Changes in circulating microRNA levels associated with prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that changes in circulating microRNAs (miRs) represent potentially useful biomarkers for the diagnosis, staging and prediction of outcome in prostate cancer. METHODS: Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of 742 miRs was performed using plasma-derived circulating microvesicles of 78 prostate cancer patients and 28 normal control individuals to identify differentially quantified miRs. RESULTS: A total of 12 miRs were differentially quantified in prostate cancer patients compared with controls, including 9 in patients without metastases. In all, 11 miRs were present in significantly greater amounts in prostate cancer patients with metastases compared with those without metastases. The association of miR-141 and miR-375 with metastatic prostate cancer was confirmed using serum-derived exosomes and microvesicles in a separate cohort of patients with recurrent or non-recurrent disease following radical prostatectomy. An analysis of five selected miRs in urine samples found that miR-107 and miR-574-3p were quantified at significantly higher concentrations in the urine of men with prostate cancer compared with controls. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that changes in miR concentration in prostate cancer patients may be identified by analysing various body fluids. Moreover, circulating miRs may be used to diagnose and stage prostate cance

Review of the use of prophylactic drain tubes post-robotic radical prostatectomy: Dogma or decent practice?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the necessity of routine prophylactic drain tube use following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). METHOD: We performed a literature review using the Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases with no restriction of language from January 1900 to January 2020. The following terms we used in the literature search: prostatectomy, radical prostatectomy, robot assisted, drainage, and drain tube. RESULTS: We identified six studies that examined the use of routine prophylactic drain tubes following RARP. One of these studies was a randomized study that included 189 patients, with 97 in the pelvic drain (PD) arm and 92 in the no pelvic drain (ND) arm. This non-inferiority showed an early (90-day) complication rate of 17.4% in the ND arm versus 26.8% in the PD arm (P < .001). Another non-inferiority randomized control trial (RCT) showed a complication rate of 28.9% in the PD group versus 20.4% in the ND group (P = .254). Similarly, the other studies found no benefit of routine use of prophylactic drain tube after RARP. CONCLUSION: Drain tubes play a role during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy, however, following a review of the current available literature, they can be safely omitted and we suggest that clinicians may be selective in their use

Conducto ileal intracorp{\'o}reo rob{\'o}tico: Aspectos t{\'e}cnicos,Robotic intracorporeal ileal conduit: Technical aspects

To present a review of the technical aspects of robotic intracorporeal ileal conduit (IC) reconstruction after robot assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). METHODS: A non-systematic review is performed in order to summarize technical aspects on robot assisted ileal conduit procedure following radical cystectomy in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. RESULTS: Radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection and urinary diversion is the gold-standard therapy for localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer. IC is the most common diversion utilized by surgeons. Minimally invasive approaches to IC were proposed with the intention of decreasing the morbidity associated to open surgery. Several oncological, and functional factors should be taken into consideration for the selection of patients undergoing this procedure together with surgeons and patients' preferences. The stoma marking of the patient is of critical importance. Identification of the ureters should be done assuring careful handling of the tissue and then isolation of the bowel segments should be performed after confirming proper length of the segment. Side to side anastomosis of the antimesenteric borders of the bowel is performed with linear staplers, and the ureteroileal anastomosis is done. Finally, the ileal conduit is positioned close to the stoma marking site and is fixed to the skin. Urinary diversion and radical cystectomy is a very morbid procedure. Mainly, complications are gastrointestinal, stoma-related, or associated to the ureter-enteric anastomosis. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of the robotic platform concerning postoperative outcomes may be more evident if the procedure is done in an intracorporeal fashion. Proper knowledge and mastery of the technical aspects of this procedure are critical

Identifying the Optimal Candidate for Salvage Lymph Node Dissection for Nodal Recurrence of Prostate Cancer: Results from a Large, Multi-institutional Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Salvage lymph node dissection (SLND) represents a possible treatment option for prostate cancer patients affected by nodal recurrence after local treatment. However, SLND may be associated with intra- and postoperative complications, and the oncological benefit may be limited to specific groups of patients. OBJECTIVE: To identify the optimal candidates for SLND based on preoperative characteristics. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The study included 654 patients who experienced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) rise and nodal recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP) and underwent SLND at nine tertiary referral centers. Lymph node recurrence was documented by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan using either 11C-choline or 68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen ligand. INTERVENTION: SLND. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The study outcome was early clinical recurrence (eCR) developed within 1 yr after SLND. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to develop a predictive model. Multivariable-derived coefficients were used to develop a novel risk calculator. Decision-curve analysis was used to evaluate the net benefit of the predictive model. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Median follow-up was 30 (interquartile range, 16-50) mo among patients without clinical recurrence (CR), and 334 patients developed CR after SLND. In particular, eCR at 1 yr after SLND was observed in 150 patients, with a Kaplan-Meier probability of eCR equal to 25%. The development of eCR was significantly associated with an increased risk of cancer-specific mortality at 3 yr, being 20% versus 1.4% in patients with and without eCR, respectively (p<0.0001). At multivariable analysis, Gleason grade group 5 (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.04; p<0.0001), time from RP to PSA rising (HR: 0.99; p=0.025), hormonal therapy administration at PSA rising after RP (HR: 1.47; p=0.0005), retroperitoneal uptake at PET/CT scan (HR: 1.24; p=0.038), three or more positive spots at PET/CT scan (HR: 1.26; p=0.019), and PSA level at SLND (HR: 1.05; p<0.0001) were significant predictors of CR after SLND. The coefficients of the predictive model were used to develop a risk calculator for eCR at 1 yr after SLND. The discrimination of the model (Harrel'sC index) was 0.75. At decision-curve analysis, the net benefit of the model was higher than the "treat-all" option at all the threshold probabilities. CONCLUSIONS: We reported the largest available series of patients treated with SLND. Roughly 25% of men developed eCR after surgery. We developed the first risk stratification tool to identify the optimal candidate to SLND based on routinely available preoperative characteristics. This tool can be useful to avoid use of SLND in men more likely to progress despite any imaging-guided approach. PATIENT SUMMARY: The risk of early recurrence after salvage lymph node dissection (SLND) was approximately 25%. In this study, we developed a novel tool to predict the risk of early failure after SLND. This tool will be useful to identify patients who would benefit the most from SLND from other patients who should be spared from surgery.status: publishe