Chiara Fiorito

Prognostic Factors of ‘High-Grade' Ta Bladder Cancers according to the WHO 2004 Classification: Are These Equivalent to ‘High-Risk' Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer?

Objective: To determine the impact of prognostic factors of a series of high-grade Ta non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers (NMIBCs) according to the new International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) 1998/WHO 2004 grading system (previously classified as either TaG2 or TaG3). Methods: One hundred and thirty-one high-grade Ta (105 G2 and 26 G3) cases were identified after independent review by two pathologists. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models addressed recurrence and progression-free survival. Progression was defined as appearance of any T ≥1 recurrence after complete TUR (type 1) or occurrence of T ≥2 (type 2). Results: Ten-year recurrence, type-1 and type-2 progression-free survival were 60, 75 and 95%, respectively. The previous grading system (G3 vs. G2) significantly predicted type 1 progression in the univariate model only. In the multivariate model, Ki67 was the only independent predictor of progression according to both definitions (HR = 5.25, p = 0.002 and HR = 6.16, p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: High-grade Ta NMIBC as defined by the WHO 2004 grading system cannot be equated with high-risk NMIBC. The risk of progression to muscle-invasive disease (type 2) is low, more in keeping with an intermediate-risk category of NMIBC. The previous WHO 1973 subcategorization into G2 and G3 is of little help in the prediction of outcome. Ki67 is a strong independent predictor of progression worthy of consideration for a clinical setting.

Pharmacokinetic study to optimize the intravesical administration of gemcitabine.

Study Type – Therapy (case control)
Level of Evidence 3b

Prognostic Factors Including Ki-67 and p53 in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-Treated Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Prospective Study

Objectives: To prospectively evaluate the prognostic utility of the traditional prognostic factors and molecular markers p53 and Ki-67 in a homogeneous series of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Patients and Methods: 192 intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC cases were enrolled. The variables in study were age, stage, grade, focality, tumour size, presence of associated carcinoma in situ, recurrence rate before BCG, maintenance for BCG, Ki-67 and p53. The endpoints considered were recurrence-free survival, progression-free survival, cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Results: T stage resulted in being associated with CSS, whereas age with OS. BCG maintenance was a significantly favourable independent predictor of OS, CSS, recurrence and progression. In univariate analysis, the labelling index of Ki-67 was significantly associated with OS, CSS and progression. Multivariate analysis, however, confirmed this association only for OS. On the contrary, the labelling index of p53 was a significant predictor of recurrence, both in uni- and multivariate analyses, but with a HR inferior to 1. Conclusions: Ki-67 was an independent predictor of survival. p53 overexpression showed a significant yet inverse correlation with recurrence, thus showing little clinical utility. Age, stage and maintenance were confirmed as independent predictors of BCG response.

Leiomyomata of the genitourinary tract: A case series from the “rare urological neoplasm” registry

Abstract Objective. Leiomyomata are benign neoplasms that are rarely encountered in the genitourinary tract outside the uterus. Pathological confirmation is always needed for definitive diagnosis, in order to rule out malignancies such as leiomyosarcoma. In cases of small leiomyomata, a surveillance strategy can be suggested, although the preferred approach is complete resection. Prognosis seems to be excellent, but available data are based on few, inconsistent series, as is often the case with rare neoplasms. This article presents long-term follow-up data from the most heterogeneous series, in terms of anatomical location, currently available. Material and methods. The present series of 33 genitourinary leiomyomata was retrieved after joining the “rare urogenital neoplasm” registry of two Italian regions. Two pathologists jointly reviewed all pathological slides and confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyoma. Results. Sixteen cases were localized to the scrotum, eight to the bladder, five to the kidney, two to the prostate, one to the urethra and one to the penis. Mean patient age was 58.4 (range 32–80) years. Mean follow-up was 15.5 (range 2–20) years. Conclusions. In this highly heterogeneous series, the disease showed excellent long-term recurrence- and progression-free interval. The accuracy of pathological diagnosis, along with the indolent long-term course, make the role of active surveillance amenable for asymptomatic cases, particularly where surgery may result in overtreatment.

Fatal Haematuria in a Patient with an Orthotopic Neobladder and Chronic Liver Failure

Haematuria in orthotopic neobladder can be due to upper urinary tract recurrence of the primary bladder tumour, the rare occurrence of a primary bowel tumour or benign conditions such as stones and infections. We report the case of a 60-year-old man with chronic hepatopathy who suffered severe bleeding from neobladder varices, which ultimately led to his death.

The importance of psychosexual counselling in the re-establishment of organic and erotic functions after penile prosthesis implantation

Although many studies about penile prosthesis implantation (PPI) have been published so far, only a small amount of them take into account patients and partners outcome in terms of satisfaction and erotic function. The aim of this study is to explore the value of psycosexual counselling in and the sexual and erotic function of penile prosthesis recipients. Thirty patients and their partners were randomised into two groups. In arm A (case group) patients and their partners underwent a multistep psychosexual counselling before and after surgery. In arm B (control group) surgery was performed without the specific psychosexual counselling scheme. Specific questionnaires (International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Sexual Daydreaming Scale (SDS)) were administered before surgery and 12 months afterwards. Twenty-four months postoperatively patients were asked to complete the Global Assessment Questions (GAQ) and the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS), while their partners were asked to answer to the EDITS partner’s section. Between January 2009 and October 2011, we enrolled 30 patients undergoing PPI in our institution (15 in each arm). Twenty-four months postoperative follow-up is available for all of them. No significant differences between the two groups in terms of baseline questionnaires scores were observed. Mean IIEF score was significantly higher in case group (arm A 68.3, arm B 53.4, P-value<0.001). At 12 months after PPI the improvement of erotic function according to SDS was significantly higher in the study group for both patients and their partners. Improvement in satisfaction rates were confirmed at 24 months, with statistically significant scores for EDITS in arm A patients and partners as compared with arm B. PPI with a pre- and postoperative psychosexual counselling scheme resulted in better postoperative sexual activity and erotic function for both patients and partners than PPI alone.

Adverse events after intravesical therapy: are we always ready to recognize and prevent them?

Intravesical therapy is widely used in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) as adjuvant treatment after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Assuming that adjuvant therapy is necessary for NMIBC in order to reduce recurrence and progression rates, chemotherapy and BCG toxicity become a relevant issue. Both treatments may have local and systemic side effects, which can lead to treatment cessation, resulting in incomplete treatment and poor outcomes. Therefore, urologists, specialist nurses and patients must be aware of the possible adverse events in order to early recognize, prevent and treat them properly. This article summarizes the local and systemic side effects associated with intravesical therapy, presents the recommendations for an effective management of these adverse events based on currently available evidence, and highlights some open questions on these issues.

Phase II study of biweekly gemcitabine as first line therapy in CIS of the bladder: What does an aborted trial tell us?

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to challenge the activity of a promising intravesical drug (gemcitabine), administered at an intensive regimen (2,000 mg twice a week for 6 weeks) in treatment naïve CIS of the bladder and to observe side-effects. The statistical design was conceived to provide sufficient information through the enrollment of a low number of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Primary, secondary, and concurrent CIS with no prior intravesical therapy were eligible. Treatment schedule: 2000 mg gemcitabine in 50 ml saline, unbuffered, for 1 hour twice a week for 6 weeks. Complete response (CR) = negative cytology and negative cystoscopy + bladder mapping at 3 months. Failure (FA) = all other situations. Side-effects were recorded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). STUDY DESIGN A 3-stage design. After testing the drug on 11 patients in the first stage, the trial had to be terminated if 3 or fewer CRs. After testing the drug on 21 patients in the first and second stages, the trial had to be terminated if 7 or fewer CRs. After testing the drug on 32 patients in all 3 stages, the drug was considered active in case of >12 CRs. Survival data up to 4 years from trial closure were collected. RESULTS The study proceeded to stage II since 5/11 responded at stage I but it was stopped after including 18 patients due to side-effects; 6/18 had primary CIS, 7 had secondary CIS, and 5 concomitant CIS; 6/18 (33.3%) had grade 3 side-effects (4 G3 cystitis, 3 G3 leucopenia), leading to stopping the treatment in all 6 cases. CRs were observed in 8/18 patients (44.4%), FA in 10/18 (55.5%). Median overall survival (OS) was 44 months with a 4-year cancer-specific survival of 100%. CONCLUSION Biweekly gemcitabine as first line treatment for CIS led to excess toxicity and suboptimal activity. Due to the peculiar statistical design, a negative response was generated enrolling a low number of patients. The absolute 4-year CSS suggests that no window of opportunity for disease cure may have been lost by assessing a new, non standard, treatment for CIS.

927 Is there still a role for computed tomography and bone scintigraphy in prostate cancer staging? An analysis from the Eureka-1 database

Purpose According to the current guidelines, computed tomography (CT) and bone scintigraphy (BS) are optional in intermediate-risk and recommended in high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). We wonder whether it is time for these examinations to be dismissed, evaluating their staging accuracy in a large cohort of radical prostatectomy (RP) patients.

Data collection for models validation: Application to prostate cancer — Clinical aspects

In the general framework of the European ICT Project CHIC, focused on the building of a common repository for data and models in the field of human cancer, we are collecting clinical, serological and pathological data about prostate cancer for prognostic and growth modeling purposes. Two ongoing retrospective observational studies, named EUREKA-1 and EUREKA-2, focused on patients treated respectively by Radical Prostatectomy (RP) or Radical Radiotherapy (RRT) as primary treatment are presented.