Ju Hyun Lim

Incremental Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Clinically High Risk Prostate Cancer in 922 Radical Prostatectomies

PURPOSE We investigated the incremental value of magnetic resonance imaging in addition to clinical variables for predicting pathological outcomes and disease recurrence in patients with clinically high risk prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 922 consecutive patients with clinically high risk prostate cancer underwent magnetic resonance imaging before radical prostatectomy. We created multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models with clinical variables only or combined with magnetic resonance imaging data to predict pathological outcomes and biochemical recurrence. The models were compared using ROC curves and the Harrell concordance index. RESULTS The proportion of patients with pathological extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node metastasis was 57.5%, 12.7% and 6.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node metastasis detection were 43% and 84.2%, 34.9% and 93.8%, and 14.0% and 96.9%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve of the model with clinical variable and magnetic resonance imaging data was greater than that of the model with clinical variables alone to predict extracapsular extension and seminal vesicle invasion (0.734 vs 0.697, p=0.001 and 0.750 vs 0.698, p<0.001, respectively). The 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival rate was 56.1%. To predict biochemical recurrence the concordance index of the multivariate model with clinical variables only and with clinical variables plus magnetic resonance imaging data was 0.563 and 0.599, respectively (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS Magnetic resonance imaging findings have incremental value in addition to clinical variables for predicting pathological outcomes and disease recurrence.

Changes in Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness over a 12-Year Period in Korea

Purpose To investigate whether tumor aggressiveness in patients with prostate cancer has changed in Korea since the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. Materials and Methods The data from 2,508 patients with pathologically confirmed prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy at Asan Medical Center between 2000 and 2011 were reviewed. The patients were divided into four 3-year time series, and the changes between the groups in terms of serum PSA levels, pathological Gleason score (GS), and pathological stage were assessed. The change in GS over time in organ-confined disease and in patients whose PSA was below 10 ng/ml was also analyzed. Results The mean PSA levels dropped significantly over the 12-year period (p<0.001). The frequency of organ-confined disease increased (55.7% vs. 64.7% vs. 62.9% vs. 63.5%, p=0.043). The frequency of patients with a GS of 8 or more decreased (38.9% vs. 25.7% vs. 18.2% vs. 19.7%) and the frequency of patients with a GS of 6 or less increased (15.0% vs. 18.9% vs. 26.7% vs. 18.2%, p=0.003). However, the vast majority (more than 70%) of all cases had a high GS (7 or greater) at all time points. The GS distribution did not change over time in patients whose PSA levels were below 10 ng/ml or in those who had organ-confined disease. Conclusions In 2000 to 2011, the preoperative PSA, pathological stage, and pathological GS dropped. However, the majority of the prostate cancers in Korean men were poorly differentiated, even when the patients had organ-confined disease or their PSA levels were less than 10 ng/ml.

Impact of tamsulosin on urinary retention following early catheter removal after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

To examine the impact of tamsulosin on the rate of acute urinary retention following early catheter removal after robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

External Validation of the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment-S Score in Koreans Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy

Purpose To evaluate the validity of the University of California San Francisco Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment-S score (CAPRA-S score), a biochemical indicator of recurrent prostate cancer that uses histopathologic data, in Korean prostate cancer patients. Materials and Methods A total of 203 prostate cancer patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between February 1997 and November 2010 were observed for longer than 6 months. The CAPRA-S score of 134 patients for whom records were available for preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA), pathologic specimen Gleason score, surgical margin, seminal vesicle invasion, extracapsular extension, and lymph node invasion were calculated. Biochemical recurrence was defined as repetitive measurement of PSA ≥0.2 ng/mL at least 6 months after surgery with at least a 4-week interval. The Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used for the statistical testing. Results The CAPRA-S scores were divided into nine groups. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was reduced as the CAPRA-S score increased compared with the group with a CAPRA-S score of 0-1. The CAPRA-S score in this study was more sensitive to biochemical recurrence than was the CAPRA score conducted at this institution (CAPRA-S concordance index, 0.776; CAPRA concordance index, 0.728). Conclusions The CAPRA-S score is judged to be a useful tool for predicting the disease-free survival rate of Korean prostate cancer patients and is thought to assist in establishing postoperative management.

Cystoscopic injection of N‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate followed by fibrin glue for the treatment of persistent or massive vesicourethral anastomotic urine leak after radical prostatectomy

Vesicourethral anastomotic urine leak is a common postoperative complication of radical prostatectomy. Herein we describe a novel method for the treatment of this complication.

Comparison of perioperative outcomes between running versus interrupted vesicourethral anastomosis in open radical prostatectomy: A single-surgeon experience

Purpose To compare perioperative outcomes between running and interrupted vesicourethral anastomosis in open radical prostatectomy (RP). Materials and Methods The medical records of 112 patients who underwent open RP for prostate cancer at our institution from 2006 to 2008 by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters were measured. Results Of 112 consecutive patients, 62 patients underwent vesicourethral anastomosis by use of the running technique, whereas 50 patients underwent anastomosis with the interrupted technique. The groups did not differ significantly in age, body mass index, prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume, or pathologic findings. The intraoperative extravasation rate was significantly lower in the running group (8.1% vs. 24.0%, p=0.01). The mean anastomosis time was 15.1±5.3 and 19.3±4.6 minutes in the running and interrupted groups, respectively (p=0.04). The rates of postoperative extravasation were similar for both groups (6.4% vs. 10.0%, p=0.12). The duration of catheterization was significantly shorter in the running group (9.0±3.0 days vs. 12.9±6.4 days, p<0.01). The rate of urinary retention after catheter removal and the rate of bladder neck contracture were not significantly different between the two groups. The rate of urinary continence at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after RP was also similar in both groups. Conclusions Both anastomosis techniques provided similar functional results and a similar rate of postoperative urine extravasation. However, running vesicourethral anastomosis decreased the rate of intraoperative extravasation and time for anastomosis, without increasing the risk of urinary retention or bladder neck contracture.

Prognosis of Prostate Cancer With Other Primary Malignancies

Purpose The objective was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of prostate cancer patients affected by other primary malignancies. Materials and Methods From 1990 to 2008, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1,317 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer. We assessed the effect of other primary malignancies on clinicopathological features, biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Results Of 1,317 patients, at least one additional other primary malignancy was detected in 187 patients (14.2%). A comparison of patient groups according to the presence or absence of other primary malignancies showed no significant differences in preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen concentrations, pathological Gleason scores, or pathological staging. Prostate cancer patients with other primary malignancies were older than patients without other primary malignancies (p<0.001). No significant differences in 5-year BCR-free survival (80.2% compared with 77.7%; p=0.656) or CSS (98.9% compared with 98.5%; p=0.733) were found between these groups, respectively. Five-year OS was significantly lower in prostate cancer patients with than in those without other primary malignancies (89.3% compared with 95.4%; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that other primary malignancies diagnosed after RP for prostate cancer were independent predictors of OS (hazard ratio, 4.10; p<0.001) but not of BCR-free survival or CSS. Conversely, other primary malignancies diagnosed before RP for prostate cancer did not independently predict BCR-free survival, OS, or CSS. Conclusions Prostate cancer prognosis after RP is not dependent on the presence or absence of other primary malignancies. However, other primary malignancies diagnosed after RP for prostate cancer negatively affect OS.

Prognostic impact of preoperative statin use after radical nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

Purpose The objective was to investigate the impact of statin use on prognosis after radical nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Materials and Methods A retrospective review of medical records identified 277 patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy for primary UTUC at Asan Medical Center between January 2006 and December 2011. Information on preoperative statin use was obtained from patient charts in an electronic database. We assessed the impact of statin use on recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Results Of these 277 patients, 62 (22.4%) were taking statin medications. Compared to the statin nonusers, the statin users were older, had a higher body mass index, and had higher rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The 5-year RFS rates of statin users and nonusers were 78.5% and 72.5%, respectively (p=0.528); the 5-year CSS rates were 85.6% and 77.7%, respectively (p=0.516); and the 5-year OS rates were 74.5% and 71.4%, respectively (p=0.945). In the multivariate analysis, statin use was not an independent prognostic factor for RFS (hazard ratio, 0.47; p=0.056), CSS (hazard ratio, 0.46; p=0.093), or OS (hazard ratio, 0.59; p=0.144) in patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy for UTUC. Conclusions Statin use was not associated with improved RFS, CSS, or OS in the sample population of patients with UTUC.