Urologic oncology
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Healthcare for racial minorities is densely concentrated at a small subset of hospitals in the United States. Understanding long-term outcomes at these minority-serving hospitals is highly relevant to elucidating the sources of racial disparities in cancer care. We investigated the effect of treatment at a minority-serving hospital on overall survival and receipt of definitive treatment for bladder cancer. ⋯ There was no difference between minority-serving and nonminority-serving hospitals in overall survival or receipt of definitive treatment. Black patients suffered worse survival and were less likely to receive definitive treatment for bladder cancer regardless of the type of hospital in which they were treated.
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Several new compounds are now available for castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Individual costs range between $40,000 and $93,000 with mean survival extensions from 2.4 to 4.8 months. Currently, it remains unclear how patients with prostate cancer (PCa) value the effect of these therapies in the setting of CRPC.
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Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy represents a well-established diagnostic tool for the assessment of lymphatic metastasis. Correct pre- and intraoperative visualization of SLN is of the utmost importance to ensure the safety and feasibility of the procedure. Aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of preoperative SLN imaging via single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and planar scintigraphy in patients with penile carcinoma with nonpalpable inguinal lymph nodes. ⋯ In these patients SPECT/CT is capable of visualizing SLNs that cannot be detected with planar imaging. The SPECT/CT technique reduces the number of false positive findings from planar SLN imaging and is able to show anatomic SLN localization more precisely. If possible, preoperative SLN imaging should be performed by means of the SPECT/CT technique in patients with this tumor entity.
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Previous studies have suggested a link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and prostate cancer (PCa). In the present study, we aimed to assess the association between MetS and markers of PCa aggressiveness on radical prostatectomy (RP). ⋯ MetS was an independent predictive factor for higher ISUP group and positive margins at RP. Low HDL-cholesterol alone, and having 4 and more MetS components were also associated with higher risk of adverse pathological features.
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Immunotherapy has recently catapulted to the forefront of treatments for patients with solid tumors. Given its inherent immunogenic properties, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has historically responded to immunotherapy and remains primed for further development. ⋯ However, despite recent therapeutic advances, aRCC remains an incurable disease for most patients. In this review, we assess the current landscape and future developments of immunotherapy in aRCC.