BACKGROUND: Electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) have been shown to enhance healthcare quality by improving patient symptom management or quality of life (QoL). However, ePROs data for urothelial cancer (UC) patients receiving systemic therapies are scarce, and the application of ePROs in this patient cohort may need specific setups. This study tested the feasibility of ePROs for UC patients receiving systemic therapies in the outpatient clinic of a tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2022 to April 2023, 30 UC patients receiving systemic cancer therapies received ePROs based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-30) to report their symptoms and QoL during systemic therapy, in total, 125 questions for every therapy cycle. The proportion of patients adherent to the ePROs was assessed to evaluate feasibility, with a preset threshold of 50%. At least half of all treatment cycles with a minimum of two consecutive ePROs (corresponding to two successive therapy cycles) had to be completed to be counted as adherent, and a maximum of six successive therapy cycles was followed by ePROs. Descriptive statistics were calculated for clinical and demographic patient characteristics. T-test and chi-square-test analyses were performed to study the association between ePROs adherence and clinical or demographic factors. The digital process was closely monitored for procedural impediments that could occur. RESULTS: 21 (70%) of the included 30 patients adhered to the provided ePROs, significantly higher than the predetermined threshold of 50%. Adherence remained above 70% until the end of the observation period. A significant negative effect of immigration background on ePROs compliance was observed (p = 0.006). No other variables were significantly associated with ePROs compliance. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, ePROs were a feasible method to assess symptoms and QoL during the systemic cancer therapy of UC patients at our center. The compliance of patients with immigration backgrounds was the most significant barrier to using ePROs in this setting. However, the study is limited by the exclusion of patients without email access and the lack of assessment of physician compliance with the ePROs data, which may affect the generalizability and implementation of the findings.

• MeSH
• Emigration and Immigration MeSH
• Patient Reported Outcome Measures * MeSH
• Quality of Life * MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Feasibility Studies * MeSH
• Urologic Neoplasms therapy   psychology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

A placebo is an inert substance normally used in clinical trials for comparison with an active substance. However, a placebo has been shown to have an effect on its own; commonly known as the placebo effect. A placebo is an essential component in the design of conclusive clinical trials but has itself become the focus of intense research. The placebo effect is partly the result of positive expectations of the recipient on the state of health. Conversely, a nocebo effect is when negative expectations from a substance lead to poor treatment outcomes and/or adverse events. Randomized controlled trials in functional urology have demonstrated the importance of the placebo and nocebo effects across different diseases such as overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, as well as male and female sexual dysfunction. Understanding the true nature of the placebo-nocebo complex and the scope of its effect in functional urology could help urologists to maximize the positive effects of this phenomenon while minimizing its potentially negative effects.

• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Nocebo Effect MeSH
• Placebo Effect MeSH
• Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms * MeSH
• Urology * MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

OBJECTIVES: To perform a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of currently available treatments for the management of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), as there has been a paradigm shift with the use of next-generation androgen receptor inhibitors (ARIs) and docetaxel. METHODS: Multiple databases were searched for articles published before May 2020 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis extension statement for network meta-analysis. Studies comparing overall/progression-free survival (OS/PFS) and/or adverse events (AEs) in patients with mHSPC were eligible. RESULTS: Nine studies (N = 9960) were selected, and formal network meta-analyses were conducted. Abiraterone (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95% credible interval [CrI] 0.76-0.90), docetaxel (HR 0.90, 95% CrI 0.82-0.98), and enzalutamide (HR 0.85, 95% CrI 0.73-0.99) were associated with significantly better OS than androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), and abiraterone emerged as the best option. Abiraterone (HR 0.71, 95% CrI 0.67-0.76), apalutamide (HR 0.73, 95% CrI 0.65-0.81), docetaxel (HR 0.84, 95% CrI 0.78-0.90), and enzalutamide (HR 0.67, 95% CrI 0.63-0.71) were associated with significantly better PFS than ADT, and enzalutamide emerged as the best option. Abiraterone (HR 0.85, 95% CrI 0.78-0.93), apalutamide (HR 0.87, 95% CrI 0.77-0.98), and enzalutamide (HR 0.80, 95% CrI 0.73-0.88) were significantly more effective than docetaxel. Regarding AEs, apalutamide was the likely best option among the three ARIs. In patients with low-volume mHSPC, enzalutamide was the best option in terms of OS and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: All three ARIs are effective therapies for mHSPC; apalutamide was the best tolerated. All three seemed more effective than docetaxel. These findings may facilitate individualised treatment strategies and inform future comparative trials.

• MeSH
• Androgen Receptor Antagonists MeSH
• Androgen Antagonists * adverse effects   MeSH
• Docetaxel therapeutic use   MeSH
• Hormones MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prostatic Neoplasms * pathology   MeSH
• Network Meta-Analysis as Topic MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Meta-Analysis MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Systematic Review MeSH

BACKGROUND: Preoperative plasma levels of Interleukin 6 (IL6) and its soluble receptor (IL6sR) have previously been associated with oncologic outcomes in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB); however, external validation in patients treated with radical cystectomy (RC) for UCB is missing. PATIENTS/METHODS: We prospectively collected preoperative plasma from 1,036 consecutive patients at two institutes. These plasma specimens were assessed for levels of IL6 and IL6sR. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were used to assess the correlation of plasma levels with pathologic and survival outcomes. The additional clinical net benefits of preoperative IL6 and IL6sR were evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: Median IL6 and IL6sR plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with adverse pathologic features. Elevated biomarker levels were independently associated with an increased risk for lymph node metastasis and ≥ pT3 disease. Both biomarkers were independently associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). The addition to, respectively, fitted pre- and postoperative prognostic models improved the predictive accuracy for lymph node metastasis, ≥ pT3 disease, RFS and CSS on DCA. INTERPRETATION: We confirmed that elevated preoperative plasma levels of IL6 and IL6sR levels are associated with worse oncological disease survival in patients treated with RC for UCB in a large multicenter study. Both biomarkers hold potential in identifying patients with adverse pathological features that may benefit from intensified/multimodal therapy and warrant inclusion into predictive/prognostic models. They demonstrated the ability to improve the discriminatory power of such models and thus guide clinical decision making.

• MeSH
• Biomarkers metabolism   MeSH
• Cystectomy methods   MeSH
• Interleukin-6 blood   MeSH
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lymphatic Metastasis MeSH
• Multivariate Analysis MeSH
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms blood   surgery   MeSH
• Postoperative Period MeSH
• Preoperative Period MeSH
• Proportional Hazards Models MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Receptors, Interleukin-6 blood   MeSH
• Regression Analysis MeSH
• Decision Making MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Decision Support Systems, Clinical MeSH
• Urothelium pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Inflammation MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

PURPOSE: To test any-cause discontinuation and ISUP GG upgrading rates during Active Surveillance (AS) in patients that underwent previous negative biopsies (PNBs) before prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis vs. biopsy naive patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 961 AS patients (2008-2020). Three definitions of PNBs were used: (1) PNBs status (biopsy naïve vs. PNBs); (2) number of PNBs (0 vs. 1 vs. ≥ 2); (3) histology at last PNB (no vs. negative vs. HGPIN/ASAP). Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariable Cox models tested any-cause and ISUP GG upgrading discontinuation rates. RESULTS: Overall, 760 (79.1%) vs. 201 (20.9%) patients were biopsy naïve vs. PNBs. Specifically, 760 (79.1%) vs. 138 (14.4%) vs. 63 (6.5%) patients had 0 vs. 1 vs. ≥ 2 PNBs. Last, 760 (79.1%) vs. 134 (13.9%) vs. 67 (7%) patients had no vs. negative PNB vs. HGPIN/ASAP. PNBs were not associated with any-cause discontinuation rates. Conversely, PNBs were associated with lower rates of ISUP GG upgrading: (1) PNBs vs. biopsy naïve (HR:0.6, p = 0.04); (2) 1 vs. 0 PNBs (HR:0.6, p = 0.1) and 2 vs. 0 PNBs, (HR:0.5, p = 0.1); (3) negative PNB vs. biopsy naïve (HR:0.7, p = 0.3) and HGPIN/ASAP vs. biopsy naïve (HR:0.4, p = 0.04). However, last PNB ≤ 18 months (HR:0.4, p = 0.02), but not last PNB > 18 months (HR:0.8, p = 0.5) were associated with lower rates of ISUP GG upgrading. CONCLUSION: PNBs status is associated with lower rates of ISUP GG upgrading during AS for PCa. The number of PNBs and time from last PNB to PCa diagnosis (≤ 18 months) appear also to be critical for patient selection.

• MeSH
• Biopsy MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prostatic Neoplasms * diagnosis   pathology   MeSH
• Watchful Waiting MeSH
• Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia * MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) often have a delayed diagnosis and by then, present with advanced disease which has been shown to be associated with lymphovascular invasion (LVI). It has been suggested to be involved in the metastatic cascade of the disease. In this review, we provide an extensive up-to-date summary of the current knowledge about the prognostic impact of LVI in patients undergoing radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science for all reports published from 2010 through 2021 was performed. We performed pooled analyses of hazard ratios (HRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of series that evaluated LVI as a prognostic factor in adults with UTUC who underwent RNU. The assessed oncological outcomes were disease recurrence, cancer-specific and overall survival. A meta-regression analysis was used to explore potential heterogeneity. A total of 58 series met the eligibility criteria for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. We included 29,829 patients, ranging from 101 to 2492 per study. All series were retrospective. LVI was present in 7,818 patients (26.2%). The median age of the patients was 69 years and the median follow-up was 40 months. In 40 of 58 studies (68.9%), adjuvant chemotherapy was given. The pooled HRs show that LVI predicts a greater risk of recurrence of the disease (pooled HR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.31-1.55, P = 0.000; I2 = 76.3%), and decreases cancer-specific survival (pooled HR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.41-1.66, P = 0.000; I2 = 72.3%) and overall survival (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.45-1.69, P = 0.000; I2 = 62.9%). It can be concluded that LVI is a common histologic pattern in surgical specimen in patients undergoing RNU for UTUC. LVI predicts a greater risk of recurrence and mortality, thus it should be carefully assessed in clinical practice to determine prognosis, and for optimal decision-making within the concept of personalized therapies.

• MeSH
• Carcinoma, Transitional Cell * pathology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local surgery   MeSH
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms * surgery   MeSH
• Ureteral Neoplasms * pathology   MeSH
• Nephroureterectomy MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Meta-Analysis MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Systematic Review MeSH

Infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been associated with changes in blood coagulation resulting in increased incidence of venous thromboembolic events and coagulopathy. Moreover, single cases of ischemic priapism have been reported in adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this report, we describe the case of ischemic priapism in a 12-year-old child with recent SARS- CoV-2 infection.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * complications   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Priapism * etiology   MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• Venous Thromboembolism * MeSH
• Venous Thrombosis * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Case Reports MeSH

INTRODUCTION: There are questions regarding whether grade group (GG) 4 prostate cancer (PC) is heterogeneous in terms of prognosis. We assessed prognostic differences in PC patients within GG 4 treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival were analyzed in 787 PC patients with GG 4 based on RP pathology (Gleason score (GS) 3 + 5: 189, GS 4 + 4: 500, and GS 5 + 3: 98). Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors predictive of high-risk surgical pathological features. Cox regression models were used to evaluate potential prognostic factors of survival. RESULTS: Within a median follow-up of 86 months, 378 patients (48.0%) experienced BCR and 96 patients (12.2%) died, 42 of whom (5.3%) died of PC. GS 5 + 3 was significantly associated with worse BCR-free and cancer-specific survival, as well as higher positive surgical margin, lymph node metastasis, extraprostatic extension, and non-organ-confined disease rates, than GS 3 + 5 and higher positive surgical margin, lymph node metastasis, extraprostatic extension, and non-organ-confined disease rates than GS 4 + 4 (P < 0.05). GS 4 + 4 was significantly associated with worse BCR-free survival and higher extraprostatic extension, and non-organ-confined disease rates than GS 3 + 5 (P < 0.05). Inclusion of the different Gleason patterns improved the discrimination of a model for prediction of all survival outcomes compared to standard prognosticators. CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable heterogeneity within GG 4 in terms of oncological and surgical pathological outcomes. Primary and secondary Gleason patterns should be considered to stratify high-risk PC patients after RP.

• MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local pathology   MeSH
• Survival Rate MeSH
• Prostatic Neoplasms mortality   pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Prostatectomy * MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Neoplasm Grading MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

INTRODUCTION: The Albumin-Globulin Ratio (AGR; albumin/total protein - albumin) has been associated with oncological outcome in various malignancies. However, its role in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) has not been clearly established. In this study, we assessed the association of preoperative AGR (pAGR) with survival in patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) for UCB. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of an established multicenter database of 4.335 patients who were treated with RC for UCB. The cohort was divided into 2 groups according to the pAGR status. Binominal logistic regression as well as uni- and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used. The predictive value of the models was assessed by calculating receiver operating characteristics curves and concordance-indices (C-Index). The additional clinical value was assessed using the decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: Overall, 1.670 patients (38.5%) had a low pAGR. On multivariable logistic regression analyses, low pAGR was associated with an increased risk of ≥pT3 disease at RC (odds ratio [OR] 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.31, P= 0.04). On multivariable Cox regression analyses, low pAGR remained associated with worse recurrence-free survival (RFS, HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.1-1.37, P< 0.001), cancer-specific survival (CSS, HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.1-1.38, P< 0.001) and overall survival (OS, HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.28, P< 0.001). The addition of pAGR to multiple prognostic models that were respectively fitted for clinical and postoperative variables did not improve the predictive accuracy. CONCLUSION: pAGR status is an independent predictor of ≥pT3 disease, therefore it could help identify patients who have a higher likelihood to benefit from neoadjuvant systemic therapy. While pAGR was independently associated with RFS, CSS, and OS, it did not improve the predictive accuracy and clinical value beyond obtained by information already available. The predictive value of this biomarker in the age of immunotherapy needs further evaluation.

• MeSH
• Cystectomy * methods   MeSH
• Carcinoma, Transitional Cell blood   surgery   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms blood   surgery   MeSH
• Preoperative Period MeSH
• Serum Globulins analysis   MeSH
• Serum Albumin analysis   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

AIM: To evaluate the predictive value of molecular subtypes on oncological outcomes and response to cancer treatment in patients with urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search using PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library was conducted on April 2020 to identify relevant studies according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis guidelines. The pooled overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and progression-free survival were calculated using a fixed or random effects model. RESULTS: We identified 66 studies (including 21,447 molecular subtype records) evaluating the impact of molecular classification on oncologic outcomes in patients with UBC. We found significant association of different molecular subtypes with OS, CSS, progression-free survival, recurrence-free survival, and response to treatment. Totally, 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Basal group and NE-like subtypes were associated with worse OS (pooled HR: 1.78, 95%CI: 1.49-2.12, and pooled HR: 2.67, 95%CI: 1.08-6.60, respectively) in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Luminal group was also associated with worse CSS (pooled HR of 3.67, 95%CI: 2.19-6.14). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these data, UBC molecular classifications are significant predictors of oncological outcomes and identify patients who are most likely to benefit from intensified or different therapies. The optimal consensus on molecular classification remains to be verified in well-designed prospective studies to allow precise prognostic and predictive value assessment.

• MeSH
• Carcinoma, Transitional Cell classification   genetics   mortality   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Survival Rate MeSH
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms classification   genetics   mortality   MeSH
• Predictive Value of Tests MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Meta-Analysis MeSH
• Systematic Review MeSH