Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of urinary extracellular vesicle mRNA markers in urothelial bladder cancer patients.

We designed this multi-center prospective study with the following objectives: (1) the cross-sectional validation of extracellular vesicles (EV) mRNA markers to detect urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) before transurethral resection of bladder cancer (TURBT), and (2) the longitudinal validation of EV mRNA markers to monitor non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) recurrence after TURBT. EV mRNA markers evaluated in this study were KRT17, GPRC5A, and SLC2A1 in addition to two additional markers from literatures, MDK and CXCR2, and measured by quantitative RT-PCR with normalization by a reference gene (ALDOB). Diagnostic performances of EV mRNA markers were compared to conventional markers.

Late recurrence in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer after 5-year cancer-free periods.

Objectives: There is no consensus about the follow-up schedule after 5-year cancer-free periods. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the risk factors for the recurrence in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who remained cancer free for more than 5 years.

Methods: Data from six Japanese institutions were retrospectively reviewed.

Identifying Early Predictive Markers for Immune-Related Adverse Events in Nivolumab-Treated Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma and Gastric Cancer.

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) ratios can indicate poor disease prognosis and are inflammation markers. We investigated the role of NLR and PLR as effective predictive markers of immune-related adverse event (irAE) onset in patients treated with nivolumab.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 73 gastric and renal cancer patients treated with nivolumab at the Hokkaido Cancer Centre from January 2017 to June 2020.

Efficacy of nivolumab plus ipilimumab as first-line therapy for primary tumors in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Objectives: With the emergence of several effective combination therapies, information on their effects at the primary site will be crucial for planning future cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN). The present study focused exclusively on changes in primary tumor sizes following treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab and investigated the clinical factors associated with a good response in primary tumors.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively assessed 27 patients diagnosed with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who started treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab.

Comparison of Health-Related Quality of Life Between Japanese and American Patients with Bladder Cancer as Measured by a Newly Developed Japanese Version of the Bladder Cancer Index.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to characterize health related quality of life (HRQOL) in Japanese patients after bladder cancer surgery and to perform cross-cultural comparison between Japanese and American patients.

Methods: Firstly, we cross-sectionally assessed HRQOL of 371 patients in Japan using the Bladder Cancer Index (BCI-Japanese). HRQOL of the four groups of patients (native bladder without intravesical therapy, native bladder with intravesicaltherapy, cystectomy with ileal conduit, and cystectomy with neobladder) were assessed.

Health-related quality of life in Japanese patients with bladder cancer measured by a newly developed Japanese version of the Bladder Cancer Index.

Introduction: We validated a Japanese version of the Bladder Cancer Index (BCI) as a tool for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in bladder cancer patients treated with various surgical procedures.

Methods: The reliability and validity of the Japanese BCI were examined in 397 Japanese patients with bladder cancer via cross-sectional analysis. The patients simultaneously completed the Short Form (SF)-12, EQ-5D, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General and Bladder (FACT-G and FACT-BL).

Metastases of soft tissue sarcoma to the liver: A Historical Cohort Study from a Hospital-based Cancer Registry.

Background: Hepatic metastasis of soft tissue sarcoma is rare compared to lung metastasis, and the literature is scarce. We examined the risk of hepatic metastasis according to the site of occurrence and histological type.

Methods: From a Hospital-based Cancer Registry, 658 patients registered between 2007 and 2017 with soft tissue sarcomas were evaluated.

Chemotherapy-Induced IL8 Upregulates MDR1/ABCB1 in Tumor Blood Vessels and Results in Unfavorable Outcome.

Tumor endothelial cells (TEC) lining tumor blood vessels actively contribute to tumor progression and metastasis. In addition to tumor cells, TEC may develop drug resistance during cancer treatment, allowing the tumor cells to survive chemotherapy and metastasize. We previously reported that TECs resist paclitaxel treatment via upregulation of ABCB1.

Oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy in conjunction with template-based lymph node dissection: An extended follow-up study.

Objectives: This study investigated the relapse pattern and oncologic outcomes after laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with template-based lymph node dissection (LND) in patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. The frequency of lymph node metastasis, including micrometastases, was also evaluated.

Methods And Materials: A total of 105 patients with cTa-3N0M0 upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma were analyzed, all of whom underwent regional LND during laparoscopic nephroureterectomy.

Possibility for Dose Optimization of Pazopanib from Its Plasma Concentration in Japanese Patients with Cancer.

The currently approved dose of pazopanib (800 mg) is being re-examined owing to its adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships among starting or maintenance doses of pazopanib, estimated pazopanib C, and other clinical factors, including albumin and α-1 acid glycoprotein levels, in soft-tissue sarcoma and renal cell carcinoma. We also determined whether therapeutic drug monitoring of pazopanib concentrations may be used to improve its therapeutic efficacy and prevent adverse effects.

Cost comparison between open radical cystectomy, laparoscopic radical cystectomy, and robot-assisted radical cystectomy for patients with bladder cancer: a systematic review of segmental costs.

Background: Robot-assisted radical cystectomy is becoming a common treatment for bladder carcinoma. However, in comparison with open radical cystectomy, its cost-effectiveness has not been confirmed. Although few published reviews have compared total costs between the two surgical procedures, no study has compared segmental costs and explained their impact on total costs.

Prognostic impact of local radiotherapy on metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients receiving systemic chemotherapy.

Objective: To clarify the prognostic impact of local radiotherapy on metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients treated by systemic chemotherapy.

Methods: Of the 228 metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients treated with systemic chemotherapy, 97 received radiotherapy mainly to metastatic sites. In patients for whom the purpose of radiotherapy was not specified, more than 50 Gy irradiation was considered to be for disease consolidation for survival analysis, while less than 50 Gy was categorized as palliation.

Comparative study of lymph node dissection, and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic and open radical nephroureterectomy for patients with urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract undergoing regional lymph node dissection.

Objective: To assess the number of lymph nodes removed as a surrogate marker of the extent of lymph node dissection, and compare survival outcomes between laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LRNU) and open radical nephroureterectomy (ORNU) in patients undergoing standardized lymph node dissection.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 214 cTanyN0M0 patients undergoing radical NU with regional lymph node dissection according to the tumor location. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox hazards model were utilized for survival analyses, including recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS).

Outcome and prognostic factors in metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients receiving second-line chemotherapy: an analysis of real-world clinical practice data in Japan.

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to investigate the survival outcome and prognostic factors of metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients treated with second-line systemic chemotherapy in real-world clinical practice.

Methods: Overall, 114 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma undergoing second-line systemic chemotherapy were included in this retrospective analysis. The dominant second-line chemotherapy was a paclitaxel-based combination regimen (60%, 68/114).

The usefulness of testosterone administration in identifying false-positive elevation of serum human chorionic gonadotropin in patients with germ cell tumor.

Objective: The pituitary production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can cause false-positive results during or after germ cell tumor (GCT) treatment. Because hypogonadism leads to pituitary hCG production, testosterone administration test (TAT) has been recommended for pituitary hCG diagnosis. However, little is known about its efficacy for the discrimination of pituitary hCG as detected by currently used hCG assays in treatment of GCT.

Outcome of metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated by systemic chemotherapy: Prognostic factors based on real-world clinical practice in Japan.

Aim: To clarify prognostic factors of metatstatic urothelial carcinoma treated by systemic chemotherapy in real-world clinical practice in the Japanese population.

Materials And Methods: A total of 228 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma undergoing systemic chemotherapy between 2000 and 2013 were included in the present multi-institutional study. The gemcitabine plus cisplatin regimen was administered as first-line chemotherapy to 131 patients, whereas methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin or its modified regimen was given to 71 patients.

Voided urine cytology and low-grade urothelial neoplasia of the bladder: factors that influence the sensitivity.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to show the 10-year results of voided urine cytology (VUC) performed using liquid-based cytology (LBC) with CytoRich Red and to discuss the factors that influence the sensitivity of low-grade urothelial neoplasia (LGUN) of the urinary bladder.

Materials And Method: We calculated the sensitivity of VUC in 421 histologically confirmed cases included in the pathology database of Hokkaido Cancer Center in Japan and studied various factors influencing sensitivity.

Results: The cumulative sensitivity of VUC was 95.

Diagnostic outcome of ureteroscopy in urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: Incidence of later cancer detection and its risk factors after the first examination.

Background: To determine the incidence of later cancer detection and its risk factors after the first diagnostic ureteroscopy.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-six patients undergoing diagnostic ureteroscopy based on the suspicion of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UC of the UUT) between 1995 and 2012 were included. We examined the diagnostic outcome of the initial ureteroscopy.