Biomedical subjects

Louis L Pisters

Publications and source records attributed to Louis L Pisters.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Is patient age a factor in the occurrence of prostate-specific antigen bounce phenomenon after external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of patient age on the occurrence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) "bounce" after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer. METHODS: In this study, 964 patients received EBRT alone for prostate cancer between April 1987 and January 1998 who had been followed for at least 12 months. Prostate-specific antigen values were obtained every 3 to 6 months after radiotherapy. Median overall follow-up was 48 months. Prostate-specific antigen bounce was defined as an initial increase in serum PSA of at least 0.5 ng/mL, followed by a decrease to prebounce baseline serum PSA values, all within 60 months after EBRT. Biochemical failure was defined as three consecutive increases in posttreatment PSA concentration after achieving a nadir. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the influences of age, pretreatment PSA concentration, Gleason score (determined at biopsy), clinical T stage classification, and radiation dose on PSA bounce-free survival and biochemical disease-free survival, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Twelve percent of the patients developed a PSA bounce. Age was not associated with the occurrence of a PSA bounce (P = 0.63), the magnitude of the PSA bounce (P = 0.90), or the duration of the PSA bounce (P = 0.39). Patients who had PSA bounce had a statistically significant higher biochemical disease-free survival than those who did not (P = 0.00004). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, age was not predictive of PSA bounce. However, younger patients with a rising PSA after radiotherapy should be followed closely for evidence of biochemical failure.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2005

Salvage surgery for bulky local recurrence of prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with salvage radical surgery as palliative treatment in patients with bulky recurrence of prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From files at the department of urology we identified 5 patients who had biopsy confirmed, bulky recurrence of prostate cancer after initial RP and subsequent salvage radiation therapy (4), prior to presentation at our cancer center. Positive surgical margins were present in all 5 patients. All received androgen ablation and 4 also received systemic chemotherapy. Due to persistent bulky tumors in the 5 patients and debilitating unrelenting symptoms, including refractory hematuria, obstructive uropathy and pelvic pain in 4, salvage radical surgery was performed. Total pelvic exenteration was done in 4 patients and wide tumor resection with continent urinary diversion was done in 1. RESULTS: Four patients were permanently relieved of local symptoms following surgery and another had entero-urethral fistula formation. Revision of a continent urinary diversion was necessary in another patient who was otherwise free of cancer and of local pelvic symptoms. Long-term symptom-free survival was achieved in 2 patients following surgery at 26 and 56 months, respectively. One patient died of metastatic disease 3.5 months after surgery but he had been rendered free of local symptoms by surgery. The other 2 patients are currently free of local symptoms 5 and 7 months following surgery, respectively. Wound infection, delirium and prolonged ileus occurred in 1 patient each. Otherwise surgery was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Salvage radical surgery is feasible and it provides effective palliation in patients with bulky local recurrence following RP.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Cystoprostatectomy for effective palliation of symptomatic bladder invasion by prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the palliative effect of cystoprostatectomy (CP) for palliating pelvic symptoms in patients with bladder invasion by prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 38 patients with clinical T4 prostate cancer, including primary tumors in 17 and recurrence following radiation therapy in 21, underwent palliative CP. Local symptoms, the need for surgical procedures to relieve obstruction, and chronic tube drainage for urinary obstruction before surgery and 3 months after surgery were compared. Average followup was 23 months. Time to local and systemic symptom recurrence, biochemical progression and metastasis was measured and disease specific survival was determined. RESULTS: Local symptoms were reported by 34 patients (89%) before surgery and by 8 (21%) after surgery (p = 0.000). Preoperatively a total of 22 tubes were inserted in 13 patients to overcome urinary obstruction. Average indwelling tube duration was 6.9 months. A total of 24 transurethral prostatic tumor resections were performed in 11 patients. Following CP local symptoms were relieved permanently in 30 patients. The average interval between surgery and clinical systemic disease was 26 months. Median time to biochemical progression, metastasis and systemic symptoms was 8, 18 and 26 months, respectively. Median disease specific survival was 31 months (range 1.7 to 81.2). No perioperative deaths occurred. Rectal injuries occurred in 5 cases (13%) during surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Radical CP provides effective and durable palliation in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. This procedure can be performed with acceptable morbidity in a select group of patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of renal tumors: technique, complications, and outcomes.

PURPOSE: To report the safety, technical success, and effectiveness of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation for renal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records and imaging studies of 29 consecutive patients (18 men, 11 women; mean age, 65 +/- 2.62 years) with 30 renal tumors (mean diameter, 3.5 +/- 0.24 cm) who underwent percutaneous RF ablation at their institution from September 2001 to March 2004. All procedures were performed with computed tomography guidance with general anesthesia, and all patients were admitted to the hospital for overnight observation. Technical success, complications, and their management were recorded. Technique effectiveness was assessed by imaging and clinical follow up. RESULTS: Overall, 88 overlapping ablations were performed (mean, 2.6 +/- 0.16 ablations per tumor per session) in 34 sessions. There were four major complications (12%). Three patients had gross hematuria and urinary obstruction, all were successfully treated. One patient had persistent anterior abdominal wall weakness. There were also two minor complications (6%) without significant clinical sequelae. One patient had gross hematuria which resolved spontaneously, another patient had transient paresthesia of the anterior abdominal wall. There were no significant changes in renal function after RF ablation. The intent of RF ablation was eradication of the primary tumor in 27 patients and treatment of gross hematuria in the other two. Technical success was achieved in all cases. Follow-up images were available for 26 patients. The primary tumor was completely ablated in 23 of 24 patients (96%) in whom eradication of the primary tumor was attempted (follow up period: mean, 10 months, median 7 months). The two patients treated for hematuria remained asymptomatic for 6 and 27 months each. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous RF ablation for renal tumors is safe and well tolerated. High technical success rates are expected. Early reports of the technique's effectiveness are promising.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Changes in serum proteomic patterns by presurgical alpha-tocopherol and L-selenomethionine supplementation in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Evidence of the chemopreventive effects of the dietary antioxidants alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and l-selenomethionine (selenium) comes from secondary analysis of two phase III clinical trials that found treatment with these antioxidants reduced the incidence of prostate cancer. To determine the effects of selenium and vitamin E in blood and prostate tissue, we undertook a preoperative feasibility study complementary to the currently ongoing Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with clinically localized prostate cancer enrolled on this 2 x 2 factorial design study were randomized to take selenium, vitamin E, both, or placebo for 3 to 6 weeks before prostatectomy. Sera were collected from patients before and after dietary supplementation. Thirty-nine patients were evaluable, and 29 age-matched disease-free men served as controls. Mass profiling of lipophilic serum proteins of lower molecular weight (2-13.5 kDa) was conducted, and mass spectra data were analyzed using custom-designed software. RESULTS: Weighted voting analyses showed a change in sera classification from cancerous to healthy for some patients with prostate cancer after dietary intervention. ANOVA analysis showed significantly different treatment effects on prediction strength changes among the four groups at a 95% confidence level. Eliminating an outlying value and performing post hoc analysis using Fisher's least significant difference method showed that effects in the group treated with the combination were significantly different from those of the other groups. CONCLUSION: In sera from patients with prostate cancer, selenium and vitamin E combined induced statistically significant proteomic pattern changes associated with prostate cancer-free status.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2004

Evidence that transfer of functional p53 protein results in increased apoptosis in prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: INGN 201 (Ad-p53) is a replication-defective adenoviral vector that encodes a wild-type p53 gene driven by the cytomegalovirus promoter. INGN 201 has been shown to have antitumoral activity against human prostate cancer cell lines. This study was undertaken to determine the safety of INGN 201 in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer, to assess transgene expression, and to evaluate antitumoral activity. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Our study included patients with clinical stage T3, T1c-T2a with Gleason score 8-10 disease, or T2a-T2b with Gleason score 7 disease and a prostate-specific antigen level >10 ng/ml. INGN 201 was administered by intraprostatic injection under ultrasonographic guidance. One course of INGN 201 was defined as three separate INGN 201 administrations 2 weeks apart. Biopsies at baseline and 24 h after the first administration were assessed for p53 protein by immunohistochemical staining and for apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assay. RESULTS: A total of 38 courses of INGN 201 gene therapy were administered to 30 patients, of whom 26 underwent radical prostatectomy. There were no grade 3 or 4 adverse events related to INGN 201 administration. Of the 11 patients with negative baseline immunostaining for p53 protein, 10 had positive p53 immunostaining after the first administration of INGN 201, and 8 had an increase in apoptotic cells by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling staining. All 26 of the patients who underwent radical prostatectomy had significant residual viable prostate cancer, and 12 have experienced biochemical failure (median follow-up, 42 months). CONCLUSION: Intraprostatic INGN 201 gene therapy is safe and can reliably result in p53 protein production and apoptosis.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2004

Prognostic value of body mass index in patients undergoing nephrectomy for localized renal tumors.

OBJECTIVES: To identify whether the body mass index (BMI) has any adverse effect on the prognosis of patients with established renal cell carcinoma, given the increasing prevalence of obesity and the rising incidence of renal cell carcinoma in the United States. METHODS: We reviewed the records of patients who underwent nephrectomy for localized disease between 1985 and 1998 at our institution. Patients were grouped according to BMI as normal (less than 25 kg/m2), overweight (25 to 30 kg/m2), or obese (more than 30 kg/m2). Cox regression analysis was used to determine the significant predictors of metastasis and survival. RESULTS: A total of 400 patients met the inclusion criteria. On univariate analysis, normal BMI (P = 0.018), pathologic stage (P <0.0001), Fuhrman grade (P = 0.007), maximal tumor size (P = 0.005), and time to recurrence (P <0.0001) were significant predictors of disease-specific death. On multivariate regression analysis, the time to metastasis (P <0.0001) was the best predictor of disease-specific death, followed by BMI (normal versus overweight or obese; P = 0.006) and pathologic stage (P = 0.007). Patients with a normal BMI who had pathologic Stage pT3 or greater and developed metastasis within 19 months of surgery had the worst prognosis, with a disease-specific death rate of 52.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that overweight and obese patients with renal cell carcinoma have a more favorable prognosis than patients with a normal BMI. If others confirm our finding that a high BMI confers a survival advantage to patients undergoing nephrectomy, BMI may prove to be an important prognostic factor in renal cell carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Rise in serum PSA of 1.5 ng/mL above 24-month nadir after external beam radiotherapy is predictive of biochemical failure.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a rise in the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration 24 months or later after completion of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer could predict for biochemical failure. METHODS: We evaluated the records of 1006 patients who had undergone full-dose EBRT alone as primary treatment for T1-T4NxM0 prostate cancer at our institution between April 1987 and January 1998. Patients who had biochemical failure--as determined by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) definition--prior to 24 months after EBRT were excluded. PSA increases of four different magnitudes (0.5, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.5 ng/mL above the 24-month nadir) were evaluated for their ability to predict ASTRO-defined biochemical failure. RESULTS: A total of 745 patients met the analysis criteria. The rate of ASTRO-defined biochemical failure in patients with a PSA increase of 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.5 ng/mL above the 24-month nadir was 56%, 64%, 66%, and 71%, respectively. An increase of 1.5 ng/mL or more had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 88% in the prediction of biochemical failure, with an accuracy of 86%. CONCLUSIONS: A PSA increase of 1.5 ng/mL or more above the 24-month nadir can be used to predict for ASTRO-defined failure after EBRT and may be used to identify patients at risk early-on.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Adenoviral-mediated PTEN transgene expression sensitizes Bcl-2-expressing prostate cancer cells to radiation.

Bcl-2 is associated with resistance to radiotherapy in prostate cancer. It was recently demonstrated that transduction of LNCaP prostate cells with the PTEN gene resulted in Bcl-2 downregulation. We hypothesized that forced expression of PTEN in prostate cancer cells would sensitize cells to radiation, downregulate Bcl-2 expression, and potentiate the G2M block induced by radiation. Four cell lines - PC-3-Bcl-2 (Bcl-2 overexpression, deleted PTEN), PC-3-Neo (wild-type Bcl-2, deleted PTEN), LNCaP (Bcl-2 overexpression, deleted PTEN), and DU-145 (wild-type Bcl-2 and PTEN) - were transduced with a recombinant adenovirus-5 vector expressing the human wild-type PTEN cDNA under the control of a human cytomegalovirus promoter (Ad-MMAC). After correction for the effect of Ad-MMAC on plating efficiency, Ad-MMAC treatment reduced the surviving fractions after 2 Gy as follows: PC-3-Bcl-2, from 60.5 to 3.6%; PC-3-Neo, no reduction; LNCaP, from 29.6 to 16.3%; and DU-145, from 32.7 to 25.7%. PTEN expression was associated with the downregulation of Bcl-2 expression in PC-3-Bcl-2 and LNCaP cell lines. Ad-MMAC plus radiotherapy potentiated the G2M block seen with radiotherapy alone only in PC-3-Bcl-2 cells. These findings suggest that overexpression of Bcl-2 result in radioresistance and inability of radiation to cause its typical G2M cell-cycle arrest.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2004

Is there a role for surgery in the management of metastatic urothelial cancer? The M. D. Anderson experience.

PURPOSE: Although rarely curative, chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for metastatic urothelial cancer. The role of surgery for metastatic disease is not well established for urothelial cancer, but is sometimes undertaken in the face of persistent or recurrent disease that can be surgically resected. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 31 patients with metastatic urothelial cancer undergoing metastasectomy with the intent of rendering them free of disease. All gross disease was completely resected in 30 patients (97%). The most frequently resected location was lung in 24 cases (77%), followed by distant lymph nodes in 4 (13%), brain in 2 (7%) and a subcutaneous metastasis in 1 (3%). RESULTS: Median survival from diagnosis of metastases and from time of metastasectomy was 31 and 23 months, respectively. The 5-year survival from metastasectomy was 33%. Median time to progression following metastasectomy was 7 months. Five patients were alive and free of disease for more than 3 years after metastasectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The results in this highly selected cohort, with 33% alive at 5 years after metastasectomy, suggest that resection of metastatic disease is feasible and may contribute to long-term disease control especially when integrated with chemotherapy. Further prospective studies should be undertaken to better characterize the selection criteria and benefit from this intervention.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Evidence supporting preoperative chemotherapy for small cell carcinoma of the bladder: a retrospective review of the M. D. Anderson cancer experience.

PURPOSE: Neuroendocrine tumors of the bladder comprise a small subset of all bladder tumors. To improve our understanding of this tumor and define outcomes with current management, we performed a retrospective review of these cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 88 patients with small cell bladder carcinoma evaluated at our institution between 1985 and 2002. Of these patients 46 underwent cystectomy, including 25 who were treated with initial cystectomy and 21 who received preoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: For patients treated with initial cystectomy median cancer specific survival (CSS) was 23 months, with 36% disease-free at 5 years. For patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy median CSS has not been reached (p = 0.026), although CSS at 5-years was 78% with no cancer related deaths observed beyond 2 years. Notably 7 of 25 patients treated with initial cystectomy received chemotherapy after surgery but their survival was no better than those treated with cystectomy alone. As others have observed, the pathological stage was higher than clinically appreciated for 56% of patients treated with initial cystectomy. Moreover, there were no cancer related deaths among patients with disease down staged to pT2 or less. CONCLUSIONS: Like other neuroendocrine tumors, small cell carcinoma of the bladder grows rapidly but is chemo-sensitive. Clinical under staging is the rule. Optimal results are achieved via integration of local and systemic treatment. Our results suggest that preoperative chemotherapy is the optimal strategy, even in the setting of clinically localized cancer. On the basis of these observations, we have initiated a trial in which 4 cycles of aggressive multiagent preoperative chemotherapy are followed by radical cystectomy.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Racial influence on biochemical disease-free survival in men treated with external-beam radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of various racial and ethnic groups who underwent radiotherapy alone for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. METHODS: From April 1987 to January 1998, 964 patients underwent full-dose, external-beam radiotherapy alone for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer and were included in the study. The patients' medical records were reviewed for pertinent information. RESULTS: Of the 964 patients, 810 were non-Hispanic white, 86 were African-American, 54 were Hispanic, and 14 were Asian. The most significant difference between groups was in the proportion of patients who presented with initial PSA levels > 20 ng/ml. More than 20% of men in all minority groups presented with a serum PSA > 20 ng/ml, compared to only 11% of whites (p = 0.0012). Similarly, 14% of minorities presented with Gleason scores > or = 8 compared to only 11% of whites (p = 0.0265). Hispanic and Asian patients exhibited a higher incidence of Gleason score > or = 8 prostate cancer. When comparing the time intervals of 1995-1998 vs. 1987-1994, the number of men presenting for EBRT with PSA levels < 10 ng/ml increased to 74% from 57% for Caucasians (p < 0,001), 71% from 40% for African Americans (p = 0.012), 67% from 49% for Hispanics (p = 0.1 18), and no change (50%) for Asians. CONCLUSIONS: The number of African-American patients presenting with favorable characteristics (PSA < 10 ng/ml) is increasing. These findings suggest that the message of screening and early detection may be reaching the African-American community. Continued diligence in screening and early detection may improve prostate cancer outcome for other minority populations.

Black or African American↗

PubMed2003

Incomplete glandular ablation after salvage cryotherapy for recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical variables associated with inadequate salvage cryotherapy and to correlate the disease-free survival rates associated with biopsy results in prostate cancer (CaP). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between July 1992 and January 1995, 150 patients underwent salvage cryotherapy for locally recurrent CaP. Biopsy specimens were examined for the presence of cancer cells and normal or atypical glands, all of which were considered evidence of inadequate cryotherapy. Clinical variables, as predictors of biopsy results, were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses. The impact of the biopsy results on disease-free survival was also determined. RESULTS: The number of cryoprobes and freeze-thaw cycles correlated with inadequate cryotherapy (p = 0.037 and p = 0.0022, respectively). The number of freeze-thaw cycles was an independent predictor of inadequate cryotherapy (p = 0.003). The finding of cancer cells in the biopsy specimens was the only histopathologic variable that affected disease-free survival (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Complete ablation of the prostate gland and tumor is difficult to achieve with salvage cryotherapy. To optimize for complete ablation, salvage cryotherapy should include at least two freeze-thaw cycles and a minimum of five cryoprobes. The finding of atypical or normal epithelial tissue in biopsy specimens after salvage cryotherapy is not predictive of biochemical failure.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2003

Bcl-2 is significantly overexpressed in localized radio-recurrent prostate carcinoma, compared with localized radio-naive prostate carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We set out to determine whether patients who underwent prostatectomy for recurrence after external-beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer had a higher incidence of alterations in the apoptotic pathway than did patients who underwent surgery as initial treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients who underwent unsuccessful full-dose external-beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer and subsequently underwent salvage radical surgery (radio-recurrent group), and 20 patients matched for various clinical parameters who underwent only radical prostatectomy for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer (radio-naive group), were studied. Tissue samples were examined for immunoreactivity for p53, p21, Bcl-2, and Ki-67 proteins. Statistically, the two groups were compared using exact logistic regression. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of the tumors from patients initially treated with radiotherapy were noted to overexpress Bcl-2; whereas, in the radio-naive group, no patient had Bcl-2 overexpression (p = 0.0004). More patients who underwent salvage radical surgery were found to have a higher mean proliferative index (Ki-67 staining) (39.6%), compared with patients undergoing prostatectomy alone (22.1%), p = 0.0800. No significant difference was noted in immunohistochemical expression of p53 and p21 between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy after radiotherapy had a significantly higher rate of Bcl-2 overexpression than did patients who underwent surgery as the initial treatment. Alterations in the apoptotic pathway may be important in the development of local recurrence after radiation therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Salvage radical prostatectomy: refinement of an effective procedure.

Salvage radical prostatectomy has undergone significant refinement over the past decade. This update on salvage radical prostatectomy will review improvements in patient selection, modifications in surgical technique, and compare the efficacy of salvage prostatectomy with that of salvage cryotherapy and brachytherapy. When performed by experienced surgeons, the procedure has a low rate of serious side effects and with modifications to surgical techniques; the risk for specific complications such as incontinence and bladder-neck contracture can be reduced or eliminated. The biochemical outcome after salvage prostatectomy appears superior to the biochemical outcome after salvage cryotherapy or brachytherapy. Salvage radical prostatectomy may cure approximately 50% of well-selected patients.

Brachytherapy↗

PubMed2003

Repeat retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for metastatic testis cancer.

PURPOSE: We report pathological results, perioperative complications and patient outcome in 21 men after repeat retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for metastatic testis cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed an institutional tumor registry at our cancer center and identified 417 patients who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testis cancer during a 21-year period. Of these 417 patients 21 underwent repeat retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. We reviewed preoperative patient characteristics, operative data and pathological findings from repeat lymphadenectomy, and determined patient disease status, morbidity and mortality after surgery. RESULTS: We identified viable germ cell tumor in 5 patients (24%), teratoma in 14 (67%) and fibrosis or necrosis only in 5 (24%). Intraoperatively subadventitial dissection of the aorta occurred in 2 cases, which was severe enough in 1 to require an aortic graft. The most common postoperative complications were prolonged ileus or partial bowel obstruction and chylous ascites in 6 and 3 patients, respectively. Six patients died, including 5 of disease progression and 1 of postoperative pulmonary embolus. At a mean followup of 4.7 years (range 0.1 to 14) 15 patients (71%) were alive and 14 (67%) were disease-free. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is safe and effective in the majority of patients with recurrent or residual retroperitoneal masses after initial multimodality treatments for metastatic testis cancer. Overall perioperative morbidity and mortality are low and yet the potential for significant vascular complications warrants careful preoperative planning and intraoperative judgment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Multimodality management of urachal carcinoma: the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience.

PURPOSE: Enteric type adenocarcinomas arising in the dome of the bladder or along the urachal ligament are uncommon. To improve our understanding of urachal carcinoma and define outcome with current management, we performed a retrospective review of cases seen at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 42 patients with urachal carcinoma evaluated at our institution from 1985 to 2001. Specifically, we sought to evaluate the importance of extent of disease, surgical characteristics and systemic therapy on clinical outcome. RESULTS: Of the 42 patients 7 had clinically evident metastases at diagnosis and 35 had resectable disease that was managed initially with surgery. Overall survival from diagnosis for all 42 patients was 46 months with 40% surviving at 5 years. Of the resected cases 16 (46%) remain disease-free (median followup 31 months). Covariates associated with long-term survival were negative surgical margins (p = 0.004) and absence of nodal involvement (p = 0.01). Median survival from recognition of metastatic disease was 24 months in 26 patients in whom metastases ultimately developed. Chemotherapy for metastatic disease produced only 4 significant responses, including 3 of 9 patients treated with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin containing regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Urachal carcinomas are usually locally advanced at presentation with a high risk of distant metastases. However, long-term survival following radical resection occurs in a significant fraction of patients (16 of 35 in our series), supporting an attempt at margin-negative, en bloc resection if at all possible. Chemotherapy appropriate for enteric type adenocarcinoma can induce objective responses but meaningful improvement in survival is not yet demonstrated.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Is there a therapeutic role for post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder?

PURPOSE: We identified a subset of patients with bladder cancer (transitional cell carcinoma) and regional nodal metastasis to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes without detectable systemic dissemination. While the majority of these patients respond initially to chemotherapy, most have disease relapse at the same site within a year. We report the results of a phase II study exploring the potential benefit of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in whom disease has shown a significant response to chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 11 patients with biopsy proven metastatic transitional cell carcinoma in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes and no evidence of visceral metastatic disease in whom disease showed a significant response to chemotherapy underwent complete bilateral retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The end point of study was disease specific survival, calculated from the time of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection to death from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. RESULTS: Four patients underwent delayed retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Seven patients underwent concurrent cystectomy, and pelvic and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. There was no perioperative mortality. Nine patients had evidence of residual disease in the retroperitoneal nodes. Seven patients have recurrence outside of the original surgical field with a median time to recurrence of 7 months and 6 died at a median time to death of 8 months (range 5 to 14). One patient with retrocrural recurrence attained a complete response to salvage chemotherapy and remained disease-free 57 months after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. For all 11 patients median disease specific and recurrence-free survival rates were 14 and 7 months, respectively. Four-year disease specific and recurrence-free survival rates were 36% and 27%, respectively. We stratified the patients based on the number of involved lymph nodes at retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and noted that viable tumor in no more than 2 lymph nodes correlated with greater disease specific and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.006 and 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection can be safely performed for metastatic transitional cell carcinoma. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection has curative potential, particularly in patients with viable tumor in no more than 2 lymph nodes after chemotherapy.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗