Tumor-associated macrophages promote bladder cancer metastasis through the CCL20-CCR6 axis.

We investigated the mechanisms of interaction between bladder cancer (BC) cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Coculturing BC cell lines (UMUC3 and T24) with macrophage-like cells differentiated from THP-1 into M2-like TAMs revealed a decrease in Cluster of Differentiation (CD) 68 expression and an increase in CD206 expression. This differentiation enhanced BC cell migration and invasion.

Microsatellite Instability-High and High Tumor Mutation Burden Frequencies in Urologic Malignancies Off-Label for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Japan: A Retrospective Single-Institutional Cohort.

Objectives Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) and high tumor mutation burden (TMB-high) frequencies were investigated to determine the efficacy and adverse events of pembrolizumab in patients with urologic malignancies (or their equivalents) for which immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are not covered by Japanese insurance. Methods Between February 2019 and April 2024, patients with urologic malignancies (or their equivalents) treated in our department for whom ICIs were not approved by Japanese insurance were screened with an MSI companion diagnostic kit or comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP). The efficacy of pembrolizumab therapy, presence of adverse events, and outcomes were evaluated retrospectively in patients with MSI-H or TMB-high.

Salvage Androgen Deprivation Therapy as Potential Treatment for Recurrence after Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

Background: The efficacy of intermittent androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for biochemical recurrence (BCR) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is unknown, and its usefulness in Japanese practice needs to be investigated.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 85 patients who underwent RARP and were selected for intermittent ADT for postoperative recurrence at Kanazawa University Hospital between 2009 and 2019. Intermittent ADT was administered for 2 years.

A seed link connector protruding into the bladder formed a bladder stone.

Introduction: Low-dose-rate brachytherapy is performed for localized prostate cancer. We report the first case of a bladder stone encompassing the seed migrated into the bladder in a patient treated with low-dose-rate brachytherapy.

Case Presentation: A man was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent low-dose-rate brachytherapy.

Does the quality of endoscopic equipment influence the recurrence rate after photodynamic diagnosis-assisted transurethral resection of bladder tumor?

Background: Photodynamic diagnosis-assisted transurethral resection of bladder tumor (PDD-TURBT) for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer is superior to conventional white-light TURBT for cancer detection. However, when performing PDD-TURBT, cystoscopy findings vary depending on the quality of the endoscopic equipment. In this study, we compared the effects of different types of endoscopic equipment on postoperative outcomes.

Bone Turnover Markers, n-Terminal Propeptide of Type I Procollagen and Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase Type 5b, for Predicting Castration Resistance in Prostate Cancer.

Bone is a common site of prostate cancer metastasis. Bone turnover markers n-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase type 5b (TRACP-5b) are highly sensitive to bone remodeling activity. However, their prognostic significance as markers of prostate cancer is unknown.

Procalcitonin in advanced urological cancer-bacterial versus non-bacterial infections: prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Patients with advanced cancer may develop bacterial infections (BI) as their general condition worsens, but general blood tests often find it difficult to distinguish them from non-bacterial infections (NBI). The present prospective study was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of serum procalcitonin levels in distinguishing between BI and NBI in patients with advanced urological cancer.

Methods: This study prospectively evaluated patients diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic or recurrent urological cancer in our department from September 2013 to December 2019.

Does radical cystectomy have a better prognosis than bladder conservative treatment in the real world?

Purpose: To compare the prognosis and quality of life between radical cystectomy and bladder conservative treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer in the real world.

Materials And Methods: Patients treated for muscle invasive bladder cancer without metastases were retrospectively evaluated for overall survival, progression-free survival, and rehospitalization.

Results: Of the 141 patients, 62 underwent bladder conservative treatment and 79 underwent radical cystectomy.

Role of Positive Biopsy Core Ratio in Prostate Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: The percentage of positive cores (PPC) is increasingly recognized as a prognostic factor in prostate cancer. However, the usefulness of PPC for patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and high-risk group has not been adequately studied.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 255 patients who underwent prostate biopsy (all-case group).

Combination of Sarcopenia and Hypoalbuminemia Is a Poor Prognostic Factor in Surgically Treated Nonmetastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to observe how preoperative sarcopenia and hypoalbuminemia affect the oncological outcome of nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after partial or radical nephrectomy.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzes 288 Japanese patients with nonmetastatic RCC who underwent radical treatment at Kanazawa University Hospital between October 2007 and December 2018. Relationships between sarcopenia as indicated by the psoas muscle mass index and hypoalbuminemia (albumin ≤ 3.

The CCL2-CCR2 Axis Contributes to Migration of Cabazitaxel-resistant Prostate Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Developing resistance to cabazitaxel is a major challenge in patients with docetaxel- and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) since it is frequently administered as a last resort. We have previously reported that CCL2 induces resistance to the antiproliferative effect of cabazitaxel in DU145-TxR/CxR prostate cancer cell lines. However, how CCL2 induces resistance to the antimigration effect of cabazitaxel remains unclear.

Novel α-Trifluoromethyl Chalcone Exerts Antitumor Effects Against Prostate Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Despite treating advanced prostate cancer (PCa) with androgen deprivation therapy, it eventually progresses to castration-resistant PCa. Subsequently, taxanes are administered, but when PCa becomes resistant to taxanes, another treatment is needed, which has not yet been established. We previously synthesized a novel α-trifluoromethyl chalcone, YS71, and reported its antitumor effects against PCa cells.

Sarcopenia Is Associated With Aggressive Clinicopathological Outcomes and Is a Poor Prognostic Indicator for Non-metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: We aimed to describe the impact of preoperative sarcopenia on the oncological outcome of non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after surgical treatment.

Patients And Methods: Data on 299 Japanese patients with non-metastatic RCC who underwent radical treatment at Kanazawa University Hospital between October 2007 and December 2018 were extracted. Clinicopathological features and survival prognosis of patients stratified by the presence or absence of sarcopenia as indicated by the psoas muscle mass index (PMI) were retrospectively analyzed.

Intravesical BCG therapy with photodynamic diagnosis-guided transurethral resection of bladder tumors improves recurrence-free survival.

Background: Intravesical Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy has been reported to be effective in preventing recurrence and progression in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Furthermore, photodynamic diagnosis (PDD)-assisted transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) improves the accuracy of cancer diagnosis and contributes to lower recurrence rates. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether more tumor resection with PDD-TURBT rather than conventional TURBT before BCG therapy outweighs the benefit of BCG therapy alone.

Postoperative functional and cancer control evaluation of conventional and Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: Comparison of selected cases by propensity score matching.

Aim: Although many reports have shown that Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) is effective for postoperative urinary continence, the postoperative voiding status and sexual function associated with this technique have not yet been adequately compared with those associated with conventional RARP (C-RARP). In this study, the lower urinary tract function, erectile function, and cancer control after C-RARP and RS-RARP were compared chronologically.

Materials And Methods: We selected 50 cases of C-RARP and RS-RARP each by propensity score matching and evaluated them over time using various questionnaires.

Comparison of the Prognostic Value of Inflammatory and Nutritional Indices in Nonmetastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Several markers that reflect inflammation and nutritional status have been associated with oncological outcomes in many tumors. This study aimed to describe the impact of pretreatment inflammatory and nutritional indices on the oncological outcomes in nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A total of 213 Japanese patients with nonmetastatic RCC at Kanazawa University Hospital between October 2007 and December 2018 were included.

Contribution of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy to the mechanism of urinary continence as demonstrated by dynamic MRI.

Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has been reported to exhibit better postoperative urinary continence, but the reasons behind this are unknown. This study included 254 cases who underwent RARP and underwent postoperative dynamic MRI. We measured the urine loss ratio (ULR) immediately after postoperative urethral catheter removal and investigated its affecting factors and the mechanisms.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes between Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy and Cryoablation in Elderly Patients with Renal Cancer.

Advances in imaging technologies have increased the opportunities for treating small-diameter renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) in the elderly. This retrospective study based on real-world clinical practice compared perioperative complications, preoperative and postoperative renal function, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival in elderly patients with RCC who had undergone robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) or percutaneous cryoablation (PCA). A total of 99 patients (aged ≥70 years), including 50 and 49 patients in the RAPN and PCA groups, respectively, were analyzed.

Does Bladder Cancer with Inchworm Sign Indicate Better Prognosis after TURBT?

Background: Inchworm sign is considered to be a characteristic finding in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Nevertheless, pathologically diagnosed muscle invasive bladder cancers (MIBCs) are occasionally diagnosed from tissue obtained by transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in patients with inchworm sign. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the factors related to muscle invasive status in bladder cancer associated with inchworm sign and the role of inchworm sign in tumor outcomes following TURBT.