OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical outcome using ureteric stents to manage ureteric obstruction in advanced non‐urological malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the use of ureteric stents (Endo‐sof, Cook Urological, Spencer, IN, USA) placed for malignant ureteric obstruction from June 2001 to September 2006. The clinical and radiological variables for predicting the failure of stent insertion, functional stent failure and death were analysed. RESULTS In all, 86 patients with a non‐urological malignant ureteric obstruction were treated by ureteric stenting; 13 (15%) had failure of retrograde stent insertion, and of the remaining 73, 12 (16%) had stent failures during the subsequent follow‐up. The risk of failure for stent insertion significantly increased with male gender (hazard ratio 6.45, P = 0.028) and the presence of bladder invasion (hazard ratio 27.04, P < 0.001). There was no independent predictor of stent failure in univariate analysis. Of the 86 patients, 54 (63%) died with a mean survival time of 8.6 months after an initial attempt to place a stent, and 41 (48%) died within 1 year. Multivariate analysis showed that low performance status, upper ureteric obstruction and no chemotherapy after stenting were independently associated with a poor prognosis (P = 0.03, 0.004 and 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION The method of diversion for a malignant ureteric obstruction should be carefully discussed with male patients or if there is bladder invasion. Patients with a low performance status, upper ureteric obstruction and no scheduled chemotherapy after stenting had a poor survival time.

univariate and multivariate survival analysis. RESULTSCapsular involvement and collecting-system invasion were evident in 112 (21.6%) and 39 (7.5%) patients, respectively. Capsular involvement was associated with higher Fuhrman grades and larger tumours. The incidence of collecting-system invasion was higher in patients with microvascular invasion. The median follow-up was 49 months. In univariate analysis, patients with capsular involvement and collectingsystem invasion had a worse prognosis than patients without ( P = 0.007 and < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, capsular involvement (hazard ratio 1.84, P = 0.036) and collecting-system invasion (3.78, P < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of recurrence-free survival. Interestingly, there was no survival difference between patients with capsular involvement in stage I/II and patients with invasion of perinephric tissue (pT3aN0M0). CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest that capsular involvement and collecting-system invasion are poor prognostic findings in stage I and II RCC. They should both be considered when planning the follow-up. A revised pT3a stage including patients with capsular involvement could improve its prognostic validity.

In patients with newly diagnosed T1 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder lymphovascular invasion in transurethral resection of bladder tumor specimens predicts disease progression and metastasis.

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ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the expression of two commonly altered genes ERG and PTEN in prostate cancer (PC) and evaluate their prognostic significance. Despite conflicting published results, TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion and PTEN loss are generally considered unfavorable markers for PC progression.Materials and MethodsOf the 762 prostatic adenocarcinoma specimens obtained from radical prostatectomy, 613 without neoadjuvant hormone therapy were included in tissue microarrays for quantitatively assessment of ERG and PTEN expression via immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis of the association between such expression and clinicopathological parameters, including clinical prognosis, was performed with a p-value of <0.05 considered significant.ResultsDuring a median follow-up period of 44.0 months, 132 (21.5%) patients developed biochemical recurrence (BCR). ERG overexpression and PTEN loss were observed in 145 (23.7%) and 253 (41.3%) cases, respectively. BCR-free survival was significantly better in patients with ERG overexpression (p=0.005), but unfavorable among those with PTEN loss (p=0.142). Sub-group analysis revealed that patients with PTEN loss and negative ERG expression had the worst BCR-free survival outcome (p=0.021). Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified prostate-specific antigen level (≥10 ng/mL), Gleason score (>6), pathologic T stage (≥T3), positive surgical margin, and extraprostatic capsule extension as significant risk factors for BCR (p<0.05).ConclusionsOur results indicated that ERG overexpression was associated with favorable BCR-free survival after radical prostatectomy for PC, whereas PTEN loss was with unfavorable outcomes.

ObjectiveA prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) in preserving bladder function and its oncologic safety in the treatment of cervical cancer.MethodsFrom March 2003 to November 2005, 92 patients with cervical cancer stage IA2 to IIA were randomly assigned for surgical treatment with conventional radical hysterectomy (CRH) or NSRH, and 86 patients finally included in the analysis. Adequacy of nerve sparing, radicality, bladder function, and oncologic safety were assessed by quantifying the nerve fibers in the paracervix, measuring the extent of paracervix and harvested lymph nodes (LNs), urodynamic study (UDS) with International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS), respectively.ResultsThere were no differences in clinicopathologic characteristics between two groups. The median number of nerve fiber was 12 (range, 6 to 21) and 30 (range, 17 to 45) in the NSRH and CRH, respectively (p<0.001). The extent of resected paracervix and number of LNs were not different between the two groups. Volume of residual urine and bladder compliance were significantly deteriorated at 12 months after CRH. On the contrary, all parameters of UDS were recovered no later than 3 months after NSRH. Evaluation of the IPSS showed that the frequency of long-term urinary symptom was higher in CRH than in the NSRH group. The median duration before the postvoid residual urine volume became less than 50 mL was 11 days (range, 7 to 26 days) in NSRH group and was 18 days (range, 10 to 85 days) in CRH group (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed in the 10-year DFS between two groups.ConclusionNSRH appears to be effective in preserving bladder function without sacrificing oncologic safety.

The treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has recently evolved from being predominantly cytokine-based treatment to the use of targeted agents, which include sorafenib, sunitinib, bevacizumab (plus interferon alpha [IFN-α]), temsirolimus, everolimus, pazopanib, and most recently, axitinib. Improved understanding of the molecular pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of RCC has led to the development of specific targeted therapies for treating the disease. In Korea, it has been 5 years since targeted therapy became available for mRCC. Thus, we now have broader and better therapeutic options at hand, leading to a significantly improved prognosis for patients with mRCC. However, the treatment of mRCC remains a challenge and a major health problem. Many questions remain on the efficacy of combination treatments and on the best methods for achieving complete remission. Additional studies are needed to optimize the use of these agents by identifying those patients who would most benefit and by elucidating the best means of delivering these agents, either in combination or as sequential single agents. Furthermore, numerous ongoing research activities aim at improving the benefits of the new compounds in the metastatic situation or their application in the early phase of the disease. This review introduces what is currently known regarding the fundamental biology that underlies clear cell RCC, summarizes the clinical evidence supporting the benefits of targeted agents in mRCC treatment, discusses survival endpoints used in pivotal clinical trials, and outlines future research directions.

Pelvic exenteration and reconstruction was found to have a potential to provide long-term survival without postoperative mortality although the morbidity rate is somewhat high. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size >4 cm was a predictive factor for recurrence, and that margin status and lymph node metastasis were predictive factors for survival.