Intrinsic tumor resistance to CAR T cells is a dynamic transcriptional state that is exploitable with low-dose radiation.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a major advancement for hematologic malignancies, with some patients achieving long-term remission. However, the majority of treated patients still die of their disease. A consistent predictor of response is tumor quantity, wherein a higher disease burden before CAR T-cell therapy portends a worse prognosis.

F-FDG PET/CT total lesion glycolysis is associated with circulating tumor cell counts in patients with stage I to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-FDG) uptake determined by PET and presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood independently predict outcomes. For F-FDG PET/CT staging interpretation, standardized uptake values (SUV) are routinely used in clinical reporting. The goal was to investigate whether F-FDG uptake measured by SUV, but also measures of metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) (MTV × SUV), are associated with CTCs.

Differences in left and right laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Background And Objectives: The classic belief is that right-sided laparoscopic adrenalectomy is technically more difficult to perform than left-sided. The purpose of this study was to determine whether objective outcomes are different for the right- versus left- sided operation.

Methods: A retrospective review of 163 laparoscopic adrenalectomies was performed to compare outcomes.

Early development of castrate resistance varies with different dosing regimens of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist in primary hormonal therapy for prostate cancer.

Objectives: Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy is one of the mainstays of prostate cancer treatment. Three dosing regimens currently exist: calendar-based, intermittent, and a testosterone (T)-based (T-based) regimen. We investigated the differences in development of early castrate resistance rates between these different regimens.

Impact of robotic training on surgical and pathologic outcomes during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Objectives: To prospectively compare outcomes during robotic prostatectomy between surgeons with formal training in either robotic prostatectomy (RALP) or laparoscopic prostatectomy (LRP).

Methods: A total of 286 robotic prostatectomies were performed by 12 urologists between August 2008 and March 2009 as part of a new robotic surgery program at one of the largest health maintenance organizations in the United States. Four surgeons had formal training in RALP and 8 had formal training in LRP.

Rapid implementation of a robot-assisted prostatectomy program in a large health maintenance organization setting.

Purpose: We present the rapid implementation of a robot-assisted surgery program by one of the largest health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in the United States.

Materials And Methods: A core group of 10 urologists were offered access to a new da Vinci S surgical system. A core group of five ancillary staff was assembled and trained at an Intuitive Surgical-designated training site.

The poppy seed test for colovesical fistula: big bang, little bucks!

Purpose: Diagnosis of a colovesical fistula is often challenging, and usually involves numerous invasive and expensive tests and procedures. The poppy seed test stands out as an exception to this rule. We evaluated the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of various established diagnostic tests used to evaluate a suspected colovesical fistula.

Scrotal reconstruction using rapid intraoperative tissue expansion: a preliminary report.

Purpose: Extensive scrotal skin loss can pose a difficult management problem. In most cases delayed scrotal approximation is feasible due to the redundancy of scrotal skin. However, large defects usually require reconstruction using flaps or grafts.

Impact of positive surgical margins in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy for renal cortical tumours.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome of patients undergoing partial nephrectomy (PN) for renal cortical tumours who had a positive surgical margin (SM), as recent studies have shown that a minimal SM is required to achieve equivalent disease-free survival (DFS).

Patients And Methods: Between 1989 and 2005, 777 PNs were performed at the authors' institution. Clinical and pathology data were obtained from our prospective surgical database after obtaining institutional review board approval.

Cavernous hemangioma of tunica albuginea testis manifesting as testicular pain.

Cavernous hemangioma of the tunica albuginea of the testis is very rare; only 2 cases have been reported in published studies. Both cases presented as testicular masses. We report what we believe to be the third case of cavernous hemangioma of the tunica albuginea that manifested as pain without any mass.

Radical prostatectomy in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Objective: To present the complications and early outcomes in a small series of men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer, and to review reports on surgery in HIV-positive patients.

Patients And Methods: During 2002-2005, seven men infected with HIV underwent RP at our institution. For the five patients whose HIV status was known before surgery, we retrospectively examined preoperative variables, including HIV-specific data (clinical category, CD4+ lymphocyte count, viral load, duration of HIV diagnosis, and opportunistic infections), and the complications and early outcomes after RP.