Genetic Loss of miR-205 Causes Increased Mammary Gland Development.

MiRNAs play crucial roles in a broad spectrum of biological processes, both physiological and pathological. Different reports implicate miR-205 in the control of breast stem cell properties. Differential miR-205 expression has been observed in different stages of mammary gland development and maturation.

The impact of the early COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare system resource use and costs in two provinces in Canada: An interrupted time series analysis.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to assess the initial impact of COVID-19 on total publicly-funded direct healthcare costs and health services use in two Canadian provinces, Ontario and British Columbia (BC).

Methods: This retrospective repeated cross-sectional study used population-based administrative datasets, linked within each province, from January 1, 2018 to December 27, 2020. Interrupted time series analysis was used to estimate changes in the level and trends of weekly resource use and costs, with March 16-22, 2020 as the first pandemic week.

Cost of Bladder Cancer Care: A Single-center Comparison of Radical Cystectomy and Trimodal Therapy.

Introduction: Radical cystectomy and trimodal therapy are both accepted options in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. As such, we sought to evaluate the micro-level costs associated with both modalities.

Methods: All patients undergoing trimodal therapy or radical cystectomy for primary treatment of urothelial muscle-invasive bladder cancer at a single academic center between 2008 and 2012 were included.

A Matched Analysis of Active Surveillance Versus Nephrectomy for T1a Small Renal Masses.

While patients with a small renal mass (SRM) on active surveillance (AS) experience excellent metastasis-free survival (MFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS), differences in overall survival (OS) observed may be explained by selection of older/comorbid patients for AS. Few studies have evaluated AS versus primary intervention in clinically balanced groups. We identified patients aged 55-75 yr with an SRM (≤4 cm, T1a) in our institutional database (2000-2020).

Low-volume grade group 2 prostate cancer candidates for active surveillance: a radical prostatectomy retrospective analysis.

Objective: Guidelines support considering selected men with ISUP grade group (GG) 2 prostate cancer for active surveillance (AS). We assessed the association of clinical variables with unfavorable pathology at radical prostatectomy in low-volume GG 2 prostate cancer on biopsy in a retrospective cohort.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 378 men with low-volume (≤ 2 cores) GG 2 localized prostate cancer who underwent prostatectomy at a single tertiary cancer center.

Initial health care costs for COVID-19 in British Columbia and Ontario, Canada: an interprovincial population-based cohort study.

Background: COVID-19 imposed substantial health and economic burdens. Comprehensive population-based estimates of health care costs for COVID-19 are essential for planning and policy evaluation. We estimated publicly funded health care costs in 2 Canadian provinces during the pandemic's first wave.

Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: Prescribing behaviors and preferences among urologists.

Introduction: Several androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) medications are available for treating advanced prostate cancer with roughly equivalent oncological efficacy and tolerability. We investigated the proportion of physicians who predominantly prescribe one type of ADT drug ("mono-prescriber") and assessed characteristics associated with prescription behavior.

Methods: Ontario men aged ≥65 years who were diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer (1997-2017) and initiated ADT thereafter for ≥3 consecutive months were identified using population-level administrative data.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy to Prevent Surgical Site Infection After Elective Colorectal Surgery.

Background: Surgical site infection is common after colorectal surgery and is associated with increased costs. Prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy has previously been shown to reduce surgical site infection compared with conventional dressings. However, negative pressure wound therapy application is met with hesitancy because of its additional cost.

Trimodal therapy vs. radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A Markov microsimulation model.

Introduction: Radical cystectomy (RC) is the historic gold standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), but trimodal therapy (TMT) has emerged as a valid therapeutic option for select patients. Given that prospective clinical trials have been difficult to perform in this area, our aim was to compare these two primary treatment strategies using decision analytic methods.

Method: A two-dimensional Markov microsimulation model was constructed using TreeAge Pro to compare RC and TMT for patients with newly diagnosed MIBC.

Treatment on active surveillance of small renal masses: Progression vs. preference.

Introduction: Active surveillance (AS) of small renal masses (SRM) is increasingly recognized as a safe option. A recent U.S.

A Population-based Study Comparing Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer Treated by Urologists or Medical Oncologists With First Line Abiraterone Acetate or Enzalutamide.

Objectives: To compare toxicity and all-cause mortality for mCRPC patients receiving first line oral systemic therapy prescribed by medical oncologists and urologists.

Methods: Population-based retrospective cohort study of chemotherapy-naïve men aged ≥66 years treated for mCRPC with first-line abiraterone or enzalutamide based on administrative health data (Ontario, Canada, 2012-2017). Primary outcomes were hospitalizations/ER visits for any cause or treatment-related toxicity during first-line mCRPC treatment.

A narrative review of pelvic lymph node dissection in prostate cancer.

Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is an important component in the staging and prognostication of prostate cancer. We performed a narrative review to assess the literature surrounding PLND: (I) the current guideline recommendations and contemporary utilization, (II) the calculation of patient-specific risk to perform PLND using available nomograms, (III) to review the extent of dissection, and its associated outcomes and complications. Due to the improved lymph node yield, better staging, and theoretical improvement in the control of micro-metastatic disease, guidelines have supported the use of (extended-) PLND in patients deemed to be at intermediate or high risk of lymph node involvement (often at a threshold of 5% on modern risk nomograms).

Neoadjuvant Versus Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Microsimulation Model.

Background: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is clinically understudied, and there are no definitive recommendations regarding timing of perioperative chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to compare 3 treatment pathways in UTUC: nephroureterectomy (NU) alone, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) using a microsimulation model.

Patients And Methods: An individual-level state transition model was constructed using TreeAgePro software to compare treatment strategies for patients with newly diagnosed UTUC.

Assessing the Necessity of Routine Crossmatching for Blood Transfusion in Renal Transplantation.

Introduction: Routine crossmatch of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) is completed preoperatively at many centers despite conflicting evidence on the incidence of blood transfusions with renal transplantation. In the current economic climate, resource adjudication should be judicious and medically appropriate. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, timing, and predictors of early postoperative pRBC transfusion in patients undergoing renal transplantation.

Small Renal Mass Surveillance: Histology-specific Growth Rates in a Biopsy-characterized Cohort.

Background: Most reports of active surveillance (AS) of small renal masses (SRMs) lack biopsy confirmation, and therefore include benign tumors and different subtypes of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Objective: We compared the growth rates and progression of different histologic subtypes of RCC SRMs (SRM) in the largest cohort of patients with biopsy-characterized SRMs on AS.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Data from patients in a multicenter Canadian trial and a Princess Margaret cohort were combined to include 136 biopsy-proven SRM lesions managed by AS, with treatment deferred until progression or patient/surgeon decision.

Canadian Update on Surgical Procedures (CUSP) Urology Group consensus for intraoperative hemostasis during minimally invasive partial nephrectomy.

Introduction: Partial nephrectomy remains the gold standard in the management of small renal masses. However, minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN) is associated with a steep learning curve, and optimal, standardized techniques for time-efficient hemostasis are poorly described. Given the relative lack of evidence, the goal was to describe a set of actionable guiding principles, through an expert working panel, for urologists to approach hemostasis without compromising warm ischemia or oncological outcomes.

Abiraterone vs. docetaxel for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: A microsimulation model.

Introduction: Our aim was to determine whether androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with abiraterone acetate (AA) or ADT with docetaxel chemotherapy (DC) resulted in improved quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) among men with de novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) and the cost effectiveness of the preferred strategy using decision analytic techniques.

Methods: A microsimulation model with a lifetime time horizon was constructed. Our primary outcome was QALYs.

Fhit-Fdxr interaction in the mitochondria: modulation of reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis in cancer cells.

Fhit protein is lost in cancers of most, perhaps all, cancer types; when restored, it can induce apoptosis and suppress tumorigenicity, as shown in vitro and in mouse tumor models in vivo. Following protein cross-linking and proteomics analyses, we characterized a Fhit protein complex involved in triggering Fhit-mediated apoptosis. The complex includes the heat-shock chaperonin pair, HSP60/10, which is likely involved in importing Fhit into the mitochondria, where it interacts with ferredoxin reductase, responsible for transferring electrons from NADPH to cytochrome P450 via ferredoxin, in electron transport chain complex III.

Are there differences between de novo and secondary upper tract urothelial carcinoma tumours?

Introduction: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) accounts for <5% of all urothelial cancers. We aimed to ascertain the clinical differences between UTUC tumours presenting de novo (DnUTUC) and those presenting secondary (SUTUC) following a bladder cancer diagnosis.

Methods: Our institutional database was queried for all UTUC patients who were surgically treated with radical nephroureterectomy or ureterectomy between 2003 and 2017.

miRNAs in bone metastasis.

Bone metastasis is one of the most common forms of metastasis from a number of different primary carcinomas. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, endogenous RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression to control essential pathways, including those involved in bone organogenesis and homeostasis. As these pathways are often hijacked during bone metastasis, it is not surprising that miRNAs can also influence bone metastasis formation.

A narrative review and update on management following negative prostate biopsy.

Purpose Of Review: Prostate cancer has traditionally been diagnosed using systematic transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. However, given the inherent nature of sampling, a negative biopsy does not exclude clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), and continued controversy exists in the optimal management following initial biopsy. Numerous avenues for evaluation include multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), use of molecular biomarkers, repeat biopsy, and observation.

Circulating miR-106b-3p, miR-101-3p and miR-1246 as diagnostic biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and second leading cause of cancer related death worldwide. Most HCCs occur in a damaged cirrhotic background and it may be difficult to discriminate between regenerative nodules and early HCCs. No dependable molecular biomarker exists for the early detection of HCC.