Urologic oncology
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The COVID-19 public health emergency forced the conversion of in-person SUO fellowship interviews into virtual interviews. We sought to understand applicant perspectives and preferences related to virtual interviews and whether programs should consider virtual interviews in the future. We distributed a survey to 2020 SUO Fellowship interview participants at 4 SUO urologic oncology fellowship programs. ⋯ SUO fellowship applicants exhibited mixed preferences for virtual and in-person interviews. Although virtual fellowship interviews have benefits such as cost savings and time efficiency, notable weaknesses included challenges observing the culture of the programs. Following the pandemic, SUO fellowship programs may consider virtual interviews but should consider incorporating opportunities for informal interactions between faculty, fellows, and fellow applicants.
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To provide a review of high-risk urologic cancers and the feasibility of delaying surgery without impacting oncologic or mortality outcomes. ⋯ The majority of urologic oncologic surgeries can be safely deferred without impacting long-term cancer specific or overall survival. Notable exceptions are muscle-invasive bladder cancer, high-grade upper tract urothelial cell, large renal masses, testicular and penile cancer. Joint decision making among providers and patients should be encouraged. Clinicians must manage emotional anxiety and stress when decisions around treatment delays are necessary as a result of a pandemic.
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Review
Urologic oncology surgery during COVID-19: a rapid review of current triage guidance documents.
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic placed urologic surgeons, and especially urologic oncologists, in an unprecedented situation. Providers and healthcare systems were forced to rapidly create triage schemas in order to preserve resources and reduce potential viral transmission while continuing to provide care for patients. We reviewed United States and international triage proposals from professional societies, peer-reviewed publications, and publicly available institutional guidelines to identify common themes and critical differences. ⋯ As the need to preserve resources and prevent viral transmission grows, prioritizing only high priority surgical cases is paramount. A similar approach to prioritization will also be needed as nonemergent cases are allowed to proceed in the coming weeks. While these decisions will often be made on a case-by-case basis, more nuanced surgeon-driven consensus guidelines are needed for the near future.
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There is increasing awareness that different anesthetic and analgesic techniques may impact outcomes after oncological surgery, generally through modifying effects on the immune system but potentially via other mechanisms including mitigating the surgical stress response. This narrative review aims to summarize the mechanisms underlying the effect of perioperative factors on oncological outcomes, with an emphasis on the available urologic literature. ⋯ This review highlights the role of regional anesthesia to improve oncoimmunological responses after surgery, potentially through decreased use of volatile anesthetics and opioids, decreased activation of the surgical stress response, and a direct local anesthetic-mediated anti-inflammatory effect. Available urological literature suggests an association of anesthetic type and outcomes for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer and prostate cancer surgeries but the evidence is limited. Prospective studies are needed to further investigate the relationship between anesthetic technique and urologic oncological outcomes.
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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.