Comparative proteome and serum analysis identified FSCN1 as a marker of abiraterone resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: Abiraterone (Abi) is an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor that significantly improves patients' life expectancy in metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Despite its beneficial effects, many patients have baseline or acquired resistance against Abi. The aim of this study was to identify predictive serum biomarkers for Abi treatment.

Proteome profiling of enzalutamide-resistant cell lines and serum analysis identified ALCAM as marker of resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Enzalutamide (ENZA) is a frequently used therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Baseline or acquired resistance to ENZA have been observed, but the molecular mechanisms of resistance are poorly understood. We aimed to identify proteins involved in ENZA resistance and to find therapy-predictive serum markers.

Comparative proteome analysis identified CD44 as a possible serum marker for docetaxel resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Baseline or acquired resistance to docetaxel (DOC) represents a significant risk for patients with metastatic prostate cancer (PC). In the last years, novel therapy regimens have been approved providing reasonable alternatives for DOC-resistant patients making prediction of DOC resistance of great clinical importance. We aimed to identify serum biomarkers, which are able to select patients who will not benefit from DOC treatment.

Multiple Docetaxel Retreatments Without Prednisone for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer in the Docetaxel-Only Era: Effects on PSA Kinetics and Survival.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the effects of multiple docetaxel (DOC) treatments on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics and survival among patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who were sensitive to first-line DOC and received no other life-prolonging agents. To eliminate the effect of cortisone on serum PSA, only patients who were treated without prednisone were included.

Methods: This IRB-approved retrospective study evaluated 52 patients with mCRPC who were retreated using DOC after first-line DOC (without prednisone in both cases), based on a PSA response of > 50% and no radiographic progression.

The long-term outcome of urethrotomy for primary urethral strictures: a population-based analysis.

Objective: To determine the long-term outcome of endoscopic urethrotomy for primary urethral strictures based on a population-based approach.

Patients And Methods: We analysed a nationwide database of all patients with urethral stricture disease who underwent endoscopic urethrotomy as a primary intervention between January 2006 and December 2007. All patients were followed individually for 7-9 years.

The Feasibility, Technique, and Medium-Term Follow-Up of Laparoscopic Transvesical Diverticulectomy.

Background: To present our experience and results with the transvesical laparoscopic diverticulectomy, developed by Pansadoro et al. [BJU Int. 2009;103(3):412-24], as treatment of symptomatic bladder diverticula, with a medium-term follow-up.

LithoVue™ for renal stone therapy - a perfect fit for high volume academic centers; a retrospective evaluation of 108 cases.

Background: Over the last few years the number of flexible ureterorenoscopies, used for renal stone treatment, has risen steadily. This was associated with an increase in costs for maintenance and repair of the fragile ureterorenoscopes used. To overcome this problem single-use devices have been introduced to the market.

Comprehensive analysis of serum chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase levels in localized and castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Objectives: To assess chromogranin A (CGA) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels and changes in these at different stages of prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCA).

Methods: Overall, 1095 serum samples from 395 patients, divided into three treatment groups, were analysed; the radical prostatectomy (RP) cohort (n = 157) included patients with clinically localized PCA, while the docetaxel (DOC) and the abiraterone (ABI)/enzalutamide (ENZA) cohorts included 95 and 143 patients, respectively, with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. CGA, NSE and total PSA levels were measured using the KRYPTOR method.

Bone Scintigraphy in Staging of Newly Diagnosed Prostate Cancer in Regard of Different Risk Groups.

Objectives: Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer in men over 50 years of age. Bone scintigraphy is still performed in many institutions at the time of primary diagnosis. We aimed to evaluate the role of bone scan in the primary staging of PC in regard of different risk groups.

Claros System: A Rapid Microfluidics-Based Point-of-Care System for Quantitative Prostate Specific Antigen Analysis from Finger-Stick Blood.

Introduction: Determination of circulating prostate specific antigen (PSA) is commonly used in the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of prostate cancer [1]. Presently, PSA testing is performed in centralized laboratories, which is associated with prolonged time between venipuncture and the PSA value being available. In this prospective study, we present a new and rapid test system for the quantitative determination of PSA levels from finger-stick blood.

Clinical results of a dorsally positioned hydraulic ID-sling in male patients with post-prostatectomy-incontinence.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of and the long-term experience with a re-adjustable hydraulic sling (ID-sling) device positioned dorsally to the urethra for the treatment of male post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI).

Materials And Methods: Between September 2007 and November 2009 13 patients with persisting SUI were treated consecutively with an ID-sling™ in two European tertiary centers by a single surgeon. Physical examinations and standardized questionnaires (ICIQ-SF + VAS), pad tests, and 24-h pad number counts were performed at baseline and during follow-up.

Matrix metalloproteinase 7, soluble Fas and Fas ligand serum levels for predicting docetaxel resistance and survival in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Objective: To assess the predictive value of pre-chemotherapy matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7), soluble Fas (sFas) and Fas ligand (FasL) serum levels, as well as their changes during therapy.

Patients And Methods: Serum levels of MMP-7, Fas and FasL were determined by ELISA in 96 patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC): 21 docetaxel-resistant patients who received one single series and 75 docetaxel-sensitive patients who received repeated series of docetaxel. In addition to the 96 pretreatment serum samples, 987 sera collected during chemotherapy were also analysed.

Application of Cu-64 NODAGA-PSMA PET in Prostate Cancer.

Introduction: The high diagnostic potential of Cu-PSMA PET-CT imaging was clinically investigated in prostate cancer patients with recurrent disease and in the primary staging of selected patients with advanced local disease. The aim of our study is to assess the uptake behavior in the clinical setting of 64Copper Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (Cu PSMA) Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) in prostate cancer.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 23 patients with intermediate, high risk and progressive disease at primary staging of prostate cancer.

Circulating syndecan-1 is associated with chemotherapy-resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Objectives: Docetaxel chemotherapy is a standard treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Rapidly expanding treatment options for CRPC provide reasonable alternatives for those who are resistant to docetaxel. Therefore, prediction of docetaxel resistance has become of great clinical importance.

In-bore 3.0-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging-guided Transrectal Targeted Prostate Biopsy in a Repeat Biopsy Population: Diagnostic Performance, Complications, and Learning Curve.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance and complication rate of the in-bore magnetic resonance imaging-guided transrectal targeted prostate biopsy (MRGB) in a repeat biopsy population on the basis of a nearly 4-year learning curve (2014-2017).

Materials And Methods: A total of 142 consecutive males with previous biopsies and persistent suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa) due to high prostate-specific antigen level initially underwent MRGB in the case of prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) 3-5 lesions. Cancer detection rate (CDR), number and length of cores, biopsy time, operator experience, complications, and prediction of clinically significant (cs) PCa (Gleason score ≥7) were investigated.

Malignancy rates and diagnostic performance of the Bosniak classification for the diagnosis of cystic renal lesions in computed tomography - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically review the literature on the Bosniak classification system in CT to determine its diagnostic performance to diagnose malignant cystic lesions and the prevalence of malignancy in Bosniak categories.

Methods: A predefined database search was performed from 1 January 1986 to 18 January 2016. Two independent reviewers extracted data on malignancy rates in Bosniak categories and several covariates using predefined criteria.

Inter-observer variation and diagnostic efficacy of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements obtained by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in small renal masses.

Background: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is increasingly used to diagnose renal lesion subtypes. Especially in small renal masses, identification of less aggressive tumor types is of clinical interest, as active surveillance strategies can be applied.

Purpose: To evaluate the inter-observer variation and diagnostic efficacy of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements obtained by DWI in small renal masses ≤4 cm (SRM).

Focused Dual-energy CT Maintains Diagnostic and Compositional Accuracy for Urolithiasis Using Ultralow-dose Noncontrast CT.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a new energy and radiation dose-reduced protocol for noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) with dual-energy CT (DECT) analysis and its potential for the compositional analysis of uric acid (UA)- or non-uric acid (N-UA)-containing calculi.

Methods: A retrospective evaluation was carried out in 61 patients who underwent dose-reduced DECT (tube A: 140 kV/55 mAs; tube B: 80 kV/303 mAs) with a tube current 38.8% lower than that set by the manufacturer.

Quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient measurements obtained by 3-Tesla MRI are correlated with biomarkers of bladder cancer proliferative activity.

Purpose: To investigate the association between Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values and cell cycle and proliferative biomarkers (p53, p21, Ki67,) in order to establish its potential role as a noninvasive biomarker for prediction of cell cycle, proliferative activity and biological aggressiveness in bladder cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients with bladder cancer who underwent 3,0 Tesla DW-MRI of the bladder before TUR-B or radical cystectomy were eligible for this prospective IRB-approved study. Histological specimen were immunohistochemically stained for the following markers: p53, p21 and ki67.

The cumulative analgesic consumption score (CACS): evaluation of a new score to describe postsurgical analgesic consumption as a surrogate parameter for postoperative pain and invasiveness of surgical procedures.

Objective: To validate and evaluate the applicability of a new score to describe postsurgical analgesic consumption in urological and surgical patients across different categories of pain medications and the invasiveness of medical interventions.

Materials And Methods: The cumulative analgesic consumption score (CACS) was determined for two cohorts of patients split into three groups with surgeries involving clinically distinct levels of invasiveness (n = 2 x 60). Nonparametric statistical analyses were performed to determine differences between the CACS among the different groups and to assess the correlation between CACS and numeric rating scale (NRS) values for pain intensity.

Prospective evaluation of diffusion-weighted MRI of the bladder as a biomarker for prediction of bladder cancer aggressiveness.

Objectives: To prospectively test the utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) for bladder cancer (BCA) staging and grading.

Methods And Materials: We prospectively enrolled 51 consecutive patients (median age = 64 y, range: 30-90y) with suspected BCA with or without gross hematuria who received 3-T DW-MRI before transurethral resection of the bladder. Parametric apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were automatically calculated from DW-MRI.

Prognostic value of tissue and circulating levels of IMP3 in prostate cancer.

Tissue levels of the oncofetal protein insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) messenger RNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) have been associated with poor prognosis in multiple human malignancies. However, its circulating levels have not yet been analyzed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of both serum and tissue levels of IMP3 in prostate cancer (PC).

Diagnosis of renal tumors by in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of choline measurements by in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MR spectroscopy) for diagnosis of renal masses.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with 29 renal lesions underwent prospectively preoperative 3 T MR spectroscopy of renal masses before diagnostic tissue confirmation. A respiratory-triggered single-voxel MR spectroscopy was performed in these masses using the point-resolved spectroscopy (TR, 2,000 ms, TE, 135 ms) sequence.