Cytoreductive radical prostatectomy after chemohormonal therapy in patients with primary metastatic prostate cancer

Objective:Cytoreductive radical prostatectomy(cRP)has been proposed as local treatment option in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer(mHSPC)to prevent local complications and potentially improve oncological outcomes.In this study,we examined the feasibility of a multimodal concept with primary chemohormonal therapy followed by cRP and analyzed prostate size reduction under systemic treatment,postoperative complication rates,as well as early postoperative continence.Methods:In this retrospective study,38 patients with mHSPC underwent cRP after primary chemohormonal therapy(3-monthly luteinising hormone-releasing hormone-analogue+six cycles 3-weekly docetaxel 75 mg/m2)at two centers between September 2015 and December 2018.Results:Overall,10(26%)patients had high volume and 28(74%)patients had low volume disease at diagnosis,according to CHAARTED definition.Median prostate-specific antigen(PSA)decreased from 65 ng/mL(interquartile range[IQR]35.0-124.5 ng/mL)pre-chemotherapy to 1 ng/mL(IQR 0.3-1.7 ng/mL)post-chemotherapy.Prostate gland volume was significantly reduced by a median of 50%(IQR 29%-56%)under chemohormonal therapy(p=0.003).Postoperative histopathology showed seminal vesicle invasion in 33(87%)patients and negative surgical margins in 17(45%)patients.Severe complications(Grade 3 according to Clavien-Dindo)were observed in 4(11%)patients within 30 days.Continence was reached in 87%of patients after 1 month and in 92%of patients after 6 months.Median time to castration-resistance from begin of chemohormonal therapy was 41.1 months and from cRP was 35.9 months.Postoperative PSA-nadir≤1 ng/mL versus>1 ng/mL was a significant predictor of time to castration-resistance after cRP(median not reached versus 5.3 months;p<0.0001).Conclusion:We observed a reduction of prostate volume under chemohormonal therapy going along with a low postoperative complication and high early continence rate.However,the oncologic benefit from cRP is still under evaluation.

Multimodal therapy in oligometastatic prostate cancer: A glimpse into the future?

Dear editor,Since the introduction of radiotracer-labeled prostatespecific membrane antigen(PSMA)targeting positron emission tomography(PET),imaging of prostate cancer(PCa)improved drastically[1,2].Subsequently,metastases may be detected in earlier stages with possible implications on treatment planning[3].Here,we described the multimodal treatment approach on a young patient with newly diagnosed metastatic PCa conducted according to the results of repeated PSMAePET imaging.

The association of type and number of high-risk criteria with cancer-specific mortality in prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy

Objectives:This study aimed to test the association between of type and number of D'Amico high-risk criteria(DHRCs)with cancer-specific mortality(CSM)in high-risk prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy.Materials and methods:In the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database(2004–2016),we identified 31,281 radical prostatectomy patients with at least 1 DHRC,namely,prostate-specific antigen(PSA)>20 ng/mL(hrPSA),biopsy Gleason Grade Group(hrGGG)score of 4 and 5,or clinical tumor stage≥T3(hrcT).Multivariable Cox regression models and competing risks regression models(adjusting for other cause mortality)tested the association between DHRCs and 5-year CSM.Results:Of 31,281 patients,14,394(67%)exclusively harbored hrGGG,3189(15%)harbored hrPSA,and 1781(8.2%)harbored hrcT.Only 2132 patients(6.8%)harbored a combination of the 2 DHRCs,and 138(0.6%)had all 3 DHRCs.Five-year CSMrates ranged from 0.9%to 3.0%when any individual DHRC was present(hrcT,hrPSA,and hrGGG,in that order),1.6%to 5.9%when 2 DHRCs were present(hrPSA-hrcT,hrcT-hrGGG,and hrPSA-hrGGG,in that order),and 8.1%when all 3 DHRCs were present.Cox regression models and competing risks regression confirmed the independent predictor status of DHRCs for 5-year CSM that was observed in univariable analyses,with hazard ratios from 1.00 to 2.83 for 1 DHRC,2.35 to 5.88 for combinations of 2 DHRCs,and 7.13 for all 3 DHRCs.Conclusions:Within individual DHRCs,hrcT and hrPSA exhibited weaker effects than hrGGG did.Moreover,a dose-response effect was identified according to the number of DHRCs.Accordingly,the type and number of DHRCs allow further risk stratification within the high-risk subgroup.

Comparison of survival outcomes between laparoscopic versus open radical nephroureterectomy in upper tract urothelial cancer patients:Experiences of a tertiary care single center

Objectives:To test for differences in overall and recurrence-free survival between laparoscopic and open surgical approaches in patients undergoing radical nephroureterectomy(RNU)for upper tract urothelial carcinoma(UTUC).Materials and methods:We retrospectively identified patients treated for UTUC from 2010 to 2020 from our institutional database.Patients undergoing laparoscopic or open RNU with no suspicion of metastasis(cM0)were for the current study population.Patients with suspected metastases at diagnosis(cM1)or those undergoing other surgical treatments were excluded.Tabulation was performed according to the laparoscopic versus open surgical approach.Kaplan-Meier plots were used to test for differences in overall and recurrence-free survival with regard to the surgical approach.Furthermore,separate Kaplan-Meier plots were used to test the effect of preoperative ureterorenoscopy on overall and recurrence-free survival within the overall study cohort.Results:Of the 59 patients who underwent nephroureterectomy,29%(n=17)underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy,whereas 71%(n=42)underwent open nephroureterectomy.Patient and tumor characteristics were comparable between groups(p≥0.2).The median overall survival was 93 and 73 months in the laparoscopic nephroureterectomy group compared to the open nephroureterectomy group(p=0.5),respectively.The median recurrence-free survival did not differ between open and laparoscopic nephroureterectomies(73 months for both groups;p=0.9).Furthermore,the median overall and recurrence-free survival rates did not differ between patients treated with and without preoperative ureterorenoscopy.Conclusions:The results of this retrospective,single-center institution showed that overall and recurrence-free survival rates did not differ between patients with UTUC treated with laparoscopic and open RNU.Furthermore,preoperative ureterorenoscopy before RNU was not associated with higher overall or recurrence-free survival rates.

Differences in rates of pelvic lymph node dissection in National Comprehensive Cancer Network favorable,unfavorable intermediate-and high-risk prostate cancer across United States SEER registries

Background:The National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN)guidelines recommend pelvic lymph node dissection(PLND)in NCCN high-and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients.We tested for PLND nonadherence(no-PLND)rates within the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results(2010-2015).Materials and methods:We identified all radical prostatectomy patients who fulfilled the NCCN PLND guideline criteria(n=23,495).Nonadherence rates to PLND were tabulated and further stratified according to NCCN risk subgroups,race/ethnicity,geographic distribution,and year of diagnosis.Results:Overall,the no-PLND rate was 26%;it was 41%,25%,and 11%in the NCCN intermediate favorable,intermediate unfavorable,and high-risk prostate cancer patients,respectively(p<0.001).Overtime,the no-PLND rates declined in the overall cohort and within each NCCN risk subgroup.Georgia exhibited the highest no-PLND rate(49%),whereas New Jersey exhibited the lowest(15%).Finally,no-PLND race/ethnicity differences were recorded only in the NCCN intermediate unfavorable subgroup,where Asians exhibited the lowest no-PLND rate(20%)versus African Americans(27%)versus Whites(26%)versus Hispanic-Latinos(25%).Conclusions:The lowest no-PLND rates were recorded in the NCCN high-risk patients followed by NCCN intermediate unfavorable and favorable risk in that order.Our findings suggest that unexpectedly elevated differences in no-PLND rates warrant further examination.In all the NCCN risk subgroups,the no-PLND rates decreased over time.

Radical prostatectomy in patients aged 75 years or older:review of the literature

Given the demographic trends toward a considerably longer life expectancy,the percentage of elderly patients with prostate cancer will increase further in the upcoming decades.Therefore,the question arises,should patients ≥75 years old be offered radical prostatectomy and under which circumstances? For treatment decision-making,life expectancy is more important than biological age.As a result,a patient's health and mental status has to be determined and radical treatment should only be offered to those who are fit.As perioperative morbidity and mortality in these patients is increased relative to younger patients,patient selection according to comorbidities is a key issue that needs to be addressed.It is known from the literature that elderly men show notably worse tumor characteristics,leading to worse oncologic outcomes after treatment.Moreover,elderly patients also demonstrate worse postoperative recovery of continence and erectile function.As the absolute rates of both oncological and functional outcomes are still very reasonable in patients ≥75 years,a radical prostatectomy can be offered to highly selected and healthy elderly patients. Nevertheless,patients clearly need to be informed about the worse outcomes and higher perioperative risks compared to younger patients.