Bilateral lymph node micrometastases and seminal vesicle invasion associated with same clinical predictors in localized prostate cancer

Relative impact of lymph-node metastasis and seminal vesical invasion on oncologic outcomes following radical prostatectomy

BACKGROUND

While both seminal vesicle (SVI) and lymph-node invasion (LNI) have been identified as adverse prognostic variables among men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP), the relative impact of each of these features on subsequent oncologic outcomes has not been well defined. We assessed the impact of LNI on long-term oncologic outcomes among patients with SVI at RP.

METHODS

We reviewed 19,519 patients who underwent RP and identified 2043 with SVI. Metastasis-free (MFS), cancer-specific (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were estimated for patients with SVI, stratified by the presence and number of pelvic lymph node metastases. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the independent association of the number of metastatic nodes and lymph node density with oncologic outcomes among patients with SVI, controlling for age, year of surgery, margin status, preoperative PSA, pathologic Gleason score, extraprostatic extension, and use of adjuvant therapies.

RESULTS

At a median follow up of 12.1 years (IQR 7.0,18.6), 548 patients developed metastatic disease and 1331 died, including 406 who died from prostate cancer (PCa). We found that, among patients with SVI, the presence of a single positive lymph node was not associated with incrementally adverse oncologic outcomes compared to no nodal metastasis at RP, with 10-year MFS, CSS, and OS rates of 81.3% versus 78.3%(p = 0.18), 86.5% versus 89.8%(p = 0.32), and 72.8% versus 76.7%(p = 0.53), respectively. In contrast, on multivariable analyses, the presence of ≥2 metastatic nodes and a 20% lymph-node density cut off remained independently associated with worse survival.

CONCLUSIONS

SVI represents an adverse pathologic feature such that the presence of a single positive pelvic lymph node did not further adversely impact prognosis. Meanwhile, a significant number of involved nodes was associated with decreased survival. These findings may aid in risk-stratification as well as clinical trial design for such high-risk patients following surgery.

Predictors of complications occurring after open and robot-assisted prostate cancer surgery: a retrospective evaluation of 1062 consecutive patients treated in a tertiary referral high volume center

To investigate factors associated with the risk of major complications after radical prostatectomy (RP) by the open (ORP) or robot-assisted (RARP) approach for prostate cancer (PCa) in a tertiary referral center. 1062 consecutive patients submitted to RP were prospectively collected. The following outcomes were addressed: (1) overall postoperative complications: subjects with Clavien-Dindo System (CD) one through five versus cases without any complication; (2) moderate to major postoperative complications: cases with CD < 2 vs.  ≥ 2, and 3) major post-operative complications: subjects with CDS CD ≥  3 vs.  < 3. The association of pre-operative and intra-operative factors with the risk of postoperative complications was assessed by the logistic regression model. Overall, complications occurred in 310 out of 1062 subjects (29.2%). Major complications occurred in 58 cases (5.5%). On multivariate analysis, major complications were predicted by PCa surgery and intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL). ORP compared to RARP increased the risk of major CD complications from 2.8 to 19.3% (OR = 8283; p < 0.0001). Performing ePLND increased the risk of major complications from 2.4 to 7.4% (OR = 3090; p < 0.0001). Assessing intraoperative blood loss, the risk of major postoperative complications was increased by BL above the third quartile when compared to subjects with intraoperative blood loss up to the third quartile (10.2% vs. 4.6%; OR = 2239; 95%CI: 1233-4064). In the present cohort, radical prostatectomy showed major postoperative complications that were independently predicted by the open approach, extended lymph-node dissection, and excessive intraoperative blood loss.

High body mass index predicts multiple prostate cancer lymph node metastases after radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection

Our aim is to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and preoperative total testosterone (TT) levels with the risk of single and multiple metastatic lymph node invasion (LNI) in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection. Preoperative BMI, basal levels of TT, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were evaluated in 361 consecutive patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with extended pelvic lymph node dissection between 2014 and 2017. Patients were grouped into either nonmetastatic, one, or more than one metastatic lymph node invasion groups. The association among clinical factors and LNI was evaluated. LNI was detected in 52 (14.4%) patients: 28 (7.8%) cases had one metastatic node and 24 (6.6%) had more than one metastatic node. In the overall study population, BMI correlated inversely with TT (r = −0.256; P < 0.0001). In patients without metastases, BMI inversely correlated with TT (r = −0.282; P < 0.0001). In patients with metastasis, this correlation was lost. In the overall study population, BMI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.268; P = 0.005) was the only independent clinical factor associated with the risk of multiple metastatic LNI compared to cases with one metastatic node. In the nonmetastatic group, TT was lower in patients with BMI >28 kg m⁻² (P < 0.0001). In patients with any LNI, this association was lost (P = 0.232). The median number of positive nodes was higher in patients with BMI >28 kg m⁻² (P = 0.048). In our study, overweight and obese patients had a higher risk of harboring multiple prostate cancer lymph node metastases and lower TT levels when compared to patients with normal BMI.

The prognostic nomogram including MRI for locally advanced prostate cancer treated by radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To establish the prognostic nomogram for locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPC) patients treated by radical prostatectomy (RP) based on clinical and multiparametric-MRI (mp-MRI) metrics.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty-one patients diagnosed with LAPC were included in this study. They were all examined by mp-MRI within one week before surgery and treated by RP (36 with RP alone, 48 with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) and 37 with neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy (NCHT)). The biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine prognostic factors that were related with bPFS. The prognostic nomogram was established by factors that were significant in multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The median bPFS had significant difference in the subgroup of treatment (RP alone: 2 [0.00-5.04] vs. NHT: 9.3 [6.746-11.854] vs. NCHT: 11.17 [0.000-25.075] months [Log rank p < .001]), the subgroup of hyperintensity within prostate in DWI (negative: 15.97 [11.202-20.731] vs. positive: 5.2 [2.952-7.448] months [Log rank p < .001]) and the subgroup of pelvic lymph node metastasis (negative: 10.2 [8.404-11.996] vs. unilateral: 4.43 [0.000-11.086] vs. Bilateral: 1.83 [0.636~3.031] [Log rank p < .001]). The method of treatment (hazards ratio [HR], 0.566; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.356-0.899; p = .016), hyperintensity within prostate in DWI (HR, 2.539; 95% CI, 1.349-4.779; p = .004) and the metastasis burden of pelvic lymph node (HR, 2.492; 95% CI, 1.645-3.777; p < .001) were identified as independent predictors with significance in multivariable Cox regression analysis. The nomogram was established based on these three factors.

CONCLUSION

We established a nomogram based on three significant prognosis factors including the neoadjuvant therapeutic schedule, hyperintensity within prostate in DWI and the metastasis burden of pelvic lymph nodes, which were associated with the clinical outcomes in LAPC patients after surgery.

The Influence of Endogenous Testosterone on Incidental Prostate Cancer after Transurethral Prostate Resection

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that endogenous total testosterone (TT) may relate to incidental prostate cancer (iPCA) in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with prostate enlargement undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

METHODS

The hypothesis was tested in contemporary cohort of patients who underwent TURP because of LUTS due to prostate enlargement after excluding the suspect of PCA. In period running from January 2017 to November 2019, 389 subjects were evaluated. Endogenous testosterone was measured preoperatively between 8:00 and 10:00 o'clock in the morning. Relationships between TT and iPCA were evaluated by statistical methods.

RESULTS

Overall, iPCA was detected in 18 cases (4.6%) with clinical stage cT1a or International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) < 2 in 11 patients (61.1%). Endogenous testosterone was inversely associated with age and BMI in the study population but not in the subgroup with iPCA in wholly endogenous TT strongly correlated to both number of chips involved by cancer (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r = 0.553; p = 0.017) and ISUP > 2 (r = 0.504; p = 0.033). The positive association of endogenous TT with both tumor load and tumor grade was confirmed by the linear regression model with high-regression coefficients for the former (regression coefficient, b = 0.307; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI: 0.062-0.551; and p = 0.017) as for the latter (b = 5.898; 95% CI: 0.546-11.249; and p = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative endogenous TT is associated with features of iPCA. The influence of iPCA on endogenous testosterone needs to be addressed by a large multicenter prospective trial.

Endogenous testosterone mirrors prostate cancer aggressiveness: correlation between basal testosterone serum levels and prostate cancer European Urology Association clinical risk classes in a large cohort of Caucasian patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between basal total testosterone (TT) levels with the European Association of Urology (EAU) risk classes at the time of diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCA).

METHODS

A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was carried out between November 2014 and March 2018. Preoperative basal TT levels and PSA were measured in 601 consecutive Caucasian patients who were not under androgen deprivation and undergoing surgery at a tertiary referral center. Patients were classified into low (reference group), intermediate- and high-risk/locally advanced classes. The multinomial logistic regression model evaluated associations of TT and other clinical factors with EAU risk classes.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty four patients (24%) were low risk, 316 (52.6%) were intermediate, 199 (16.5%) were high risk and 42 (7%) were locally advanced. Median circulating basal TT levels increased along EAU classes. TT, PSA, percentage of biopsy-positive cores and tumor clinical stage were independently associated with the high-risk class (odds ratio, OR = 1.002; p = 0.030) but were not associated with intermediate-risk or locally advanced PCA when compared to the low-risk class. TT above the median value was an independent predictor of high-risk class PCA.

CONCLUSIONS

Basal TT levels are positively associated with low, intermediate and high EAU risk classes. The association is significant for the high-risk class when compared to the low-risk group, but was lost in locally advanced risk class. In PCA patients, high TT serum levels are associated with high-risk disease. Endogenous TT should be considered as a biological marker for assessing EAU PCA risk classes.

Incidental prostate cancer after transurethral resection of the prostate: analysis of incidence and risk factors in 458 patients

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of incidental prostate cancer (IPCA) in a contemporary cohort of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) patients who underwent trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

METHODS

A series of 458 consecutive patients who underwent TURP were evaluated between January 2016 to June 2018. Evaluated factors included age (years), Body Mass Index (BMI; kg/square meters), treatment with inhibitors of 5-alpha reductase, previous prostate biopsies, basal prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels (ng/mL), serum leukocyte count (×10⁹/L), weight of resected prostate tissue (grams), grade and stage of IPCA. The multivariate logistic regression model evaluated associations of significant clinical factors with the risk of IPCA.

RESULTS

Overall, IPCA was detected in 30 of 454 patients (6.6%). A mean of 21.8 g of tissue was resected. The mean number of positive chips was 5.6 (mean percentage 3.9%) with tumor grade group 1 in 22 cases (73.4%) and tumor stage cT1a in 23 patients (76.7%). On multivariate analysis, independent factors that were positively associated with the risk of IPCA were BMI (odds ratio, OR=1.121; P=0.017) and leukocyte count (OR=1.144; P=0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

In a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing TURP for the treatment of LUTS, the risk of IPCA was not negligible with a rate of being 6.6%. BMI and serum leukocyte count were found to be independent factors that were positively associated with the risk of IPCA.

Predictive Factors of the Risk of Long-Term Hospital Readmission after Primary Prostate Surgery at a Single Tertiary Referral Center: Preliminary Report

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the predictors of the risk of long-term hospital readmission after radical prostatectomy (RP) in a single tertiary referral center where both open RP (ORP) and robot assisted RP (RARP) are performed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The risk of readmission was evaluated by clinical, pathological, and perioperative factors. Skilled and experienced surgeons performed the 2 surgical approaches. Patients were followed for complications and hospital readmission for a period of 6 months. The association of factors with the risk of readmission was assessed by Cox's multivariate proportional hazards.

RESULTS

From December 2013 to 2017, 885 patients underwent RP. RARP was performed in 733 cases and ORP in 152 subjects. Extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) was performed in 479 patients. Hospital readmission was detected in 46 cases (5.2%). Using a multivariate model, independent factors associated with the risk of hospital readmission were seminal vesicle invasion (hazard ratio [HR] 2.065; 95% CI 1.116-3.283; p = 0.021), ORP (HR 3.506; 95% CI 1.919-6.405; p < 0.0001), and ePLND (HR 5.172; 95% CI 1.778-15.053; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large single tertiary referral center, independent predictors of the risk of long-term hospital readmission after RP included ORP, ePLND, and seminal vesicle invasion. When surgery is chosen as a primary treatment of PCA, patients should be informed of the risk of long-term hospital readmission and its related risk factors.

The impact of extended pelvic lymph node dissection on the risk of hospital readmission within 180 days after robot assisted radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the factors associated with the risk of hospital readmission after robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with or without extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) for prostate cancer (PCA) over a long term.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The risk of readmission was evaluated by clinical, pathological, and perioperative factors. Skilled and experienced surgeons performed the procedures. Patients were followed for complications and hospital readmission for a period of six months. The logistic regression model and Cox's proportional hazards assessed the association of factors with the risk of readmission.

RESULTS

From January 2013 to December 2018, 890 patients underwent RARP; ePLND was performed in 495 of these patients. Hospital readmission was detected in 25 cases (2.8%); moreover, it was more frequent when RARP was performed with ePLND (4.4% of cases) than without (0.8% of patients). On the final multivariate model, ePLND was the only independent factor that was positively associated with the risk of hospital readmission (hazard ratio, HR = 5935; 95%CI 1777-19,831; p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Over the long term after RARP for PCA, the risk of hospital readmission is associated with ePLND. In patients who underwent RARP and ePLND, 4.4% of them had a readmission, compared to RARP alone, in which only 0.8% of cases had a readmission. When ePLND is planned for staging pelvic lymph nodes, patients should be informed of the increased risk of hospital readmission.

Linear extent of positive surgical margin impacts biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in a high-volume center

The objective of this study is to evaluate if surgeon volume and stratifying positive surgical margins (PSM) into focal and non-focal may differentially impact the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Between January 2013 and December 2017, 732 consecutive patients were evaluated. The population included negative cases (control group) and PSM subjects (study group). PSMs were stratified as focal (≤ 1 mm) or non-focal (> 1 mm). A logistic regression model assessed the independent association of factors with the risk of PSM. The risk of BCR of PSM and other factors was assessed by Cox's multivariate proportional hazards. Overall, 192 (26.3%) patients had PSM focal in 133 patients; non-focal in 59 cases. Focal PSM was associated with the percentage of biopsy positive cores (BPC; OR 1.011; p = 0.015), extra-capsular extension (pT3a stage; OR 2.064; p = 0.016), seminal vesicle invasion (pT3b; OR 2.150; p = 0.010), body mass index (odds ratio, OR 0.914; p = 0.006), and high surgeon volume (OR 0.574; p = 0.006). BPC (OR 1.013; p = 0.044), pT3a (OR 4.832; p < 0.0001) and pT3b stage (OR 5.153; p = 0.001) were independent predictors of the risk of non-focal PSM. Surgeon volume was not a predictor of non-focal PSM (p = 0.224). Independent factors associated with the risk of BCR were baseline PSA (hazard ratio, HR 1.064; p = 0.004), BPC (HR 1.015; p = 0.027), ISUP biopsy grade group (BGG) 2/3 (HR 2.966; p 0.003) and BGG 4/5 (HR 3.122; p = 0.022) pathologic grade group 4/5 (HR 3.257; p = 0.001), pT3b (HR 2.900; p = 0.003), and non-focal PSM (HR 2.287; p = 0.012). Surgeon volume was not a predictor of BCR (p = 0.253). High surgeon volume is an independent factor that lowers the risk of focal PSM. Surgeon volume does not affect non-focal PSM and BCR. Negative as well as focal PSM are not associated with BCR.

Positive Association between Preoperative Total Testosterone and Lymph Node Invasion in Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer

Introduction

Prostate cancer (PCa) patients who are classified into the intermediate risk category represent a heterogeneous population needing further preoperative risk assessment.

Objectives

To evaluate clinical total testosterone (TT) associations with lymph node invasion (LNI) in intermediate risk PCa.

Material and Methods

Between November 2014 and July 2016, intermediate risk PCa was assessed in 154 patients who underwent extended pelvic lymph node dissection if the risk of LNI was higher than 5%. Clinical factors associated with the risk LNI were investigated by the multinomial logistic regression model.

Results

The risk of LNI was assessed higher than 5% in 40.9% of cases of whom 15.5% had LNI. In the multivariate model, the risk of LNI was independently increased by prostate specific antigen (OR = 1.185; p = 0.021) and TT (OR = 1.004; p = 0.036). As a result, TT was an independent factor that associated with LNI because it increased the risk of LNI by 4% for each increment unit of TT.

Conclusion

Preoperative TT independently increased the risk of LNI in the intermediate risk class of PCa patients elected to radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection. TT might be a useful preoperative factor for stratifying intermediate risk patients because of the positive association of TT with high grade tumors.

High surgeon volume and positive surgical margins can predict the risk of biochemical recurrence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

Background:

The aim of this study was to determine whether any clinical factors are independent predictors of positive surgical margins (PSM), and to assess the association of PSM and biochemical recurrence (BR) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Methods:

The population included cases with negative surgical margins (control group) and patients with PSM (study group). Tumor grade was evaluated according to the International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) system. A logistic regression model assessed the independent association of factors with the risk of PSM. The risk of BR was assessed by Cox’s multivariate proportional hazards.

Results:

A total of 732 consecutive patients were evaluated. Extend pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) was performed in 342 cases (46.7%). Overall, 192 cases (26.3%) had PSM. The risk of PSM was positively associated with the percentage of biopsy positive cores (BPC; odds ratio, OR = 1.012; p = 0.004), extracapsular extension (pT3a; OR=2.702; p < 0.0001), invasion of seminal vesicle (pT3b; OR = 2.889; p < 0.0001), but inversely with body mass index (OR = 0.936; p = 0.021), and high surgeon volume (OR = 0.607; p = 0.006). Independent clinical factors associated with the risk of BR were baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA; hazard ratio, HR = 1.064; p = 0.004), BPC (HR = 1.015; p = 0.027), ISUP biopsy grade group (BGG) 2/3 (HR = 2.966; p = 0.003), and BGG 4/5 (HR = 3.122; p = 0.022). Pathologic factors associated with the risk of BR were ISUP group 4/5 (HR = 3.257; p = 0.001), pT3b (HR = 2.900; p = 0.003), and PSM (HR = 2.096; p = 0.045).

Conclusions:

In our cohort, features related to host, tumor, and surgeon volume are associated with the risk of PSM, which is also an independent parameter predicting BR after RARP. The surgical volume of the operating surgeon is an independent factor that decreases the risk of PSM, and, as such, the risk of BR.

Body Mass Index and prostatic-specific antigen are predictors of prostate cancer metastases in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors contributing to multiple lymph node invasion (LNI) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) during robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

METHODS

A total of 211 patients who underwent RARP and ePNLD from June 2013 to March 2017 were classified according to lymph node status in the surgical specimen (absent, single or multiple). Risk factors of LNI were evaluated by the multinomial logistic regression model. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the efficacy of factors and model evaluation.

RESULTS

On multivariate analysis, the risk of multiple LNI, was independently increased by Body Mass Index (BMI) (odds ratio [OR] 1.194; P=0.026) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (OR=1.089; P=0.014) when compared to patients without LNI. ROC curves indicated that both BMI (AUC=0.702) and PSA (AUC=0.732) had fair discrimination power. For each unit of increase in PSA, the odds of multiple lymph node invasion increased by 8.9% and for each unit increase of BMI, the odds of multiple LNI increased by 19.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of multiple LNI was independently predicted by PSA and BMI with fair discrimination power.

Prostate volume index and prostatic chronic inflammation predicted low tumor load in 945 patients at baseline prostate biopsy

PURPOSE

To assess associations of prostate volume index (PVI), defined as the ratio of the volume of the central transition zone to the volume of the peripheral zone of the prostate and prostatic chronic inflammation (PCI) as predictors of tumor load by number of positive cores (PC) in patients undergoing baseline random biopsies.

METHODS

Parameters evaluated included age, PSA, total prostate volume, PSA density, digital rectal exam, PVI, and PCI. All patients underwent standard transperineal random biopsies. Tumor load was evaluated as absent (no PC), limited (1-3 PC), and extensive (more than 3 PC). The association of factors with the risk of tumor load was evaluated by the multinomial logistic regression model.

RESULTS

The study evaluated 945 patients. Cancer PC were detected in 477 (507%) cases of whom 207 (43.4%) had limited tumor load and 270 (56.6%) had extensive tumor load. Among other factors, comparing patients with limited tumor load with negative cases, PVI [odds ratio, OR = 0.521, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.330-0.824; p < 0.005] and PCI (OR = 0.289, 95% CI 0.180-0.466; p < 0.0001) were inversely associated with the PCA risk. Comparing patients with extensive tumor load with negative patients, PVI (OR = 0.579, 95% CI 0.356-0.944; p = 0.028), and PCI (OR = 0.150, 95% CI 0.085-0.265; p < 0.0001), predicted PCA risk. Comparing extensive tumor load with limited tumor load patients, PVI and PCI did not show any association with the tumor load.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased PVI and the presence of PCI decreased the risk of increased tumor load and associated with less aggressive prostate cancer biology in patients at baseline random biopsies.

Surgeon volume and body mass index influence positive surgical margin risk after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: Results in 732 cases

Objectives: To evaluate clinicopathological and perioperative factors associated with the risk of focal and non-focal positive surgical margins (PSMs) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Patients and methods: The study was retrospective and excluded patients who were under androgen-deprivation therapy or had prior treatments. The population included: negative SM cases (control group), focal and non-focal PSM cases (study groups). PSMs were classified as focal when the linear extent of cancer invasion was ≤1 mm and non-focal when >1 mm. The independent association of factors with the risk of focal and non-focal PSMs was assessed by multinomial logistic regression.

Results: In all, 732 patients underwent RARP, from January 2013 to December 2017. An extended pelvic lymph node dissection was performed in 342 cases (46.7%). In all, 192 cases (26.3%) had PSMs, which were focal in 133 (18.2%) and non-focal in 59 (8.1%). Independent factors associated with the risk of focal PSMs were body mass index (odds ratio [OR] 0.914; P = 0.006), percentage of biopsy positive cores (BPC; OR 1.011; P = 0.015), pathological extracapsular extension (pathological tumour stage [pT]3a; OR 2.064; P = 0.016), and seminal vesicle invasion (pT3b; OR 2.150; P = 0.010). High surgeon volume was a protective factor in having focal PSM (OR 0.574; P = 0.006). Independent predictors of non-focal PSMs were BPC (OR 1,013; P = 0,044), pT3a (OR 4,832; P < 0.001), and pT3b (OR 5,153; P = 0.001).

Conclusions: In high-volume centres features related to host, tumour and surgeon volume are factors that predict the risk of focal and non-focal PSMs after RARP.

Abbreviations: AJCC: American joint committee on cancer; AS: active surveillance; ASA: American society of anesthesiologists; BCR: biochemical recurrence; BMI: body mass index; BPC: percentage of biopsy positive cores; ePLND: extended lymph node dissection; H&E: haematoxylin and eosin; IQR, interquartile range; ISUP: international society of urologic pathology; LNI: lymph node invasion; LOS: length of hospital stay; mpMRI: multiparametric MRI; (c)(p)N: (clinical) (pathological) nodal stage; OR: odds ratio; OT: operating time; PSA-DT: PSA-doubling time; (P)SM: (positive) surgical margin; (NS)(RA)RP: (nerve-sparing) (robot-assisted) radical prostatectomy; RT: radiation therapy; (c)(p)T: (clinical) (pathological) tumour stage

Heart myxoma develops oncogenic and metastatic phenotype

PURPOSE

Heart myxomas have been frequently considered as benign lesions associated with Carney's complex. However, after surgical removal, myxomas re-emerge causing dysfunctional heart.

METHODS

To identify whether cardiac myxomas may develop a metastatic phenotype as occurs in malignant cancers, a profile of several proteins involved in malignancy such as oncogenes (c-MYC, K-RAS and H-RAS), cancer-associated metabolic transcriptional factors (HIF-1α, p53 and PPAR-γ) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins (fibronectin, vimentin, β-catenin, SNAIL and MMP-9) were evaluated in seven samples from a cohort of patients with atrial and ventricular myxomas. The analysis was also performed in: (1) cardiac tissue surrounding the area where myxoma was removed; (2) non-cancer heart tissue (NCHT); and (3) malignant triple negative breast cancer biopsies for comparative purposes.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis applying univariate (Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests) and multivariate analyses (PCA, principal component analysis) revealed that heart myxomas (7-15 times) and myxoma surrounding tissue (22-99 times) vs. NCHT showed high content of c-MYC, p53, vimentin, and HIF-1α, indicating that both myxoma and its surrounding area express oncogenes and malignancy-related proteins as occurs in triple negative breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on ROC (receiver operating characteristics) statistical analysis, c-MYC, HIF-1α, p53, and vimentin may be considered potential biomarkers for malignancy detection in myxoma.

Prostate volume index and prostatic chronic inflammation have an effect on tumor load at baseline random biopsies in patients with normal DRE and PSA values less than 10 ng/ml: results of 564 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND

To assess the association of prostate volume index (PVI), defined as the ratio of the central transition zone volume (CTZV) to the peripheral zone volume (PZV), and prostatic chronic inflammation (PCI) as predictors of prostate cancer (PCA) load in patients presenting with normal digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ⩽ 10 ng/ml at baseline random biopsies.

METHODS

Parameters evaluated included age, PSA, total prostate volume (TPV), PSA density (PSAD), PVI and PCI. All patients underwent 14 core transperineal randomized biopsies. We considered small and high PCA load patients with no more than three (limited tumor load) and greater than three (extensive tumor load) positive biopsy cores, respectively. The association of factors with the risk of PCA was evaluated by logistic regression analysis, utilizing different multivariate models.

RESULTS

564 Caucasian patients were included. PCA and PCI were detected in 242 (42.9%) and 129 (22.9%) cases, respectively. On multivariate analysis, PVI and PCI were independent predictors of the risk of detecting limited or extensive tumor load. The risk of detecting extensive tumor load at baseline biopsies was increased by PSAD above the median and third quartile as well as PVI ⩽ 1 [odds ratio (OR)=1.971] but decreased by PCI (OR=0.185; 95% CI: 0.088-0.388).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher PVI and the presence of PCI predicted decreased PCA risk in patients presenting with normal DRE, and a PSA ⩽ 10 ng/ml at baseline random biopsy. In this subset of patients, a PVI ⩽ or >1 is able to differentiate patients with PCA or PCI.

Perineural invasion as an independent predictor of biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although numerous studies have shown that perineural invasion (PNI) is linked to prostate cancer (PCa) risk, the results have been inconsistent. This study aimed to explore the association between PNI and biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with PCa following radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

According to the PRISMA statement, we searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wan Fang databases from inception to May 2017. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were extracted from eligible studies. Fixed or random effects model were used to calculate pooled HRs and 95% CIs according to heterogeneity. Publication bias was calculated by Begg's test.

RESULTS

Ultimately, 19 cohort studies that met the eligibility criteria and that involved 13,412 patients (82-2,316 per study) were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that PNI was associated with higher BCR rates in patients with PCa after RP (HR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.36, p<0.001) or RT (HR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.34, p<0.001). No potential publication bias was found among the included studies in the RP group (p-Begg = 0.124) or the RT group (p-Begg = 0.081).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the presence of PNI by histopathology is associated with higher risk of BCR in PCa following RP or RT, and could serve as an independent prognostic factor in patients with PCa.