Ken-ichi Harada

Expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers in renal cell carcinoma: impact on prognostic outcomes in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy

Whats known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Expression patterns of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in localized prostate cancer: significance in clinicopathological outcomes following radical prostatectomy.

There have been few studies evaluating the prognostic value of epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers in prostate cancer; therefore the significance of these markers in the prognosis of patients with prostate cancer, particularly those with localized disease, remains largely unknown. Consideration of the expression levels of potential epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers, particularly Twist and vimentin, in addition to conventional prognostic parameters would contribute to the prediction of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer.

A comparison of the biological features between prostate cancers arising in the transition and peripheral zones

To investigate differences in the biological features of prostate cancer according to the zonal origin.

Analysis of differences in clinicopathological features between prostate cancers located in the transition and peripheral zones

Background:  The objective of this study was to retrospectively characterize differences in the clinicopathological features of prostate cancer according to the zonal origin.

Prediction of potentially insignificant prostate cancer in men undergoing radical prostatectomy for clinically organ-confined disease.

Abstract  Background:  The objectives of the present study were to characterize, according to tumor significance, the clinicopathological features of patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy, and to determine useful parameters for predicting insignificant disease before surgery.

Analysis of factors predicting intravesical recurrence of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder without concomitant carcinoma in situ

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate risk factors for intravesical recurrence in patients with superficial bladder cancer without concomitant carcinoma in situ (CIS).

Intussusception of the bladder neck does not promote early restoration to urinary continence after non-nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Abstract  Background:  The objectives of the present study were to investigate whether buttressing sutures, which prevent the bladder neck from pulling open as the bladder fills, can promote earlier recovery from urinary incontinence after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) and to identify possible risk factors associated with urinary incontinence after RRP.

Oncological outcome of docetaxel-based chemotherapy for Japanese men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

OBJECTIVES To retrospectively review the oncologic outcomes of docetaxel-based chemotherapy in Japanese men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included 257 consecutive Japanese patients with mCRPC who were treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy between April 2007 and March 2010. The prognostic significance of several clinicopathologic factors in these patients was analyzed. RESULTS In these 257 patients, the median age and serum value of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) prior to docetaxel-based chemotherapy were 72 years and 43.0 ng/ml, respectively. Of these patients, 64 (24.9%) and 193 (75.1%) received docetaxel as a weekly (30 mg/m(2)) and 3-weekly (70-75 mg/m(2)) regimen, respectively, and estramustine (EM) was administered in combination with docetaxel in 137 (53.3%). PSA decline was observed in 205 patients (79.8%), including 143 (55.6%) achieving PSA decline ≥ 50%. The median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 4.3 and 25.4 months, respectively. Of several factors examined, univariate analysis identified performance status (PS), PSA value, significant clinical pain, bone metastasis, prior treatment with EM, treatment cycle, and PSA response as significant predictors of OS, of which only PS, significant clinical pain, prior treatment with EM, treatment cycle, and PSA response appeared to be independently related to OS on multivariate analysis. Furthermore, there were significant differences in OS according to positive numbers of these 5 independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS Oncologic outcomes in Japanese mCRPC patients receiving docetaxel-based chemotherapy is generally favorable, and the risk stratification presented in this study may contribute to precisely predicting the prognosis of such patients.

Usefulness of the Nadir Value of Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen Measured by an Ultrasensitive Assay as a Predictor of Biochemical Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine whether the nadir value of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measured by an ultrasensitive assay could be a useful predictor of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: This study included 127 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy and were pathologically diagnosed as negative for lymph node metastasis. The serum PSA value was measured using an ultrasensitive PSA assay system (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), and the findings were analyzed with respect to several clinicopathological factors. In this series, biochemical recurrence was defined as PSA persistently >0.2 ng/ml. Results: Based on the nadir PSA value, we divided 127 patients into three groups as follows: group A (n = 99): ≤0.01 ng/ml; group B (n = 16): 0.01–0.05 ng/ml, and group C (n = 12): ≧0.05 ng/ml. The nadir PSA value was significantly associated with preoperative PSA value, but not other conventional clinicopathological prognostic parameters. During the observation period (median 31 months, range 6–75 months), biochemical recurrence occurred in 16 patients, that is, 1 in group A (6.3%), 4 in group B (25.0%), and 11 in group C (91.7%). Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards regression model indicated that the nadir PSA value was an independent predictor for biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the nadir serum PSA value measured by an ultrasensitive assay could be a useful predictor of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer, and that careful follow-up should be considered in cases demonstrating a nadir PSA value >0.01 ng/ml because of the significantly higher probability of biochemical recurrence in such cases.

Prognostic significance of vascular invasion in patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy

Abstract  Background:  The objective of this study was to determine whether vascular invasion (i.e. lymphatic and blood vessel invasion) could be a useful prognostic predictor in patients with locally invasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder who underwent radical cystectomy.