Current Opinion in Urology最新文献

Purpose of review: We discussed the challenges associated with the clinical application of extracellular vesicles and summarized their potential impact on oncological clinical practice in urology.

Recent findings: Despite extensive research on extracellular vesicles, their clinical applications remain limited; this is likely to be because of small study cohorts, a lack of large-scale analyses, and the impact of variable extraction and storage methods on analysis outcomes. However, promising results have emerged from clinical trials targeting urinary extracellular vesicles in prostate cancer using ExoDx Prostate Test. The ExoDx Prostate Test has demonstrated its efficacy in diagnosing prostate cancer in previous studies and is the only FDA-approved kit for this purpose. Moreover, recent trials have investigated the use of the ExoDx Prostate Test to determine the optimal timing for biopsies in prostate cancer patients undergoing active surveillance.

Summary: We summarized recent studies on the potential of extracellular vesicles in the management of urological cancers. Particularly, the diagnosis of prostate cancer using the ExoDx Prostate Test has yielded positive results in several clinical trials. Additionally, while there are other studies suggesting its efficacy, most of these are based on retrospective analyses. These findings warrant further large-scale studies to optimize extracellular vesicle-based diagnostic and monitoring strategies. Although further research is required, extracellular vesicles would be attractive for early detection and surveillance.

Purpose of review: The role of radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) with clinically positive lymph nodes is debated. This review examines the role of surgery in treating patients with clinical N1 and more advanced nodal involvement (N2-N3) within a multimodal treatment approach.

Recent findings: For clinical N1 disease, guidelines typically recommend neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. However, for N2-N3 disease, guidelines vary. Advances in diagnostics, systemic therapies, and surgical recovery have improved the prognosis for these patients. Research is increasingly identifying MIBC patients, including those with positive nodes, who may achieve complete pathologic response and long-term survival, supporting the role of surgery even in advanced nodal stages.

Summary: Managing MIBC with clinically positive lymph nodes, especially in N2-N3 disease, requires a tailored approach. While neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy is standard for N1 disease, the role of surgery in advanced nodal stages is growing because of better patient selection and treatment strategies. Emerging evidence suggests that consolidative surgery may improve outcomes in these complex cases.

Purpose of review: The present study reviews contemporary literature focused on transplantation and tissue substitutes for the purposes of masculinizing genital gender affirming surgery. Additional background is provided for both topics to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the modern applications.

Recent findings: Genitourinary vascularized composite allotransplantation has become a reality in recent years with several cases reported worldwide in cisgender men with promising reports of urinary and sexual function. A natural extension might be to apply these techniques to gender affirming surgery (GAS). Technical barriers include anatomic differences between vasculature supporting penoscrotal and vulvovaginal anatomy as well as size discrepancies between the corporal bodies which complicate the required anastomoses. Whether the smaller caliber of biologic female pelvic vasculature can support erection of a neophallus is another obstacle. Ethically, resource allocation, elective immunosuppression, society response to organ donation and gender identity, as well as the psychosocial safety of the patient given charged public opinion must all be considered.Tissue substitutes have long been used in urologic reconstruction but more recently applied to masculinizing gender affirmation surgery which has traditionally relied on autografting. The focus has been on restoring form and function to the donor site as well as facilitating treatment of urethral stricture and wound complications after phalloplasty. Furthermore, aesthetic applications have also been described, most recently for glans atrophy.

Summary: The field of masculinizing gender affirmation surgery represents an exciting frontier for surgeons and patients alike. Given the relative nascency of the specialty and its propensity to draw techniques from various surgical disciplines there exists a unique opportunity for rapid innovation to overcome challenging problems posed by these complex procedures as evidenced by discussions around applying penile transplantation and the use of novel tissue grafting techniques.

Purpose of review: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare malignancy posing significant diagnostic and management challenges. This review provides an overview of the evidence supporting various imaging modalities and offers insights into future innovations in UTUC imaging.

Recent findings: With the growing use of advancements in computed tomography (CT) technologies for both staging and follow-up of UTUC patients, continuous innovations aim to enhance performance and minimize the risk of excessive exposure to ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast medium. In patients unable to undergo CT, magnetic resonance imaging serves as an alternative imaging modality, though its sensitivity is lower than CT. Positron emission tomography, particularly with innovative radiotracers and theranostics, has the potential to significantly advance precision medicine in UTUC. Endoscopic imaging techniques including advanced modalities seem to be promising in improved visualization and diagnostic accuracy, however, evidence remains scarce. Radiomics and radiogenomics present emerging tools for noninvasive tumor characterization and prognosis.

Summary: The landscape of imaging for UTUC is rapidly evolving, with significant advancements across various modalities promising improved diagnostic accuracy, patient outcomes, and safety.

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to summarize the most recent evidence on surgical management, strategies to reduce tumor recurrence, and surveillance regimens in patients diagnosed with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and elected for radical treatment.

Recent findings: Minimally invasive surgery is gaining momentum in the surgical management of UTUC. Chemoprophylaxis is still the gold standard to reduce intravesical recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Novel surveillance strategies have been proposed to adapt follow-up regimens to patients' characteristics.

Summary: Minimally invasive surgery has been associated with comparable oncological outcomes to the open approach while improving postoperative morbidity. In these cases, bladder cuff excision (BCE) is mostly performed by an extravesical approach, that demonstrates a noninferiority compared to the intravesical one in terms of oncological outcomes. Although lymphadenectomy is recommended in patients with high-risk tumors, its benefits are still unclear. Currently, there is a lack of recent prospective trials on chemoprophylaxis to reduce intravesical recurrence post RNU, making single-dose postoperative chemotherapy instillation the standard treatment. Although novel risk stratification models were released by international urological guidelines, their validity is mainly nonevidence-based. Risk-adapted follow-up strategies incorporating cystoscopy and cross-sectional imaging accounting for individual patient factors should be implemented.

Purpose of review: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) only accounts for 5-10% of all urothelial cancers but these patients present with high stage disease and 2 out of 3 patients have evidence of muscle-invasion at time of diagnosis. Furthermore, 10% of UTUC patients have associated Lynch syndrome and therefore diagnosis of UTUC should prompt timely evaluation and familial counseling. The purpose of this review is to outline the current evidence on the epidemiology, presentation, and high-risk endemic populations of UTUC through review of contemporary publications occurring over the preceding 18 months.

Recent findings: Both the American Urological Association (AUA) and European Association of Urology (EAU) have published updated guidelines within the last 18 months for the management of UTUC. Of note, the updated guidelines give special consideration to identifying patients with risk factors for Lynch syndrome and recommend universal histologic testing for those with high probability of having Lynch syndrome cancers as well as referral for genetic counseling and germline testing.

Summary: UTUC is an overall rare malignancy but tends to present with advanced stage and muscle-invasion. A proper understanding of the epidemiology, presentation, and high-risk endemic populations is necessary to develop preventive and interventional strategies.

Purpose of review: Lutetium-177-prostate-specific membrane antigen (Lu 177-PSMA) radioligand therapy has emerged as a promising novel strategy for advanced prostate cancer. With its increasing importance alongside with a plethora of exciting results from latest trials, we would like to summarize current evidence and advancements in Lu 177-PSMA therapy across different stages of prostate cancer.

Recent findings: In metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), early studies like the LuPSMA trial and TheraP trial demonstrated promising PSA response rates. The landmark VISION trial had established the oncological efficacy of Lu 177-PSMA as salvage therapy and demonstrated its benefit on survival outcomes. Explorations into earlier treatment settings have also been encouraging. Studies like that the PSMAfore trial, Enza-P trial and the UpFrontPSMA trial explored an earlier role of Lu 177-PSMA in mCRPC, and showed benefits when used in solitary or in junction with Docetaxel or androgen receptor pathway inhibitor. Finally, the potential use of Lu 177-PSMA as neoadjuvant therapy in localized prostate cancer is also under consideration, whose safety was demonstrated in the recent LuTectomy trial.

Summary: Lu 177-PSMA therapy represents a significant advancement in prostate cancer treatment, offering selective and targeted delivery of radiation to prostate cancer cells in patients across various disease stages. Ongoing research and collaborative efforts are essential to overcome existing challenges, optimize patient selection and integrate this therapy into standard clinical practice, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Purpose of review: Bladder stones account for 5% of all urinary tract calculi. Contributing factors include bladder outflow obstruction, infections, foreign bodies, or neurogenic voiding dysfunction. This necessitates an effective treatment modality, and with advances in medical technology, minimally invasive techniques using lasers are being widely adopted. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of laser lithotripsy for treating bladder stones.

Recent findings: A thorough literature review (PROSPERO: CRD 42024551910) was conducted using appropriate search terms up to March 2024. Only original studies written in English, with at least 10 patients with bladder stones treated with laser, were considered with inclusion. A total of 8 studies (411 patients) were identified on screening with a mean age of 59.6 ± 8.5 years and a male: female ratio of 326 : 14. These reviews covered a geographical area of Asia, Europe, and the USA. The mean stone size was 3.7 ± 0.7 cm, and an overall stone-free rate (SFR) postlaser lithotripsy was 96%. Mean operation time was calculated to be 76.36 ± 47.10 min and an overall complication rate of 16.5% (n = 68), with the most common being haematuria (n = 22), followed by UTI (n = 18), incontinence (n = 8), urosepsis (n = 6), clot retention (n = 4), mucosal injury (n = 3) and urinary retention (n = 3). All complications were minor and there were no Clavien >II complications.

Summary: Laser lithotripsy for bladder stone achieves an excellent success rate in the form of SFR, combined with a low risk of major complications, and allows concomitant treatment of enlarged prostate, and should be considered in all patients.

Purpose of review: In light of the updated AUA/SUFU guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), increased utilization of advanced therapies is expected in the coming years. The primary aim of this review is to summarize existing outcome and safety data on the use of neuromodulation in geriatric patients, as well as highlight recent advances in neuromodulation that may be particularly advantageous in the geriatric population.

Recent findings: There are mixed data demonstrating efficacy of sacral neuromodulation by decade of life, with older individuals most often demonstrating lower odds of progressing to stage 2 implantation. However, a large majority of patients still undergo stage 2 implantation with no significant increase in complications reported when compared to younger cohorts. Neuromodulation is broadening to have wider indications outside of OAB, which may be particularly beneficial in the elderly population (fecal incontinence, nonobstructive urinary retention, and constipation). Posterior tibial nerve stimulation remains a well tolerated and efficacious treatment for OAB, with new FDA-approved implantable devices joining the commercial market, which may expand access for elderly populations.

Summary: The data are encouraging and support the use of neuromodulation in geriatric patients.

Purpose of review: Tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is an emerging biomarker in urothelial carcinoma. Recent clinical trials have investigated the integration of ctDNA into clinical decision-making in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, their findings suggest that ctDNA may potentially revolutionize the way we stratify patients to different treatment modalities.

Recent findings: ctDNA informed from TURBT specimens was found to be prognostic of disease outcomes among patients with localized nonmetastatic bladder cancer. Detectable precystectomy ctDNA status was associated with worse survival outcomes. Additionally, ctDNA status was predictive of adverse disease on radical cystectomy, including the likelihood of disease upstaging, lymph node involvement, and having a locally advanced disease (≥pT3a). In the postcystectomy minimal residual disease (MRD) period, ctDNA status may refine patient selection to adjuvant therapy, and if validated by ongoing clinical trials, patients with undetectable postcystectomy ctDNA status may forgo adjuvant treatment, regardless of pathological stage. On the contrary, patients with pre or postcystectomy detectable ctDNA status may benefit from treatment intensification.

Summary: The integration of ctDNA in clinical decision-making has the potential to revolutionize the way we manage urothelial carcinoma by refining patient selection to different treatment modalities. This approach could ultimately lead to personalization of oncological care, with the potential to reduce both treatment-related and financial toxicity.