S. Hong

Application of the Epstein criteria for prediction of clinically insignificant prostate cancer in Korean men

Study Type – Prognosis (case series)u2028Level of Evidenceu20034

NVP-BEZ235, a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor synergistically potentiates the antitumor effects of cisplatin in bladder cancer cells

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is a prototypic survival pathway and constitutively activated in many malignant conditions. Moreover, activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway confers resistance to various cancer therapies and is often associated with a poor prognosis. In this study, we explored the antitumor effect of NVP-BEZ235, a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor in cisplatin-resistant human bladder cancer cells and its synergistic interaction with cisplatin. A human bladder cancer cell line with cisplatin resistance was exposed to escalating doses of NVP-BEZ235 alone or in combination with cisplatin and antitumor effects was determined by the CCK-8 assay. Based on a dose-response study, synergistic interaction between NVP-BEZ235 and cisplatin was evaluated by combination index (CI), three-dimensional model and clonogenic assay. The combination of NVP-BEZ235 and cisplatin caused significant synergistic antitumor effect in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells over a wide dose range and reduced the IC50 of NVP-BEZ235 and cisplatin by 5.6- and 3.6-fold, respectively. Three-dimensional synergy analysis resulted in a synergy volume of 388.25 μM/ml2% indicating a strong synergistic effect of combination therapy. The combination therapy caused cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis. Although NVP-BEZ235 suppressed PI3K/mTOR signaling without any paradoxical induction of Akt activity, it caused MEK/ERK pathway activation. The present study demonstrated that the PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 can synergistically potentiate the antitumor effects of cisplatin in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells though the suppression of cell cycle progression and the survival pathway as well as induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis.

Does obesity affect the accuracy of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for predicting prostate cancer among men undergoing prostate biopsy

As most urologist known, obesity significantly lowers serum PSA levels. So there is some concern about delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer in obese men. In the present study, we found that the accuracy level of PSA for detecting prostate cancer was not significantly different between different obesity levels. A well‐designed study adjusting for several factors, e.g. diet, exercise, medication and comorbidity, which may possibly compensate for the associated effects on PSA levels, is needed for confirmation of the present findings.

Trends in renal function after radical nephrectomy: a multicentre analysis.

To evaluate serial changes in renal function by investigating various clinical factors after radical nephrectomy (RN).

Effects of ovariectomy and oestrogen replacement on the function and expression of Rho-kinase in rat bladder smooth muscle

To investigate the effects of ovariectomy and oestrogen replacement on the function and expression of Rho‐kinase in rat bladder smooth muscle, as the actual effects of oestrogen deprivation on bladder smooth muscle are unclear.