Genitourinary Cancers

"Numerous clinical studies have exhibited significantly improved tumor detection rates with BLC," write Zachary L. Smith, MD, and Norm D. Smith, MD.

A look at Urology Times' most-read articles on bladder cancer reveals a variety of topics, ranging from radical cystectomy to the role of protein- and cell-based urinary biomarkers for bladder cancer detection and surveillance.

A 46-year-old male underwent a left laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for a cT1b renal cell carcinoma. Intra-operatively, a rent in the descending mesocolon was made during bowel mobilization but was not closed. Subsequently, the patient presented to the emergency room 4 days later with complaints of sudden onset sharp abdominal pain and nausea. A non-contrast computed tomography scan was obtained. What is the diagnosis?

"In the end, it is up to the surgeons who wish to continue to perform these robotic procedure to demonstrate their cost-effectiveness," writes Badar M. Mian, MD.

Other pipeline products discussed in this round-up include and advanced renal cell carcinoma agent, a bladder cancer detection agent, and a BPH treatment.

There’s a troubling disconnect between low-risk prostate cancer patients’ desire to preserve sexual function and the treatment choices they and their doctors often make.

A bladder-sparing approach for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer increases quality-adjusted life years compared with radical cystectomy in appropriately selected patients.

Trimodal therapy could offer superior overall survival versus radical cystectomy in certain subsets of patients with bladder cancer, according to a retrospective analysis presented at the 2017 Society of Urologic Oncology annual meeting in Washington.

In this interview, urologist Francis J. McGovern, MD, discusses the scope of the problem of opioid abuse, outlines opioid-sparing strategies, and explains what the future holds in this area.

Mitomycin C instillation within 24 hours after transurethral resection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer significantly reduces the risk of recurrence and delays the time to recurrence.

Other products and services discussed in this round-up include a biosimilar for cancer, an American College of Surgeons manual on quality initiatives, a kidney cancer microsite, and more.

Blue light flexible cystoscopy (D-Light C PDD Flexible Videoscope System) with intravesical hexaminolevulinate HCl (HAL [Cysview]) for surveillance in the office setting significantly improved the detection of recurrent bladder tumors compared with white light cystoscopy.

"Overall, the take-home message is that [blue light cystoscopy], whether in the clinic or the OR, increases the detection of tumors," writes Jeffrey M. Holzbeierlein, MD.

Other pipeline developments include an agent to control pain in IC/BPS patients, an antibody to treat prostate and bladder cancer, an injectable OAB treatment, and more.

An easy-to-administer urine test looking for telomerase reverse transcriptase mutations helps detect recurring urothelial bladder cancer, especially non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, early on, according to a new study.

Urology Times reached out to three urologists (selected randomly and asked them each the following question: How will immunotherapy change the future of bladder Ca care?

An updated guideline on localized kidney cancer as well as a look at active surveillance as initial management for renal masses <2 cm were among the noteworthy kidney cancer studies at the AUA annual meeting in Boston.

Other products discussed include cancer tests, an app to connect patients with specialists, a revenue management system, and more

Other take-home messages in penile/urethral cancer included discussion of proposed 2018 AJCC penile cancer guidelines as well as the finding that in women with primary urethral cancer, adenocarcinoma was the most common pathology.

A study aimed at further elucidating the mechanism of action of sipuleucel-T (Provenge) in advanced prostate cancer provides fairly convincing evidence that the immunotherapy agent induces T-cell responses in humans, says Charles G. Drake, MD, PhD.

Among the AUA annual meeting take-home messages in basic science is that the immune co-stimulatory molecule B7-H4 is highly expressed in the luminal subtype of bladder urothelial carcinoma and is associated with poor survival.

Other pipeline developments include a new company formed to develop OAB treatments, a phase III urothelial cancer study meeting its primary endpoint, the formation of a partnership to study RCC treatment, and more.

Urologist Henry Rosevear, MD, reviews his personal highlights from AUA 2017, along with a few bumps in the road.

The FDA has approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for treating any solid tumors that exhibit DNA mismatch repair deficiency.