TCF21 Promotes Luminal-Like Differentiation and Suppresses Metastasis in Bladder Cancer.

Little is known regarding the subclone evolution process in advanced bladder cancer, particularly with respect to the genomic alterations that lead to the development of metastatic lesions. In this project, we identify gene expression signatures associated with metastatic bladder cancer through mRNA expression profiling of RNA isolated from 33 primary bladder cancer and corresponding lymph node (LN) metastasis samples. Gene expression profiling (GEP) was performed on RNA isolated using the Illumina DASL platform.

Determining the optimal time for radical cystectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: To determine whether the recovery window (RW) between neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and radical cystectomy (RC) affects 90-day postoperative morbidity and incidence of lymph node metastasis.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed patients treated with NAC and RC from 1995 to 2013 for ≤cT N M bladder cancer. The association of the RW with 90-day perioperative morbidity and lymph node metastasis was determined.

Risk based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is an aggressive disease that frequently requires radical cystectomy (RC) to achieve durable cure rates. Surgery is most effective when performed in organ-confined disease, with the best outcomes for those patients with a pT0 result. The goals of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) are to optimize surgical outcomes for a malignancy with limited adjuvant therapies and a lack of effective salvage treatments.

External validation of Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS).

Background: We demonstrate the construct validity, reliability, and utility of Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS), a clinical assessment tool designed to measure robotic technical skills, in an independent cohort using an in vivo animal training model.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional observational study design, 47 voluntary participants were categorized as experts (>30 robotic cases completed as primary surgeon) or trainees. The trainee group was further divided into intermediates (≥5 but ≤30 cases) or novices (<5 cases).

Clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of penile cancer treated at tertiary care centers in the Western United States.

Background: This article reports on the experience with penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) in a unique multiethnic patient population from Los Angeles, California, with regard to treatments rendered and clinical outcomes.

Patients And Methods: Available clinical, pathologic, and treatment information for PSCC patients treated at 3 hospitals associated with the University of Southern California from 1991 to 2011 was retrospectively reviewed. Associations of patient variables with prognosis were assessed using univariable and multivariable analyses.

Comparative assessment of three standardized robotic surgery training methods.

Objectives: To evaluate three standardized robotic surgery training methods, inanimate, virtual reality and in vivo, for their construct validity. To explore the concept of cross-method validity, where the relative performance of each method is compared.

Materials And Methods: Robotic surgical skills were prospectively assessed in 49 participating surgeons who were classified as follows: 'novice/trainee': urology residents, previous experience <30 cases (n = 38) and 'experts': faculty surgeons, previous experience ≥30 cases (n = 11).