Seong Soo Jeon

The effects of curcumin on the invasiveness of prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Curcumin has become a focus of interest with regard to its antitumor effects in prostate cancer; however, the effects of this agent on invasion and metastasis remain less well understood. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important prerequisite for tumor invasion and metastasis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of curcumin on prostate cancer cells (DU-145) invasion in both in vitro and in vivo. We utilized zymography and ELISA in order to determine the MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Matrigel invasion assay was performed to assess cellular invasion. We developed a xenograft model to examine tumorigenicity. Curcumin treatment resulted not only in a significant reduction in the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, but also effected the inhibition of invasive ability in vitro. Curcumin was shown to induce a marked reduction of tumor volume, MMP-2, and MMP-9 activity in the tumor-bearing site. The metastatic nodules in vivo were significantly fewer in the curcumin-treated group than untreated group. Curcumin appears to constitute a potential agent for the prevention of cancer progression, or at least of the initial phase of metastasis, in prostate cancer.

Body mass index and survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma: a clinical-based cohort and meta-analysis.

Growing evidence suggests that obesity, an established cause of renal cell cancer (RCC), may also be associated with a better prognosis. To evaluate the association between RCC survival and obesity, we analyzed a large cohort of patients with RCC and undertook a meta‐analysis of the published evidence. We collected clinical and pathologic data from 1,543 patients who underwent nephrectomy for RCC between 1994 and 2008 with complete follow‐up through 2008. Patients were grouped according to BMI (kg/m2): underweight <18.5, normal weight 18.5 to <23, overweight 23 to <25 and obese ≥25. We estimated survival using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models to examine the impact of BMI on overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) with adjustment for covariates. We performed a meta‐analysis of BMI and OS, CSS and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) from all relevant studies using a random‐effects model. The 5‐year CSS increased from 76.1% in the lowest to 92.7% in the highest BMI category. A multivariate analysis showed higher OS [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.29–0.68) and CSS (HR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.29–0.77] in obese patients than in normal weight patients. The meta‐analysis further corroborated that high BMI significantly improved OS (HR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.43–0.76), CSS (HR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.48–0.74) and RFS (HR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.30–0.81). Our study shows that preoperative BMI is an independent prognostic indicator for survival among patients with RCC.

Prospective evaluation of 3-T MRI performed before initial transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy in patients with high prostate-specific antigen and no previous biopsy.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to prospectively evaluate whether MRI before an initial transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy contributed to detection of prostate cancer in patients with high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and no previous biopsy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Men with an abnormal digital rectal examination or high PSA level were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups; the MRI group underwent 3-T MRI and then a transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy with knowledge of the cancer location. The non-MRI group did not undergo MRI before transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. The cancer detection rate and positive core rate were obtained to compare the MRI and non-MRI groups. RESULTS The MRI and non-MRI groups contained 44 and 41 patients, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to age, PSA, and prostate volume. The MRI group (13/44, 29.5%) had a significantly higher cancer detection rate than the non-MRI group (4/41, 9.8%) (p = 0.03). The MRI group (52/527, 9.9%) had a significantly higher positive core rate than the non-MRI group (11/432, 2.5%) (p = 0.00). Regarding cancer detection rate and positive core rate, odds ratios were 3.9 (95% CI, 1.1-13.1) and 4.2 (95% CI, 2.2-8.1), respectively. CONCLUSION In patients with PSA level and no previous biopsy, 3-T MRI that is performed before transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy may contribute to the detection of prostate cancer.

Bisacodyl rectal preparation can decrease infectious complications of transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy

OBJECTIVES To assess whether rectal preparation before transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy could decrease the rate of infectious complications and to find any possible risk factors affecting the development of complications. METHODS This retrospective study included 879 cases of TRUS-guided prostate biopsy. All patients received antibiotic prophylaxis with levofloxacin or cefixime orally before biopsy and continually for 7 days after. A total of 456 patients received bisacodyl rectal preparation the night before or on the morning of the biopsy, and 423 did not. Major complications were defined as serious side effects requiring additional treatment. Infectious complications were classified as sepsis, fever (greater than 38 degrees C) without sepsis, and other clinical infection. We evaluated whether rectal preparation before biopsy could decrease infectious complications. Other potential risk factors were also investigated. RESULTS Major complications developed in 47 cases (5.3%), including 1 vasovagal episode, 10 cases of urinary retention, and 46 infectious complications, of which 19 were sepsis and 11 fever without sepsis. Among the potential risk factors, the number of biopsy cores and use of a rectal preparation were statistically significant risk factors influencing the development of infectious complications in multiple logistic regression analysis (P = 0.038 and P = 0.000, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The number of biopsy cores and prebiopsy rectal preparation use were statistically significant risk factors for infectious complications after prostate biopsy in our study. Thus, we recommend a rectal preparation before prostate biopsy to minimize the risk of infectious complications.

A comparison of holmium:YAG laser with Lithoclast lithotripsy in ureteral calculi fragmentation

Abstract  Purpose:  Among various intracorporeal lithotriptors, Lithoclast (EMS, Switzerland) has become the widely used tool for the treatment of urinary stones. Recently, the holmium:YAG laser has been used with a wide range of potential urological applications, including intracorporeal lithotripsy of urinary calculi. The purpose of the present study is to compare Lithoclast with holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy in ureteral calculi fragmentation.

Role of multiparametric 3.0‐Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in patients with prostate cancer eligible for active surveillance

To evaluate predictors of more aggressive disease and the role of multiparametric 3.0‐T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in selecting patients with prostate cancer for active surveillance (AS).

Treatment Outcomes of Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery for Renal Stones and Predictive Factors of Stone-Free

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for the treatment of renal stones and to analyze the predictive factors for stone-free. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent RIRS for renal stones from January 2000 to July 2009. We identified 66 RIRSs (63 patients with 3 bilateral renal stones) and collected data. Stone-free and success were respectively defined as no visible stones and clinically insignificant residual stones less than 3 mm on postoperative imaging; predictive factors for stone-free were evaluated. Results Of the 66 renal stones, 18 stones (27.3%) were located in the upper pole or midpole or renal pelvis and 48 (72.7%) in the lower pole with or without others, respectively. The mean cumulative stone burden was 168.9±392.5 mm2. The immediate postoperative stone-free rate was 69.7%, and it increased to 72.7% at 1 month after surgery. The success rate was 80.3% both immediately after the operation and 1 month later. In the multivariate analysis, stone location except at the lower pole (p=0.049) and small cumulative stone burden (p=0.002) were significantly favorable predictive factors for the immediate postoperative stone-free rate. The overall complication rate was 6%. Conclusions RIRS is a safe and effective treatment for renal stones. The stone-free rate of RIRS was particularly high for renal stones with a small burden, except for those located in the lower pole. RIRS could be considered in selective patients with renal stones.

A comparison of early complications between open and robot-assisted radical cystectomy.

PURPOSE The aim of our study was to compare early complication rates between the robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) and open radical cystectomy (ORC) using a standardized reporting system. PATIENTS AND METHODS From September 2008 to March 2011, 35 and 104 patients underwent ORC and RARC, respectively. Demographics and perioperative and complication data on all patients were reviewed retrospectively and compared between the two groups. All complications were categorized using a modified Clavien reporting system. We also sought to identify independent predictive factors of grade II or greater complications. RESULTS There were no significant differences between the ORC and RARC groups with regard to age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, clinical stage, surgical procedure history, or sex. The RARC group had more cases of ileal neobladder urinary diversion (P<0.001). We did not find any differences in terms of pathologic stage or length of stay. The ORC group had more grade II or greater complications (P=0.001), wound problems (P=0.043), multiple complications (P=0.014), greater estimated blood loss (EBL) (P<0.001), and needed more transfusions (P<0.001). A longer operative time was needed in the RARC group, however. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the ORC (P=0.045, odds ratio [95% confidence interval]=2.44 [1.02-5.85]), EBL (>500 mL, P=0.013, 2.75 [1.24-6.10]), and female sex (P=0.028, 4.06 [1.12-14.11]) were independent predictors of grade II or greater complications. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that the RARC group was comparable to the ORC group with respect to complications using the Clavien reporting system. Further long-term and randomized trials are needed, however, because RARC is still not considered the standard therapy for bladder cancer.

Repurposing the anti-malarial drug artesunate as a novel therapeutic agent for metastatic renal cell carcinoma due to its attenuation of tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis

Despite advances in the development of molecularly targeted therapies, metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still incurable. Artesunate (ART), a well-known anti-malarial drug with low toxicity, exhibits highly selective anti-tumor actions against various tumors through generation of cytotoxic carbon-centered free radical in the presence of free iron. However, the therapeutic efficacy of ART against metastatic RCC has not yet been fully elucidated. In the analysis on a dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (n = 469) and a tissue microarray set from Samsung Medical Center (n = 119) from a cohort of patients with clear cell RCC (ccRCC), up-regulation of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), which is a well-known predictive marker for ART, was correlated with the presence of distant metastasis and an unfavorable prognosis. Moreover, ART exerted potent selective cytotoxicity against human RCC cell lines (Caki-1, 786-O, and SN12C-GFP-SRLu2) and sensitized these cells to sorafenib in vitro, and the extent of ART cytotoxicity correlated with TfR1 expression. ART-mediated growth inhibition of human RCC cell lines was shown to result from the induction of cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and oncosis-like cell death. Furthermore, ART inhibited cell clonogenicity and invasion of human RCC cells and anti-angiogenic effects in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with these in vitro data, anti-tumor, anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic effects of ART were also validated in human 786-O xenografts. Taken together, ART is a promising novel candidate for treating human RCC, either alone or in combination with other therapies.

Comparative assessment of a single surgeon's series of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: conventional versus robot-assisted.

PURPOSE To directly compare the outcome of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) with robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) performed by a single laparoscopic surgeon with intermediate experience-one who is between a novice and an expert. PATIENTS AND METHODS Consecutive 106 patients with prostate cancer who were treated with radical prostatectomy (62 with LRP and 44 with RALP) were included. The preoperative characteristics, the perioperative surgical outcomes, and the functional outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS The mean operative time was longer in the RALP group (371 min vs 308 min, P = 0.00), conceivably because of more nerve-sparing procedures (84% vs 57%). The other perioperative parameters, including the surgical margin, were comparable, except for two major complications (rectourethral fistula and ureteral injury) in the LRP group. The RALP group recovered continence faster than those in the LRP, but the eventual continence rate at 12 months was similar (95% for LRP vs 94.4% for RALP, P = 1.00). The potency rate ≥ 6 months postsurgery was 47.6% in the LRP group and 54.5% in the RALP group (P = 0.65). CONCLUSIONS RALP was beneficial for the earlier recovery of continence, although LRP and RALP had comparable safety and efficacy as minimally invasive surgery for prostate cancer when performed by a laparoscopic surgeon with intermediate experience. Long-term follow-up data are needed for further evaluation of oncologic and functional outcomes for both techniques.