Tomokazu Kimura

Real-time Virtual Sonography for navigation during targeted prostate biopsy using magnetic resonance imaging data.

Objectives:  To evaluate the effectiveness of the medical navigation technique, namely, Real‐time Virtual Sonography (RVS), for targeted prostate biopsy.

Prognostic impact of young age on stage IV prostate cancer treated with primary androgen deprivation therapy.

To elucidate whether the disease characteristics and prognosis of stage IV prostate cancer treated with primary androgen deprivation therapy differ between young and elderly patients.

Analysis of Intravesical Recurrence After Bladder-preserving Therapy for Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to analyze the pattern of recurrences after bladder-preserving therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. METHODS The subjects were 77 patients with T2-3N0M0 bladder cancer whose bladder was preserved by intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiation. The patterns of the first recurrences were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 38.5 months, 17 patients (22.1%) experienced intravesical recurrence without metastasis, 14 (82.4%) of which were cases of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrence and 3 (17.6%) of which were muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrences. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurred at the same site as the initial tumor site in all three cases, whereas non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurred at different sites in 64% of the patients in that group. The peak hazard of the non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrence was observed at around a year after treatment. Recurrent non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer was of a significantly lower histological grade with lower Ki-67-labeling indices than the initial muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Twelve (85.7%) of 14 patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrence achieved disease-free status. The multivariate analysis revealed that multiplicity, grade and tumor size were significantly correlated with the recurrence (P= 0.0001, 0.0442 and 0.0412, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Most of the recurrences after bladder-preserving therapy were cases of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The recurrence pattern and characteristics of the tumors did not differ from those of primary non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Patients with high-risk factors would be candidates for prophylactic intravesical therapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrence.

Risk Factors for Intravesical Recurrence in Patients with High-grade T1 Bladder Cancer in the Second TUR Era

OBJECTIVE We aimed to elucidate risk factors for intravesical recurrence of high-grade T1 bladder cancer in the second transurethral resection era. METHODS The analysis included 73 patients with high-grade T1 bladder cancer on initial transurethral resection. The median follow-up period was 49.2 months. Recurrence-free survival, progression-free survival and risk factors related to the presence of residual tumors or recurrence-free survival were statistically analyzed. RESULTS The pathological findings for second transurethral resection were pT0 36 (49%), pTis/a 21 (29%), pT1 13 (18%) and pT2 3 (4%), respectively. The risk factor for residual tumors at second transurethral resection was the presence of concomitant carcinoma in situ at the initial transurethral resection (P < 0.01). The bladder was preserved in all 57 patients with pT0/is/a tumors on second transurethral resection, and 43 patients (75%) received intravesical BCG therapy. Of these patients, 3-year recurrence-free survival and 3-year progression-free survival rates were 81 and 96%, respectively. In addition, the presence of pTis/a residual tumors on second transurethral resection had a significant impact on the recurrence. Five of the 13 patients with pT1 on second transurethral resection were immediately treated by radical cystectomy or radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy, and two (25%) of the eight who were treated by intravesical BCG therapy had progression including distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS High recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival were achieved by a second transurethral resection and intravesical BCG therapy in the patients with pT0/is/a on the second transurethral resection. In this group, the residual tumors at second transurethral resection are risk factors for intravesical recurrence.

Validation of the prognostic grouping of the seventh edition of the tumor‐nodes‐metastasis classification using a large‐scale prospective cohort study database of prostate cancer treated with primary androgen deprivation therapy

In the TNM seventh edition, a prognostic grouping for prostate cancer incorporating prostate‐specific antigen and Gleason score was advocated. The present study was carried out to evaluate and validate prognostic grouping in prostate cancer patients.

Risk factors for chronic kidney disease after chemotherapy for testicular cancer

To elucidate the patterns of and risk factors for deterioration of renal function after chemotherapy in metastatic testicular cancer survivors using the estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Concurrent Urothelial Carcinoma in the Renal Pelvis of an Allograft Kidney and Native Recipient Bladder: Evidence of Donor Origin

A 44-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for asymptomatic gross hematuria. At the age of 28, she underwent transplantation of a kidney from her father for end-stage renal disease secondary to rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. She resumed peritoneal dialysis when the allograft kidney stopped functioning at the age of 42. Dialysis was continued for the next 2 years, when the hematuria occurred and she was readmitted. Radiologic evaluation and transurethral resection of the bladder tumor revealed a tumor of the renal pelvis of the allograft kidney (cT3N0M0) and multiple bladder tumors (cT1N0M0). Total cystectomy and allograft nephroureterectomy were performed. Histopathological examinations revealed high grade urothelial carcinoma in the renal pelvis of the allograft kidney (pT3) and native bladder (pT1). Fluorescence in situ hybridization of both specimens demonstrated that the renal pelvic tumors and bladder cancer possessed XY karyotypes. These results indicated that the urothelial carcinoma developed de novo in the renal pelvis of the allograft kidney and was implanted into the recipients native bladder.

Management of Ureteral Obstruction in Advanced Testicular Tumor with Lymph Node Metastasis

OBJECTIVE Ureteral obstruction is one of the complications of testicular tumor with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis that requires ureteral stenting for management. We elucidated the clinical courses of ureteral obstructions and changes in renal functions in patients with indwelling ureteral stenting. METHODS The medical records of 56 patients who were treated for metastatic testicular tumors by chemotherapy at a single institute between 2002 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS Among 56 patients, 12 patients needed ureteral stenting before chemotherapy. The proportion of patients requiring ureteral stenting was significantly higher in seminoma than non-seminoma (47 and 12%, respectively, P < 0.05). The ureteral stent was removed after chemotherapy or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in all patients, except for one patient who died of cancer during chemotherapy. At retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, ureters were spared in three patients, a partial ureterectomy was needed in one patient, and no case underwent adjunctive nephrectomy. These 11 patients presented no local and distant recurrence at median follow-up of 44 months. Ureteral stenting increased the estimated glomerular filtration rate to more than 60 ml/min before chemotherapy in all patients, but it decreased to <60 ml/min in 6 of 11 patients after chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Ureteral obstruction due to testicular tumor was relieved after chemotherapy or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Ureteral stenting was effective to improve renal function before chemotherapy, although we should pay special attention to deterioration of renal function during or after chemotherapy.

A Case of Acute Adrenal Insufficiency Unmasked During Sunitinib Treatment for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Sunitinib has recently become a standard treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, various adverse events have been reported. We present the first case of clinically evident adrenal insufficiency during sunitinib therapy. A 72-year-old man began sunitinib therapy for bilateral lung and adrenal metastases of renal cell carcinoma. His adrenocorticotrophic hormone level was 93.6 pg/ml (7.2-63.3 pg/ml) before sunitinib treatment, indicating that subclinical adrenal insufficiency already existed. Fatigue, which is a frequently seen adverse effect of sunitinib treatment, emerged acutely on Day 24 of the second cycle. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone and free T4 were high and thyroid-stimulating hormone was suppressed. Under the clinical diagnosis of acute adrenal insufficiency with thyrotoxicosis, a low dose of steroid was administered. Fatigue was completely ameliorated by the following morning, although free T4 was still high and thyroid-stimulating hormone was still low. Therefore, hypermetabolism due to thyrotoxicosis unmasked adrenal insufficiency in our case. Physicians should be aware of this rare but potentially fatal complication when severe acute fatigue develops in patients with subclinical adrenal insufficiency.

Regional difference in cancer detection rate in prostate cancer screening by a local municipality in Japan.

Purpose: We conducted the present retrospective study to elucidate regional differences in the quality of secondary screening in the prostate cancer (PCA) screening program by a local municipality in Japan. Methods: Of 115,881 men who attended the PCA screening in 36 municipalities between 2001 and 2011, a total of 6,099 men consulted hospitals for secondary screening. The cancer detection rate (CDR) at the secondary screening was calculated, and municipalities were classified into three CDR groups according to the age-adjusted observed-to-expected ratios of CDR. Of the secondary screening facilities, hospitals in Ibaraki Prefecture screening less than 100 patients were classified as group I facilities and the others as group II facilities. Results: Overall, 2,320 of 6,099 secondary screening patients underwent prostate biopsy, and 1,073 men were diagnosed with PCA. The overall CDR at the secondary screening was 17.6%, but it varied from 5.6% to 34.4% among municipalities. Although there were no significant differences in age and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) distribution among the three CDR groups, a significantly higher rate of patients in low CDR municipalities visited group I facilities. Both biopsy rates and CDRs of secondary screening at group II facilities were significantly higher than those of group I facilities (P=0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that the secondary screening at group II facilities as well as age and PSA levels were independent contributing factors for PCA detection. Conclusions: CDRs at secondary screening varied widely among municipalities in Ibaraki Prefecture. Variation in CDRs was associated with biopsy rates.