Prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET) of prostate cancer: current and emerging applications

Prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET) is transforming the management of patients with prostate cancer. In appropriately selected patients, PSMA-PET offers superior sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional imaging (e.g., computed tomography and bone scintigraphy) as well as choline and fluciclovine PET, with the added benefit of consolidating bone and soft tissue evaluation into a single study. Despite being a newly available imaging tool, PSMA-PET has established indications, interpretation guidelines, and reporting criteria, which will be reviewed. The prostate cancer care team, from imaging specialists to those delivering treatment, should have knowledge of physiologic PSMA radiotracer uptake, patterns of disease spread, and the strengths and limitations of PSMA-PET. In this review, current and emerging applications of PSMA-PET, including appropriateness use criteria as well as image interpretation and pitfalls, will be provided with an emphasis on clinical implications.

Incidental Coronary Arterial Calcification for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Men With Prostate Cancer Undergoing PET/CT Imaging

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is common among men with prostate cancer and the leading cause of death in this population. There is a need for CV risk assessment tools that can be easily implemented in the prostate cancer treatment setting.

METHODS

Consecutive patients who underwent positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for recurrent prostate cancer at a single institution from 2012 to 2017 were identified retrospectively. Clinical data and coronary calcification on nongated CT imaging were obtained. The primary outcome was major adverse CV event (MACE; myocardial infarction, coronary or peripheral revascularization, stroke, heart failure hospitalization, or all-cause mortality) occurring within 5 years of PET/CT.

RESULTS

Among 354 patients included in the study, there were 98 MACE events that occurred in 74 patients (21%). All-cause mortality was the most common MACE event (35%), followed by coronary revascularization/myocardial infarction (26%) and stroke (19%). Coronary calcification was predictive of MACE (HR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.4, P = .03) using adjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis. As a comparator, the Framingham risk score was calculated for 198 patients (56%) with complete clinical and laboratory data available. In this subgroup, high baseline Framingham risk (corresponding to 10-year risk of CV disease > 20%) was not predictive of MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

MACE was common (21%) in men with recurrent prostate cancer undergoing PET/CT over 5 years of follow-up. Incidental coronary calcification on PET/CT was associated with increased risk of MACE and may have utility as a CV risk predictor that is feasible to implement among all prostate cancer providers.

Comparing Bladder Neck Contracture Rate Between Robotic Intracorporeal and Extracorporeal Neobladder Construction

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) has become more accessible to surgeons worldwide, and descriptions of intracorporeal urinary diversion techniques, such as orthotopic neobladder construction, have increased. In this study, we aim to compare the rate of bladder neck contracture (BNC) formation between RARC and two different urinary diversion techniques. We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database for patients with bladder cancer who underwent RARC with intracorporeal neobladder (ICNB) construction (n = 11) or extracorporeal neobladder (ECNB) construction (n = 11) between 2012 and 2020. BNC was defined by the need for an additional surgical procedure (e.g., dilatation, urethrotomy). Patients who underwent RARC with ICNB (n = 11) were compared to patients who underwent RARC with ECNB (n = 11) across patient characteristics and postoperative BNC formation rates. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated for freedom from BNC based on the neobladder approach and compared with the log-rank test. For patients who received an ECNB, 73% (8/11) developed a BNC; in comparison, none of the patients in the ICNB group experienced a BNC. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrates the ECNB group's median probability of freedom from BNC as 1.3 years, while the ICNB group was free of BNC over the study period (p < 0.001). RARC with ICNB creation demonstrated a significantly reduced BNC rate in contrast to RARC with ECNB construction. Longer-term follow-up is needed to assess the durability of this difference in BNC rates.

Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia with Suppressed Epigenetic Regulator HOXB13 Shows a Lower Incidence of Prostate Cancer Development

Our objective was to identify variations in gene expression that could help elucidate the pathways for the development of prostate cancer (PCa) in men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). We included 98 men with BPH, a positive prostate MRI (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System; PIRADS ≥ 4), and a negative biopsy from November 2014 to January 2018. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed on tissue cores from the MRI lesion and a geographically distant region (two regions per patient). All patients were followed for at least three years to identify who went on to develop PCa. We compared the gene expressions of those who did not develop PCa ("BPH-only") vs. those who did ("BPH/PCa"). Then, we identified the subset of men with BPH who had the highest American Urological Association (AUA) symptom scores ("symptomatic BPH") and compared their gene expression to the BPH/PCa group. At a median follow-up of 47.5 months, 15 men had developed PCa while 83 did not. We compared gene expressions of 14 men with symptomatic BPH (AUAss ≥ 18) vs. 15 with BPH/PCa. We found two clusters of genes, suggesting the two groups had distinctive molecular features. Differential analysis revealed genes that were upregulated in BPH-only and downregulated in BPH/PCa, and vice versa. Symptomatic BPH men had upregulation of T-cell activation markers (TCR, CD3, ZAP70, IL-2 and IFN-γ and chemokine receptors, CXCL9/10) expression. In contrast, men with BPH/PCa had upregulation of NKX3-1 and HOXB13 transcription factors associated with luminal epithelial progenitors but depleted of immune cells, suggesting a cell-autonomous role in immune evasion. Symptomatic BPH with immune-enriched landscapes may support anti-tumor immunity. RNA sequencing of benign prostate biopsy tissue showing upregulation of NKX3-1 and HOXB13 with the absence of T-cells might help in identifying men at higher risk of future PCa development, which may be useful in determining ongoing PCa screening.

Local Treatment and Treatment-Related Adverse Effects Among Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer

Importance

Recent data suggest that local treatment with radical prostatectomy or radiation may improve survival outcomes in men with advanced prostate cancer. However, evidence is lacking on treatment-related adverse effects among men with advanced prostate cancer.

Objective

To assess the association of local treatment on treatment-related adverse effects among men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study assessed men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer (defined as T4, N1, and/or M1 prostate cancer) between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2013, with follow-up through December 31, 2021, who were treated at Veterans Health Administration medical centers.

Exposure

Local treatment with radical prostatectomy or radiation.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Main outcomes were treatment-related adverse effects, including constitutional, gastrointestinal, pain, sexual function, and urinary function conditions, at 3 intervals after initial treatment (≤1 year, >1 to ≤2 years, and >2 to ≤5 years) after initial treatment.

Results

This cohort study consisted of 5502 men (mean [SD] age, 68.7 [10.3] years) diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. Of the cohort, 1705 men (31.0%) received local treatment. There was a high prevalence of adverse conditions in men receiving both local and nonlocal treatment, and these adverse conditions persisted for more than 2 years to 5 years or less after initial treatment. A total of 916 men (75.2%) with initial local treatment and 897 men (67.1%) with initial nonlocal treatment reported the presence of at least 1 adverse condition for more than 2 years to 5 years or less after initial treatment. In the first year, local treatment (vs nonlocal) was associated with adverse gastrointestinal (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.08; 95% CI, 3.06-5.45), pain (AOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.35-1.83), sexual (AOR, 2.96; 95% CI, 2.42-3.62), and urinary (AOR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.90-2.66) conditions. Local treatment (without secondary treatment) remained significantly associated with adverse gastrointestinal (AOR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.52-3.77), sexual (AOR, 3.36; 95% CI, 2.56-4.41), and urinary (AOR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.09-1.78) conditions at more than 2 years to 5 years or less after treatment.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of men with advanced prostate cancer, local treatment was associated with persistent treatment-related adverse effects across multiple domains. These results suggest that patients and clinicians should consider the adverse effects of local treatment when making treatment decisions in the setting of advanced prostate cancer.

Does Chemo-Radiotherapy Improve Survival Outcomes vs. Radiotherapy Alone for High-Grade cT1 Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder?

BACKGROUND

Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (non-MIBC) that is high-grade and confined to the lamina propria (HGT1) often has an aggressive clinical course. Currently, there is limited data on the comparative effectiveness of RT vs. CRT for HGT1 non-MIBC. We hypothesized that CRT would be associated with improved overall survival (OS) vs. RT in HGT1 bladder cancer.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with HGT1 non-MIBC, and treated with transurethral resection of bladder tumor followed by either treatment with RT alone or CRT, were identified in the National Cancer Database. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was employed and weight-adjusted multivariable analysis (MVA) using Cox regression modeling was used to compare overall survival (OS) hazard ratios. OS was the primary endpoint, and was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests.

RESULTS

A total of 259 patients with HGT1 UC were treated with: (i) RT alone (n = 123) or (ii) CRT (n = 136). Propensity-weighted MVA showed that combined modality treatment with CRT was associated with improved OS relative to radiation alone (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 0.62, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 0.44-0.88, P = .007). Four-year OS for the CRT vs. RT alone was 36% and 19%, respectively (log-rank P <.008).

CONCLUSION

For patients with HGT1 bladder cancer, concurrent CRT was associated with improved OS compared with radiation alone in a retrospective cohort. These results are hypothesis-generating. The NRG is currently developing a phase II randomized clinical trial comparing CRT to other novel, bladder preservation strategies.

Malignant priapism: case report and update on management protocols

Background

Malignant priapism, a rare disease with only about 500 reported cases to date, consists of persistent erection secondary to invasion or metastasis of a primary neoplasm. While treatment guidelines for priapism in non-malignant cases have been established, there is currently no guideline for treating malignant priapism. Herein, we describe three cases of malignant priapism and suggest a step-by-step approach for clinical management.

Case Description

This study reports three cases of malignant priapism resulting from advanced genitourinary cancers. All patients experienced a sub-acute progression of penile pain and ultimately underwent palliative penectomy, resulting in sustained symptom relief.

Conclusions

Treatment of malignant priapism needs to be individualized to the needs of the patient. No matter the primary or secondary nature of the disease, current data suggest that malignant priapism is associated with poor outcomes and emphasis should be put on palliative care. Similar to previous cases, our cases died shortly after the diagnosis of malignant priapism. Conventional procedures such as shunting may not necessarily provide symptom relief in these patients. Although new radiation techniques have shown favorable outcomes, penectomy should be considered the last resort in clinical management. Revisions to the existing management guidelines for priapism are necessary to address its occurrence in malignant contexts.

Single-port vs multi-port robot-assisted renal surgery: analysis of perioperative outcomes for excision of high and low complexity renal masses

There is emerging but limited data assessing single-port (SP) robot-assisted surgery as an alternative to multi-port (MP) platforms. We compared perioperative outcomes between SP and MP robot-assisted approaches for excision of high and low complexity renal masses. Retrospective chart review was performed for patients undergoing robot-assisted partial or radical nephrectomy using the SP surgical system (n = 23) at our institution between November 2019 and November 2021. Renal masses were categorized as high complexity (7+) or low complexity (4-6) using the R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry scoring system. Adjusting for baseline characteristics, patients were matched using a prospectively maintained MP database in a 2:1 (MP:SP) ratio. For high complexity tumors (n = 12), SP surgery was associated with a significantly longer operative time compared to MP (248.4 vs 188.1 min, p = 0.02) but a significantly shorter length of stay (1.9 vs 2.8 days, p = 0.02). For low complexity tumors (n = 11), operative time (177.7 vs 161.4 min, p = 0.53), estimated blood loss (69.6.0 vs 142.0 mL, p = 0.62), and length of stay (1.6 vs 1.8 days, p = 0.528) were comparable between SP and MP approaches. Increasing nephrometry score was associated with a greater relative increase in operative time for SP compared to MP renal surgery (p = 0.07) using best of fit linear modeling. SP robot-assisted partial and radical nephrectomy is safe and feasible for low complexity renal masses. For high complexity renal masses, the SP system is associated with a significantly longer operative time compared to the MP technique. Careful consideration should be given when selecting patients for SP robot-assisted kidney surgery.

Optimum threshold of the 4Kscore for biopsy in men with negative or indeterminate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging

Objective

The study aims to identify the optimal 4Kscore thresholds to determine the need for a prostate biopsy when multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (mpMRI) is negative or indeterminate.

Materials and methods

We analysed retrospective data from men in eight different institutions who underwent an mpMRI, 4Kscore and prostate biopsy for evaluation of prostate cancer. We selected men with a negative (PIRADS ≤2) or indeterminate (PIRADS 3) mpMRI. 4Kscore values were categorized into ranges of 1-7, 8-19, 20-32 and greater than 32. We evaluated the proportion of men with grade group 2 or higher (GG2+) cancer in groups defined by PIRADS and 4Kscore. We also evaluated the number of biopsies avoided and GG2+ cancer missed in each group reported depend on 4Kscore cutoff points.

Results

Among 1111 men who had an mpMRI, 4Kscore and biopsy, 625 of them had PIRADS ≤3 on mpMRI: 374 negative (PIRADS ≤2) and 251 indeterminate (PIRADS 3). In men with a negative mpMRI, we found a 4Kscore cut-point of 33 resulted in an increased risk of GG2+ cancer on biopsy. In patients with an equivocal lesion on mpMRI, men with a 4Kscore cutoff ≥8 had a greater risk of GG2+ cancer on biopsy. Decision curve analysis supported the proposed cut-points in each mpMRI group.

Conclusions

In men with negative and indeterminate mpMRI, we found the best 4Kscore threshold to determine the need for biopsy to be 33 and 8 respectively. Future prospective studies in independent populations are needed to confirm these findings.

Financial burden of men with localized prostate cancer: a process paper

Background

Many individuals undergoing cancer treatment experience substantial financial hardship, often referred to as financial toxicity (FT). Those undergoing prostate cancer treatment may experience FT and its impact can exacerbate disparate health outcomes. Localized prostate cancer treatment options include: radiation, surgery, and/or active surveillance. Quality of life tradeoffs and costs differ between treatment options. In this project, our aim was to quantify direct healthcare costs to support patients and clinicians as they discuss prostate cancer treatment options. We provide the transparent steps to estimate healthcare costs associated with treatment for localized prostate cancer among the privately insured population using a large claims dataset.

Methods

To quantify the costs associated with their prostate cancer treatment, we used data from the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters, including MarketScan Medicaid, and peer reviewed literature. Strategies to estimate costs included: (1) identifying the problem, (2) engaging a multidisciplinary team, (3) reviewing the literature and identifying the database, (4) identifying outcomes, (5) defining the cohort, and (6) designing the analytic plan. The costs consist of patient, clinician, and system/facility costs, at 1-year, 3-years, and 5-years following diagnosis.

Results

We outline our specific strategies to estimate costs, including: defining complex research questions, defining the study population, defining initial prostate cancer treatment, linking facility and provider level related costs, and developing a shared understanding of definitions on our research team.

Discussion and next steps

Analyses are underway. We plan to include these costs in a prostate cancer patient decision aid alongside other clinical tradeoffs.

An atlas of healthy and injured cell states and niches in the human kidney

Understanding kidney disease relies on defining the complexity of cell types and states, their associated molecular profiles and interactions within tissue neighbourhoods1. Here we applied multiple single-cell and single-nucleus assays (>400,000 nuclei or cells) and spatial imaging technologies to a broad spectrum of healthy reference kidneys (45 donors) and diseased kidneys (48 patients). This has provided a high-resolution cellular atlas of 51 main cell types, which include rare and previously undescribed cell populations. The multi-omic approach provides detailed transcriptomic profiles, regulatory factors and spatial localizations spanning the entire kidney. We also define 28 cellular states across nephron segments and interstitium that were altered in kidney injury, encompassing cycling, adaptive (successful or maladaptive repair), transitioning and degenerative states. Molecular signatures permitted the localization of these states within injury neighbourhoods using spatial transcriptomics, while large-scale 3D imaging analysis (around 1.2 million neighbourhoods) provided corresponding linkages to active immune responses. These analyses defined biological pathways that are relevant to injury time-course and niches, including signatures underlying epithelial repair that predicted maladaptive states associated with a decline in kidney function. This integrated multimodal spatial cell atlas of healthy and diseased human kidneys represents a comprehensive benchmark of cellular states, neighbourhoods, outcome-associated signatures and publicly available interactive visualizations.

Renal Mass Imaging with MRI Clear Cell Likelihood Score: A User's Guide

Small solid renal masses (SRMs) are frequently detected at imaging. Nearly 20% are benign, making careful evaluation with MRI an important consideration before deciding on management. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common renal cell carcinoma subtype with potentially aggressive behavior. Thus, confident identification of ccRCC imaging features is a critical task for the radiologist. Imaging features distinguishing ccRCC from other benign and malignant renal masses are based on major features (T2 signal intensity, corticomedullary phase enhancement, and the presence of microscopic fat) and ancillary features (segmental enhancement inversion, arterial-to-delayed enhancement ratio, and diffusion restriction). The clear cell likelihood score (ccLS) system was recently devised to provide a standardized framework for categorizing SRMs, offering a Likert score of the likelihood of ccRCC ranging from 1 (very unlikely) to 5 (very likely). Alternative diagnoses based on imaging appearance are also suggested by the algorithm. Furthermore, the ccLS system aims to stratify which patients may or may not benefit from biopsy. The authors use case examples to guide the reader through the evaluation of major and ancillary MRI features of the ccLS algorithm for assigning a likelihood score to an SRM. The authors also discuss patient selection, imaging parameters, pitfalls, and areas for future development. The goal is for radiologists to be better equipped to guide management and improve shared decision making between the patient and treating physician. © RSNA, 2023 Quiz questions for this article are available in the supplemental material. See the invited commentary by Pedrosa in this issue.

Association between Presurgical Weight Status and Urinary and Sexual Function in Prostate Cancer Patients Treated by Radical Prostatectomy: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively examine the influence of weight status on urinary and sexual function in clinically localized prostate cancer patients treated by radical prostatectomy (RP).

METHODS

The Prostatectomy, Incontinence and Erectile dysfunction study recruited patients at 2 US institutions between 2011 and 2014. At baseline, height and weight were measured, and urinary and sexual function were collected by the modified Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-50. This index was repeated at the 5-week, 6-month, and 12-month postsurgical assessments and compared to baseline using linear generalized estimating equations. Logistic equations were used to evaluate the likelihood of functional recovery at the 6- and 12-month assessments.

RESULT

Presurgery, nonobese patients (68.8% of 407 patients) had similar urinary function as those with obesity (P = .217), but better sexual function (P = .006). One year after surgery, 50.5% and 28.9% patients had recovered to baseline levels for urinary and sexual function, respectively. Recovery was not, however, uniform by obesity. Compared to those with obesity, nonobese patients had better urinary function at the 6- (P < .001) and 12-month postsurgical assessments (P = .011) and were more likely to recover their function by the 6-month assessment (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.36-4.76). For sexual function, nonobese patients had better function at the 6- (P = .028) and 12-month (P = .051) assessments, but a similar likelihood of recovery 1-year postsurgery.

CONCLUSION

Nonobese prostate cancer patients had better and likely earlier recovery in urinary function postsurgery, and better sexual function both pre- and postsurgery. These findings support the potential for tailored presurgical counseling about RP side-effects and prehabilitation to improve these side-effects.

Abstract 2219: Urine cell-free DNA multi-omics to detect molecular residual disease and predict survival in bladder cancer patients

Background: Circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection is transforming cancer care. However, the sensitivity of these approaches remains subpar and there is significant risk of false negative results. We analyzed the most proximal biofluid (urine) in localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients, and performed two orthogonal ctDNA analytical techniques, one focusing on driver mutation detection, and another focusing on genome-wide copy number alterations. The primary objective of this combinatorial approach was to sensitively detect ctDNA MRD, predict pathologic complete response (pCR), and improve patient risk-stratification.

Methods: Urine samples from 74 localized bladder cancer patients were collected preoperatively on the day of curative-intent radical cystectomy (RC) to assess urine tumor DNA (utDNA). We performed ultra-low pass whole genome sequencing (ULP-WGS) of urine cfDNA from all 74 patients as well as 15 healthy adults. Tumor fraction (TFx) level based on genome-wide copy number alterations was estimated using ichorCNA. Variant allele frequency (VAF) based on single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) was estimated by uCAPP-Seq. We also noninvasively inferred tumor mutation burden (iTMB). pCR was determined by surgical pathology. A random forest (RF) model with leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) was utilized to predict disease status. Kaplan-Meier (KM) and Cox proportional hazards model survival analyses were performed to assess overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results: Our study cohort consisted of 74 patients, of which 58 (78%) harbored localized MIBC, and 16 (22%) harbored treatment-refractory high-risk localized NMIBC. Among MIBC patients, 64% (37/58) received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. VAF, iTMB and TFx levels significantly predicted pCR status. Our RF model incorporating these three utDNA parameters achieved a sensitivity of 87%, a negative predictive value of 77%, and a positive predictive value of 65% for predicting residual disease. AUC for the model was 0.80 (p&lt;0.0001). KM analysis revealed that both PFS (HR = 3.00, P = 0.01) and OS (HR = 4.81, P = 0.009) were significantly worse for patients predicted by the model to have residual disease. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models confirmed the significance of our MRD predictions. Survival analyses performed on MIBC, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and held-out validation subgroups corroborated these findings.

Conclusions: Integration of ULP-WGS with uCAPP-Seq enabled robust detection of residual urine tumor DNA with high sensitivity and predicted survival in localized bladder cancer patients. In the future, this type of multimodal urine-based genomic analysis may lead to more precise risk stratification and nonoperative clinical decision-making for bladder cancer patients.

Citation Format: Pradeep Singh Chauhan, Alexander L. Shiang, Irfan Alahi, R. Taylor Sundby, Wenjia Feng, Bilge Gungoren, Cayce Nawaf, Kevin Chen, Ramandeep K. Babbra, Peter K. Harris, Faridi Qaium, Casey Hatscher, Anna Antiporda, Lindsey Brunt, Lindsey R. Mayer, Jack F. Shern, Brian C. Baumann, Eric H. Kim, Melissa A. Reimers, Zachary L. Smith, Aadel A. Chaudhuri. Urine cell-free DNA multi-omics to detect molecular residual disease and predict survival in bladder cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2219.

Definitive treatment and risk of death among men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer at the Veterans Health Administration

PURPOSE

To assess the potential survival benefit associated with receipt of definitive treatment (radical prostatectomy or radiation), compared to non-definitive treatment (hormonal therapy or chemotherapy) among men with metastatic prostate cancer.

METHODS

A cohort of men diagnosed with metastatic (T4/M1/N1 or T4/M1) prostate cancer from 1999 to 2013 in the Veterans Health Administration were identified and followed to December 28, 2014. All-cause and prostate cancer-specific mortality were evaluated at 10 years for the T4/M1/N1 cohort and 8 years for the T4/M1/ cohort. The association of definitive treatment (radical prostatectomy or radiation), compared to non-definitive (hormonal therapy or chemotherapy) with both all-cause and prostate cancer-specific mortality was assessed using inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) multivariable survival analyses.

RESULTS

The cohort included 2919 with T4/M1/N1 disease and 1479 men with T4/M1 disease. Receipt of definitive treatment was associated with a reduced risk of 10-year all-cause (Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.61; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.57-0.65) and prostate cancer-specific mortality (HR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.46-0.55) among men diagnosed with T4/M1/N1 met-astatic disease. Definitive treatment was similarly associated with a reduced risk of all-cause (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77-0.91) and prostate cancer-specific (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73-0.90) mortality among men diagnosed with T4/M1 only metastatic disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Definitive treatment may improve survival in men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

A phase 2 study of ibrutinib as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer

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Background: Treatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa) with surgery or radiotherapy remains suboptimal with failure rates of 35-40%. Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) is seen elevated in PCa tissues compared to normal prostate tissue. Malignant B-cell density has been correlated with higher risk of aggressive PCa and mitigating that through the BTK has been proposed in mouse models. Ibrutinib is a potent BTK inhibitor which targets B-cell signaling pathways, has an established safety profile, and has been shown to inhibit in vivo prostate tumor growth pre-clinically. Therefore, we hypothesized that ibrutinib will augment anti-tumor immune responses through inhibiting tumor-intrinsic growth via blocking BTK B-cell signaling pathways, while also inducing favorable T-cell profiles in localized PCa. Methods: We performed a neoadjuvant clinical trial (NCT02643667) studying ibrutinib in PCa. Eligible patients had localized PCa with no prior treatment, and deemed suitable for undergoing a radical prostatectomy. Patients received 840mg/day oral ibrutinib for 28 days followed by a radical prostatectomy 7-12 days later. Patients were assessed 4 weeks after surgery. The primary objectives are to assess safety of ibrutinib and characterize B and T cell infiltration. Correlative pre- and post- treatment tissue and blood samples were collected; BTK and PD-L1 expression in tumor and immune-infiltrating immune cells will be examined, and BCR and TCR clonality and diversity will be evaluated. Results: 22 patients were registered and underwent treatment to date. 4 patients had early termination of ibrutinib treatment with 3 due to adverse effects and 1 due to discovery of surgically unresectable disease. A total of 21 of 22 patients received radical prostatectomies. There were no intra-operative complications attributed to ibrutinib. The treatment was generally well tolerated with 7.1% grade 3 treatment related adverse effects. 2% experienced a grade 4 treatment adverse effects of hepatic dysfunction. The most common grade 1-2 adverse effects were diarrhea (8.2%), fatigue (7.1%), and anemia (6.1%). The median follow-up time was 23.9 months. Median overall survival and median failure free survival have not been reached and the two-year milestone is 100%. Sample collection is complete and immune correlative analyses are ongoing. Safety/tolerability, clinical outcomes, and preliminary correlative data will be reported. Conclusions: This is the first clinical trial of ibrutinib in PCa, and lays the foundation for larger future studies. Clinical trial information: NCT02643667 .

Should men undergo MRI before prostate biopsy - CON

Prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used prior to biopsy in response to the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of prostate cancer (CaP) associated with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) based screening. However, technical limitations in the conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences as well as the high degree of radiologist-to-radiologist variability in interpreting prostate MRI result in inadequate accuracy. Specifically, the insufficient negative predictive value (NPV) of prostate MRI (76%-87%) does not allow biopsy to be omitted in the negative MRI setting. Additionally, the variable, and relatively low positive predictive value (PPV) of MRI (27%-44%) provides only an incremental improvement in risk prediction compared to readily available clinical tools such as the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial risk calculator. This small benefit is likely confined to the minority of patients with positive MRI findings in a typically under-sampled region of the prostate (e.g., anterior lesions), which may be obviated by newer biopsy approaches and tools such as transperineal prostate biopsy and micro-ultrasound technology. With these considerations in mind, pre-biopsy prostate MRI in its current form is unlikely to provide a clinically significant benefit, and should not be considered as routine practice until its accuracy is sufficiently improved.

Urine cell-free DNA multi-omics to detect MRD and predict survival in bladder cancer patients

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sensitivity remains subpar for molecular residual disease (MRD) detection in bladder cancer patients. To remedy this problem, we focused on the biofluid most proximal to the disease, urine, and analyzed urine tumor DNA in 74 localized bladder cancer patients. We integrated ultra-low-pass whole genome sequencing (ULP-WGS) with urine cancer personalized profiling by deep sequencing (uCAPP-Seq) to achieve sensitive MRD detection and predict overall survival. Variant allele frequency, inferred tumor mutational burden, and copy number-derived tumor fraction levels in urine cell-free DNA (cfDNA) significantly predicted pathologic complete response status, far better than plasma ctDNA was able to. A random forest model incorporating these urine cfDNA-derived factors with leave-one-out cross-validation was 87% sensitive for predicting residual disease in reference to gold-standard surgical pathology. Both progression-free survival (HR = 3.00, p = 0.01) and overall survival (HR = 4.81, p = 0.009) were dramatically worse by Kaplan-Meier analysis for patients predicted by the model to have MRD, which was corroborated by Cox regression analysis. Additional survival analyses performed on muscle-invasive, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and held-out validation subgroups corroborated these findings. In summary, we profiled urine samples from 74 patients with localized bladder cancer and used urine cfDNA multi-omics to detect MRD sensitively and predict survival accurately.

Feasibility and safety of same-day discharge following single-port robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

PURPOSE

The standard discharge pathway following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) involves overnight hospital admission. Models for same-day discharge (SDD) have been explored for multiport RALP, however, less is known regarding SDD for single-port RALP, especially in terms of patient experience.

METHODS

Patient enrollment, based on preoperative determination of potential SDD eligibility, commenced March 2020 and ended March 2021. Day-of-surgery criteria were utilized to determine which enrolled patients underwent SDD. Differences in preoperative characteristics and perioperative outcomes between patients undergoing SDD and patients undergoing standard discharge were evaluated. A prospectively administered questionnaire was designed to characterize patient-centered factors informing SDD perception.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients underwent SDD and 36 underwent standard discharge. Overall mean ± SD age and BMI were 63.6 ± 7.0 years and 29.7 ± 4.4 kg/m², respectively. Mean operative time was shorter in the SDD cohort than the standard discharge cohort (188 min vs 217 min, p = 0.011). A higher proportion of cases that underwent SDD were performed using the Retzius-sparing approach, 80% (12/15) vs 33% (12/36) in the standard discharge cohort (p = 0.005). Rates of 90 day complication (p = 0.343), 90 day readmission (p = 0.144), and 90 day emergency department visits (p = 0.343) rates were all not significantly different between cohorts. Of questionnaire respondents undergoing standard discharge, 32% (8/25) cited pain as a reason for not undergoing SDD.

CONCLUSIONS

With comparable outcomes to the standard discharge pathway, SDD is safe and effective in single-port RALP. Post-operative pain and perceptions of distance are implicated as patient-centered barriers to SDD; proactive pain management and patient education strategies may facilitate SDD.

Comparison of Three Approaches to Single-Port Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Our Institution's Initial Experience

Background: We aimed to compare three robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) approaches-Retzius sparing (RS), extraperitoneal (EP), and transperitoneal (TP)-performed at our institution using the da Vinci® single-port (SP) platform (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 101 patients who underwent SP-RARP at our institution and stratified them into three cohorts based on the RARP approach: RS (n = 32), EP (n = 30), and TP (n = 39). Data regarding preoperative patient characteristics, perioperative characteristics, oncologic outcomes, and early functional outcomes were collected. The Fisher's exact test and chi-square tests were utilized for categorical variables, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was utilized for numerical variables. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were utilized for pairwise comparisons. A two-tailed p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: All three cohorts were largely similar in terms of preoperative patient characteristics. Operative time was significantly different between cohorts (p < 0.001), with the RS approach having a faster mean operating time than the TP approach (208 ± 40 minutes vs 248 ± 36 minutes, p < 0.001). Clinically significant margin rates did not differ significantly between cohorts (p = 0.861). Postoperative continence differed significantly between cohorts (p < 0.001); higher continence rates were observed in RS vs EP-94% (30/32) vs 52% (15/29), respectively, p < 0.001. Return of erectile function also differed significantly between cohorts (p = <0.001); higher erectile function recovery rates were observed in RS vs EP-88% (28/32) vs 41% (11/27), respectively, p < 0.001-and in RS vs TP-88% (28/32) vs 60% (22/37), respectively, p = 0.014. Median (IQR) follow-up time was 150 (88-377) days. Conclusions: RS SP-RARP is associated with improved early functional outcomes when compared with both EP and TP approaches. These benefits are achieved while maintaining equivalent oncologic outcomes. Further research is needed to optimize the patient selection paradigm for the SP-RARP approach.

Inhibiting ACK1-mediated phosphorylation of C-terminal Src kinase counteracts prostate cancer immune checkpoint blockade resistance

Solid tumours are highly refractory to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies due to the functional impairment of effector T cells and their inefficient trafficking to tumours. T-cell activation is negatively regulated by C-terminal Src kinase (CSK); however, the exact mechanism remains unknown. Here we show that the conserved oncogenic tyrosine kinase Activated CDC42 kinase 1 (ACK1) is able to phosphorylate CSK at Tyrosine 18 (pY18), which enhances CSK function, constraining T-cell activation. Mice deficient in the Tnk2 gene encoding Ack1, are characterized by diminished CSK Y18-phosphorylation and spontaneous activation of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, resulting in inhibited growth of transplanted ICB-resistant tumours. Furthermore, ICB treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients results in re-activation of ACK1/pY18-CSK signalling, confirming the involvement of this pathway in ICB insensitivity. An ACK1 small-molecule inhibitor, (R)-9b, recapitulates inhibition of ICB-resistant tumours, which provides evidence for ACK1 enzymatic activity playing a pivotal role in generating ICB resistance. Overall, our study identifies an important mechanism of ICB resistance and holds potential for expanding the scope of ICB therapy to tumours that are currently unresponsive.

Comparison of single-port and multi-port Retzius-sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

Dissemination of robotic surgical technology for robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) has yielded advancements including the Retzius-sparing (RS) approach and the single-port (SP) platform. The safety and feasibility of each individual advancement have been evaluated, yet there is a lack of literature comparing SP RS-RALP to conventional multi-port (MP) RS-RALP. All patients who underwent RS-RALP at our institution between January 2019 and February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Data regarding baseline patient and tumor characteristics, operative characteristics, and surgical outcomes were collected and analyzed using the Fisher's exact test and two-tailed unpaired t tests. 62 patients were evaluated: 31 received SP RS-RALP and 31 received MP RS-RALP. Differences in patient age, BMI, and initial PSA were not observed. Lower median lymph node yield (SP: 4 vs MP: 12, p < 0.01), lower estimated blood loss (SP: 111.2 vs. MP 157.8 mL, p < 0.01), shorter operative time (SP: 207.7 vs. MP: 255.9 min, p < 0.01) and decreased length of stay (SP: 0.39 vs. MP: 1.23 days, p < 0.01) were observed in the SP RS-RALP cohort. No differences in positive surgical margins, complications, or biochemical recurrence rates were observed. SP RS-RALP is non-inferior to MP RS-RALP in terms of both perioperative and early oncologic outcomes. Despite the small sample size, the SP platform is a safe and feasible option for RS-RALP and confers potential benefits in the form of shorter operative time and reduced length of stay.

Acetylated HOXB13 Regulated Super Enhancer Genes Define Therapeutic Vulnerabilities of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE

Androgen receptor (AR) antagonism is exacerbated by HOXB13 in castration-resistant prostate cancers (CRPC). However, it is unclear when and how HOXB13 primes CRPCs for AR antagonism. By mass-spectrometry analysis of CRPC extract, we uncovered a novel lysine 13 (K13) acetylation in HOXB13 mediated by CBP/p300. To determine whether acetylated K13-HOXB13 is a clinical biomarker of CRPC development, we characterized its role in prostate cancer biology.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We identified tumor-specific acK13-HOXB13 signal enriched super enhancer (SE)-regulated targets. We analyzed the effect of loss of HOXB13K13-acetylation on chromatin binding, SE proximal target gene expression, self-renewal, enzalutamide sensitivity, and CRPC tumor growth by employing isogenic parental and HOXB13K13A mutants. Finally, using primary human prostate organoids, we evaluated whether inhibiting an acK13-HOXB13 target, ACK1, with a selective inhibitor (R)-9b is superior to AR antagonists in inhibiting CRPC growth.

RESULTS

acK13-HOXB13 promotes increased expression of lineage (AR, HOXB13), prostate cancer diagnostic (FOLH1), CRPC-promoting (ACK1), and angiogenesis (VEGFA, Angiopoietins) genes early in prostate cancer development by establishing tumor-specific SEs. acK13-HOXB13 recruitment to key SE-regulated targets is insensitive to enzalutamide. ACK1 expression is significantly reduced in the loss of function HOXB13K13A mutant CRPCs. Consequently, HOXB13K13A mutants display reduced self-renewal, increased sensitivity to enzalutamide, and impaired xenograft tumor growth. Primary human prostate tumor organoids expressing HOXB13 are significantly resistant to AR antagonists but sensitive to (R)-9b.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, acetylated HOXB13 is a biomarker of clinically significant prostate cancer. Importantly, PSMA-targeting agents and (R)-9b could be new therapeutic modalities to target HOXB13-ACK1 axis regulated prostate cancers.

Relationship between the type of hormone replacement therapy and incidence of breast cancer in Korea

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) types and breast cancer (BC) incidence in postmenopausal women in Korea.

METHODS

The nested case-control study used data from the National Health Insurance Service database. Among the women aged ≥50 years who menopaused between 2004 and 2007, BC incidence up to 2017 was analyzed in 36,446 women using or having used HRT for >1 year and in 36,446 women who did not use any HRT for more than 1 year. HRT types and duration were classified into three categories.

RESULTS

BC risk (BCR) decreased with tibolone use for all ages. With HRT initiation in women aged ≥50 years, BCR was lower with tibolone and estrogen-progestogen therapy. HRT for <3 years showed lower BCR with tibolone, while higher BCR was observed with estrogen-only therapy. BCR was lower in women of all ages on HRT for >5 years than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

For women in their 50s, tibolone use lowers BCR; for all ages, the use of any HRT for >5 years showed lower BCR in Korea. These divergent results from western countries could be associated with the specific characteristics of BC in Korea.

Survival Outcomes in Men with Unfavorable Intermediate-Risk and High-Risk Prostate Cancer Treated with Prostate-Only versus Whole Pelvic Radiation Therapy

PURPOSE

Men with unfavorable intermediate-risk (UIR-PCa) or high-risk prostate cancer (HR-PCa) are often treated with definitive external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) plus androgen deprivation therapy. Treatment is frequently intensified by electively treating the pelvic lymph nodes (LNs) with whole pelvis radiotherapy (WPRT), but practice patterns and the benefits of WPRT are not well defined. We hypothesized that men treated with WPRT would have improved overall survival (OS) relative to men treated with prostate-only radiotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

National Cancer Database records of men diagnosed between 2008-2015 with UIR-PCa or HR-PCa and treated with prostate EBRT±androgen deprivation therapy (72-86.4 Gy) with (15,175) or without (13,549) WPRT were reviewed. Risk of LN involvement was calculated using the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center nomogram. Measured confounders were balanced with inverse probability of treatment weighting and OS hazard ratios (HRs) were generated using multivariable Cox regression.

RESULTS

Of the men, 53% received WPRT. Every 1% increase in risk of LN involvement correlated with a 1% increase in risk of death (p <0.001). WPRT trended toward improved OS in all men with UIR-PCa and HR-PCa (HR: 0.95 [95% CI: 0.90-1.006], p=0.055). WPRT correlated with improved OS in men with Gleason 9 and 10 disease (HR: 0.87 [0.78-0.98], p=0.02) or risk of LN involvement ≥10% (HR: 0.93 [0.87-0.99], p=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Men with higher LN risk scores and Gleason grade benefited from WPRT. These results complement the recent POP-RT randomized trial in mostly positron emission tomography/computerized tomography-staged patients, demonstrating that a more heterogeneous population of men staged without functional imaging benefits from WPRT.

Liquid biomarkers for early detection of prostate cancer and summary of available data for their use in African-American men

BACKGROUND

Several liquid biomarker tests have been developed to account for the limitations of prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening prior to prostate biopsy. African ancestry is an established risk factor for prostate cancer (PCa) and must be particularly considered when evaluating patients with liquid biomarkers. While multiple tests have been developed over decades of exploration, recent advances can help patients and physicians incorporate data into a broader clinical context.

METHODS

We sought to review currently available liquid biomarker tests in a practical, clinically directed fashion with particular focus on performance in men with African ancestry. We reviewed discovery and validation studies and highlight important considerations for each test.

RESULTS

We discuss the advantages and limitations of percent free PSA, Prostate Health Index, Progensa® PCA3, ExoDx® Prostate Test, SelectMDx®, 4Kscore® Test, and Mi-Prostate Score and summarize salient studies on their use. A literature review of evidence specifically for men with African ancestry was conducted and available studies were summarized.

CONCLUSIONS

Liquid biomarkers can be useful tools for aiding in risk stratification prior to prostate biopsy. Use of such tests should be individualized based on a thorough knowledge of supporting evidence and the goals of the patient and physician. Further study should prioritize evaluation of such biomarkers in men with African ancestry.

Integrative analysis of urine cell-free DNA for the detection of residual disease in localized bladder cancer patients

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Background: We previously developed a liquid biopsy assay to measure urine tumor DNA (utDNA) levels based on detection of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in urine cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Nonsilent SNV detection in urine from muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients prior to radical cystectomy (RC) was associated with pathologic residual disease and worse progression-free survival (Chauhan et al., PLOS Medicine, 2021). Given the multiple types of genomic alterations present in bladder cancer (BC), here we developed a multi-omics approach for estimating utDNA levels without restricting our approach to SNVs. We performed ultra-low pass whole genome sequencing (ULP-WGS) based copy number analysis and urine Cancer Personalized Profiling by deep Sequencing (uCAPP-Seq) of urine cell-free DNA to predict pathologic complete response (pCR) in localized BC patients. Methods: We acquired urine preoperatively from 65 BC patients (69% muscle-invasive) on the day of standard-of-care RC, and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 48% of patients. We performed ULP-WGS of urine cfDNA from all 65 BC patients and 11 healthy adults. utDNA levels based on genome-wide copy number alterations (CNAs) in urine cfDNA was estimated using ichorCNA. In order to derive a SNV-based utDNA level as well, uCAPP-Seq was applied to urine cfDNA samples derived from 42 patients using a 145 kb panel of 49 consensus driver genes commonly mutated in MIBC. Results: In our cohort of 65 BC patients, 55% of patients achieved pCR ( n = 36) while 45% had residual disease detected in their surgical sample (no pCR; n = 29). Comparing ULP-WGS-derived utDNA levels between the groups, patients with no pCR had significantly higher CNA-derived tumor fractions in urine compared to patients with pCR (median 8.9% vs 1.8%, p = 0.01) and healthy adults ( n = 11) (median 8.9% vs 0%, p = 0.006). Further analysis with uCAPP-Seq in 42 patients revealed that nonsilent SNV-based utDNA detection correlated significantly with the absence of pCR ( p < 0.001) with a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 81%. Moreover, utDNA-positive patients exhibited significantly worse progression-free survival compared to utDNA-negative patients (HR = 7.4; 95% CI: 1.4–38.9; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Bladder cancer patients who did not attain a pCR at the time of RC had greater genome-wide copy number alterations and nonsilent single nucleotide variants in their urine cfDNA compared to patients with pCR. These results suggest that integrative multi-omics of urine derived from MIBC patients has potential real-world clinical impact for bladder-sparing approaches in select patients.

Correction: Urine tumor DNA detection of minimal residual disease in muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with curative-intent radical cystectomy: A cohort study

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003732.].

Loss of long non-coding RNA NXTAR in prostate cancer augments androgen receptor expression and enzalutamide resistance

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling continues to play a dominant role in all stages of prostate cancer (PC), including castration-resistant prostate cancers (CRPC) that have developed resistance to second-generation AR antagonists such as enzalutamide. In this study, we identified a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), NXTAR (LOC105373241), that is located convergent with the AR gene and is repressed in human prostate tumors and cell lines. NXTAR bound upstream of the AR promoter and promoted EZH2 recruitment, causing significant loss of AR (and AR-V7) expression. Paradoxically, AR bound the NXTAR promoter, and inhibition of AR by the ACK1/TNK2 small molecule inhibitor (R)-9b excluded AR from the NXTAR promoter. The histone acetyltransferase GCN5 bound and deposited H3K14 acetylation marks, enhancing NXTAR expression. Application of an oligonucleotide derived from NXTAR exon 5 (NXTAR-N5) suppressed AR/AR-V7 expression and prostate cancer cell proliferation, indicating the translational relevance of the negative regulation of AR. In addition, pharmacological restoration of NXTAR using (R)-9b abrogated enzalutamide-resistant prostate xenograft tumor growth. Overall, this study uncovers a positive feedback loop, wherein NXTAR acts as a novel prostate tumor-suppressing lncRNA by inhibiting AR/AR-V7 expression, which in turn upregulates NXTAR levels, compromising enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer. The restoration of NXTAR could serve as a new therapeutic modality for patients who have acquired resistance to second-generation AR antagonists.

Contemporary Pure Laparoscopic Vs Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy: Is the Transition Worth It?

Introduction: The proportion of robotic procedures continues to rise. The literature reinforces that robotic procedures take longer and are often more costly. We compared cost and perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and robot-assisted radical nephrectomy (RARN) at our high-volume center. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our 2012-2015 data repository for patients undergoing RARN and LRN for a renal mass. Perioperative and oncologic outcomes were compared. We performed a multivariate analysis of operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay (LOS), and overall and major 90-day complication rates while controlling for demographic data, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), tumor size, and surgeon factors. We compared fixed, variable, and distinct procedural costs. Results: We identified 99 LRN and 95 RARN cases. There was no difference in demographic data, tumor size, preoperative renal function, and malignant histology. LRN patients had more comorbidities (49.5% vs 27.3% CCI 2+, p = 0.018). The mean preoperative glomerular filtration rate was higher in the robotic cohort (84.8 vs 75.1, p = 0.48). Mean operative time was 32.7 minutes longer (p = 0.002) and estimated blood loss 145 mL higher (p = 0.007) for the RARN cohort. There was no difference in mean LOS. Major and all 90-day complication rates were no different. The mean procedural cost for RARN was higher by $464 when controlling for operative time (p < 0.001). Fixed costs were not statistically different. Variable costs for RARN were estimated to be $2,310 higher (p = 0.045). Conclusions: Even with cost-conscious, experienced renal surgeons, RARN is associated with a longer procedure, higher supply costs, and higher hospitalization costs. There was no difference in positive surgical margin and complications. There were fewer 30-day readmissions for the RARN cohort, which may represent under-recognized cost savings. With fewer LRN cases in the United States each year, discussion to address cost is warranted. Without better outcomes for robotic surgery, a change in reimbursement to cover costs is unlikely to happen.

Urine tumor DNA detection of minimal residual disease in muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with curative-intent radical cystectomy: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

The standard of care treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is radical cystectomy, which is typically preceded by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. However, the inability to assess minimal residual disease (MRD) noninvasively limits our ability to offer bladder-sparing treatment. Here, we sought to develop a liquid biopsy solution via urine tumor DNA (utDNA) analysis.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We applied urine Cancer Personalized Profiling by Deep Sequencing (uCAPP-Seq), a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) method for detecting utDNA, to urine cell-free DNA (cfDNA) samples acquired between April 2019 and November 2020 on the day of curative-intent radical cystectomy from 42 patients with localized bladder cancer. The average age of patients was 69 years (range: 50 to 86), of whom 76% (32/42) were male, 64% (27/42) were smokers, and 76% (32/42) had a confirmed diagnosis of MIBC. Among MIBC patients, 59% (19/32) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. utDNA variant calling was performed noninvasively without prior sequencing of tumor tissue. The overall utDNA level for each patient was represented by the non-silent mutation with the highest variant allele fraction after removing germline variants. Urine was similarly analyzed from 15 healthy adults. utDNA analysis revealed a median utDNA level of 0% in healthy adults and 2.4% in bladder cancer patients. When patients were classified as those who had residual disease detected in their surgical sample (n = 16) compared to those who achieved a pathologic complete response (pCR; n = 26), median utDNA levels were 4.3% vs. 0%, respectively (p = 0.002). Using an optimal utDNA threshold to define MRD detection, positive utDNA MRD detection was highly correlated with the absence of pCR (p < 0.001) with a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 81%. Leave-one-out cross-validation applied to the prediction of pathologic response based on utDNA MRD detection in our cohort yielded a highly significant accuracy of 81% (p = 0.007). Moreover, utDNA MRD-positive patients exhibited significantly worse progression-free survival (PFS; HR = 7.4; 95% CI: 1.4-38.9; p = 0.02) compared to utDNA MRD-negative patients. Concordance between urine- and tumor-derived mutations, determined in 5 MIBC patients, was 85%. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) in utDNA MRD-positive patients was inferred from the number of non-silent mutations detected in urine cfDNA by applying a linear relationship derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) whole exome sequencing of 409 MIBC tumors. We suggest that about 58% of these patients with high inferred TMB might have been candidates for treatment with early immune checkpoint blockade. Study limitations included an analysis restricted only to single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), survival differences diminished by surgery, and a low number of DNA damage response (DRR) mutations detected after neoadjuvant chemotherapy at the MRD time point.

CONCLUSIONS

utDNA MRD detection prior to curative-intent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer correlated significantly with pathologic response, which may help select patients for bladder-sparing treatment. utDNA MRD detection also correlated significantly with PFS. Furthermore, utDNA can be used to noninvasively infer TMB, which could facilitate personalized immunotherapy for bladder cancer in the future.

Abstract 547: Urine tumor DNA MRD detection and correlation with pathologic complete response in muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with curative-intent radical cystectomy

Objective: Standard-of-care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy. The inability to assess molecular residual disease (MRD) noninvasively limits our ability to offer bladder-sparing treatment. We seek to develop a liquid biopsy solution via urine tumor DNA (utDNA) analysis.

Methods: We applied uCAPP-Seq, a targeted next-generation sequencing method for detecting utDNA, to urine cell-free DNA samples acquired on the day of curative-intent radical cystectomy from 42 patients with non-metastatic bladder cancer, 30 of whom had a confirmed diagnosis of MIBC and 19 of whom received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. utDNA mutational calling was performed noninvasively without tumor tissue sequencing knowledge. The overall utDNA level for each patient was represented by the non-silent mutation with the highest duplex-supported variant allele fraction after removing germline variants. Urine was similarly analyzed from 15 healthy donors. The concordance between urine cell-free DNA and tumor tissue was determined for a subset of patients. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) in utDNA MRD-positive patients was inferred from the number of mutations detected in urine cell-free DNA by applying a linear relationship derived from TCGA whole-exome sequencing of 409 MIBC tumors.

Results: utDNA analysis revealed a median utDNA level of 0% in healthy donors and 2.4% in non-metastatic bladder cancer patients. Concordance between urine- and tumor-derived mutations, determined in 5 MIBC patients, was 87%. When patients were classified as those who had residual disease detected in their surgical sample (n = 16) compared to those who achieved a pathologic complete response (n = 26), median utDNA levels were 4.3% vs. 0%, respectively (P = 0.002). The lack of utDNA MRD detection was highly correlated with pathologic complete response by Fisher's exact test (P = 0.0001) with Youden's index-determined sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 81%. Moreover, utDNA MRD-positive patients exhibited significantly worse progression-free survival compared to utDNA MRD-negative patients (HR = 7.2; P = 0.03) with a median follow-up time of 200 days. Leveraging data from TCGA, the median inferred TMB in utDNA MRD-positive patients was 198 mutations per exome. We suggest that 58% of these patients with inferred TMB ≥ this level might have been candidates for early immune checkpoint blockade.

Conclusion: The lack of utDNA MRD detection prior to curative-intent radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer correlated significantly with pathologic complete response. utDNA MRD detection status also correlated significantly with progression-free survival. Furthermore, utDNA results can be used to noninvasively infer TMB, which may facilitate the targeted use of adjuvant immunotherapy.

Citation Format: Kevin Chen, Pradeep S. Chauhan, Ramandeep K. Babbra, Wenjia Feng, Peter K. Harris, Katherine Dienstbach, Andrew Atkocius, Lenon Maguire, Faridi Qaium, Armaan Nallicheri, Brian C. Baumann, Melissa A. Reimers, Eric H. Kim, Zachary L. Smith, Vivek K. Arora, Aadel A. Chaudhuri. Urine tumor DNA MRD detection and correlation with pathologic complete response in muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with curative-intent radical cystectomy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 547.

Upstaging and Survival Outcomes for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer After Radical Cystectomy: Results from the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium

INTRODUCTION

We sought to describe the incidence, risk factors, and survival outcomes associated with pathological upstaging from non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) to muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) after robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC).

METHODS

We reviewed the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium database between 2004 and 2020. Upstaging was defined as ≥pT2 or pN+ at final pathology from clinical <T2N0M0. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. Cochran-Armitage test was used to depict upstaging trend over time. Multivariate regression models were used to depict variables associated with upstaging. Kaplan Meier curves were used to describe disease-specific (DSS), recurrence-free (RFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

463 patients underwent RARC for NMIBC. Upstaging occurred in 145 (31%) patients. Upstaged patients were older (70 vs 67 years, p <0.01), more likely to have American Society of Anesthesiologists score (≥3) (55% vs 44%, p=0.04) and had higher rate of preoperative hydronephrosis (26% vs 10%, p <0.01). They were more likely to have positive surgical margins (10% vs 3%, p= 0.01), recurrences (28% vs 9%, p<0.01), and to receive adjuvant/salvage treatment (26% vs none, p <0.01). On multivariate analysis, upstaging was associated with older age (OR 1.04; CI 1.01-1.07, p<0.01), cT1 vs cTis (OR 4.25; CI 1.57-11.48, p <0.01), cT1 vs cTa (OR 2.92; CI 1.40-6.06, p<0.01), and preoperative hydronephrosis (OR 3.18; CI 1.60-6.32, p<0.01). Upstaged patients had worse 5-year RFS (53 % vs 85%, log rank p<0.01), DSS (66% vs 93%, log rank p<0.01), and OS (49% vs 74%, log rank p<0.01). The rate of upstaging did not significantly change over time (38% in 2004 to 27% in 2019, p=0.17).

CONCLUSION

Upstaging to MIBC occurred in a significant proportion of patients after RARC for NMIBC and was associated with worse survival outcomes. Older patients, those with cT1 disease and hydronephrosis were more likely to upstage.

Post-chemotherapy Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Mixed Malignant Germ Cell Testicular Tumors

INTRODUCTION

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is performed to treat residual disease following chemotherapy for stage II and III testicular cancer. Significant morbidity can be associated with open RPLND. As such, laparoscopic techniques have been demonstrated to be safe and effective in select cases. Outcomes following post-chemotherapy laparoscopic RPLND for mixed malignant germ cell testicular tumors (MMGCT) are limited in the literature.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review for patients who underwent laparoscopic RPLND at our institution for MMGCT from May 2006 to October 2016. Patient clinical data and perioperative and oncologic outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients underwent post-chemotherapy laparoscopic RPLND. Thirty-five percent (8/23) underwent bilateral template dissection, whereas 65% (15/23) underwent a modified unilateral template dissection. Robotic assistance was utilized in 22% (5/23) of cases. Bilateral template was inferior to unilateral template RPLND in operative time, estimated blood loss, open conversion rate, length of hospital stay, and complication rate. The mean follow-up was 35.1 months and 43.3 months for the bilateral and unilateral template groups, respectively. The mean lymph node yield and recurrence rate were similar between the 2 cohorts. One recurrence of mature teratoma was noted 67 months after unilateral laparoscopic RPLND.

CONCLUSIONS

In select patients, laparoscopic RPLND for stage II and III MMGCT is safe and effective in the post-chemotherapy setting. Bilateral template laparoscopic RPLND was associated with inferior perioperative outcomes, but similar oncologic outcomes compared with unilateral template. Patients requiring bilateral template RPLND should be considered for an open approach.

Positive Surgical Margins After Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy Predict Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes for Clinically Localized Renal Masses

Introduction: For patients with clinically localized renal masses, positive surgical margins (PSMs) after robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) have been associated with a higher risk of disease recurrence, although some studies have challenged this conclusion. Owing to inconsistent reports and a lack of long-term robotic data, the clinical impact of PSM after RPN remains uncertain. We evaluate long-term (>6 years) survival outcomes after RPN in patients with clinically localized disease with respect to surgical margin status. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent RPN for clinically localized renal masses from June 2007 to December 2012 at Washington University School of Medicine. Disease recurrence and overall survival (OS) were stratified on the presence or absence of PSM. The cohort was analyzed to identify patient- and tumor-specific characteristics associated with PSM. Results: We identified 374 RPNs performed from 2007 to 2012 with a mean follow-up time of 77.7 months (SD 32.2 months). PSM was identified in 12 (3.2%) patients. Patients with PSM were at 14-fold increased risk for recurrence with no difference in OS (p < 0.001, p = 0.130, respectively). Patients with PSM had higher incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (25% vs 6.4%) and greater blood loss (425 mL vs 203 mL). Conclusion: With an extended follow-up period of 77 months after RPN, we found that PSM substantially increased the risk of recurrence without impacting OS. Our finding that PSM may occur more frequently in older patients with COPD must be confirmed in larger studies.

Tracking minimal residual disease with urine tumor DNA in muscle-invasive bladder cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

e16514

Background: Standard-of-care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) consists of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy. The inability to noninvasively assess minimal residual disease (MRD) after NAC limits our ability to offer bladder-sparing treatment. We perform urine tumor DNA (utDNA) analysis to identify pathologic complete response (pCR) at the time of cystectomy in patients receiving NAC. Methods: We applied CAPP-Seq to urine cell-free DNA samples acquired on the day of radical cystectomy from 19 MIBC patients treated with NAC. utDNA variant-calling was performed without prior tumor mutational knowledge using a panel of 49 consensus driver genes mutated in MIBC. The utDNA level for each patient was represented by the duplex-supported non-silent driver mutation with the highest variant allele fraction (vAF) after removing germline variants. We also serially tracked utDNA variants in two patients before, during, and after NAC. Results: Comparing patients with residual disease detected in their cystectomy specimen ( n = 10) to those who achieved a pCR ( n = 9), median utDNA levels were 2.4% vs. 0%, respectively ( P = 0.006). Using an optimal utDNA threshold to define MRD detection, positive utDNA MRD was highly correlated with the absence of pCR ( P = 0.003). Analysis of two patients’ serial urine samples revealed utDNA dynamics that were consistent with treatment responses in real-time. In one patient who ultimately achieved a pCR, four non-silent driver mutations were detectable pre-NAC, including ERCC2 N238S (7.8% vAF) associated with increased chemosensitivity. One week after starting NAC, ERCC2 N238S increased by 1.6-fold in urine, as did PIK3CA E726K which increased by 8.4-fold. Four weeks post-NAC, however, all mutations previously detected in this patient’s urine became undetectable, consistent with the patient’s pCR and long-term disease-free survival. Conversely, another patient harbored two non-silent driver mutations in PLEKHS1 (1.9% vAF) and KMT2D (4.9% vAF) pre-NAC. One week after starting NAC, both mutations decreased dramatically by 8.0- and 4.3-fold, respectively. By three weeks post-NAC, however, these mutations progressively increased by 5.2-fold on average, which correlated with a lack of pCR as well as post-treatment disease progression. Two newly detected non-silent driver mutations in ARID1A and ERBB2 also emerged on NAC and persisted following completion of chemotherapy , likely reflecting the development of treatment resistance. Conclusions: utDNA MRD after NAC but before radical cystectomy for MIBC correlated significantly with pathologic response, which could help personalize patient selection for bladder-sparing treatments in the future. Serial monitoring of utDNA variants during NAC can reveal dynamic mutational changes that reflect real-time treatment responses as well as ultimate disease-free survival.

Incisional Lumbodorsal Hernias Following Retroperitoneal Robotic Partial Nephrectomies for Small Renal Masses at a High-Volume Tertiary Referral Center

Introduction: Herein we evaluate the incidence of incisional lumbodorsal hernia (ILDH) after retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy (RRPN) and associated patient-specific and tumor-specific risk factors. Furthermore, we aim to evaluate the role of routine lumbodorsal fascial closure for the prevention of ILDH. Methodology: This is a retrospective review of our robotic partial nephrectomy database of all RRPNs performed at Washington University School of Medicine from 2000 to 2020. Postoperative imaging was reviewed for evidence of ILDH. A clinically significant hernia was defined as the protrusion of visceral organ(s) through the lumbodorsal fascia. Patient and tumor characteristics, and fascial closure techniques were analyzed to determine predictors of ILDH. Results: In total, 150 patients underwent RRPN between 2007 and 2020 with an average follow-up of 4.9 (1-37) months. Twelve (8%) ILDHs were identified. Ten (6.7%) patients had herniated retroperitoneal fat whereas 2 (1.3%) patients had herniated colon. All were asymptomatic and managed conservatively. On matched cohort comparison, patients with ILDH had larger tumors than patients without an incisional hernia (3.9 cm vs 2.8 cm, p = 0.029). In general, patient factors were no different between patients with and without ILDH. However, coronary artery disease (CAD) was more prevalent in patients with ILDH (33.3% vs 10.9%, p = 0.028). Patients with ILDH were more likely to have a port site extended for specimen extraction (66.7% vs 38.2%, p = 0.069). Lumbodorsal fascial closure and type of suture material were not associated with prevention of ILDH (p = 0.545, p = 0.637). Conclusion: The radiographic incidence of lumbar incisional hernias after RRPN without routine fascial closure of the extraction incision was 8%. All were asymptomatic and did not require surgical repair. Larger tumor size and CAD were associated with ILDH.

One-year urinary and sexual outcome trajectories among prostate cancer patients treated by radical prostatectomy: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

To examine one-year trajectories of urinary and sexual outcomes, and correlates of these trajectories, among prostate cancer patients treated by radical prostatectomy (RP).

METHODS

Study participants were recruited from 2011 to 2014 at two US institutions. Self-reported urinary and sexual outcomes were measured at baseline before surgery, and 5 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after surgery, using the modified Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-50 (EPIC-50). Changes in EPIC-50 scores from baseline were categorized as improved (beyond baseline), maintained, or impaired (below baseline), using previously-reported minimum clinically important differences.

RESULTS

Of the 426 eligible participants who completed the baseline survey, 395 provided data on at least one EPIC-50 sub-scale at 5 weeks and 12 months, and were analyzed. Although all mean EPIC-50 scores declined markedly 5 weeks after surgery and then recovered to near (incontinence-related outcomes) or below (sexual outcomes) baseline levels by 12 months post-surgery, some men experienced improvement beyond their baseline levels on each sub-scale (3.3-51% depending on the sub-scale). Having benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) at baseline (prostate size ≥ 40 g; an International Prostate Symptom Index Score ≥ 8; or using BPH medications) was associated with post-surgical improvements in voiding dysfunction-related bother at 5 weeks (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 2.1-7.2) and 12 months (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 2.0-5.7); and in sexual bother at 5 weeks (OR = 5.7, 95% CI:1.7-19.3) and 12 months (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.2-7.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide additional support for considering baseline BPH symptoms when selecting the best therapy for early-stage prostate cancer.

Initial Experience with Single-Port Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy: Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes Between Single-Port and Conventional Multiport Approaches

Background: The surgical techniques and devices used to perform radical cystectomy have evolved significantly with the advent of laparoscopic and robotic methods. The da Vinci^® Single-Port (SP) platform (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) is an innovation that allows a surgeon to perform robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) through a single incision. To determine if this new tool is comparable to its multiport (MP) predecessors, we reviewed a single-surgeon experience of SP RARC. Materials and Methods: We identified patients at our institution who underwent RARC between August 2017 and June 2020 by one surgeon at our institution (n = 64). Using propensity scoring analysis, patients whose procedure were performed with the SP platform (n = 12) were matched 1:2 to patients whose procedure was performed with the MP platform (n = 24). Univariable analysis was performed to identify differences in any perioperative outcome, including operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), lymph node yield, 90-day complication/readmission rates, and positive surgical margin (PSM) rates. Results: Patients who had an SP RARC on average had a lower lymph node yield than those who had an MP RARC (11.9 vs 17.1, p = 0.0347). All other perioperative outcomes, including operative time, EBL, 90-day complication rates, 90-day readmission rates, and PSM rates, were not significantly different between the SP and MP RARC groups. Conclusions: Based on their perioperative outcomes, the SP platform is a feasible alternative to the MP platform when performing RARC. The SP's perioperative outcomes should continue to be evaluated as more SP RARCs are performed.

Single-cell Spatial Proteomic Revelations on the Multiparametric MRI Heterogeneity of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE

Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) has become an indispensable radiographic tool in diagnosing prostate cancer. However, mpMRI fails to visualize approximately 15% of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). The molecular, cellular, and spatial underpinnings of such radiographic heterogeneity in csPCa are unclear.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We examined tumor tissues from clinically matched patients with mpMRI-invisible and mpMRI-visible csPCa who underwent radical prostatectomy. Multiplex immunofluorescence single-cell spatial imaging and gene expression profiling were performed. Artificial intelligence-based analytic algorithms were developed to examine the tumor ecosystem and integrate with corresponding transcriptomics.

RESULTS

More complex and compact epithelial tumor architectures were found in mpMRI-visible than in mpMRI-invisible prostate cancer tumors. In contrast, similar stromal patterns were detected between mpMRI-invisible prostate cancer and normal prostate tissues. Furthermore, quantification of immune cell composition and tumor-immune interactions demonstrated a lack of immune cell infiltration in the malignant but not in the adjacent nonmalignant tissue compartments, irrespective of mpMRI visibility. No significant difference in immune profiles was detected between mpMRI-visible and mpMRI-invisible prostate cancer within our patient cohort, whereas expression profiling identified a 24-gene stromal signature enriched in mpMRI-invisible prostate cancer. Prostate cancer with strong stromal signature exhibited a favorable survival outcome within The Cancer Genome Atlas prostate cancer cohort. Notably, five recurrences in the 8 mpMRI-visible patients with csPCa and no recurrence in the 8 clinically matched patients with mpMRI-invisible csPCa occurred during the 5-year follow-up post-prostatectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identified distinct molecular, cellular, and structural characteristics associated with mpMRI-visible csPCa, whereas mpMRI-invisible tumors were similar to normal prostate tissue, likely contributing to mpMRI invisibility.

Ex Vivo Porcine Model for Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy Simulation at a High-Volume Tertiary Center: Resident Perception and Validation Assessment Using the Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills Tool

Introduction: With increased demands on surgeon productivity and outcomes, residency robotics training increasingly relies on simulations. The objective of this study is to assess the validity and effectiveness of an ex vivo porcine training model as a useful tool to improve surgical skill and confidence with robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) among urology residents. Methods: A 2.5 cm circular area of ex vivo porcine kidneys was marked as the area of the tumor. Tumor excision and renorrhaphy was performed by trainees using a da Vinci Si robot. All residents ranging from postgraduate year (PGY) 2 to 5 participated in four training sessions during the 2017 to 2018 academic year. Each session was videorecorded and scored using the global evaluative assessment of robotic skills (GEARS) by faculty members. Results: Twelve residents completed the program. Initial mean GEARS score was 16.7 and improved by +1.4 with each subsequent session (p = 0.008). Initial mean excision, renorrhaphy, and total times were 8.2, 13.9, and 22.1 minutes, which improved by 1.6, 2.0, and 3.6 minutes, respectively (all p < 0.001). Residents' confidence at performing RAPN and robotic surgery increased after completing the courses (p = 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively). Overall, residents rated that this program has greatly contributed to their skill (4/5) and confidence (4.1/5) in robotic surgery. Conclusions: An ex vivo porcine simulation model for RAPN and robotic surgery provides measurable improvement in GEARS score and reduction in procedural time, although significant differences for all PGY levels need to be confirmed with larger study participation. Adoption of this simulation in a urology residency curriculum may improve residents' skill and confidence in robotic surgery.

Factors associated with higher prostate biopsy yield: when is software-assisted fusion MRI-targeting necessary?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the addition of software-assisted fusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) targeted biopsy to systematic biopsy and determine clinical and imaging factors associated with improved prostate cancer (PCa) detection.

METHODS

We analyzed 454 patients who had prostate MRI and underwent combined systematic and software-assisted fusion MRI-targeted biopsy at 2 academic centers between July 2015 and December 2017. For our analysis, we compared the Gleason grade group of cores obtained systematically to cores obtained using MRI-targeting. Using multivariable analysis, we examined clinical and imaging factors associated with higher grade group disease in MRI-targeted cores.

RESULTS

Software assisted fusion MRI-targeted biopsy detected higher grade group disease in 18.3% of patients. Factors associated with higher grade group disease in MRI-targeted cores included anterior MRI lesion location (odds ratio [OR] 3.15, P< 0.01) and multiple lesions on MRI (OR 2.47, P = 0.01). Increasing prostate volume per cubic centimeter was noted to be negatively associated (OR 0.98, P = 0.02). Notably, factors not found to be associated with improved detection included PIRADS classification 5 compared to 3 (OR 2.47, P = 0.08), PIRADS classification 4 compared to 3 (OR 1.37, P = 0.50), previous negative biopsy (OR 1.48, P = 0.29), inclusion on an active surveillance protocol (OR 1.36, P = 0.48), transitional zone lesion location (OR 0.72, P = 0.45), and institution at which biopsy was performed (OR 1.81, P = 0.16).

CONCLUSION

Adding software-assisted fusion MRI-targeting to systematic prostate biopsy offers benefit for men with an anterior and multiple MRI lesions. In absence of these factors, systematic biopsy alone or with cognitive fusion may be considered.

Prostate cancer recurrence in patients with negative or equivocal conventional imaging: A role for 18F-fluciclovine-PET/CT in delineating sites of recurrence and identifying patients with oligometastatic disease

INTRODUCTION

Despite improvements in overall survival, biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer, characterized by rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after curative intent primary therapy, remains common. With the advent of highly sensitive molecular imaging, men with limited metastatic disease burden, or oligometastatic prostate cancer, are increasingly being identified. The LOCATE trial (NCT02680041) assessed the impact of positron emission tomography (PET) with ¹⁸F-fluciclovine on management of men with prostate cancer recurrence after curative intent primary therapy and negative/equivocal conventional imaging. Here, we use LOCATE data to characterize the sites of disease recurrence and explore the potential for ¹⁸F-fluciclovine-PET/CT to evaluate oligometastatic disease.

METHODS

Eligible men (≥18 years; prior curative intent treatment of prostate cancer; recurrence based on rising PSA; negative/equivocal conventional imaging) underwent ¹⁸F-fluciclovine-PET/CT according to standard protocols. The primary outcome measure of the LOCATE trial was a revised management plan post-scan. We performed a secondary analysis of the LOCATE imaging data to characterize anatomical sites of disease recurrence and to explore the potential for ¹⁸F-fluciclovine-PET/CT to evaluate oligometastatic disease. Imaging results were stratified by baseline PSA levels and prior treatment(s) and the Fisher exact test used to analyze differences between groups. Oligometastatic disease was defined as 1-5 extraprostatic lesions (≤3 lesions in any single organ system) plus negative prostate/bed imaging (as a surrogate for primary tumor control).

RESULTS

Of 213 enrolled patients, 164 (77%) had undergone prostatectomy as their initial treatment; their median PSA was 0.57ng/ml. For the 49 patients with an intact prostate, the median PSA was 5.5ng/ml. The overall ¹⁸F-fluciclovine-PET/CT detection rate was 57%. Detection rates were 84% in men with intact prostates and 49% in those who had undergone prostatectomy, with the difference being attributable to prostate/bed findings (71% vs. 18%, respectively). The detection rate in lymph nodes was 29% and in bone was 11%. In total, 53/213 (25%) had oligometastatic disease. Twenty (38%) oligometastatic patients had PSA ≤1.0 ng/ml. Forty-two (79%) experienced a change to their management plan following the scan, commonly to target a lesion identified by ¹⁸F-fluciclovine-PET/CT. The majority of management changes (74%) involved a new treatment modality; however, 10 patients (24%) experienced a modification of the existing plan for radiotherapy to incorporate a boost to an area guided by the ¹⁸F-fluciclovine-PET/CT results.

CONCLUSION

Even at low PSA levels, ¹⁸F-fluciclovine-PET/CT identified a diverse pattern of recurrence missed with conventional imaging. One-quarter of men had oligometastatic disease, raising the potential for ¹⁸F-fluciclovine-PET/CT to guide targeted treatment of oligometastases.

Laparoscopic cytoreductive nephrectomy is associated with significantly improved survival compared with open cytoreductive nephrectomy or targeted therapy alone

The aim of the present study was to compare the survival outcomes for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who underwent laparoscopic cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) vs. open CN vs. targeted therapy (TT) alone at our institution. A retrospective chart review was performed at our institution for patients who underwent CN prior to TT (laparoscopic, n=48; open, n=48) or who were deemed unfit for surgery and received TT alone (n=36), between January 2007 and December 2012. Kaplan-Meier estimated survival and Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed. Laparoscopic CN was associated with significantly longer survival compared with open CN or TT alone (median survival 24 vs. <12 months, respectively; P<0.01). On multivariate analysis, laparoscopic CN was an independent predictor of survival [hazard ratio (HR)=0.48, P<0.01), controlling for preoperative risk factors, while survival was similar between open CN and TT alone (HR=0.85, P=0.54). In our experience, laparoscopic CN appears to be a significant predictor of survival in mRCC. Selection bias of the surgeon for patients with improved survival may account for clinical variables that were otherwise difficult to quantify. For patients who were not candidates for laparoscopic CN, open CN did not confer a survival benefit over TT alone, while it was associated with increased morbidity.

ACK1-AR and AR-HOXB13 signaling axes: epigenetic regulation of lethal prostate cancers

The androgen receptor (AR) is a critical transcription factor in prostate cancer (PC) pathogenesis. Its activity in malignant cells is dependent on interactions with a diverse set of co-regulators. These interactions fluctuate depending on androgen availability. For example, the androgen depletion increases the dependence of castration-resistant PCs (CRPCs) on the ACK1 and HOXB13 cell survival pathways. Activated ACK1, an oncogenic tyrosine kinase, phosphorylates cytosolic and nuclear proteins, thereby avoiding the inhibitory growth consequences of androgen depletion. Notably, ACK1-mediated phosphorylation of histone H4, which leads to epigenetic upregulation of AR expression, has emerged as a critical mechanism of CRPC resistance to anti-androgens. This resistance can be targeted using the ACK1-selective small-molecule kinase inhibitor (R)- 9b. CRPCs also deploy the bromodomain and extra-terminal domain protein BRD4 to epigenetically increase HOXB13 gene expression, which in turn activates the MYC target genes AURKA/AURKB. HOXB13 also facilitates ligand-independent recruitment of the AR splice variant AR-V7 to chromatin, compensating for the loss of the chromatin remodeling protein, CHD1, and restricting expression of the mitosis control gene HSPB8. These studies highlight the crosstalk between AR-ACK1 and AR-HOXB13 pathways as key mediators of CRPC recurrence.

Endoscopically assisted malarplasty: L-rotation technique

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopically assisted malarplasty with a greenstick fracture is a method for preserving the body eminence and improving arch protrusion. However, this technique is inadequate when malar body reduction is required. To compensate for these limitations, we developed a new surgical technique using the endoscope to reduce body protrusion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We enrolled 261 patients who visited our clinic for zygoma reduction from January 2017 to December 2018. Their mean age was 31 (range 17-63) years. After a scalp incision, an incomplete osteotomy was created from the most prominent portion of the zygoma body to the zygomaticomaxillary suture line. A complete osteotomy was performed on the arch. These osteotomies resulted in an L-shaped zygoma segment after tapping the bone with a mallet.

RESULTS

Of the 261 patients who underwent our L-rotation technique, 242 also received a corticotomy. Of those patients, 15 underwent a different degree of zygoma reduction on both sides. A floating zygomatic segment occurred in four cases, although no further surgery was required. One patient's zygomatic segment dropped on one side, requiring rigid fixation through the intraoral approach. Most patients were satisfied and there were no specific complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopically assisted malarplasty using an L-rotation technique enables the protrusion of both the arch and body to be reduced. The zygoma reduction can be modified based on the location of the incomplete osteotomoy line and the number of corticotomies required.

Management of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer During a Pandemic: Impact of Treatment Delay on Survival Outcomes for Patients Treated With Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Introduction

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, providers and patients must engage in shared decision making to ensure that the benefit of early intervention for muscle-invasive bladder cancer exceeds the risk of contracting COVID-19 in the clinical setting. It is unknown whether treatment delays for patients eligible for curative chemoradiation (CRT) compromise long-term outcomes.

Patients and Methods

We used the National Cancer Data Base to investigate whether there is an association between a ≥ 90-day delay from transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in initiating CRT and overall survival. We included patients with cT2-4N0M0 muscle-invasive bladder cancer from 2004 to 2015 who underwent TURBT and curative-intent concurrent CRT. Patients were grouped on the basis of timing of CRT: ≤ 89 days after TURBT (earlier) vs. ≥ 90 and < 180 days after TURBT (delayed).

Results

A total of 1387 (87.5%) received earlier CRT (median, 45 days after TURBT; interquartile range, 34-59 days), and 197 (12.5%) received delayed CRT (median, 111 days after TURBT; interquartile range, 98-130 days). Median overall survival was 29.0 months (95% CI, 26.0-32.0) versus 27.0 months (95% CI, 19.75-34.24) for earlier and delayed CRT (P = .94). On multivariable analysis, delayed CRT was not associated with an overall survival difference (hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.87-1.27; P = .60).

Conclusion

Although these results are limited and require validation, short, strategic treatment delays during a pandemic can be considered on the basis of clinician judgment.

Ten-Year Experience with Percutaneous Cryoablation of Renal Tumors: Tumor Size Predicts Disease Progression

Introduction: Percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) has emerged as an alternative to extirpative management of small renal masses (SRMs) in select patients, with a reduced risk of perioperative complications. Although disease recurrence is thought to occur in the early postoperative period, limited data on long-term oncologic outcomes have been published. We reviewed our 10-year experience with PCA for SRMs and assessed predictors of disease progression. Materials and Methods: We reviewed our prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent renal PCA from March 2005 to December 2015 (n = 308). Baseline patient and tumor variables were recorded, and postoperative cross-sectional imaging was examined for evidence of disease recurrence. Disease progression was defined as the presence of local recurrence or new lymphadenopathy/metastasis. Results: Mean patient age was 67.2 ± 11 years, mean tumor size was 2.7 ± 1.3 cm, and mean nephrometry score was 6.8 ± 1.7. At mean follow-up of 38 months, local recurrence and new lymphadenopathy/metastasis occurred in 10.1% (31/308) and 6.2% (19/308) of patients, respectively. Excluding patients with a solitary kidney and/or von Hippel-Lindau, local recurrence and new lymphadenopathy/metastasis occurred in 8.6% (23/268) and 1.9% (5/268) of cases, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-free survival was 92.5% at 1 year, 89.3% at 2 years, and 86.7% at 3 years post-PCA. Increasing tumor size was a significant predictor of disease progression (hazard ratio 1.32 per 1-cm increase in size, p = 0.001). Conclusions: PCA is a viable treatment option for patients with SRMs. Increasing tumor size is a significant predictor of disease progression following PCA.

Measuring the predictability of life outcomes with a scientific mass collaboration

How predictable are life trajectories? We investigated this question with a scientific mass collaboration using the common task method; 160 teams built predictive models for six life outcomes using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a high-quality birth cohort study. Despite using a rich dataset and applying machine-learning methods optimized for prediction, the best predictions were not very accurate and were only slightly better than those from a simple benchmark model. Within each outcome, prediction error was strongly associated with the family being predicted and weakly associated with the technique used to generate the prediction. Overall, these results suggest practical limits to the predictability of life outcomes in some settings and illustrate the value of mass collaborations in the social sciences.