Magnetic resonance imaging/transrectal ultrasound fusion-targeted prostate biopsy using three-dimensional ultrasound-based organ-tracking technology: Initial experience in Japan.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of magnetic resonance imaging/transrectal ultrasound fusion-targeted prostate biopsy on the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer using real-time three-dimensional ultrasound-based organ-tracking technology.

Methods: The present study was a retrospective review of 262 consecutive patients with prostate-specific antigen of 7.1 ng/mL (interquartile range 4.

Morphometric analysis of prostate zonal anatomy using magnetic resonance imaging: impact on age-related changes in patients in Japan and the USA.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of morphometric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis of the prostate zonal anatomy on aging, prostatic hypertrophy and lower urinary tract symptoms in patients from Japan and the USA.

Subjects And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 307 men, including 156 men from Japan and 151 from the USA, who consecutively underwent 3-Tesla MRI and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) assessment because of elevated PSA levels. Using Synapse-Vincent (Fujifilm), the prostatic zones were segmented in each axial step-section of the T2-weighted MRI to reconstruct a three-dimensional model of the prostate, which was used to calculate: zonal volumes (whole-gland prostate, transition zone and peripheral zone volumes); the presumed circle area ratio (PCAR); and PZ thickness.

Preoperative lipiodol marking and its role on survival and complication rates of CT-guided cryoablation for small renal masses.

Background: Partial nephrectomy for small renal masses (SRM) may be useful for preserving renal function, but is technically more difficult than radical nephrectomy. Cryoablation may be performed under local anesthesia. The objective of the present study is to assess the safety and therapeutic efficacy of cryoablation with lipiodol marking for SRM.

Androgen suppresses testicular cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo.

Silencing of androgen receptor (AR)-meditated androgen signaling is thought to be associated with the development of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). However, the role of the androgen/AR signal in TGCT development has not been investigated. In this study, we show that the androgen/AR signal suppressed the cell growth of seminomas (SEs), a type of TGCT, in vitro and in vivo.

Post-chemotherapy laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is feasible for stage IIA/B non-seminoma germ cell tumors.

Objective: To assess the efficacy, outcome and complications of post-chemotherapy laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (L-RPLND) for stage IIA/B testicular germ cell tumor (GCT) patients in comparison with open RPLND (O-RPLND).

Methods: L-RPLND was performed in 14 patients with stage IIA/B non-seminoma GCTs among 154 non-seminoma patients who received RPLND after completion of chemotherapy with tumor marker normalization at our institution between 1998 and 2013. Their outcomes were compared with those of 14 patients with stage IIA/B non-seminoma GCTs treated with O-RPLND during the same period.

Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery for Pediatric Urologic Disease.

Background: Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) was performed for 31 cases of pediatric urologic disease in our department.

Objective: A retrospective chart review was performed on pediatric patients who underwent LESS.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Procedures included pyeloplasty (21), nephrectomy (4), varicocele ligation (3), orchiectomy (1), orchiopexy (1), and removal of female genitalia (1).

Clinicopathological characteristics and oncological outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma registered in 2007: The first large-scale multicenter study from the Cancer Registration Committee of the Japanese Urological Association.

Objectives: To describe the clinicopathological features and oncological outcomes of renal cell carcinoma diagnosed in Japan in 2007, the results of the large-scale renal cell carcinoma registration study carried out by the Japanese Urological Association are reported.

Methods: The renal cell carcinoma survey was carried out by the Japanese Urological Association in 2012 to register newly diagnosed renal cell carcinoma cases in 2007 from 340 institutions nationwide. The survey included clinicopathological details, such as sex, age, family history, past history, smoking history, body mass index, reason for diagnosis, TNM classification, stage, histopathology, treatment and clinical outcomes.

PAX2 promoted prostate cancer cell invasion through transcriptional regulation of HGF in an in vitro model.

Elucidating the mechanism of prostate cancer cell invasion may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic strategies for its treatment. Paired box 2 (PAX2) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) proteins are promoters of prostate cancer cell invasion. We found that PAX2 protein activated the HGF gene promoter through histone H3 acetylation and upregulated HGF gene expression.

Salvage brachytherapy for locally recurrent prostate cancer after external beam radiotherapy.

External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is a standard treatment for prostate cancer. Despite the development of novel radiotherapy techniques such as intensity-modulated conformal radiotherapy, the risk of local recurrence after EBRT has not been obviated. Various local treatment options (including salvage prostatectomy, brachytherapy, cryotherapy, and high-intensity focused ultrasound [HIFU]) have been employed in cases of local recurrence after primary EBRT.

Laparoscopic off-clamp partial nephrectomy using soft coagulation.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of soft coagulation in off-clamp laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

Methods: A total of 32 patients with renal tumors underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with off-clamp using soft coagulation between May 2012 and September 2013. Tumor resection was carried out using a combination of bipolar forceps and a ball electrode using the soft coagulation system without hilar clamping.

The efficacy of radio-frequency ablation for metastatic lung or liver tumors of male germ cell tumors as an alternative minimally invasive therapy after salvage chemotherapy.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of radio-frequency ablation (RFA) for metastatic lung or liver tumors of germ cell tumors (GCTs) after chemotherapy.

Methods: RFA with computed tomography guidance and monitoring was performed in 24 patients with 48 metastatic lung or liver tumors of GCTs. Group A consisted of 9 patients with tumor marker normalization after salvage chemotherapy and group B consisted of 15 patients without tumor marker normalization in spite ofintensive treatment.

Clinical outcomes and histological findings of patients with advanced metastatic germ cell tumors undergoing post-chemotherapy resection of retroperitoneal lymph nodes and residual extraretroperitoneal masses.

Objectives: To assess clinical outcomes of patients with advanced germ cell tumor undergoing post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with or without extraretroperitoneal mass resection.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2013, 175 retroperitoneal lymph node dissections for advanced metastatic germ cell tumors were carried out at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Of patients receiving retroperitoneal lymph node dissections, 156 underwent post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with or without extraretroperitoneal mass resection as first surgery after completion of chemotherapy.

Comprehensive assessment for novel prostate cancer markers in the prostate-specific antigen era: focusing on Asians and Asian countries.

We reviewed the current evidence for three novel prostate tumor markers (PCA3, TMPRSS2:ERG and proPSA) that have been recently reported predominantly in Western countries. We focus our attention on Asian men in both clinical and basic research studies. There have been no reports on the clinical usefulness of these three markers for Asians living in Western countries.

Importance of continuous sequential chemotherapy and multimodal treatment for advanced testicular cancer: a high-volume Japanese center experience.

Patients with "difficult-to-treat" advanced testicular cancer can require multiple therapies. We retrospectively assessed our patients with advanced germ cell tumors (GCTs) and characterized the clinical efficacy, outcomes, and factors affecting overall survival (OS).Two hundred fifty-three patients with advanced GCTs were treated at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan, from June 1998 to September 2013.

CDK1 and CDK2 activity is a strong predictor of renal cell carcinoma recurrence.

Background: In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the prediction of metastasis via tumor prognostic markers remains a major problem. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)1 and CDK2 activity as a prognostic marker in human RCC.

Methods: Surgical specimens were obtained from 125 patients with RCC without metastasis.

Salvage combined chemotherapy with paclitaxel, ifosfamide and nedaplatin for patients with advanced germ cell tumors.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of combined regimen with paclitaxel, ifosfamide and nedaplatin as salvage chemotherapy in patients with cisplatin-refractory or multiple relapsed germ cell tumors.

Methods: A total of 65 patients refractory to cisplatin-based chemotherapy or with relapse after induction or salvage chemotherapy received paclitaxel 210 mg/m(2) on day 1, ifosfamide 1.2 g/m(2) on days 2-6 and nedaplatin 100 mg/m(2) on day 2 of a 3-week cycle.

Experience of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using a kidney grasper in selective cases.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of regional cramp in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, we performed partial nephrectomy using a kidney grasper that enabled the application of ischemia to a limited region of the kidney.

Materials And Methods: The subjects were 5 renal cell carcinoma patients. The mean tumor diameter was 15 mm.

Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and antegrade ureterolithotripsy in a 10-month-old infant with urinary stones in both kidney and ureter.

The prevalence of urinary tract stones in the pediatric population is lower than that in adults. Although methods of surgery and medical equipment have developed, medical treatments for urinary tract stones are limited for pediatric cases. We report the case of a 10-month-old male infant with urinary stones in the left kidney and ureter who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and ureterolithotripsy using antegrade insertion of a ureteroscope through the same nephrostomy tract.

Initial experience of combined use of photodynamic diagnosis and narrow band imaging for detection of flat urothelial lesion.

Background: This preliminary study is the first report to compare photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) with narrow band imaging (NBI) in the same patients with flat urothelial lesions suspicious of carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the bladder.

Methods: Between November 26, 2012 and April 1, 2013, 10 patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor using PDD and NBI simultaneously because of suspicion of CIS. The bladder was mapped first under white light (WL), then under NBI, and subsequently under blue light in odd-numbered patients.

Paired box 2 upregulates androgen receptor gene expression in androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Androgen-independent prostate cancer is known as a hormone-refractory disease. Although the androgen receptor (AR) is considered to be a key regulator of androgen-independent prostate cancer progression, the mechanism through which AR gene expression is regulated is not well understood. In the present study, we showed that the AR gene was upregulated by paired box 2 (PAX2) in androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Complete response of sunitinib therapy for renal cell cancer recurrence in the native kidney after renal transplantation: a case report.

Background: No case report has yet shown that sunitinib therapy for the postoperative recurrence of renal cancer in a native kidney after renal transplantation can achieve complete response (CR).

Case Presentation: A tumor was detected in the right native kidney of a 35-year-old Japanese male 10 years after renal transplantation. A tumor thrombus that reached the atrium was detected, which suggested cT3cN0M0.

Long-term outcome of hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for T1 renal cell carcinoma.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term outcomes of hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy compared with those of open nephrectomy.

Methods: Hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was carried out in 132 patients with T1 renal cell carcinoma (between November 1999 and November 2008). Their outcomes were compared with those of 61 patients treated with open nephrectomy.

Comparison of diameter-axial-polar nephrometry and RENAL nephrometry score for treatment decision-making in patients with small renal mass.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate our institution's experience in performing laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and partial nephrectomy (PN) in patients with small renal masses.

Methods: 142 patients with cT1aN0M0 lesions were identified. 68 of these subjects were treated with LRN and 74 were treated with laparoscopic PN (LPN).

Flank muscle volume changes after open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

Purpose: To determine the occurrence of flank symptoms, flank muscle atrophy, bulge, and hernia formation after open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN).

Patients And Methods: Our prospective Institutional Review Board-approved database was queried to identify 50 consecutive patients who were treated with open partial nephrectomy (OPN) and 50 consecutive patients who were treated with LPN between September 2006 and May 2008. Study patients had: Solitary clinical T1 renal tumor, preoperative and ≥6 month postoperative CT scan performed at our institution, and a confirmed renal-cell carcinoma on the final pathology report.