^(68)Gallium-labelled PSMA-PET/CT as a diagnostic and clinical decision-making tool in Asian prostate cancer patients following prostatectomy

Objective: Prostate cancers(PCa) in Asian individuals are molecularly distinct from those found in their Caucasian counterparts.There is no risk stratification tool for Asian men with rapid biochemical recurrence(BCR) following radical prostatectomy(Rad P). This study aims to assess the detection rate of ^(68)Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PSMA-PET/CT) for diagnosis of clinical recurrence and as a treatment decision making tool in Asian patients with BCR post-Rad P.Methods: ^(68)Ga PSMA-PET and CT body with/without bone scan [conventional workup(CWU)] were performed in 55 Asian patients with BCR within 36 months post-Rad P. Two blinded reviewers assessed the images. Detection rates of ^(68)Ga PSMAPET/CT were evaluated, and impact on management was reviewed by comparison with CWU.Results: Median time to BCR post-Rad P was 8.1 months. Detection rate for ^(68)Ga PSMA-PET/CT was 80%(44/55). A positive scan was significantly associated with increasing prostate-specific antigen(PSA) level [odds ratio(OR) = 1.13(95% CI 1.05–1.30), P =0.017], but not with higher Gleason grade or shorter PSA doubling time. Compared to CWU, ^(68)Ga PSMA-PET/CT detected an additional 106 lesions in 33/44 patients with a positive scan, resulting in a change in management in 25/44(56.8%) patients: 10 to hormonal therapy(HT) and whole pelvis radiotherapy(RT) in addition to bed RT, and 15 to palliative HT alone.Conclusions: In the present report, we demonstrated the diagnostic and treatment decision utility of ^(68)Ga PSMA-PET/CT in Asian men with rapid BCR. Detection of small volume nodal and systemic recurrences at low PSA levels(< 1.0 ng/mL) highlights the role of the tool in assigning patients to treatment intensification with HT-RT or palliative HT in polymetastatic disease.

Multiparametric MRI reporting using Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.0 (PI-RADSv2) retains clinical efficacy in a predominantly post-biopsy patient population

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging(mp-MRI)using Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.0(PI-RADSv2)definitions in detecting organ-confined prostate cancer.Methods:All patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between January 1,2014 and December 30,2014 were identified.All underwent mp-MRI within 180 days before surgery.Those with prior pelvic irradiation or androgen deprivation therapy were excluded.Fully embedded,whole-mount histopathology was centrally reviewed and correlated with imaging for tumour location,Gleason score(GS)and stage.Results:There were 39 patients included,of which 35(90%)had mp-MRI done post-biopsy.A total of 93 cancer foci were identified on whole-mount pathology,of which mp-MRI detected 63(68%).Of those detected by mp-MRI,14 were PI-RADS 3(n=6 for GS 6,n=8 for GS 7,no GS≥8)and 49 were PI-RADS 4e5(nZ7 for GS 6,nZ33 for GS 7,and nZ9 for GS≥8).There were 30(32%)cancer foci missed by mp-MRI(n=15 for GS 6,n=13 for GS 7 and n=2 for GS≥8).A lesion classified as PI-RADS 4e5 predicted a higher grade cancer on pathology as compared to PI-RADS 3(for GS 7 lesions,odds ratio[OR]=3.53,95%CI:0.93e13.45,p=0.064).The mp-MRI size detection limit was 20 mm2 and 100 mm2 for 50%and 75%probability of cancer,respectively.In associating with radiological and pathologic stage,the weighted Kappa value was 0.69(p<0.0001).The sensitivity and positive predictive values for this study were 68%(95%CI:57%e77%)and 78%(95%CI:67%e86%),respectively.Conclusion:In this predominantly post-biopsy cohort,mp-MRI using PI-RADSv2 reporting has a reasonably high diagnostic accuracy in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer.

Critical evaluation of contemporary management in a new Pelvic Exenteration Unit: The first 25 consecutive cases

AIM To critically appraise short-term outcomes in patientstreated in a new Pelvic Exenteration(PE) Unit.METHODS This retrospective observational study was conducted by analysing prospectively collected data for the first 25 patients(16 males, 9 females) who underwent PE for advanced pelvic tumours in our PE Unit between January 2012 and October 2016. Data evaluated included age, co-morbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) score, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG) status, preoperative adjuvant treatment, intra-operative blood loss, procedural duration, perioperative adverse event, lengths of intensive care unit(ICU) stay and hospital stay, and oncological outcome. Quantitative data were summarized as percentage or median and range, and statistically assessed by the χ~2 test or Fisher's exact test, as applicable.RESULTS All 25 patients received comprehensive preoperative assessment via our dedicated multidisciplinary team approach. Long-course neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was provided, if indicated. The median age of the patients was 61.9-year-old. The median ASA and ECOG scores were 2 and 0, respectively. The indications for PE were local y invasive rectal adenocarcinoma(n = 13), advanced colonic adenocarcinoma(n = 5), recurrent cervical carcinoma(n = 3) and malignant sacral chordoma(n = 3). The procedures comprised 10 total PEs, 4 anterior PEs, 7 posterior PEs and 4 isolated lateral PEs. The median follow-up period was 17.6 mo. The median operative time was 11.5 h. The median volume of blood loss was 3306 mL, and the median volume of red cell transfusion was 1475 mL. The median lengths of ICU stay and of hospital stay were 1 d and 21 d, respectively. There was no case of mortality related to surgery. There were a total of 20 surgical morbidities, which occurred in 12 patients. The majority of the complications were grade 2 Clavien-Dindo. Only 2 patients experienced grade 3 Clavien-Dindo complications, and both required procedural interventions. One patient experienced grade 4a Clavien-Dindo complication, requiring temporary renal dialysis without long-term disability. The R0 resection rate was 64%. There were 7 post-exenteration recurrences during the follow-up period. No statistically significant relationship was found among histological origin of tumour, microscopic resection margin status and postoperative recurrence(P = 0.67). Four patients died from sequelae of recurrent disease during follow-up.CONCLUSION By utilizing modern assessment and surgical techniques, our PE Unit can manage complex pelvic cancers with acceptable morbidities, zero-rate mortality and equivalent oncologic outcomes.

The impact of urological resection and reconstruction on patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Objective:Cytoreductive surgery(CRS)and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC)are increasingly being used to treat peritoneal malignancies.Urological resections and reconstruction(URR)are occasionally performed during the surgery.We aim to evaluate the impact of these procedures on peri-operative outcomes of CRS and HIPEC patients.Methods:A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of all patients who underwent CRS-HIPEC from April 2001 to February 2016 was performed.Outcomes between patients who had surgery involving,and not involving URR were compared.Primary outcomes were the rate of major complications and the duration of stay in the intensive care unit(ICU)and hospital.Secondary outcomes were that of overall survival(OS)and prognostic factors that would indicate a need for URR.Results:A total of 214 CRS-HIPEC were performed,21 of which involved a URR.Baseline clinical characteristics did not vary between the groups(URR vs.No URR).Urological resections comprised of 52%bladder resections,24%ureteric resections,and 24%involving both bladder and ureteric resections.All bladder defects were closed primarily while ureteric reconstructions consisted of two end-to-end anastomoses,one ureto-uretostomy,five direct implantations into the bladder and three boari flaps.URR were more frequently required in patients with colorectal peritoneal disease(p Z 0.029),but was not associated with previous pelvic surgery(76%vs.54%,p Z 0.065).Patients with URR did not suffer more serious complications(14%vs.24%,p Z 0.42).ICU(2.2 days vs.1.4 days,p Z 0.51)and hospital stays(18 days vs.25 days,p Z 0.094)were not significantly affected.Undergoing a URR did not affect OS(p Z 0.99),but was associated with increased operation time(570 min vs.490 min,p Z 0.046).Conclusion:While concomitant URR were associated with an increase in operation time,there were no significant differences in postoperative complications or OS.Patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases are more likely to require a URR compared to other primary tumours,and needs to be considered during pre-operative planning.

Transcriptomic analyses of localized prostate cancers of East Asian and North American men reveal race-specific luminal-basal and microenvironmental differences

Dear editor,Prostate cancer(PCa)remains a major healthcare burden in men globally[1].Most patients present with localized disease,and treatment is recommended based on risk classification systems like the National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN)[2].However,these methods are imprecise for estimating metastasis-free survival and prostate cancer-specific mortality and thus biomarkers that can predict tumor aggression are needed[3–5].Several studies have since characterized the molecular landscape of localized PCa in White[4,5]and Black/African-American men[6],but data is lacking in Asian men.The Chinese Prostate Cancer Genome and Epigenome Atlas(CPGEA)reported on the genomic and epigenomic landscape of 208 PCa of men from China[7].Comparative analyses between the CPGEA cohort and data from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)revealed higher frequencies of Forkhead box A1(FOXA1)and chromodomain-helicase DNA-binding 1(CHD1)mutations,and lower frequencies of phosphatase and tensin homolog(PTEN)mutations and transmembrane protease serine 2-E26 transformationspecific related gene(TMPRSS2-ERG)fusion in Chinese compared with White men[7].These preliminary findings highlight the presence of race-specific differences in molecular phenotypes of PCa.