Effect of different optimization parameters in single isocenter multiple brain metastases radiosurgery.

Purpose: Automated treatment planning for multiple brain metastases differs from traditional planning approaches. It is therefore helpful to understand which parameters for optimization are available and how they affect the plan quality. This study aims to provide a reference for designing multi-metastases treatment plans and to define quality endpoints for benchmarking the technique from a scientific perspective.

Long-term quality of life of testicular cancer survivors differs according to applied adjuvant treatment and tumour type.

Purpose: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in long-term testicular cancer (TC) survivors.

Methods: QoL was assessed in TC survivors treated between March 1976 and December 2004 (n = 625) using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire, including a TC module. The assessment was performed at two time points (2006: response rate: n = 201/625 (32.

Potential for optimizing the perioperative care in robotic prostatectomy patients by adoption of enhanced recovery after surgery principles.

Several benefits have been reported after applying the principles of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) into the perioperative care of patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Nevertheless, there are still barriers. We aimed to identify the key areas by systematically surveying urology departments in Germany and Austria.

Robot-assisted versus open radical cystectomy: A cohort study on perioperative outcomes accounting for stage selection bias and surgical experience.

Background: Most comparisons of robot-assisted (RARC) versus open radical cystectomy (ORC) for urothelial carcinoma do not factor the inherent stage selection bias or surgical experience.

Methods: We compared the perioperative outcomes of 229 RARC and 335 ORC at a single tertiary referral centre with propensity score matching and multiple regression models, when controlling for tumour and patient characteristics, surgeon's experience and type of urinary diversion.

Results: RARC had less major complications (19.

Robotic Salvage Lymph Node Dissection in Recurrent Prostate Cancer: Lessons Learned from 68 Cases and Implications for Future Clinical Management.

Purpose: Salvage lymph node dissection is a rescue treatment for patients with nodal recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Very limited data are available on robotic salvage lymph node dissection. Our purpose was to investigate perioperative and oncological outcomes of robotic salvage lymph node dissection in a large monocentric series.

PROPOSe: A Real-life Prospective Study of Proclarix, a Novel Blood-based Test to Support Challenging Biopsy Decision-making in Prostate Cancer.

Background: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based detection of prostate cancer (PCa) often leads to negative biopsy results or detection of clinically insignificant PCa, more frequently in the PSA range of 2-10 ng/ml, in men with increased prostate volume and normal digital rectal examination (DRE).

Objective: This study evaluated the accuracy of Proclarix, a novel blood-based diagnostic test, to help in biopsy decision-making in this challenging patient population.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Ten clinical sites prospectively enrolled 457 men presenting for prostate biopsy with PSA between 2 and 10 ng/ml, normal DRE, and prostate volume ≥35 cm.

New insights in the paradigm of upregulation of tumoral PSMA expression by androgen receptor blockade: Enzalutamide induces PSMA upregulation in castration-resistant prostate cancer even in patients having previously progressed on enzalutamide.

Purpose: There is preliminary evidence for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) upregulation effects of androgen receptor blockade in prostate cancer. In an attempt to find the best condition for PSMA radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients, we evaluated the effect of oral enzalutamide in patients, predominantly having previously progressed on enzalutamide treatment.

Methods: Ten patients with advanced mCRPC scheduled for PSMA radioligand therapy were examined with Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT before and after a mean of 11.

Radical prostatectomy in T4 prostate cancer after inductive androgen deprivation: results of a single-institution series with long-term follow-up.

Objectives: To determine the outcomes of complete surgical resection of T4 prostate cancer after inductive androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), as inductive ADT and subsequent radical prostatectomy (RP) is not recommended by any guideline yet.

Patients And Methods: A monocentric RP database was queried for patients initially diagnosed with T4 prostate cancer, considered primarily as inoperable because of a fixed mass defined by rectal examination in combination with high PSA level and/or large foci of biopsy confirmed undifferentiated prostate cancer. Treatment consisted of primary ADT until PSA nadir with consecutive RP.

Lack of Effectiveness of Postchemotherapy Lymphadenectomy in Bladder Cancer Patients with Clinical Evidence of Metastatic Pelvic or Retroperitoneal Lymph Nodes Only: A Propensity Score-based Analysis.

Background: Limited data is available on the role, and extent of, postchemotherapy lymphadenectomy (PC-LND) in patients with clinical evidence of pelvic (cN1-3) or retroperitoneal (RP) lymph node spread from urothelial bladder carcinoma.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of operated versus nonoperated patients after first-line chemotherapy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Data from 34 centers was collected, totaling 522 patients, treated between January 2000 and June 2015.

Organ-Preserving Surgical Treatment of a Horseshoe Kidney Occupied by a Large Renal Cell Carcinoma with Extensive Venous Invasion: A Case Report.

The horseshoe kidney is one of the most common congenital disorders affecting the urogenital system. Following a fusion of the lower kidney poles, which in turn lead to the formation of an isthmus, this anatomical variation is accompanied by other characteristic properties like an incomplete ascension, ventral rotation of the pelvices as well as atypical vascular supply. Even though renal carcinoids and Wilms tumors are more common in horseshoe kidneys, the incidence of renal cell carcinomas seems to be unaffected.

Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Urothelial Cancer with Paclitaxel and Everolimus in a German Phase II Trial (AUO Trial AB 35/09).

Objective: The efficacy of second-line treatment after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced urothelial cancer is limited. Based on encouraging preclinical and clinical phase I data, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of the combination of paclitaxel and everolimus in these patients.

Methods: In this trial, patients having failed to respond to prior platinum-based combination treatment of urothelial cancer were treated with paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2) i.

MicroRNAs in renal cell carcinoma: diagnostic implications of serum miR-1233 levels.

Background: MicroRNA expression is altered in cancer cells, and microRNAs could serve as diagnostic/prognostic biomarker for cancer patients. Our study was designed to analyze circulating serum microRNAs in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methodology/principal Findings: We first explored microrna expression profiles in tissue and serum using taqman low density arrays in each six malignant and benign samples: Although 109 microRNAs were circulating at higher levels in cancer patients' serum, we identified only 36 microRNAs with up-regulation in RCC tissue and serum of RCC patients.

Anatomical extent of pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Objectives: The rationale for locoregional staging lymphadenectomy in prostate cancer (pCA) lies in the accurate diagnosis of occult micrometastases to stratify patients who might benefit from adjuvant therapeutic measures. In pCA, the issues of the necessity and the therapeutic advantage of pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND]) in patients with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk disease are still discussed controversially. The aim of this review manuscript is to critically evaluate the current status on PLND in pCA.

Application of thalidomide/interleukin-2 in immunochemotherapy-refractory metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Thalidomide has been reported to yield anti-tumor activity in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We evaluated safety and efficacy of a combination therapy comprising interleukin (IL)-2 and thalidomide in patients with metastatic RCC refractory to both immuno- and chemotherapy. Twelve patients with progressive metastatic RCC who had failed prior treatment with immunochemotherapy and desired further active therapy were enrolled in this study.

Ibandronate: its pharmacology and clinical efficacy in the management of tumor-induced hypercalcemia and metastatic bone disease.

It is well accepted that tumor cells in the bone, especially from breast cancer, prostate cancer and multiple myeloma, can stimulate osteoclast formation and activity. Bisphosphonates are potent inhibitors of osteoclast-mediated normal and pathologic bone resorption. Besides their apoptotic and antiproliferative activity on osteoclasts, bisphosphonates can also exert similar effects on macrophages and tumor cells.

Repeat retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in advanced testicular cancer.

Objectives: Repeat retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for the treatment of metastatic testicular cancer is an uncommonly performed procedure. We evaluated the location, pathohistological results, postoperative complications and therapeutic outcome in 17 patients being referred for repeat RPLND after failure of the primary retroperitoneal approach.

Patients And Methods: 18 patients underwent repeat RPLND after failed primary RPLND or residual tumour resection.

Ibandronate in metastatic bone pain.

Bone pain is a frequent complication of metastatic bone disease, with severe consequences for patient mobility and quality of life. Bisphosphonates can reduce bone pain and augment palliative radiotherapy, although relief is often for a relatively short period of time. Ibandronate is the first bisphosphonate to provide sustained bone pain relief over 2 years and, unlike other bisphosphonates, has shown improvements in quality of life.

Prospective randomized Phase II trial of pegylated doxorubicin in the management of symptomatic hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma.

Background: Liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin has been shown to reduce nonspecific delivery of this agent to normal tissue and to increase specific delivery to malignant cells. On the basis of doxorubicin's demonstrated clinical efficacy against hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma (HRPCA), the authors conducted a prospective, randomized Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the feasibility, toxicity, and therapeutic efficacy associated with the pegylated form of this agent.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with symptomatic HRPCA were randomized to receive pegylated liposomal doxorubicin at either 25 mg/m2 every 2 weeks for 12 cycles (Group A) or 50 mg/m2 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles (Group B).