Expression and prognostic significance of VEGF and mTOR pathway proteins in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients: a prognostic immunohistochemical profile for kidney cancer patients.

Purpose: To identify prognostic molecular profiles in patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib, we performed immunohistochemical analysis for VEGF and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway components.

Methods: The immunohistochemical expression of VEGF, p85α, p110γ, PTEN, p-Akt, p-mTOR, p-4E-BP1 and p-p70S6K was studied in 79 patients with mRCC who received first-line treatment with sunitinib. Expression was correlated with clinicopathological features and survival.

Laparoscopic radical and partial nephrectomy: technical issues and outcome.

The laparoscopic approach has been established as a treatment modality for the performance of radical nephrectomy during the recent years, while laparoscopic partial nephrectomy represents an alternative under investigation in several centers of laparoscopic excellence around the world. Significant advantages of laparoscopic surgery when compared to the classical open approach have extensively documented for over 2 decades. Nevertheless, laparoscopy is an evolving surgical field, which is characterized by the rapid adaptation of technical innovations.

Ureteral obstruction: is the full metallic double-pigtail stent the way to go?

Background: The Resonance metallic ureteral stent (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Indiana, USA) has been introduced for the management of extrinsic-etiology ureteral obstruction for time periods up to 12 mo.

Objective: The current study aims to determine short- and medium-term effectiveness of the Resonance stent in malignant and benign ureteral obstruction.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In total, 50 patients with extrinsic malignant obstruction (n=25), benign ureteral obstruction (n=18), and previously obstructed mesh metal stents (n=7) were prospectively evaluated.

Viscoelastic property mapping along encrusted polymeric urinary catheters.

Purpose: Mapping of the material viscoelastic property variation along the length axis of polymeric stents.

Materials And Methods: Five pigtail ureteral stents and five percutaneous stents placed in vivo for different periods were studied. Viscoelastic property changes along the length of polymeric stents were measured using the dynamic mechanical analysis technique.

A solitary fibrous tumor of the kidney in a 26-year-old man.

Background: Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare spindle cell neoplasms that typically arise in the pleura. There are several reports of cases that arose from a variety of sites. SFT of the kidney is rare and, to our knowledge, only 25 cases have been published in the literature to date.

Combination of LHRH analog with somatostatin analog and dexamethasone versus chemotherapy in hormone-refractory prostate cancer: a randomized phase II study.

Objectives: To evaluate prospectively the combination of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog with a somatostatin analog and dexamethasone in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) in a randomized Phase II study. HRPC presents a challenging therapeutic problem. Salvage chemotherapy is the usual approach at this stage of the disease.