Abstract Background The landscape of systemic therapies for metastatic hormone‐sensitive (mHSPC) and castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) extensively improved within the last decades ...resulting in a significantly prolonged overall survival. However, subgroup analyses of phase III trials suggest potentially different overall survival outcomes for older adults. Methods We relied on our institutional metastatic prostate cancer database to identify mHSPC and subsequently mCRPC patients. Older adults were stratified according to age groups 70–74 versus ≥75–79 versus ≥80 years at metastatic occurrence. Subsequently, uni‐ and multivariable time to mCRPC and overall survival analyses were performed. Results Of 494 older adults, 217 (44%) were 70–74 versus 180 (36%) 75–79 versus 97 (20%) ≥80 years old. Rates of local prostate cancer treatment differed significantly between all three groups ( p < 0.01). Regarding mHSPC treatment, androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSI) were administered in 30–39% of patients and docetaxel with 9% in age group 70–74 years and 6% and 3% in age groups 75–79 years and ≥80 years. Regarding mCRPC treatment, significant differences between treatment proportions were observed ( p < 0.01). Most common treatment was ARSI for all three groups. Conversely, chemotherapy was more frequently administered in patients aged 70–74 (16%), relative to 4% and 3% in 75‐79 year and ≥80 year aged patients. In univariable and multivariable time to mCRPC analyses, overall survival in mHSPC and OS in mCRPC analyses, no significant differences between all three age groups were observed (all p ≥ 0.3). Conclusions Treatment patterns differ significantly between older adults with metastatic prostate cancer. However, these differences may not result in differences of overall life expectancy.
Muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer (MIBC) is associated with limited response rates to systemic therapy, risk of recurrence and death. Tumor infiltrating immune cells have been associated with ...outcome and response to chemo-and immunotherapy in MIBC. We aimed to profile the immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to predict prognosis in MIBC and responses to adjuvant chemotherapy.
We performed multiplex immunohistochemistry (IHC) profiling and quantification of immune and stromal cells (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD163, FoxP3, PD-1, and CD45, Vimentin, αSMA, PD-L1, Pan-Cytokeratin, Ki67) in 101 patients with MIBC receiving radical cystectomy. We used uni- and multivariate survival analyses to identify cell types predicting prognosis. Samples were subdivided using K-means clustering for Treg and macrophage infiltration resulting in 3 clusters, Cluster 1: Treg high, cluster 2: macrophage high, cluster 3: Treg and macrophage low. Routine CD68 and CD163 IHC were analyzed with QuPath in an extended cohort of 141 MIBC.
High concentrations of macrophages were associated with increased risk of death (HR 10.9, 95% CI 2.8-40.5; p < 0.001) and high concentrations of Tregs were associated with decreased risk of death (HR 0.1, 95% CI 0.01-0.7; p = 0.03) in the multivariate Cox-regression model adjusting for adjuvant chemotherapy, tumor and lymph node stage. Patients in the macrophage rich cluster (2) showed the worst OS with and without adjuvant chemotherapy. The Treg rich cluster (1) showed high levels of effector and proliferating immune cells and had the best survival. Cluster 1 and 2 both were rich in PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on tumor and immune cells.
Treg and macrophage concentrations in MIBC are independent predictors of prognosis and are important players in the TME. Standard IHC with CD163 for macrophages is feasible to predict prognosis but validation to use immune-cell infiltration, especially to predict response to systemic therapies, is required.
Background
Myelosuppression is a potential dose-limiting factor in radioligand therapy (RLT). This study aims to investigate occurrence, severity and reversibility of hematotoxic adverse events in ...patients undergoing RLT with
177
Lu-PSMA-617 for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The contribution of pretreatment risk factors and cumulative treatment activity is taken into account specifically.
Methods
RLT was performed in 140 patients receiving a total of 497 cycles. A mean activity of 6.9
±
1.3 GBq
177
Lu-PSMA-617 per cycle was administered, and mean cumulative activity was 24.6
±
15.9 GBq. Hematological parameters were measured at baseline, prior to each treatment course, 2 to 4 weeks thereafter and throughout follow-up. Toxicity was graded based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0.
Results
Significant (grade ≥ 3) hematologic adverse events occurred in 13 (9.3%) patients, with anemia in 10 (7.1%), leukopenia in 5 (3.6%) and thrombocytopenia in 6 (4.3%). Hematotoxicity was reversible to grade ≤ 2 through a median follow-up of 8 (IQR 9) months in all but two patients who died from disease progression within less than 3 months after RLT. Myelosuppression was significantly more frequent in patients with pre-existing grade 2 cytopenia (OR: 3.50, 95%CI 1.08–11.32,
p
= 0.04) or high bone tumor burden (disseminated or diffuse based on PROMISE miTNM, OR: 5.08, 95%CI 1.08–23.86,
p
= 0.04). Previous taxane-based chemotherapy was associated with an increased incidence of significant hematotoxicity (OR: 4.62, 95%CI 1.23–17.28,
p
= 0.02), while treatment with
223
Ra-dichloride, cumulative RLT treatment activity and activity per cycle were not significantly correlated (
p
= 0.93, 0.33, 0.29).
Conclusion
Hematologic adverse events after RLT have an acceptable overall incidence and are frequently reversible. High bone tumor burden, previous taxane-based chemotherapy and pretreatment grade 2 cytopenia may be considered as risk factors for developing clinically relevant myelosuppression, whereas cumulative RLT activity and previous
223
Ra-dichloride treatment show no significant contribution to incidence rates.
Purpose
We evaluated efficacy and safety profile of patients with anticoagulation therapy (AT) undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP).
Methods
Within our prospective ...institutional database (11/2017 to 11/2019), we analyzed functional outcomes and 30-day complication rates of HoLEP patients according to Clavien–Dindo classification (CLD), stratified according to specific AT vs. no AT. Further analyses consisted of uni- and multivariate logistic regression models (LRM) predicting complications.
Results
Of 268 patients undergoing HoLEP, 104 (38.8%) received AT: 25.7% were treated with platelet aggregation inhibitors (PAI), 8.2% with new oral anticoagulants (NOAC) and 4.9% with AT-combinations or coumarins bridged with low molecular weight heparins (LMWH/combination). Patients receiving AT were significantly more comorbid (
p
< 0.01). Pre- and postoperative maximal flow rates, residual void urine and IPSS at 3 months after surgery were invariably improved after HoLEP for patients with/ without AT. Overall complication rate was 19.5% in patients with no AT vs. 26.1% vs. 27.3 vs. 46.2%, respectively, in patients with PAI, NOAC and LMWH/combination (
p
< 0.01). Major complications (CLD ≥ 3b) occurred in 6.1% of no AT patients vs. 4.3% vs. 4.5 vs. 0% in patients with PAI, NOAC and LMWH/combination, respectively (p < 0.01). In multivariate LRM, AT was not significantly associated with higher complication rates, whereas high ASA status (OR 2.2,
p
= 0.04), age (OR 1.04,
p
= 0.02) and bioptical or incidental prostate cancer (OR 2.5,
p
= 0.01) represented independent risk factors.
Conclusion
Despite higher overall complication rates in AT patients, major complications were not more frequent in AT patients. HoLEP is safe and effective in anticoagulated patients.
Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the urinary bladder is the most common non-urothelial variant histology. Currently, upfront radical cystectomy is the gold standard for non-metastatic SCC ...of the bladder. However, several studies have shown that SCC of the bladder is associated with higher aggressiveness and worse survival outcomes, such as progression-free and cancer-specific survival, relative to the urothelial histological subtype. Moreover, metastatic SCC seems to poorly respond to systemic treatments and/or radiotherapy. Summary: This review summarizes the current knowledge and medical evidence regarding local and systematic treatment of mSCC of the bladder, including a case series of four initially locally advanced and later metastatic SCC patients of our tertiary care hospital. Key Messages: Despite being the second most common variant histology of bladder cancer, current therapies for SCC do not provide satisfactory therapeutic responses.
Purpose
To compare Cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in patients with Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) vs. non-SCC penile cancer, since survival outcomes may differ between histological subtypes.
Methods
...Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database (2004–2016), penile cancer patients of all stages were identified. Temporal trend analyses, cumulative incidence and Kaplan–Meier plots, multivariable Cox regression and Fine and Gray competing-risks regression analyses tested for CSM differences between non-SCC vs. SCC penile cancer patients.
Results
Of 4,120 eligible penile cancer patients, 123 (3%) harbored non-SCC vs. 4,027 (97%) SCC. Of all non-SCC patients, 51 (41%) harbored melanomas, 42 (34%) basal cell carcinomas, 10 (8%) adenocarcinomas, eight (6.5%) skin appendage malignancies, six (5%) epithelial cell neoplasms, two (1.5%) neuroendocrine tumors, two (1.5%) lymphomas, two (1.5%) sarcomas. Stage at presentation differed between non-SCC vs. SCC. In temporal trend analyses, non-SCC diagnoses neither decreased nor increased over time (
p
> 0.05). After stratification according to localized, locally advanced, and metastatic stage, no CSM differences were observed between non-SCC vs. SCC, with 5-year survival rates of 11 vs 11% (
p
= 0.9) for localized, 33 vs. 37% (
p
= 0.4) for locally advanced, and 1-year survival rates of 37 vs. 53% (
p
= 0.9) for metastatic penile cancer, respectively. After propensity score matching for patient and tumor characteristics and additional multivariable adjustment, no CSM differences between non-SCC vs. SCC were observed.
Conclusion
Non-SCC penile cancer is rare. Although exceptions exist, on average, non-SCC penile cancer has comparable CSM as SCC penile cancer patients, after stratification for localized, locally invasive, and metastatic disease.
To evaluate the impact of time to castration resistance (TTCR) in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) patients on overall survival (OS) in the era of combination therapies for mHSPC.
...Of 213 mHSPC patients diagnosed between 01/2013-12/2020 who subsequently developed metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), 204 eligible patients were analyzed after having applied exclusion criteria. mHSPC patients were classified into TTCR <12, 12-18, 18-24, and >24 months and analyzed regarding OS. Moreover, further OS analyses were performed after having developed mCRPC status according to TTCR. Logistic regression models predicted the value of TTCR on OS.
Median follow-up was 34 months. Among 204 mHSPC patients, 41.2% harbored TTCR <12 months, 18.1% for 12-18 months, 15.2% for 18-24 months, and 25.5% for >24 months. Median age was 67 years and median PSA at prostate cancer diagnosis was 61 ng/ml. No differences in patient characteristics were observed (all p>0.05). According to OS, TTCR <12 months patients had the worst OS, followed by TTCR 12-18 months, 18-24 months, and >24 months, in that order (p<0.001). After multivariable adjustment, a 4.07-, 3.31-, and 6.40-fold higher mortality was observed for TTCR 18-24 months, 12-18 months, and <12 months patients, relative to TTCR >24 months (all p<0.05). Conversely, OS after development of mCRPC was not influenced by TTCR stratification (all p>0.05).
Patients with TTCR <12 months are at the highest OS disadvantage in mHSPC. This OS disadvantage persisted even after multivariable adjustment. Interestingly, TTCR stratified analyses did not influence OS in mCRPC patients.
Background
To analyze postoperative, in‐hospital, complication rates in patients with organ transplantation before radical prostatectomy (RP).
Methods
From National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database ...(2000–2015) prostate cancer patients treated with RP were ed and stratified according to prior organ transplant versus nontransplant. Multivariable logistic regression models predicted in‐hospital complications.
Results
Of all eligible 202,419 RP patients, 216 (0.1%) underwent RP after prior organ transplantation. Transplant RP patients exhibited higher proportions of Charlson comorbidity index ≥2 (13.0% vs. 3.0%), obesity (9.3% vs. 5.6%, both p < 0.05), versus to nontransplant RP. Of transplant RP patients, 96 underwent kidney (44.4%), 44 heart (20.4%), 40 liver (18.5%), 30 (13.9%) bone marrow, <11 lung (<5%), and <11 pancreatic (<5%) transplantation before RP. Within transplant RP patients, rates of lymph node dissection ranged from 37.5% (kidney transplant) to 60.0% (bone marrow transplant, p < 0.01) versus 51% in nontransplant patients. Regarding in‐hospital complications, transplant patients more frequently exhibited, diabetic (31.5% vs. 11.6%, p < 0.001), major (7.9% vs. 2.9%) cardiac complications (3.2% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.01), and acute kidney failure (5.1% vs. 0.9%, p < 0.001), versus nontransplant RP. In multivariable logistic regression models, transplant RP patients were at higher risk of acute kidney failure (odds ratio OR: 4.83), diabetic (OR: 2.81), major (OR: 2.39), intraoperative (OR: 2.38), cardiac (OR: 2.16), transfusion (OR: 1.37), and overall complications (1.36, all p < 0.001). No in‐hospital mortalities were recorded in transplant patients after RP.
Conclusions
Of all transplants before RP, kidney ranks first. RP patients with prior transplantation have an increased risk of in‐hospital complications. The highest risk, relative to nontransplant RP patients appears to acute kidney failure.
Treatment with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plus extended hormone therapy (ARTA) is the standard of care for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Recent data of triplet ...combination therapies of ADT + ARTA (abiraterone/darolutamide) + docetaxel chemotherapy showed a survival advantage for specific mHSPC patient subgroups.
What treatment response is observed in real-world mHSPC setting using triplet combination therapy and what are the expected side effects?
All patients receiving triplet combination therapy of ADT + ARTA (abiraterone/darolutamide) + docetaxel were included in the current study. A total of 14 patients with a median age of 62 years and 10/14 abiraterone or 4/14 darolutamide therapy could be included. The median PSA before initiation of therapy was 77 ng/ml (IQR 44-150). Overall, 86% of patients had a PSA response > 90% and the median PSA nadir was 0.3 ng/ml. Severe adverse events (grade III) during triplet therapy occurred in two patients (35,7%) with respectively febrile neutropenia 7.1% (1/14) and diarrhea with infection 7.1%. Other low grade adverse events (grade I/II) consisted of polyneuropathy (1/14), mucositis (1/14), xerostomia (1/14), weight loss (1/14) and fatigue (3/14) were detected. Chemotherapy was interrupted in one patient due to adverse events. After a median follow-up of ten months (IQR: 7-17), two patients (14.2%) showed progression to castration resistance.
Triplet therapy shows a very good PSA response in clinical practice. Adverse events during therapy are mainly triggered by classical chemotherapy-known side effects.