David S. Yee

Role of Prostate Specific Antigen and Immediate Confirmatory Biopsy in Predicting Progression During Active Surveillance for Low Risk Prostate Cancer

PURPOSEnWe evaluated predictors of progression after starting active surveillance, especially the role of prostate specific antigen and immediate confirmatory prostate biopsy.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnA total of 238 men with prostate cancer met active surveillance eligibility criteria and were analyzed for progression with time. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate predictors of progression. Progression was evaluated using 2 definitions, including no longer meeting 1) full and 2) modified criteria, excluding prostate specific antigen greater than 10 ng/ml as a criterion.nnnRESULTSnUsing full criteria 61 patients progressed during followup. The 2 and 5-year progression-free probability was 80% and 60%, respectively. With prostate specific antigen included in progression criteria prostate specific antigen at confirmatory biopsy (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.14-1.46, p <0.0005) and positive confirmatory biopsy (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.01-3.04, p = 0.047) were independent predictors of progression. Of the 61 cases 34 failed due to increased prostate specific antigen, including only 5 with subsequent progression by biopsy criteria. When prostate specific antigen was excluded from progression criteria, only 32 cases progressed, and 2 and 5-year progression-free probability was 91% and 76%, respectively. Using modified criteria as an end point positive confirmatory biopsy was the only independent predictor of progression (HR 3.16, 95% CI 1.41-7.09, p = 0.005).nnnCONCLUSIONSnActive surveillance is feasible in patients with low risk prostate cancer and most patients show little evidence of progression within 5 years. There is no clear justification for treating patients in whom prostate specific antigen increases above 10 ng/ml in the absence of other indications of tumor progression. Patients considering active surveillance should undergo confirmatory biopsy to better assess the risk of progression.

Comparative Effectiveness of Prostate Cancer Surgical Treatments: A Population Based Analysis of Postoperative Outcomes

PURPOSEnEnthusiasm for laparoscopic surgical approaches to prostate cancer treatment has grown despite limited evidence of improved outcomes compared with open radical prostatectomy. We compared laparoscopic prostatectomy with or without robotic assistance vs open radical prostatectomy in terms of postoperative outcomes and subsequent cancer directed therapy.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnUsing a population based cancer registry linked with Medicare claims we identified men 66 years old or older with localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy from 2003 to 2005. Outcome measures were general medical/surgical complications and mortality within 90 days after surgery, genitourinary/bowel complications within 365 days, radiation therapy and/or androgen deprivation therapy within 365 days and length of hospital stay.nnnRESULTSnOf the 5,923 men 18% underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics, there were no differences in the rate of general medical/surgical complications (OR 0.93 95% CI 0.77-1.14) or genitourinary/bowel complications (OR 0.96 95% CI 0.76-1.22), or in postoperative radiation and/or androgen deprivation (OR 0.80 95% CI 0.60-1.08). Laparoscopic prostatectomy was associated with a 35% shorter hospital stay (p <0.0001) and a lower bladder neck/urethral obstruction rate (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.94). In laparoscopic cases surgeon volume was inversely associated with hospital stay and the odds of any genitourinary/bowel complication.nnnCONCLUSIONSnLaparoscopic prostatectomy and open radical prostatectomy have similar rates of postoperative morbidity and additional treatment. Men considering prostate cancer surgery should understand the expected benefits and risks of each technique to facilitate decision making and set realistic expectations.

Temporal trends and predictors of pelvic lymph node dissection in open or minimally invasive radical prostatectomy.

Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is an important component of prostate cancer staging and treatment, especially for surgical patients who have high‐risk tumor features. It is not clear how the shift from open radical prostatectomy (ORP) to minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP) has affected the use of PLND. The objectives of this study were to identify predictors of PLND and to assess the impact of surgical technique in a contemporary, population‐based cohort.

Obesity is associated with a higher risk of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma than with other histologies

Study Type – Prognosis (cohort)u2028 Level of Evidenceu20032a

Ethnic differences in bladder cancer survival.

OBJECTIVEnTo examine trends in bladder cancer survival among whites, blacks, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders in the United States over a 30-year period. Racial disparities in bladder cancer outcomes have been documented with poorer survival observed among blacks. Bladder cancer outcomes in other ethnic minority groups are less well described.nnnMETHODSnFrom the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry data, we identified patients diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder between 1975 and 2005. This cohort included 163,973 white, 7731 black, 7364 Hispanic, and 5934 Asian/Pacific Islander patients. We assessed the relationship between ethnicity and patient characteristics. Disease-specific 5-year survival was estimated for each ethnic group and for subgroups of stage and grade.nnnRESULTSnBlacks presented with higher-stage disease than whites, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders, although a trend toward earlier-stage presentation was observed in all groups over time. Five-year disease-specific survival was consistently worse for blacks than for other ethnic groups, even when stratified by stage and grade. Five-year disease-specific survival was 82.8% in whites compared with 70.2% in blacks, 80.7% in Hispanics, and 81.9% in Asian/Pacific Islanders. There was a persistent disease-specific survival disadvantage in black patients over time that was not seen in the other ethnic groups.nnnCONCLUSIONnEthnic disparities in bladder cancer survival persist between whites and blacks, whereas survival in other ethnic minority groups appears similar to that of whites. Further study of access to care, quality of care, and treatment decision making among black patients is needed to better understand these disparities.

Complications After Radical and Partial Nephrectomy as a Function of Age

PURPOSEnPartial nephrectomy may be underused compared with radical nephrectomy in elderly patients due to concerns about higher complication rates. We determined if the association of age and perioperative outcomes differed between nephrectomy types.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnWe identified patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy between January 2000 and October 2008. Using multivariable methods we determined whether the relationship between age and risk of postoperative complications, estimated blood loss or operative time differed by nephrectomy type.nnnRESULTSnOf 1,712 patients 651 (38%) underwent radical nephrectomy and 1,061 (62%) underwent partial nephrectomy. Patients treated with partial nephrectomy had higher complication rates than those who underwent radical nephrectomy (20% vs 14%). In a multivariable model age was significantly associated with a small increase in risk of complications (OR for 10-year age increase 1.17, 95% CI 1.04-1.32, p = 0.009). When including an interaction term between age and procedure type, the interaction term was not significant (p = 0.09), indicating there was no evidence the risk of complications associated with partial vs radical nephrectomy increased with advancing age. There was no evidence that age was significantly associated with estimated blood loss or operative time.nnnCONCLUSIONSnWe found no evidence that elderly patients experience a proportionally higher complication rate, longer operative times or higher estimated blood loss from partial nephrectomy than do younger patients. Given the advantages of renal function preservation we should expand the use of nephron sparing treatment to renal tumors in elderly patients.

Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in Robotic-assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Surgical Technique and Initial Experience

OBJECTIVESnTo describe, and show in the accompanying video segments, a technique for extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and report our clinicopathologic and perioperative outcomes. The extent of pelvic lymphadenectomy during radical prostatectomy has not been standardized. However, evidence demonstrates that an ePLND yields a greater number of positive nodes.nnnMETHODSnA total of 32 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent RARP with ePLND by a single surgeon (J.C.) between January and August 2008. The template for the ePLND included the obturator, hypogastric, external iliac, and common iliac lymph nodes up to the bifurcation of the aorta. Systematic review and grading of adverse events were performed.nnnRESULTSnThe median number of lymph nodes retrieved was 18 (interquartile range [IQR] 12-28). Four patients (12.5%) had lymph node metastases. Of the 4 patients with lymph node metastases, 1 patient (25%) had the involved lymph node exclusively in the common iliac region. Median operative time for the ePLND was 72 minutes (IQR 66-86). Median hospital length of stay was 2.0 days (IQR 2.0-2.8). Graded complications included 13 grade 1 events and 1 grade 2 event, with 1 grade 1 event being considered related to ePLND. No clinically presenting lymphoceles or thrombotic events were encountered.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAn ePLND during RARP is technically feasible and appears to have minimal morbidity. It produces a high lymph node yield and may result in improved pathologic staging.

Long‐term follow‐up of 3‐month neoadjuvant hormone therapy before radical prostatectomy in a randomized trial

Study Type – Therapy (RCT)u2028Level of Evidenceu20031b

Locally advanced prostate cancer: a population-based study of treatment patterns.

Study Type – Therapy (practice patterns)

Costs of medical care after open or minimally invasive prostate cancer surgery: a population-based analysis.

Evidence suggests that minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MRP) and open radical prostatectomy (ORP) have similar short‐term clinical and functional outcomes. MRP with robotic assistance is generally more expensive than ORP, but it is not clear whether subsequent costs of care vary by approach.