Daniel Liberman

Location of the Primary Tumor is Not an Independent Predictor of Cancer Specific Mortality in Patients With Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

PURPOSE The prognostic significance of renal pelvis vs ureteral upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma tumor location is controversial. We assessed the prognostic significance of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma tumor location in a large, population based data set. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our analyses relied on 2,824 patients treated with nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma within 9 SEER registries between 1988 and 2004. Univariable and multivariable models tested the effect of tumor location on cancer specific mortality rates. Covariates consisted of age, race, SEER registry, gender, type of surgery (nephroureterectomy with vs without bladder cuff removal), pT stage, pN stage, grade and year of surgery. RESULTS Relative to ureteral tumors renal pelvis tumors were of higher stage (T3/T4 disease 38.4% vs 57.9%, p <0.001) and had a higher rate of lymph node metastases (6.0% vs 9.8%, p = 0.003) at nephroureterectomy. The respective 5-year cancer specific mortality-free survival estimates were 81.0% vs 75.5% (p = 0.007). However, after multivariable adjustment tumor location failed to reach independent predictor status of cancer specific mortality (p = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge this is the largest cohort in which the impact of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma tumor location on cancer specific mortality was examined. At nephroureterectomy renal pelvis tumors had significantly more advanced T and N stages compared to ureteral tumors. However, after adjustment for stage, grade and other covariates tumor location did not independently predict cancer specific mortality. Thus, the biological behavior of renal pelvis vs ureteral tumors is the same after nephroureterectomy as long as stage, grade, and other patient and tumor characteristics are accounted for.

Nephron-sparing Surgery Is Equally Effective to Radical Nephrectomy for T1BN0M0 Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Population-based Assessment

OBJECTIVES To test the effect of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) vs radical nephrectomy (RN) on cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in patients with T1bN0M0 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a population-based cohort. To date, only few series from tertiary care centers supported the use of NSS for T1bN0M0 (range 4-7 cm) RCC. METHODS The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database allowed us to identify 275 NSS (5.3%) and 4866 RN (94.7%) patients treated for T1bN0M0 RCC between 1988 and 2004. Analyses matched for age, year of surgery, tumor size, and Fuhrman grade addressed the effect of nephrectomy type (NSS vs RN) on CSM. RESULTS Five years after surgery, the surviving proportions of NSS and RN patients matched for age, tumor size, and year of surgery were respectively 91.4 and 95.3% and 90.1 and 93.8% in the cohort, where additional matching for Fuhrman grade was performed. Neither of the matched analyses resulted in statistically significant CSM difference (P = .1 and .4) between NSS and RN. Similarly, competing-risks regression analyses based on both matching schemes also failed to reveal statistically significant CSM differences (P = .3 and .3). CONCLUSIONS Our study represents the largest and the only population-based analysis of cancer control efficacy of NSS vs RN in T1bN0M0 RCC. It indicates that NSS does provide equivalent cancer control relative to RN. In consequence, based on cancer control equivalence, NSS should be given equal consideration to RN in patients with T1bN0M0 lesions.

A population-based competing-risks analysis of the survival of patients treated with radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

Patients treated with radical cystectomy represent a very heterogeneous group with respect to cancer‐specific and other‐cause mortality. Comorbidities and comorbidity‐associated events represent very important causes of mortality in those individuals. The authors examined the rates of cancer‐specific and other‐cause mortality in a population‐based radical cystectomy cohort.

Perioperative Mortality Is Significantly Greater in Septuagenarian and Octogenarian Patients Treated With Radical Cystectomy for Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder

OBJECTIVES To revisit whether the perioperative mortality differs between septuagenarian and octogenarian patients and younger patients in a large contemporary population-based cohort. The data from tertiary care centers have suggested that perioperative mortality after radical cystectomy is not considerably different in septuagenarian or octogenarian patients compared with younger patients. However, population-based data have stated otherwise. METHODS From 1988 to 2006, 12,722 radical cystectomies were performed for urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder in 17 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries. Of those 12,722 patients, 4480 (35.2%) were aged 70-79 years and 1439 (11.3%) were aged ≥80 years. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models tested the 90-day mortality after radical cystectomy. Covariates consisted of sex, race, year of surgery, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry, and histologic grade and stage. RESULTS The overall 90-day mortality rate was 4% for the entire population, 2% for patients aged ≤69 years, 5.4% for septuagenarian patients, and 9.2% for octogenarian patients. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, septuagenarian (odds ratio 2.80; P < .001) and octogenarian (odds ratio 5.02; P < .001) age increased the risk of 90-day mortality after radical cystectomy. CONCLUSIONS In the present population-based analysis, the perioperative mortality after radical cystectomy was three- and fivefold greater in the septuagenarian and octogenarian patients, respectively, which was greater than that in tertiary care centers. This information should be included in informed consent considerations.

Racial disparities and socioeconomic status in men diagnosed with testicular germ cell tumors: a survival analysis.

Previous reports indicated that African‐American men with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) have more aggressive tumor characteristics and less favorable outcomes than other men. The authors of this report evaluated the effects of race and socioeconomic status (SES) on stage distribution, overall mortality (OM), and cancer‐specific mortality (CSM) in men with TGCTs.

Can Renal Mass Biopsy Assessment of Tumor Grade be Safely Substituted for by a Predictive Model

PURPOSE Fuhrman grade represents a key determinant of the natural history of small renal masses that represent renal cell carcinoma. We tested whether renal mass biopsy prediction of Fuhrman grade in the nephrectomy specimen could be safely substituted for by an accurate statistical model. To date the best available model has shown poor accuracy (55.6%), which is close to flipping a coin (50%) and clearly inadequate for use in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS We identified 1,139 patients with T1aN0M0 renal cell carcinoma treated with partial or radical nephrectomy at 11 participating institutions from 1989 to 2004. This cohort was used in univariate and multivariate logistic regression models predicting high Fuhrman grade (III-IV) at nephrectomy. Predictors included age at diagnosis, gender, tumor size and symptom classification. Multivariate logistic regression coefficients were used to generate a nomogram. RESULTS The rate of Fuhrman grade III-IV in patients with T1aN0M0 renal cell carcinoma was 12.3%. Stratifying patients with Fuhrman grade III-IV by age, gender, histological subtypes and sample size failed to reveal statistically significant differences. On univariate analysis predicting Fuhrman grade III-IV at nephrectomy only tumor size was a statistically significant predictor (p = 0.05). The most accurate multivariate nomogram for Fuhrman grade III-IV prediction was 58.3% (95% CI 57.8-58.9) accurate. Of all tested predictors only tumor size achieved independent predictor status (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS Our analysis derived in European patients shows that statistical models cannot safely replace renal mass biopsy based prediction of Fuhrman grade III-IV at nephrectomy. Our findings corroborate a report from the United States in which a similar model had 55.6% accuracy. Jointly the studies indicate that statistical models are unreliable and cannot safely be substituted for renal mass biopsy in North American or European patients.

180 W vs 120 W lithium triborate photoselective vaporization of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a global, multicenter comparative analysis of perioperative treatment parameters.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the surgical performance of the new Greenlight XPS-180 W laser system (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, MI) and the effect of prostate volume (PV), in comparison with the former HPS-120 W system, for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia by photo-selective vaporization of the prostate. METHODS Between July 2007 and March 2012, 1809 patients underwent laser photo-selective vaporization of the prostate (1187 patients with the use of HPS-120 W and 622 patients with the use of XPS-180 W) at 7 international centers. All data were collected prospectively. Comparative analysis was performed between XPS and HPS according to PV measured by transrectal ultrasound. RESULTS The XPS compared with HPS, allowed significantly reduced laser and operative time (29.6 minutes vs 65.8 minutes and 53 minutes vs 80 minutes, respectively; P <.01 for both). The number of fiber used during the procedures was significantly reduced with the XPS system (1.11 vs 2.28; P <.01), whereas total energy delivered was lower (250.2 kJ vs 267.7 kJ; P = .043). Overall, the mean operative time, mean laser time, and mean energy were all significantly increased according to PV >80 mL vs <80 mL. However, when stratified according to PV, XPS demonstrates significant advantages compared with HPS, regardless of prostate size in all operative parameters (P <.01). CONCLUSION The new XPS-180 W system exhibits significant advantages in all surgical parameters compared with the HPS-120 W system. Overall, with XPS-180 W and HPS-120 W, mean operative time, laser time, and energy usage increased according to PV. This suggests that preoperative evaluation of PV by transrectal ultrasound should be mandatory.

A Population-based Analysis of the Rate of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in the United States

OBJECTIVE To examine temporal, geographic, socioeconomic, and clinical determinants of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CNT) use in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database, because CNT is known to improve survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). METHODS Within the SEER database, we identified 6226 mRCC patients, who were either treated with CNT (n = 2038) or underwent no surgery (n = 4188) between 1989 and 2004. Chi-square and chi(2) trend tests, as well as multivariate logistic regression models, were used to assess the effect of age, gender, race, region of residence, and year of surgery on the rate of CNT. Adjustment was made for the size of the primary tumor. RESULTS The overall rate of CNT was 30.5%. The rate of CNT increased in the most recent year quartile (P <.001), was more frequent in white patients (P = .005), males (P = .001), and younger patients (P <.001). Moreover, CNT was more frequently performed for larger primary tumors (P <.001). Finally, important variability was found to exist in the rate of CNT between the 9 SEER registries (range 29.5%-38.6%, P = .002). In multivariate logistic regression models, age (P <.001), race (P <.001), year of surgery (P <.001), primary tumor size (P <.001), and SEER region (P = .003) were independent predictors of CNT rate. CONCLUSIONS Racial and geographic variability in CNT rates is worrisome and warrants further attention. In view of the survival benefits of CNT, its access should be equal for all races and regions.

Is robotic surgery cost-effective: Yes

Purpose of review With the expanding use of new technology in the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa), the financial burden on the healthcare system and the individual has been important. Robotics offer many potential advantages to the surgeon and the patient. We assessed the potential cost-effectiveness of robotics in urological surgery and performed a comparative cost analysis with respect to other potential treatment modalities. Recent findings The direct and indirect costs of purchasing, maintaining, and operating the robot must be compared to alternatives in treatment of localized PCa. Some expanding technologies including intensity-modulated radiation therapy are significantly more expensive than robotic surgery. Furthermore, the benefits of robotics including decreased length of stay and return to work are considerable and must be measured when evaluating its cost-effectiveness. Summary Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery comes at a high cost but can become cost-effective in mostly high-volume centers with high-volume surgeons. The device when utilized to its maximum potential and with eventual market-driven competition can become affordable.

Radical cystectomy for patients with pT4 urothelial carcinoma in a large population-based study.

Study Type – Therapy (cohort) Level of Evidence 2b