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Tomoyasu Tsushima

Publications and source records attributed to Tomoyasu Tsushima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Time course of serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels after cessation of long-term luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist treatment in patients with prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: In order to elucidate the influence of hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist therapy cessation on pituitary/testicular function and its clinical implications, we investigated prospectively hormonal (luteinizing hormone: LH; testosterone: T) responses in patients with prostate cancer who received long-term LH-RH 10 agonist therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A consecutive 32 patients who had received LH-RH agonist therapy over 24 months were enrolled. As a baseline, T and LH were measured at the time of LH-RH agonist therapy cessation, monthly for 3 months, and subsequently, every 3 months. RESULTS: The median duration of LH-RH agonist therapy was 30 months (24-87 months) with median follow-up duration of 24 months following cessation. All patients had castrated T levels and suppressed LH levels at baseline. Median duration of castrated T levels following cessation was 6 months. Median time to normalization of T levels was 24 months. LH levels returned to normal within 3 months in all cases. Patients who received androgen deprivation therapy for 30 months or longer required a longer time for recovery of T levels. Patients over 65 years of age showed a statistically significant longer time for recovery of T levels (P=0.0167). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term LH-RH agonist therapy has remarkable effects on serum T level that last for a significant time after cessation, a fact that should be applied to the interpretation of both PSA and serum T levels after cessation of androgen deprivation therapy.

Aged↗

Efficacy of primary hormone therapy for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer: results of a 10-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of primary hormone therapy for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer, by analysing the 10-year survival rates for men with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer treated with primary hormone therapy or prostatectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 1993 and March 1995, men with T1b, T1c or T2-3 N0M0 prostate cancer were enrolled. In all, 176 men who had a prostatectomy were assigned to Study 1 and were given adjuvant luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist; 151 men who did not have a prostatectomy were assigned to Study 2 and had LHRH agonist monotherapy or combined androgen blockade. They were followed until death, loss to follow-up, or until the end of the observation period (31 March 2004). We analysed all cases in each study as a single population, and compared Study 1 with Study 2. RESULTS: The mean patient ages were 67.2 years in Study 1 and 75.7 years in Study 2. During a median of 10.4 years of follow-up, 20 men in Study 1 and 17 in Study 2 died from prostate cancer, and 21 men in Study 1 and 50 in Study 2 died from other causes. In Study 1, the 10-year overall survival rate was 73% and the 10-year cause-specific survival rate was 86%, vs 41% and 78% in Study 2. Overall survival curves were similar to expected survival curves in both studies. There was no significant difference between studies in cause-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: The progression of prostate cancer was retarded by primary hormone therapy in men with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. With primary hormone therapy or prostatectomy, the men had a life-expectancy similar to that of the normal population.

Aged↗

Combination chemotherapy with estramustine phosphate, ifosfamide and cisplatin for hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

We evaluated the efficiency and toxicity of estramustine phosphate (ECT), ifosfamide (IFM) and cisplatin (CDDP) combination chemotherapy in twenty-one patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), for which there is currently no effective treatment. Patients received a daily dose of 560 mg ECT in combination with 1.2 g/m2 IFM on days 1 to 5 and 70 mg/m2 CDDP on day 1. This combination therapy was given every 3 to 4 weeks. An objective response of more than 50% reduction in prostate-specific antigen was observed in 9 of 18 patients (50%), and a more than 50% reduction in bi-dimensionally measurable soft-tissue lesions was observed in 2 of 7 patients (29%). The median duration of response among the cases showing partial response was 40 weeks, while the median duration of response of overall partial-response plus stable cases was 30 weeks. The median survival duration of all cases was 47 weeks. Toxicity was modest and acceptable. In conclusion, the ECT, IFM and CDDP combination chemotherapy regimen is a viable treatment option for HRPC. However, in comparison with our previous chemotherapy regimen of IFM and CDDP, no additional long-lasting effects resulting from the inclusion of ECT could be affirmed.

Adult↗

Predicting postoperative renal insufficiency in patients undergoing nephrectomy for renal malignancy: assessment by renal scintigraphy using 99mtechnetium-mercaptoacetyltriglycine.

PURPOSE: We performed Tc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) renal scintigraphy in patients with renal malignancy to evaluate the function of each renal unit before and after nephrectomy to see if postoperative functional deterioration could be predicted based on scintigraphy results and creatinine clearance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 22 men and 13 women with renal malignancy, including 32 with renal cell carcinoma and 3 with urothelial cancer, were prospectively enrolled in this study. Average patient age was 64.3 years (median 65, range 43 to 88). All patients underwent MAG3 renal scintigraphy before and after unilateral nephrectomy. At the same time serum creatinine and endogenous creatinine clearance were determined. RESULTS: Mean serum creatinine was 0.93 mg/dl before and 1.31 after nephrectomy (p <0.0001). Preoperative endogenous creatinine clearance was 70.8 ml per minute per 1.73 m, which decreased to 49.0 ml per minute per 1.73 m after nephrectomy (p <0.0001). Mean MAG3 clearance of the remaining kidney increased 35.1% above baseline from 156.5 to 211.5 ml per minute per 1.73 m following nephrectomy. Spearman rank core analysis revealed that preoperative MAG3 clearance of the remaining kidney significantly correlated with postoperative creatinine clearance (r = 0.596, p = 0.0005). Preoperative MAG3 clearance of the remaining kidney more than 130 ml per minute per 1.73 m coincided with postoperative creatinine clearance above 40 ml per minute per 1.73 m. CONCLUSIONS: MAG3 renal scintigraphy may be useful for predicting renal insufficiency after nephrectomy. The findings in this study suggest that preoperative MAG3 clearance of the remaining kidney less than 130 ml per minute per 1.73 m is a risk factor for postoperative renal insufficiency.

Adult↗

Extensive biopsy using a combined transperineal and transrectal approach to improve prostate cancer detection.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have indicated that 6-core transrectal prostate biopsy misses a considerable number of cancers. We performed an extensive biopsy protocol of 12-core sampling using both transperineal and transrectal approaches to determine the impact on the cancer detection rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 402 men who underwent 6-core transperineal and 6-core transrectal biopsies simultaneously due to abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) and/or elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of 4.0 ng/mL or greater. Using the transperineal approach we obtained four cores from the bilateral peripheral zone targeting the lateral and parasagittal areas and two cores from the bilateral transition zone. The following transrectal biopsy was performed traditionally. We compared cancer detection rate between the extended 12-core procedure and conventional 6-core transperineal and transrectal groups in terms of total PSA and DRE findings. RESULTS: Using the extensive combined method, prostate cancer was detected in 195 cases (48.5%) and the detection rate significantly increased 7.2% and 8.5% compared to the transperineal and transrectal groups, respectively. According to PSA levels and DRE findings, the cancer detection rate by the combined method was significantly improved in patients with PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL and negative DRE: 10.3% and 11.6% compared to the transperineal and transrectal groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The extensive 12-core method significantly improved the overall cancer detection rate and was especially efficient for men with PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL accompanied by a negative DRE finding.

Adult↗

Long-term clinical outcomes of 420 consecutive prostate cancer patients in a single institute.

This study was undertaken to reveal the trends of prostate cancer and the outcome of treatment modalities for each disease stage in patients in a single institute over a 10-year period. From January 1994 through December 2003, 420 consecutive patients with previously untreated and histologically confirmed prostate cancer were analyzed for annual distributions of disease stages and treatment modalities and for long-term clinical progression-free survival, prostate cancer-specific survival, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure-free survival rates for each stage and treatment modality. Annual trends showed that the number of patients, especially those with clinically localized cancer, increased dramatically. The 5-year disease-specific survival rates for patients with clinically localized disease were 100 percent for all treatment modalities, including hormonal therapy alone. Patients with PSA levels less than 10 ng/ml showed an 81 percent 5-year PSA failure-free survival rate with radical prostatectomy. Stage C patients treated by surgery or radiation-based therapy with concomitant hormonal therapy obtained 93 percent and 100 percent cause-specific survival rates, respectively, and those treated by hormonal therapy alone showed a 79 percent rate. The number of patients with localized prostate cancer was increasing in this decade. While long-term hormonal therapy alone was highly efficient in controlling localized prostate cancer, radical therapies in conjunction with neo-adjuvant hormonal therapy produced better survival rates in cases of locally advanced disease.

Academies and Institutes↗

Comparative study of ureteral stripping versus open ureterectomy for nephroureterectomy in patients with transitional carcinoma of the renal pelvis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical outcome of nephroureterectomy with endoscopically assisted transurethral ureteral stripping for transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis in a comparative study. METHODS: Sixty patients with localized renal pelvic cancer were enrolled in a prospective comparative nonrandomized study. Of these, 28 patients underwent nephroureterectomy with endoscopically assisted transurethral ureteral stripping and 32 underwent conventional nephroureterectomy with a bladder cuff. Both short-term and long-term results were analyzed in this series. RESULTS: The operating time for patients with ureteral stripping was significantly shorter than for those with a standard two-incision nephroureterectomy (median 183 versus 250 minutes, P = 0.0231), and the amount of blood loss was significantly less (median 150 versus 390 mL, P = 0.0002). Intravesical recurrence was detected in 10 (35.7%) of the 28 patients with ureteral stripping, and the 1-year and 3-year recurrence-free rate was 68.0% and 57.7%, respectively. Seven patients treated by the standard two-incision nephroureterectomy (21.9%) experienced intravesical recurrence, with a 1-year and 3-year recurrence-free rate of 96.8% and 75.0%, respectively. The recurrence rate was significantly greater in the group with ureteral stripping (P = 0.0287). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional nephroureterectomy with a bladder cuff, nephroureterectomy with transurethral stripping is a minimally invasive procedure with a shorter operating time and less blood loss, but a statistically significantly greater intravesical recurrence rate. Greater consideration should be taken before selecting this procedure.

Aged↗

Kidney function after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the function of the remaining kidney after nephrectomy for renal cell cancer by technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3) renal scintigraphy. METHODS: We evaluated 30 consecutive patients who were undergoing unilateral radical nephrectomy by 99mTc-MAG3 scintigraphy. All patients underwent three consecutive 99mTc-MAG3 scintigraphy studies. The first study was performed before nephrectomy, the second 1 month after surgery, and the third 1 year after surgery. At these times, the serum creatinine levels were also evaluated. RESULTS: The mean preoperative MAG3 clearance of the remaining kidney of the 30 patients was 155.4 mL/min/1.73 m2. The mean MAG3 clearance of the remaining kidney had increased to 209.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 by 1 month after nephrectomy, and the average percentage increase was 39.5%. After 1 year, it had increased to 211.3 mL/min/1.73 m2, with a 40.5% average percentage increase. The preoperative MAG3 clearance of the remaining kidney was inversely correlated with the percentage of increase in MAG3 clearance of the remaining kidney. Abnormal serum creatinine levels (greater than 1.3 mg/dL) were more common after nephrectomy, occurring in 6 patients at 1 month and in 5 patients at 1 year postoperatively. In all 6 patients with elevated creatinine levels, the preoperative MAG3 clearance of the remaining kidney was less than 150 mL/min/1.73 m2. CONCLUSIONS: Adaptive hyperfunction occurs soon after nephrectomy that is not associated with age or sex and continues for at least 1 year. A greater compensatory response is produced in patients with more severe renal deterioration. Using 99mTc-MAG3 scintigraphy, we may be able to predict postoperative renal function.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists on bone metabolism markers and bone mineral density in patients with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To better understand bone metabolism and predict bone loss in treatment using gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist for patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: The changes in bone mineral density and blood levels of bone metabolism markers and the level of pyridinoline cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, a specific marker of bone resorption, and carboxy-terminal pro-peptide of human type I procollagen, a specific marker of bone formation, were examined in 27 consecutive patients with prostate cancer without bone metastasis. RESULTS: After 2 years of gonadotropin-releasing hormone treatment, the bone mineral density was significantly lower (median 0.937 g/cm2) than before treatment. Pyridinoline cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen began to increase significantly 6 months after the start of treatment (3.0 to 8.3 ng/mL, median 4.6, at baseline versus 3.4 to 8.2 ng/mL, median 5.2, after 6 months). Carboxy-terminal pro-peptide of human type I procollagen began to show a significant rise 1 year after the start of treatment (from 72.8 to 221.5 ng/mL, median 102.0, at baseline to 82.7 to 293.4 ng/mL, median 132.0, at 1 year). CONCLUSIONS: Functional coupling between bone resorption and formation was noted, and a decrease in bone mass, even in men, owing to androgen deficiency, was biochemically demonstrated. Fluctuations in these two bone metabolism markers preceded the decrease of bone mineral density. Therefore, these markers might be a predictor of bone loss.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Positive correlation between allelic loss at chromosome 14q24-31 and poor prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To report our development of a new application of the inter-Alu long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for genomic scanning to screen for tumor-specific alterations in tumor DNA. Using this method, we detected a rearranged chromosomal region in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). We then examined tumor-specific allelic loss in this region using microsatellite markers and determined whether a relationship was present between this allelic loss and the clinicopathologic features of the patients. METHODS: The inter-Alu long PCR genomic scan method was performed using RCC DNA samples and primers specific for a minor subset of the human repeat sequence Alu. We analyzed DNA samples from 42 pairs of matched normal and nonpapillary RCC tissues with seven microsatellite markers. RESULTS: The inter-Alu long PCR genomic scan method revealed an altered DNA region on chromosome 14q24-31, which is the location of several putative tumor suppressor genes. At least one of seven microsatellite markers on chromosome 14q24-31 showed loss of heterozygosity in 23 (54.8%) of 42 informative cases of RCC. The prevalent loss region was confined to a 2-Mb region around D14S67. We found a positive correlation between the presence of the loss of heterozygosity on 14q24-31 and tumor stage (P <0.05). We also found that cases with allelic loss at 14q24-31 had a poor prognosis (P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Our inter-Alu long PCR genomic scan method is a powerful method for the screening of DNA alterations, and our data suggest that the chromosome 14q24-31 region contains likely tumor suppressor genes associated with the progression of RCC.

Adult↗

Radical cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer: results of multi-institutional pooled analysis.

BACKGROUND: We report the outcome of radical cystectomy for patients with invasive bladder cancer, who did not have regional lymph node or distant metastases, at 21 hospitals. METHODS: Retrospective, non-randomized, multi-institutional pooled data were analyzed to evaluate outcomes of patients who received radical cystectomy. Between 1991 and 1995, 518 patients with invasive bladder cancer were treated with radical cystectomy at 21 hospitals. Of these, 250 patients (48.3%) received some type of neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy depending on the treatment policy of each hospital. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 4.4 years, ranging from 0.1 to 11.4 years. The 5-year overall survival rate was 58% for all 518 patients. The 5-year overall survival rates for patients with clinical T2N0M0, T3N0M0 and T4N0M0 were 67%, 52% and 38%, respectively. The patients with pT1 or lower stage, pT2, pT3 and pT4 disease without lymph node metastasis had 5-year overall survivals of 81%, 74%, 47% and 38%, respectively. The patients who were node positive had the worst prognosis, with a 30% overall survival rate at 5 years. Neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy did not provide a significant survival advantage, although adjuvant chemotherapy improved the 5-year overall survival in patients with pathologically proven lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The current retrospective study showed that radical cystectomy provided an overall survival equivalent to studies reported previously, but surgery alone had no more potential to prolong survival of patients with invasive cancer. Therefore, a large-scale randomized study on adjuvant treatment as well as development of new strategies will be needed to improve the outcome for patients with invasive bladder cancer.

Adult↗

Tumor doubling time of renal cell carcinoma measured by CT: collaboration of Japanese Society of Renal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the natural history of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Inclusion criteria were the following: (1) patients who received diagnostic imaging of the kidney (CT, MRI) at two points in time before the diagnosis of RCC or patients who were followed, without treatment, after a diagnosis of RCC; and (2) patients in whom changes in tumor size were followed by the same modality of diagnostic imaging and who did not receive any treatment which could exert anti-tumor activity on the primary or metastatic lesions. The tumor doubling time (DT) and the growth rate of maximum tumor diameter (R) were determined. DT was calculated using the equation DT = (T - T(0)) x log2/logV - logV(0) (where T - T(0) indicates the length of time between two measurements and V(0) and V denote the tumor volume at two points of measurement). R was calculated using the equation R = (phi - f(0))/(T - T(0)) x 100 (where phi(0) and f indicate the maximum diameter at two points). Fifty-six cases registered with the Japanese Society of Renal Cancer were included in the evaluation. RESULTS: DT was 603.1 +/- 510.1 days, which did not correlate with V(0). R was 0.263 +/- 0.346 cm/day x 100. In cases where the tumor diameter was >/=4 cm, a significant correlation was noted between f(0) and R. CONCLUSIONS: Elucidation of the natural history of RCC will contribute to facilitation of differential diagnosis and determination of optimum therapeutic strategy.

Adult↗

Decreased expression of REIC/Dkk-3 in human renal clear cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We examined the expression of REIC/Dkk-3, a possible candidate for a tumor suppressor gene, in human renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) cell lines and sporadic RCCC surgical specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human RCCC cell lines (Caki-1, Caki-2, ACHN and KPK-1) and several control cell lines were used to examine the expression of REIC/Dkk-3 mRNA and characterize a newly raised antibody specific for REIC/Dkk-3 protein. Pairs of cancerous and adjacent noncancerous tissues were obtained from 20 patients with RCCC. Of them 17 and 7 cases were analyzed by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and by Western blot analysis and/or immunohistochemical analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The decreased expression of REIC/Dkk-3 mRNA and protein in human RCCC cell lines, and the specificity of the new antibody were confirmed. In a real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction study using 17 pairs of RCCC and adjacent normal tissues REIC/Dkk-3 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in carcinoma tissues (by 25% to approximately 95% in 15 pairs). Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed a significant decrease in REIC/Dkk-3 protein levels in 6 of the 7 and 13 of the 14 RCCC cases analyzed, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in REIC/Dkk-3 mRNA and protein levels was observed irrespective of tumor grade and stage, indicating the involvement of REIC/Dkk-3 in an initial step of malignant conversion. Consequently REIC/Dkk-3 could be a new molecular target for therapeutic measures against RCCC.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Endocrine therapy with or without radical prostatectomy for T1b-T3N0M0 prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively compared the 5-year survival rates of T1b-T3N0M0 prostate cancer patients treated either by endocrine therapy plus radical prostatectomy or endocrine therapy alone. METHODS: Clinical T1b-T3N0M0 prostate cancer patients were enrolled at 104 institutions in Japan. They were assigned to study 1 (n = 176), if they were indicated to prostatectomy, if not indicated, they were assigned to study 2 (n = 151). The indication of prostatectomy was based on the clinical judgement of physicians and/or patients. Those assigned to study 1 underwent prostatectomy and adjuvant endocrine therapy with or without preoperative androgen deprivation. Those assigned to study 2 were treated with leuprorelin acetate with or without chlormadinone acetate. They were followed-up every 3 months until death or for 5 years and over. RESULTS: Those assigned to study 1 were younger (mean age 67.2 vs 75.7 years), less advanced in clinical stage, and had lower prostate specific antigen levels (mean 43.8 vs 103.6 ng/mL). Death for any reason was observed less frequently in study 1 (n = 29, 16%) than study 2 (n = 50, 33%), and the 5-year overall survival rate was higher in study 1 (87 vs. 68%). However, prostate cancer deaths were comparatively seldom (9% in study 1 and 7% in study 2), resulting in the identical 5-year cause specific survival rate in both study groups (91%). In both study groups the overall survival was almost equal to the natural survival of age-matched men. CONCLUSIONS: Endocrine therapy offers a reasonable survival rate in T1b-T3 prostate cancer patients within a 5-year follow-up. Observation will be extended to determine 10-year outcomes.

Age Factors↗

Radical prostatectomy and adjuvant endocrine therapy for prostate cancer with or without preoperative androgen deprivation: Five-year results.

BACKGROUND: The effects of preoperative androgen deprivation on the outcomes of prostate cancer patients who received radical prostatectomy and subsequent adjuvant endocrine therapy have not yet been fully evaluated. METHODS: Patients with stage A(2), B or C prostate cancers were randomized to one of two groups: group I (n = 90), who received androgen deprivation (leuprolide and chlormadinone acetate) for 3 months followed by radical prostatectomy and subsequent adjuvant endocrine therapy (leuprolide alone), and group II (n = 86), who underwent the surgery followed by 3-month androgen deprivation (leuprolide and chlormadinone acetate) and subsequent adjuvant endocrine therapy (leuprolide alone). The effects of preoperative androgen deprivation on survival, clinical relapse (serum prostate specific antigen, PSA, above the normal level, local recurrence, or distant metastases), and PSA relapse (PSA above the detectable level) were evaluated at 5 years or later after treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in overall, cause-specific, clinical relapse-free, or PSA relapse-free survival rates between the two groups. In a subanalysis, no prostate cancer deaths or clinical relapses were noted in 29 patients with organ-confined disease (OCD: negativity of capsular invasion, seminal vesicle invasion, surgical margins or nodal involvement). The odds ratio for OCD depending on group assignment was 2.44 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.04-5.72), for group I, demonstrating a higher probability of having OCD. This ratio was increased to 4.00 (95% CI 1.06-15.16) if the analysis was conducted in a subpopulation with prostate specific antigen levels less than 35.6 ng/mL and with clinical stage B or C cancers. CONCLUSION: Preoperative androgen deprivation has no demonstrable benefit in 5-year outcomes for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and adjuvant endocrine therapy. However, it did increase the probability of OCD, which was associated with no clinical relapse during the follow-up. A longer observation is needed to clarify the exact extent of the benefits in terms of survival.

Aged↗

Long-term consequence of renal function following nephrectomy for renal cell cancer.

AIM: A retrospective analysis was performed involving patients who had undergone radical nephrectomy for renal cell cancer to determine the long-term outcome of this surgery on renal status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1977 and 2001, 172 patients having undergone radical nephrectomy for renal cell cancer were followed for a period of more than one year at the Department of Urology Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama, Japan. The preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine values of these individuals were reviewed. Long-term effects of radical nephrectomy on renal function and factors influencing postoperative renal dysfunction were analyzed. RESULTS: Six (3.5%) of the 172 individuals progressed to hemodialysis. Eleven (6.4%) patients displayed serum creatinine values of > or =1.6 mg/dL. The remaining 155 patients (90.1%) demonstrated postoperative serum creatinine values of <1.6 mg/dL. The present study suggests that aging, a high degree of proteinuria, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the predominant risk factors for renal deterioration following nephrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: We have primarily selected radical nephrectomy for cases exhibiting smaller renal tumors with a normal contralateral kidney. We encourage nephron-sparing surgery where possible in patients displaying risk factors, including a high degree of proteinuria, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗

NY-ESO-1 mRNA expression and immunogenicity in advanced prostate cancer.

NY-ESO-1 mRNA expression was investigated in advanced prostate cancer by conventional and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). NY-ESO-1 mRNA was detected in 20 of 53 (38%) tumor specimens. Four of 15 (27%) stage C, 1 of 3 stage D1 (33%) and 15 of 35 (43%) stage D2 prostate cancers were positive. The presence of NY-ESO-1 antibodies was evaluated in sera from a panel of 218 patients with prostate cancer, including the 53 patients whose tumors were examined for NY-ESO-1 mRNA expression. NY-ESO-1 antibodies were detected in 1 of 30 (3.3%) stage D1 and 9 of 110 (8.2%) stage D2 patients, whereas none of the 78 patients with localized prostate cancer (stages A, B and C) had detectable NY-ESO-1 antibodies. Of the 53 patients whose tumors were examined for NY-ESO-1 mRNA expression, 2 of 20 patients with NY-ESO-1 mRNA-positive tumors had NY-ESO-1 antibodies. No antibody was found in the sera of 32 patients with NY-ESO-1 mRNA-negative tumors, with the exception of one patient with regional lymph node metastasis (stage D1). CD8 T cell responses specific to NY-ESO-1 were detected in two of three patients with NY-ESO-1 antibodies.

Aged↗

MR imaging of renal cell carcinoma: associations among signal intensity, tumor enhancement, and pathologic findings.

The purpose of this study was to compare the MR characteristics of renal cell carcinomas against histologic findings and to assess the correlations among signal intensity, tumor enhancement, and pathologic findings. Fifty-four patients (56 lesions) were examined by MR imaging and then underwent partial or radical nephrectomy. The pathologic diagnosis of all lesions was renal cell carcinoma. All MR examinations were performed as dynamic studies using the same 1.5-T scanner. MR characteristics were compared against pathologic findings after resection, and the correlations among signal intensity, tumor enhancement, and pathologic findings were then assessed. A significant correlation was observed between tumor grade and tumor enhancement, with G3 lesions tending to show little enhancement. Regardless of the histologic classification, G3 tumors were found to contain highly heterotypic cancer cells and very few vessels by histopathologic examination. No significant correlations were noted between the other MR characteristics and pathologic findings. Renal cell carcinomas showing little enhancement tend to be highly malignant lesions based on the pathologic findings. Special consideration is required for these tumors with regard to the selection of surgical intervention and follow-up observation.

Adult↗