Artificial intelligence for predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for bladder cancer A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy is the standard of care for cisplatin-fit patients harboring muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Prediction of response to NAC is essential for clinical decision-making regarding alternatives in case of non-response, and bladder-sparing in case of complete response. This research aimed to assess the performance of machine learning in predicting therapeutic response following NAC treatment in patients with MIBC.

A Pilot Study of Ketotifen in Patients Aged 8-17 Years with Functional Dyspepsia Associated with Mucosal Eosinophilia.

Background And Objective: Mast cells have been implicated in abdominal pain-associated disorders of gut-brain interaction, such as functional dyspepsia. As such, ketotifen, a second-generation antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer, could represent a viable treatment option in these conditions. The primary aim of the current pilot study was to assess clinical response to ketotifen and assess pharmacokinetics in youth with functional dyspepsia.

Honing the Hunt: A Comprehensive Review of Cell-free Tumor DNA to Predict Neoadjuvant Therapy Efficacy in Bladder Cancer.

Objective: To provide an updated view on the role of cell-free DNA as a predictor of pathological response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted from September 2023 to October 2023. Selected studies from the MEDLINE and clinical trial databases were critically analyzed regarding the clinical efficacy of cell-free DNA as a predictive instrument after neoadjuvant therapy in bladder cancer.

A phase IIb randomized placebo-controlled trial testing the effect of MAG-EPA long-chain omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplement on prostate cancer proliferation.

Background: High prostate eicosapentaenoic fatty acid (EPA) levels were associated with a significant reduction of upgrading to grade group (GG) ≥ 2 prostate cancer in men under active surveillance. We aimed to evaluate the effect of MAG-EPA long-chain omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplement on prostate cancer proliferation.

Methods: A phase II double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 130 men diagnosed with GG ≥ 2 prostate cancer and undergoing radical prostatectomy between 2015-2017 (Clinicaltrials.

Circulating Basophils as a Prognostic Marker for Response to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

Purpose: To predict recurrence and progression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients receiving bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), we evaluated circulating basophils as a biomarker that could be detected from the complete blood count.

Patients And Methods: We use a pooled cohort of patients from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval (2016-2020) and the Vancouver General Hospital (2010-2018) where a complete blood count was available before transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) of a high-grade NMIBC and subsequent BCG. Descriptive statistics described the cohort based on the dichotomous presence or absence of basophils on the complete blood count.

Salvage therapy for BCG failure with intravesical sequential gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with recurrent NMIBC.

Introduction: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) failure occurs in approximately 40% of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) within two years. We describe our institutional experience with sequential intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel (gem/doce) as salvage therapy post-BCG failure in patients who were not candidates for or declined radical cystectomy (RC).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed NMIBC patients with BCG failure who received gem/doce from April 2019 through October 2022 at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval.

Effects of omega-3 supplementation on psychological symptoms in men with prostate cancer: Secondary analysis of a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Background: In the general population, a higher omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids intake is associated with lower levels of several psychological symptoms, especially depression. However, the existing evidence in cancer is equivocal.

Methods: This phase IIB double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was aimed at comparing the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid monoacylglyceride (MAG-EPA) supplementation and high oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO; placebo) on depression levels (primary outcome) and other symptoms (anxiety, fear of cancer recurrence, fatigue, insomnia, perceived cognitive impairments; secondary outcomes).

The sex gap in bladder cancer survival - a missing link in bladder cancer care?

The differences in bladder cancer outcomes between the sexes has again been highlighted. Uncommon among cancers, bladder cancer outcomes are notably worse for women than for men. Furthermore, bladder cancer is three to four times more common among men than among women.

High infiltration of CD209 dendritic cells and CD163 macrophages in the peritumor area of prostate cancer is predictive of late adverse outcomes.

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) shows considerable variation in clinical outcomes between individuals with similar diseases. The initial host-tumor interaction as assessed by detailed analysis of tumor infiltrating immune cells within the primary tumor may dictate tumor evolution and late clinical outcomes. In this study, we assessed the association between clinical outcomes and dendritic cell (DC) or macrophage (MΦ) tumor infiltration as well as with expression of genes related to their functions.

Effects of Concentrated Long-Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation on Quality of Life after Radical Prostatectomy: A Phase II Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial (RCT-EPA).

Prostate cancer (PCa) and associated treatments incur symptoms that may impact patients' quality of life. Studies have shown beneficial relationships between diet, especially omega-3 fatty acids, and these symptoms. Unfortunately, only few data describing the relationship between long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LCn3) and PCa-related symptoms in patients are available.

Prostate cancer resistance leads to a global deregulation of translation factors and unconventional translation.

Emerging evidence associates translation factors and regulators to tumorigenesis. However, our understanding of translational changes in cancer resistance is still limited. Here, we generated an enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer (PCa) model, which recapitulated key features of clinical enzalutamide-resistant PCa.

Analysis of sex-based differences to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Objective: To evaluate whether differences exist between men and women in response to intravesical BCG treatments. The incidence of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is lower in women but they tend to present with more aggressive and advanced disease. Some prior studies also suggest there are sex-based differences in response to treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder tumors.

Combining Antiandrogens with Immunotherapy for Bladder Cancer Treatment.

Background: Men are three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer (BCa) than women, who often have more aggressive tumors. Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is one of the first immunotherapies, with use of immune checkpoint inhibitors for BCa immunotherapy expanding. Sex hormones, and notably androgens, might impact the outcome of these therapies.

Extensive Alteration of Androgen Precursor Levels After Castration in Prostate Cancer Patients and Their Association With Active Androgen Level.

Purpose: Dihydrotestosterone and testosterone are thought to be major contributors of prostate cancer progression and resistance. We studied the modulation of 15 circulating steroids by castration and their association with dihydrotestosterone and testosterone levels.

Materials Methods: A total of 116 serum samples were collected from 99 prostate cancer patients and categorized as eugonadal, castration-sensitive prostate cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer, or castration-resistant prostate cancer under abiraterone acetate.

Patients' perceptions on active surveillance for the treatment of small renal masses.

Background: Most patients diagnosed with a small renal mass (SRM) are treated with definitive treatments such as surgery or thermal ablation. Given that some SRMs are benign or have low metastatic potential, active surveillance seeks to reduce the overtreatment and the potential complications. Active surveillance is an alternative that is being increasingly considered.

Perception and satisfaction of patients after telemedicine urology consultations: A matched analysis with physicians' perspective.

Introduction: During the first regional COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, we conducted a study aimed at evaluating completeness of telemedicine consultation in urology. Of 1679 consultations, 67% were considered completely managed by phone. The aim of the present study was to assess patients' experience and satisfaction with telemedicine and to compare them with urologists' perceptions about quality and completeness of the telemedicine consultation.

Simultaneous quantification of trimethoprim metabolites in pediatric plasma.

The dual agent antibiotic, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), has been prescribed to treat or prevent infections for over 50 years. However, there are no published validated analytical methods for the measurement of TMP metabolites in humans. We developed methodology enabling reliable quantification of TMP and 5 metabolites in human plasma.