Characterization of PSA dynamics and oncological outcomes in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer treated with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors.

Background: This study investigated the characteristics of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) dynamics when androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI), or vintage agent (bicalutamide) was used for patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 213 mHSPC patients from each of the ARSI and bicalutamide groups treated between 2015 and 2022 were selected from multiple institutions using propensity score-matched analysis to align backgrounds. PSA progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed.

[A Case of Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm-A Complex Preoperative Diagnosis].

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with suspected appendicitis. Abdominal CT revealed an enlarged appendix, and findings consistent with some small nodules. She was diagnosed with appendicitis and successfully treated with antibiotics.

J-AVENUE: A retrospective, real-world study evaluating patient characteristics and outcomes in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with avelumab first-line maintenance therapy in Japan.

Objectives: The JAVELIN Bladder 100 phase 3 trial showed that avelumab first-line maintenance + best supportive care significantly prolonged overall survival and progression-free survival versus best supportive care alone in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma who were progression-free following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. We report findings from J-AVENUE (NCT05431777), a real-world study of avelumab first-line maintenance therapy in Japan.

Methods: Medical charts of patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma without disease progression following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, who received avelumab maintenance between February and November 2021, were reviewed.

Clinical utility of the prognostic nutritional index in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study.

Background: The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) based on the serum albumin level and the lymphocyte count has been investigated as a prognostic factor in patients with malignant tumors. However, it has been poorly studied in prostate cancer (PCa), and little is known about its clinical utility.

Methods: Clinical data of 353 patients with de novo, metastatic, hormone-sensitive PCa (mHSPC) who received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were obtained from multiple institutions between 2000 and 2019.

Development and validation of novel nomogram to identify the candidates for extended pelvic lymph node dissection for prostate cancer patients in the robotic era.

Objectives: To determine candidates for extended pelvic lymph node dissection using a novel nomogram to assess the risk of lymph node invasion in Japanese prostate cancer patients in the robotic era.

Methods: A total of 538 patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with extended pelvic lymph node dissection in three hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. Medical records were reviewed uniformly and the following data collected: prostate-specific antigen, age, clinical T stage, primary and secondary Gleason score at prostate biopsy, and percentage of positive core numbers.

Upfront Androgen Receptor-Axis-Targeted Therapies in Men with De Novo High-Volume Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: The extent of effectiveness of upfront androgen receptor-axis-targeted therapies (ARAT) versus total androgen blockade (TAB) in improving prostate cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in a real-world sample of Japanese patients with high-volume mHSPC remains unclear. We, therefore, investigated the efficacy and safety of upfront ARAT versus bicalutamide for de novo high-volume mHSPC in Japanese patients.

Material And Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study that analyzed CSS, clinical PFS, and adverse events (AEs) in 170 patients with newly diagnosed high-volume mHSPC.

Detection of intraductal carcinoma in prostate cancer patients with small tumor volume.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (intraductal carcinoma) and significant cancer (SC) in patients with small tumor volume (<0.5 cm ) in prostatectomy specimens.

Methods: Data from 639 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy between April 2006 and December 2017 at Chiba University Hospital and 2 affiliated institutions were retrospectively reviewed.

Revision of CHAARTED and LATITUDE criteria among Japanese de novo metastatic prostate cancer patients.

Background: To identify the real high-risk group among Japanese de novo metastatic prostate cancer patients who fit CHAARTED or LATITUDE criteria.

Methods: We retrospectively studied patients who fitted CHAARTED (292 patients) and LATITUDE (294 patients) criteria from Japanese multi-institutions. All patients received androgen deprivation therapy with bicalutamide as an initial treatment.

Focusing and spin polarization of atomic hydrogen beam.

We have developed a spin-polarized-hydrogen beam with a hexapole magnet. By combining the beam chopper and pulsed laser ionization detection, the time-of-flight of the hydrogen beam was measured, and the dependence of the beam profile on the velocity was acquired, which was consistent with the beam trajectory simulations. The spin polarization of the beam was analyzed by using the Stern-Gerlach-type magnet in combination with the spatial scan of the detection laser.

A randomized phase III trial of personalized peptide vaccination for castration‑resistant prostate cancer progressing after docetaxel.

First‑line chemotherapy for men with metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has been employed to improve overall survival (OS) and progression‑free survival (PFS). However, several new agents for CRPC after first‑line chemotherapy prolonged survival by only a few months. To develop a new treatment modality, we conducted a phase III randomized trial of personalized peptide vaccination (PPV) for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‑A24‑positive patients with castration‑resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) for whom docetaxel chemotherapy failed.

Prognostic factors influencing overall survival in de novo oligometastatic prostate cancer patients.

Background: Oligometastatic cancer has been suggested as an intermediate state between localized disease and wide-ranging metastases. The clinical significance of local treatment in oligometastatic prostate cancer (PCa) has been a recent topic of interest. However, standard definitions of oligometastasis are lacking.

Prognostic value of an inflammatory index for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: The inflammatory process has been reported to be involved in the formation and progression of various types of cancer. Recently, a peripheral inflammatory index, combining the derived neutrophils/(leukocytes minus neutrophils) ratio (dNLR) and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, was proposed as a useful prognostic marker in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. The prognostic value of inflammatory markers in prostate cancer has not been established.

How many bone metastases may be defined as high-volume metastatic prostate cancer in Asians: A retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Background: Recent landmark randomized trials (CHAARTED and LATITUDE studies) have highlighted potent upfront therapy for "high-volume" and "high-risk" metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer (mCNPC). However, treatment response shows racial differences. We aimed to propose a novel definition for "high-volume" prostate cancer in Asians.

Higher Serum Testosterone Levels Associated with Favorable Prognosis in Enzalutamide- and Abiraterone-Treated Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Testosterone plays a significant role in maintaining the tumor microenvironment. The role of the target serum testosterone (TST) level in enzalutamide- (Enza) and abiraterone (Abi)-treated castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients was studied. In total, 107 patients treated with Enza and/or Abi at Chiba University Hospital and affiliated hospitals were studied.

Treatment strategy for metastatic prostate cancer with extremely high PSA level: reconsidering the value of vintage therapy.

The prognostic significance of initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level for metastatic prostate cancer remains uncertain. We investigated the differences in prognosis and response to hormonal therapies of metastatic prostate cancer patients according to initial PSA levels. We analyzed 184 patients diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and divided them into three PSA level groups as follows: low (<100 ng ml), intermediate (100-999 ng ml), and high (≥1000 ng ml).

Outcomes of patients older than 75 years with non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Objective: Prostate cancer in elderly patients was formerly treated with androgen deprivation therapy. Since the latter of the 1990s new technologies were introduced into treatments, then strategies have varied. We aimed to observe the outcomes of elderly patients treated during transition period and compare each stage with others.

Significant prognostic difference between Grade Group 4 and 5 in the 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology Grading System for High Grade Prostate Cancer with Bone Metastasis.

Background: To investigate prognostic difference between Gleason Score (GS) 8 and 9-10, as the 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology Gleason Grading Systems proposed, in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) with bone metastasis.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data on 106 patients with GS 8-10 between 2006 and 2016. All patients received androgen deprivation therapy immediately.

Treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer (Stage T3).

Objective: Formerly, locally advanced prostate cancer exhibited poorly prognosis. In the late 1990s, new surgical and radiation technologies were introduced in combination with androgen deprivation. To evaluate respective strategies, outcomes were examined.

[A Case of Recurrent Gallbladder Cancer with a Complete Response to S-1 Alternate-Day Administration].

An 86-year-old woman underwent a cholecystectomy for gallbladder cancer. Seven months later, an abdominal CT scan showed multiple liver and lymph node metastases. Treatment with S-1 was started at a dose of 100 mg/day, but was changed to alternate-day administration because of diarrhea.

Long-term outcomes of nonpalpable prostate cancer (T1c) patients treated with radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: Various strategies have been used to treat patients with nonpalpable prostate cancer (T1c). As one of the treatments for this stage, a radical prostatectomy was performed and the outcomes were evaluated.

Methods: Between 1993 and 2002, 117 patients with T1c received a radical prostatectomy and their follow-up were examined by the end of 2013.

Proposal of intestinal tissue engineering combined with Bianchi's procedure.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of the small intestinal submucosa (SIS) when the longitudinal staples during Bianchi's procedure are replaced with SIS graft.

Methods: The mesentery of the bowel was separated based on the bifurcated vessels in five beagles. A 2×7-cm longitudinal half of the bowel was excised and the defect was repaired using SIS with similar blood supply in Bianchi's operation.

Catalytic asymmetric diels-alder reaction of quinone imine ketals: a site-divergent approach.

The catalytic asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of quinone imine ketals with diene carbamates catalyzed by axially chiral dicarboxylic acids is reported herein. A variety of primary and secondary alkyl-substituted quinone derivatives which have not been applied in previous asymmetric quinone Diels-Alder reactions could be employed using this method. More importantly, we succeeded in developing a strategy to divert the reaction site in unsymmetrical 3-alkyl quinone imine ketals from the inherently favored unsubstituted C=C bond to the disfavored alkyl-substituted C=C bond.

Management of men with a suspicion of prostate cancer after negative initial prostate biopsy results.

Introduction: For men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA), appropriate management after negative prostate biopsy remains controversial. After determining PSA kinetics, subsequent follow-up was considered.

Patients And Methods: A total of 115 cases with negative repeat biopsy were followed by evaluating PSA kinetics and ratio of percent free PSA (F/T) and by performing second repeat biopsy.

Axially chiral dicarboxylic acid catalyzed activation of quinone imine ketals: enantioselective arylation of enecarbamates.

The synthetic utility of quinone imine ketals in the context of asymmetric catalysis was disclosed for the first time. By expanding the utility of chiral Brønsted acid catalysis to the electrophilic activation of quinone imine ketals, we succeeded in the development of highly enantioselective arylation of encarbamates to give α-amino-β-aryl ethers wherein quinone imine ketals act as functionalized aromatic ring surrogate. Further transformations of the products were also examined to establish procedures to provide chiral β-aryl amines and α-aryl esters.