relationship of pathological features and preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels of a consecutive series of black patients to a stage matched cohort of white patients treated during the same period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The radical prostatectomy specimens of 40 black patients were reviewed and tumor volume was determined. Histopathological features (stage, grade, zonal distribution of cancer foci), tumor volume and prostate weight were correlated to pretreatment serum PSA levels. These parameters were compared with those of 148 white patients matched by pathological stage.

RESULTS

Black patients exhibited a significantly higher incidence of seminal vesicle involvement (p=0.03) and cancers with a Gleason score of 8 or more (p=0.02), and a trend toward decreased pathologically organ confined, margin negative disease (40% black versus 53% white men, p=0.13). Although the incidences of multifocal cancer were virtually identical (90 and 82%) in the 2 groups, black patients exhibited a higher incidence of transition zone cancer foci (p <0.001). Mean prostate tumor volume, total gland weight and serum PSA level among black and white patients with pathological stage pT2-, pT2+ and pT3- cancer were not significantly different. However, with advancing pathological stage (pT3+ and pT3c) disease black patients had higher preoperative serum PSA levels on univariate and multivariate analyses despite similar total gland weight and tumor volume.

CONCLUSIONS

Black patients who underwent radical prostatectomy often exhibited adverse pathological features. Two novel findings were that the distribution of cancer foci within the prostate was significantly different between black and white patients, and that serum PSA levels in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer were higher in black than in white men, despite adjustment for known variables affecting PSA. These observations suggest that differences in the biology of prostate cancer between these 2 races may exist.

Deoxyribonucleic acid flow cytometry and traditional pathologic variables in invasive penile carcinoma: assessment of prognostic significance

OBJECTIVES

The identification of reliable prognostic factors to guide the selection of patients at high risk of harboring subclinical metastases in penile cancer is important. We evaluated traditional pathologic variables and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) flow cytometry to determine the prognostic significance of these variables for the subsequent development of lymph node metastases.

METHODS

Clinical data and pathologic specimens were retrospectively reviewed from patients treated surgically at university-affiliated hospitals from 1958 to 1987. Pathologic analysis (grade, depth of invasion, and pathologic stage) and DNA flow cytometry were performed on specimens from 46 patients with invasive penile carcinoma and complete medical records. Pathologic variables were compared with DNA flow cytometry results in patients who never developed lymph node metastasis (32 patients, median follow-up 121 months) and in those who presented with or developed proved lymph node metastases (14 patients, median follow-up 18 months).

RESULTS

The distributions of diploid and nondiploid tumors were similar in patients with or without lymph node metastasis. In addition, there was no significant difference in the grade distributions of tumors with respect to lymph node status. Patients with positive nodes more commonly had tumors that invaded greater than 0.5 cm or that exhibited pathologic Stage T2 or greater (deep invasion). All 14 patients who presented with or subsequently developed metastasis had deep primary tumors. Thirteen of 36 patients with clinically negative nodes had superficially invasive tumors (pathologic Stage T1 and depth of invasion 0.5 cm or less), and none developed metastasis (median follow-up 124 months [range 58 to 240]). Tumor grade was significantly related to the likelihood of deep invasion but was not an independent prognostic factor for metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

DNA flow cytometry does not add prognostic information to that obtained by pathologic assessment in patients with invasive penile carcinoma. The presence of pathologic Stage T2 or greater or depth of invasion greater than 0.5 cm defines a group of patients at high risk of inguinal node metastasis. A novel finding was that patients with minimally invasive lesions (0.5 cm or less) and no evidence of corporal invasion (pathologic Stage T1) have little risk of inguinal node metastasis. Close observation of reliable patients meeting these criteria may be a safe alternative to prophylactic lymphadenectomy.

Presentation, methods of diagnosis and therapy for pelvic recurrence following radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

PURPOSE

We evaluated the presentation, methods of diagnosis and treatment of pelvic recurrence following radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the records of 33 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma between May 1960 and August 1995 at our cancer center and who later had pelvic recurrence.

RESULTS

The majority of patients underwent cystectomy for clinically advanced transitional cell carcinoma. Median time from cystectomy to recurrence was 10 months. Of the patients 25 were symptomatic (76%) at the time recurrence was diagnosed. Recurrence was discovered by digital rectal examination in 4 asymptomatic patients (12%) and by routine pelvic imaging in 2. Treatment included chemotherapy, surgery or radiation (alone or in combination). Of the 33 patients 29 died of progressive disease with a median survival of 7 months from the time of recurrence, and 4 remained free of disease at 7, 14, 26 and 95 months after local recurrence. Despite the poor survival rate following treatment 11 of 14 patients had complete resolution of symptoms following chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of patients with local recurrence is poor regardless of therapy. These recurrences are often symptomatic but careful post-cystectomy tumor surveillance, including digital rectal examination and pelvic imaging, provides an opportunity to diagnose local recurrences when they may be amenable to therapy. Systemic chemotherapy offers excellent palliation for symptomatic patients.

Prognostic markers in clinically localized prostate cancer

Current dilemmas for physicians managing patients with localized prostate cancer include deciding: (1) which patients need aggressive treatment; (2) what treatment options are best for a given patient; and (3) what treatment outcomes can be expected. This article reviews our ability to prognosticate outcome (including pathological stage and disease-free survival rate) in patients with clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate (AJCC, stage T1-T2. N0, M0) subsequent to analysis of several contemporary series involving patients treated with radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiation therapy. Pretherapy prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (< or =4 ng/mL or >20 ng/mL) and Gleason score (< or =4 or > or =8) as individual variables provide independent prognostic information for only a subset of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiation therapy. Pathological stage is the most powerful predictor of outcome following radical prostatectomy, and its prediction (organ-confined vs. seminal vesicle or lymph node involvement) is aided by knowledge of clinical stage, Gleason score, and PSA level. Planned systematic biopsies also provide useful prognostic information for the prediction of pathological stage and tumor volume, as well as providing additional tissue for pathological assessment of tumor heterogeneity. Several novel markers of biological aggressiveness are associated with critical steps of the metastatic cascade (growth, invasion, angiogenesis, and resistance to apoptosis) and include the p53 tumor suppressor gene, the bcl-2 proto-oncogene, markers of increased proliferation (Ki-67), apoptosis, and angiogenesis (microvessel density). Their evaluation in clinical specimens is currently being used to prognosticate outcome. Current clinical and pathological parameters provide a "ballpark" estimate of outcome for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. Further elucidation of the critical molecular events associated with prostate cancer progression and metastasis should help in identifying molecular markers that more accurately predict the prognosis for an individual patient with clinically localized prostate cancer.

Risk of urethral, vaginal and cervical involvement in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: results of a contemporary cystectomy series from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

PURPOSE

Orthotopic bladder reconstruction in women is the focus of considerable interest. To define suitable candidates for orthotopic reconstruction among women with bladder cancer, we reviewed the risk of secondary urethral, vaginal and cervical involvement by transitional cell carcinoma in patients who underwent radical cystectomy at our institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of women who underwent radical cystectomy for primary transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder between 1985 and 1995. These cases also were reviewed pathologically.

RESULTS

Of 115 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder 9 (8%) also had secondary transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra, including 2 with concomitant involvement of the vagina or cervix. In 4 patients (3%) the vagina or cervix was involved but not the urethra. Vaginal and cervical invasion correlated with stages T3b and T4 disease (p = 0.04). By logistic regression analysis the sole significant risk factor for urethral involvement was bladder neck involvement (p = 0.0005). Unlike previous studies 2 of 9 patients with secondary urethral transitional cell carcinoma did not have apparent cancer at the bladder neck.

CONCLUSIONS

We report secondary urethral involvement without apparent bladder neck involvement in women with transitional cell carcinoma. Women who are candidates for orthotopic reconstruction should undergo biopsies of the bladder neck and urethra as part of the preoperative evaluation. In patients with palpable masses (stage T3b) on bimanual examination, transvaginal biopsies should also be considered. Intraoperative frozen sections of the urethral and vaginal margins should be obtained.

Correlation of metastasis-related gene expression with metastatic potential in human prostate carcinoma cells implanted in nude mice using an in situ messenger RNA hybridization technique

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression level of several metastasis-regulating genes correlates with the metastatic potential of human prostate cancer cells implanted into the prostate of nude mice. The steady-state mRNA expression levels for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; growth), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and interleukin (IL)-8 (angiogenesis), 72-kd and 92-kd type IV collagenase (invasion), E-cadherin (adhesion), and multidrug resistance (mdr-1; drug resistance) were measured by Northern blot and colorimetric in situ hybridization techniques in human PC-3M cells and selected cell variants with different metastatic potentials. Highly metastatic cells growing in culture constitutively and uniformly expressed higher levels of bFGF, IL-8, type IV collagenase, and mdr-1 mRNA transcripts than parental PC-3M cells or low metastatic cells, which displayed a heterogeneous pattern of gene expression. Human prostate cancer cells implanted in nude mice at an ectopic site (subcutaneous) expressed lower levels of EGFR, mdr-1, bFGF, IL-8, and collagenase type IV than those implanted in an orthotopic site (prostate), indicating that the expression of these genes was dependent on the organ environment. Highly metastatic cells growing in the prostate expressed higher levels of EGFR, bFGF, type IV collagenase, and mdr-1 mRNA than low metastatic parental cells in the same site. These data demonstrate a direct correlation between the expression of several metastasis-related genes and the metastatic potential of human prostate cancer cells in nude mice and suggest that multiparametric in situ hybridization analyses can be used to identify the metastatic potential of individual patients' prostate cancers.

The efficacy and complications of salvage cryotherapy of the prostate

PURPOSE

A phase I/II study was done to evaluate the efficacy and complications of salvage cryotherapy as a treatment for locally recurrent prostate cancer following full dose radiation therapy and/or systemic therapy. The efficacy of single and double freeze-thaw cycles was compared using posttreatment prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and prostate biopsies as end points.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 150 patients with locally recurrent prostate cancer following radiation, hormonal therapy and/or systemic chemotherapy underwent salvage cryotherapy using a single (71 men, mean followup 17.3 months) or double (79 men, mean followup 10.0 months) freeze-thaw cycle. PSA was measured approximately every 3 months postoperatively and sextant biopsies were repeated 6 months postoperatively. Complications were assessed by retrospective chart review and a mailed quality of life survey.

RESULTS

Overall, 45 patients (31%) had persistently undetectable PSA. Patients with a history of radiation therapy only who underwent a double freeze-thaw cycle had a higher negative biopsy rate (93 versus 71%, p < 0.02) and lower biochemical failure rate (defined as an increase in serum PSA of 0.2 ng./ml. above the nadir value, 44 versus 65%, p < 0.03) than those who underwent a single freeze-thaw cycle. The main complications of salvage cryotherapy were urinary incontinence (73% of the patients), obstructive symptoms (67%), impotence (72%) and severe perineal pain (8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Salvage cryotherapy impacts local tumor control as evident by the high frequency of negative posttreatment biopsies. A double freeze-thaw cycle appears more effective than a single cycle. Like salvage prostatectomy, salvage cryotherapy causes significant morbidity.

Apoptosis resistance increases with metastatic potential in cells of the human LNCaP prostate carcinoma line

The aim of this study was to determine whether stable differences in apoptosis sensitivity were selected for in nonmetastatic and metastatic variants of the LNCaP human prostate carcinoma line that had been isolated from tumors grown orthotopically in the prostate glands and regional lymph nodes of nude mice. The nonmetastatic LNCaP-Pro5 cells were significantly more sensitive to thapsigargin-induced apoptosis than were the metastatic LNCaP-LN3 cells, as measured by viability, DNA fragmentation, and interleukin 1beta-converting enzyme family-mediated cleavage of the DNA repair enzyme, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Apoptosis resistance in the metastatic cells was associated with higher levels of expression of the cell death suppressor BCL-2 and lower levels of the death promoters BAX and BAK than were detected in the nonmetastatic LNCaP-Pro5 cells, whereas levels of two other BCL-2 family members (BCL-X(L) and BAD) were indistinguishable. Our data support the hypothesis that apoptosis resistance contributes to prostate cancer metastasis and that elevated expression of BCL-2 is involved.

Selection of highly metastatic variants of different human prostatic carcinomas using orthotopic implantation in nude mice

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the implantation of human prostate cancer cells into the prostates of nude mice and their subsequent growth there can be used to select variants with increasing metastatic potential. PC-3M and LNCaP cells were injected into the prostates of athymic mice. Tumors from the prostate or lymph nodes were harvested, and cells were reinjected into the prostate. This cycle was repeated three to five times to yield cell lines PC-3M-Pro4, PC-3M-LN4, LNCaP-Pro3-5, and LNCaP-LN3-4. Parental and variant cells were injected into the prostates of nude mice. PC-3M-LN4 cells produced enhanced regional lymph node and distant organ metastasis as compared to PC-3M-Pro4 or PC-3M cells. After i.v. or intracardiac inoculation, PC-3M-LN4 cells produced a higher incidence of lung metastasis and bone metastasis, respectively, than PC-3M or PC-3M-Pro4 cells. Subsequent to implantation into the prostate, LNCaP-LN3 cells produced a higher incidence of regional lymph node metastases than LNCaP-Pro5 or LNCaP cells. After intrasplenic implantation, LNCaP-LN3 cells also yielded experimental liver metastases. The metastatic LNCaP-LN3 cells exhibited clonal karyotypic abnormalities, were less sensitive to androgen (in vitro and in vivo), and produced high levels of prostate-specific antigen. Collectively, the data show that the orthotopic implantation of human prostate cancer cell lines in nude mice is a relevant model with which to study the biology of prostate cancer metastasis and to select variant cell lines with enhanced metastatic potential.

Sentinel lymph node dissection for penile carcinoma: the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience

PURPOSE

We determined whether an extended sentinel lymph node dissection is effective for staging penile squamous carcinoma associated with clinically negative inguinal lymph nodes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was done of 20 consecutive patients who underwent extended sentinel lymph node dissection between 1985 and 1994.

RESULTS

Of the patients 14 underwent bilateral extended sentinel lymph node dissection, and 6 underwent ipsilateral extended sentinel lymph node dissection plus contralateral inguinal or ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy. All lymph nodes included in the extended sentinel node dissection were negative for metastases. Five patients had inguinal metastases at a median of 10 months (range 3 to 21) after negative extended sentinel lymph node dissection.

CONCLUSIONS

Although it is a more extensive procedure than sentinel lymph node biopsy, extended sentinel lymph node dissection is still associated with a significant false-negative rate (25%). Thus, its routine use can no longer be recommended.

Allogeneic lymphocyte stimulation by human spleen. Identification of cells that are very effective for presenting class II HLA antigens

Human spleen cells were fractionated by percoll density gradient centrifugation and by sorting in the FACS with mixtures of fluorescent antibodies against T cells, B cells, monocytes, and Sig-bearing cells. Cells responsible for powerful MLR stimulation were class II HLA antigen-positive and were concentrated in preparations depleted of all the markers listed above. These cells represented 1-2% of the initial spleen cells. They were remarkably more active than other HLA class II antigen-positive cells. The procedure described allows rapid enrichment for the responsible cells. It should be useful for further characterization of these cells and for performing studies on their function.

Kidney transplant recipients with long incubation-positive antiglobulin-negative T cell crossmatches

Low-affinity, cold-reactive antibodies easily removed by washing were not detected by the antiglobulin technique but killed T lymphocytes when washing was omitted, incubation was prolonged, and cytotoxic tests were incubated at room temperature or at 4 degrees C. These antibodies were present in approximately 25% of sera from dialysis patients. Only a subset of such sera (22%) reacted with autologous lymphocytes. The majority (86%) appeared to detect non-HLA antigens. A small number (14%) detected class I HLA antigens. Two patients transplanted with antiglobulin-negative, T-warm-negative crossmatch results, but positive cytotoxicity after a 2-hr incubation without washing, rapidly lost their grafts (less than 1 month) due to rejection. Their sera contained antibodies against non-HLA alloantigens expressed on lymphocytes and platelets, but not on granulocytes or erythrocytes. Two other patients with positive autoantibody tests exhibiting similar crossmatches with the current serum were transplanted recently. Both of them retain their grafts with good function at one month. In two other cases, the recipients were unreactive against the donor in current serum but displayed an antiglobulin-negative, 2-hr cytotoxicity-positive pattern in a previously drawn serum specimen. One patient continues to have stable renal function after 10 months. The other patient lost the transplant as a result of renal artery thrombus thought not to be immunologic in origin. Work is continuing to define the specificity and determine the clinical relevance of such cold-reactive antibodies.