Nivolumab + Ipilimumab as Immunotherapeutic Boost in Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Studies with nivolumab, an approved therapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) after platinum-based chemotherapy, demonstrate improved outcomes with added high-dose ipilimumab.

Objective: To assess efficacy and safety of a tailored approach using nivolumab + ipilimumab as an immunotherapeutic boost for mUC.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this phase 2 nonrandomized trial, patients with mUC composed 2 cohorts.

Characterization and root cause analysis of immunogenicity to pasotuxizumab (AMG 212), a prostate-specific membrane antigen-targeting bispecific T-cell engager therapy.

Introduction: In oncology, anti-drug antibody (ADA) development that significantly curtails response durability has not historically risen to a level of concern. The relevance and attention ascribed to ADAs in oncology clinical studies have therefore been limited, and the extant literature on this subject scarce. In recent years, T cell engagers have gained preeminence within the prolific field of cancer immunotherapy.

Nivolumab Switch Maintenance Therapy After Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Induction in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Randomized Clinical Trial by the Interdisciplinary Working Group on Renal Tumors of the German Cancer Society (NIVOSWITCH; AIO-NZK-0116ass).

Background: The role of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) maintenance therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is undefined.

Objective: To determine whether switch maintenance therapy with nivolumab improves clinical outcomes in patients with mRCC with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sensitivity.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This open-label phase 2 trial randomized patients with a partial response or stable disease after 10-12-wk TKI induction therapy to either TKI or nivolumab maintenance.

Tailored immunotherapy approach with nivolumab with or without ipilimumab in patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma after platinum-based chemotherapy (TITAN-TCC): a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial.

Background: Nivolumab is used after platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Studies suggest improved outcomes for dual checkpoint inhibition with high ipilimumab doses. We aimed to examine the safety and activity of nivolumab induction and high-dose ipilimumab as an immunotherapeutic boost as a second-line treatment for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

[Importance of genetic testing in prostate cancer].

Due to the increasing accessibility, molecular diagnostics are becoming more important in urology. There are validated predictive and prognostic biomarkers available for prostate cancer. This has clinical implications for screening diagnosis and personalized treatment options.

Value of Ga-labeled bombesin antagonist (RM2) in the detection of primary prostate cancer comparing with [F]fluoromethylcholine PET-CT and multiparametric MRI-a phase I/II study.

Objectives: The bombesin derivative RM2 is a GRPr antagonist with strong binding affinity to prostate cancer (PCa). In this study, the impact of [Ga]Ga-RM2 positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for the detection of primary PCa was compared with that of [F]FCH PET-CT and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI).

Methods: This phase I/II study was conducted in 30 biopsy-positive PCa subjects.

Tailored Immunotherapy Approach With Nivolumab in Advanced Transitional Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: Several anti-programmed cell death (ligand)-1 (PD-[L]1) immune checkpoint inhibitors are approved in advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). Recently, improved activity of an anti-PD-1/anticytotoxic T-cell lymphocyte-4 (CTLA-4) combination versus anti-PD-1 monotherapy has been reported. We report a response-based approach starting treatment with nivolumab monotherapy with nivolumab/ipilimumab as immunotherapeutic boost.

Seasonal Variations in the Diagnosis of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A National Cancer Registry Study in Austria.

We conducted a retrospective National Cancer Registry study in Austria to assess a possible seasonal variation in the clinical diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). In total, 3615 testicular cancer diagnoses were identified during an 11-year period from 2008 to 2018. Rate ratios for the monthly number of TGCT diagnoses, as well as of seasons and half-years, were assessed using a quasi-Poisson model.

Pasotuxizumab, a BiTE immune therapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer: Phase I, dose-escalation study findings.

 We report results of a first-in-human study of pasotuxizumab, a PSMA bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) immune therapy mediating T-cell killing of tumor cells in patients with advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer. We assessed once-daily subcutaneous (SC) pasotuxizumab. All SC patients developed antidrug antibodies; therefore, continuous intravenous (cIV) infusion was assessed.

Diagnostic Performance of [F]Fluorocholine and [Ga]Ga-PSMA PET/CT in Prostate Cancer: A Comparative Study.

The current study endeavored to closely compare the detection rate of 68-Gallium labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen ([Ga]Ga-PSMA) versus [F]Fluorocholine in men with prostate cancer (PC), to investigate the benefits and pitfalls of each modality in the setting of various patient characteristics. We retrospectively analyzed 29 biopsy-proven PC patients in two categories, staging and restaging, who underwent both scans within a maximum of 30 days of each other. Variables including patient demographics, prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, Gleason score, clinical course, and following treatments were recorded.

Comparison of micro-ultrasound and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for prostate cancer: A multicenter, prospective analysis.

Introduction: High-resolution micro-ultrasound has the capability of imaging prostate cancer based on detecting alterations in ductal anatomy, analogous to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). This technology has the potential advantages of relatively low cost, simplicity, and accessibility compared to mpMRI. This multicenter, prospective registry aims to compare the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of mpMRI with high-resolution micro-ultrasound imaging for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer.

Multiphasic Ga-PSMA PET/CT in the Detection of Early Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Patients with a PSA Level of Less Than 1 ng/mL: A Prospective Study of 135 Patients.

The main objective of this prospective study was to determine the impact of multiphasic acquisition of Ga-PSMA PET/CT in the detection of recurrent prostate cancer in the early stage of biochemical recurrence with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of less than 1 ng/mL. Also, Ga-PSMA PET/CT positivity was correlated with clinical parameters for the assessment of predictive markers. A prospective monocentric study was conducted on 135 prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence and a PSA level of less than 1 ng/mL.

Real-World Evidence Data on Metastatic Renal-Cell Carcinoma Treatment in Austria: The RELACS Study.

Background: Treatment decisions in routine clinical practice are based on reports of clinical trials, which represent highly selected populations. Limited studies reported real-world evidences representing routine clinical practices in patients with renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) in Europe. The aim of this retrospective, noninterventional chart review was to collect data on the treatment landscape for patients with advanced/metastatic RCC in routine clinical practice in a broader patient population in Austria.

Renal Cell Carcinoma with Sarcomatoid Features: Finally New Therapeutic Hope?

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with sarcomatoid differentiation belongs to the most aggressive clinicopathologic phenotypes of RCC. It is characterized by a high propensity for primary metastasis and limited therapeutic options due to its relative resistance to established systemic targeted therapy. Most trials report on a poor median overall survival of 5 to 12 months.

Serum Levels of MicroRNA-371a-3p (M371 Test) as a New Biomarker of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: Results of a Prospective Multicentric Study.

Purpose: Previous studies suggested that serum levels of microRNA (miR)-371a-3p (so-called M371 test) have a much higher sensitivity and specificity than the classic markers of testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) and are applicable toward both seminoma and nonseminoma. We sought to confirm the usefulness of this test as a novel biomarker for GCT.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective, multicentric study, serum samples of 616 patients with testicular GCTs and 258 male controls were examined for serum levels of miRNA-371a-3p (miR levels) by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

[Immunotherapy for locally advanced and metastasized bladder cancer].

Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is difficult to treat in advanced and metastatic stages. Several factors play a role: age, multimorbidity including impaired renal function and neuropathy make access to life-prolonging chemotherapy impossible in many cases. Improvements of response rates and overall survival in the second-line setting are not much different compared to best supportive care.

Prognostic Value of Testing PD-L1 Expression After Radical Cystectomy in High-risk Patients.

Introduction: The use of cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) after radical cystectomy (RC) is a highly controversial issue and has been infrequently used owing to the high rates of postoperative complications, cisplatin ineligibility, and lack of randomized trials. Checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab, pembrolizumab, or atezolizumab are currently being tested in phase III studies in the adjuvant setting owing to their more favorable safety profile compared with chemotherapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether compartmentalization of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in different locations of RC specimens influences recurrence-free survival (RFS) after RC.

Optimal time-point for Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging in assessment of prostate cancer: feasibility of sterile cold-kit tracer preparation?

Purpose: In this prospective study, we evaluated the optimal time-point for Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT acquisition in the assessment of prostate cancer. We also examined, for the first time the feasibility of tracer production using a PSMA-11 sterile cold-kit in the clinical workflow of PET/CT centres.

Methods: Fifty prostate cancer patients (25 staging, 25 biochemical recurrence) were enrolled in this study.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Gemcitabine plus Cisplatin in Patients with Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with methotrexate-vinblastine-doxorubicin-cisplatin (MVAC) is the standard of care for muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer. Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) shows similar efficacy with less toxicity in the metastatic setting and has therefore often been used interchangeably with MVAC. We report on the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant GC in patients with locally advanced urothelial cancer.

Evaluation of Prostate Cancer Bone Metastases with 18F-NaF and 18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT.

F-fluorocholine is a specific promising agent for imaging tumor cell proliferation, particularly in prostate cancer, using PET/CT. It is a beneficial tool in the early detection of marrow-based metastases because it excludes distant metastases and evaluates the response to hormone therapy. In addition, F-fluorocholine has the potential to differentiate between degenerative and malignant osseous abnormalities because degenerative changes are not choline-avid; however, the agent may accumulate in recent traumatic bony lesions.