Variant histology is associated with more non-urothelial tract recurrence but less intravesical recurrence for upper tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy.

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic impact of variant histology (VH) on oncological outcomes in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Patients And Methods: A total of 1239 patients with clinically localized UTUC who underwent RNU at a single institution between January 2005 and June 2020 were included. The VH was reviewed by a uro-pathologist at our institution.

Association between Statin Use and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Propensity Score-weighted Analysis.

Purpose: Numerous studies have produced conflicting findings regarding the efficacy of statins in prostate cancer treatment. Our objective was to examine the correlation between statin usage and clinical outcomes in Taiwanese men with metastatic prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: We identified patients diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer from the Chang Gung Research Database spanning the years 2007 to 2020.

Prevalence and oncologic impact of chronic kidney disease for upper tract urothelial carcinoma in endemic area.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of preoperative chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the oncological outcomes of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who underwent standard radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Methods: A total of 1172 UTUC patients who received RNU at a single center in Taiwan between February 2005 and August 2019 were included. The patients were categorized into two groups based on their preoperative CKD stage: CKD stage ≤3 (811 patients) and CKD stage >3 (361 patients).

MicroRNA-145-5p suppresses cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in upper tract urothelial carcinoma by targeting 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/IMP cyclohydrolase.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), including renal, pelvic, and ureteral carcinoma, has a high incidence rate in Taiwan, which is different from that in Western countries. Therefore, it is imperative to elucidate the mechanisms underlying UTUC growth and metastasis. To explore the function of miR-145-5p in UTUC, we transfected the BFTC909 cell line with miR-145-5p mimics and analyzed the differences in protein levels by performing two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

VCAN Hypomethylation and Expression as Predictive Biomarkers of Drug Sensitivity in Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Versican (VCAN), also known as extracellular matrix proteoglycan 2, has been suggested as a potential biomarker in cancers. Previous research has found that VCAN is highly expressed in bladder cancer. However, its role in predicting outcomes for patients with upper urinary tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) is not well understood.

The prognostic impact of lymphovascular invasion for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: A propensity score-weighted analysis.

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) predicts poor survival in patients with pathologically localized or locally advanced upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UT-UC). However, LVI is associated with high tumor grade, tumor necrosis, advanced tumor stage, tumor location, concomitant carcinoma in situ, lymph node metastasis, and sessile tumor architecture. These factors might interfere with the analysis of the impact of LVI on oncological prognosis.

The lowest level of tumor involvement is a significant prognostic factor for upper tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy: A large retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic impact of the lowest level of tumor location for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Materials And Methods: Data were collected from patients with UTUC treated with RNU (01/2005- 06/2020) at a single center in Taiwan. Patients were stratified by the lowest level of tumor location into three groups: renal pelvis only (RPO), above upper ureter (AUU), and below upper ureter (BUU).

Evasion of NK cell immune surveillance the vimentin-mediated cytoskeleton remodeling.

Cancer immunotherapy uses the immune system to achieve therapeutic effects; however, its effect is still limited. Therefore, in addition to immune checkpoint-based treatment, the development of other strategies that can inhibit cancer cells from resisting immune cytotoxicity is important. There are currently few studies on the mechanism of tumors using cytoskeletal proteins reorganization to participate in immune escape.

DNA Hypomethylation Is Associated with the Overexpression of INHBA in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Urothelial carcinoma includes upper urinary tract cancer (UTUC) and bladder cancer. Although nephroureterectomy is the standard treatment for UTUC, the recurrence rate is approximately half and the tumor is associated with poor prognoses. Metastases are the most devastating and lethal clinical situation in urothelial carcinoma.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Enhances the Cisplatin Efficacy by Improving Tissue Infiltration and Cellular Uptake in an Upper Urinary Tract Cancer Animal and Human-Derived Organoid Model.

Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively rare cancer with a poor prognosis if diagnosed at an advanced stage. Although cisplatin-based chemotherapy is a common treatment strategy, it has a limited response rate. Shock wave lithotripsy is a common treatment for upper urinary tract stones.

Hypomethylated RRBP1 Potentiates Tumor Malignancy and Chemoresistance in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Ribosome-binding protein 1 (RRBP1) is a potential oncogene in several cancer types. However, the correlation between RRBP1 expression and the prognosis of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) remains unclear. In this study, we identified that RRBP1 is associated with carcinogenesis and metastasis in UTUC using a methylation profiling microarray.

The Prognostic Impact of Tumor Architecture for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Weighted Analysis.

Purpose: To assess the association of tumor architecture with cancer recurrence, metastasis, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: Data were collected from 857 patients treated with RNU between January 2005 and August 2016 in our hospital. Pathologic slides were reviewed by genitourinary pathologists.

Necrotizing fasciitis from an iliopsoas muscle abscess caused by a toothpick: A case report and literature review.

Introduction: Psoas muscle abscess is rare and can become more complicated to treat after they have progressed to necrotizing fasciitis. The data of secondary psoas muscle abscess cause by ingested toothpick are limited in the literature. We have done an extensive literature review and found a number of 8 cases (including our new case) of ingested toothpicks causing iliopsoas muscle abscess.

Preventive Role of mTOR Inhibitor in Post-Kidney Transplant Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: There is little evidence about whether mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor could prevent post-kidney transplant (KT) urothelial carcinoma (UC) or not. The aim of this study is to analyze the role of mTOR inhibitor add-on in tacrolimus-based kidney transplant recipients.

Method: The data were obtained from the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital using the Chang Gung Research Database and retrospectively reviewed from January 2000 to December 2015.

Tract creation using plasma vaporization versus metal dilatation in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Objectives: To share our 10-year experience of tract creation by using plasma vaporization compared with metal dilatation in percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 230 patients who had undergone 244 percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedures at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from January 2007 to December 2016, and divided the patients into the plasma (n = 130) and metal (n = 114) groups. All patients underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy by either a bipolar resectoscope mounted with a plasma vaporization button electrode or metal dilatation for tract creation.

Experience of percutaneous nephrolithotomy with the creation of nephrostomy tract by plasma vaporization.

Purpose: To share our 7-year experiences of a safe and effective method for tract creation in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Methods: A total of 143 patients had received this kind of method for renal stone disease at our institute from May 2010 to December 2016. Finally, 130 patients with complete data were included.

Perioperative Complications and Mortality in Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma and End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing One-Stage Complete Urinary Tract Extirpation.

Background: Complete urinary tract extirpation (CUTE) is a complex procedure with substantial risk for perioperative complications. The association between clinical characteristics and the risk of major postoperative complications has not been systematically investigated.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and risks for major perioperative complications after CUTE.