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Recent studies have demonstrated that geographically isolated populations of Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick), an important pest of some crops in southern Africa, show minor genetic divergence. Because sexual selection can cause rapid evolution of male genitalia in insects, particularly in widespread, polyphagous species, differences in the morphology of these structures among different populations may be evidence of divergence. Hence, variation in the shape of the valva in the male genitalia within and among three different populations of T. leucotreta was analysed using geometric morphometrics. Although some variation was detected among mean population values for certain traits, there was no overall pattern. Principal component analysis showed no distinct clustering of valval shape among populations, providing no evidence for divergence in genitalic structures, at least in the shape of the valva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed a cohort of patients who received definitive trimodality therapy (TMT) for bladder cancer at a single high-volume institution. We hypothesized that a recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) including patient and tumor characteristics would allow stratification of patients into clinically meaningful prognostic groups for local recurrence. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed for bladder cancer patients treated with definitive radiation or chemoradiation therapy from 2006 to 2021 at our institution. We assessed overall and disease-free survival for the cohort and as a function of clinical and pathologic features. We performed an RPA for multivariate decision tree analysis to associate outcomes with individual clinical and pathologic variables. 175 patients were identified who were treated with definitive radiation (28%) or chemoradiation (72%) and had adequate follow-up data for analysis. Median follow up time was 23 months (Median age=78 [IQR 71-84], 77% male). While Grade 1-2 toxicities were common, Grade ≥3 toxicities were rare and there were no treatment related deaths. Cumulative 2yr and 5yr CSS were 79% and 61%, respectively. Radical cystectomy (RCx) eligible patients (35%) had a significantly longer OS after bladder sparing therapy compared to RCx ineligible patients (5y OS 54% vs 29%, Log-Rank p=0.003), however no difference in cancer specific survival was seen between groups (5y CSS 61% vs 58%, Log-Rank p = 0.851). Tumor size greater than 5cm did not correlate with risk of recurrence (Log-Rank p=0.194). The most common site of recurrence in the cohort was distant (35%), followed by locoregional (19%) and bladder only (6%). Nine patients (5%) underwent salvage cystectomy (7 for invasive local recurrence) after initial definitive radiation therapy. Using RPA and decision tree analysis, the presence of CIS and older age at treatment were the strongest predictors of local recurrence. The RPA results confirmed no significant association between tumor size and risk of local recurrence. Multimodality bladder preservation had CSS comparable to modern surgical series and high rates of functional organ preservation. Cystectomy candidacy was a strong predictor of overall survival but not cancer specific survival, suggesting group level mismatches in competing risks of death. Extensive CIS was associated with increased risk of local failure, but tumor size may not be a reliable predictor of treatment response. RPA prognostic groups were generated which may be used to guide clinical decision making and improve patient selection for bladder preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testicular cancer (TC) is the most common neoplasm in males aged 15-40 years. The majority of patients have no evidence of metastases at diagnosis and thus have clinical stage I (CSI) disease [Oldenburg J, Fossa SD, Nuver J et al. Testicular seminoma and non-seminoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol 2013; 24(Suppl 6): vi125-vi132; de Wit R, Fizazi K. Controversies in the management of clinical stage I testis cancer. J Clin Oncol 2006; 24: 5482-5492.]. Management of CSI TC is controversial and options include surveillance and active treatment. Different forms of adjuvant therapy exist, including either one or two cycles of carboplatin chemotherapy or radiotherapy for seminoma and either one or two cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for non-seminoma. Long-term disease-specific survival is ???99% with any of these approaches, including surveillance. While surveillance allows most patients to avoid additional treatment, adjuvant therapy markedly lowers the relapse rate. Weighing the net benefits of surveillance against those of adjuvant treatment depends on prioritizing competing aims such as avoiding unnecessary treatment, avoiding more burdensome treatment with salvage chemotherapy and minimizing the anxiety, stress and life disruption associated with relapse. Unbiased information about the advantages and disadvantages of surveillance and adjuvant treatment is a prerequisite for informed consent by the patient. In a clinical scenario like CSI TC, where different disease-management options produce indistinguishable longterm survival rates, patient values, priorities and preferences should be taken into account. In this review, we provide an overview about risk factors for relapse, potential benefits and harms of adjuvant chemotherapy and active surveillance and a rationale for involving patients in individualized decision making about their treatment rather than adopting a uniform recommendation for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of patients with Stage I-II seminoma has changed considerably in the past decade, and in November 2009, an International Consensus meeting was held under the sponsorship of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Société Internationale d''Urologie (SIU), and International Consultation on Urological Diseases (ICUD) to review recent updates in the published data and develop international consensus guidelines on the treatment of this group of patients. In Stage I disease, the consensus conference recommended that patients should be informed of all treatment options, including the potential benefits and side effects of each treatment. It was agreed that this discussion should include a review of the possible salvage treatment effects. In addition, in patients willing and able to adhere to a surveillance program, this should be considered the management option of choice (assuming facilities are available for suitable monitoring). For Stage IIA disease, the consensus conference recommended that radiotherapy should be considered the standard treatment in the absence of contraindications. For Stage IIB disease, chemotherapy or radiotherapy were considered reasonable treatment approaches, and for Stage IIC disease, chemotherapy should be considered the standard treatment approach. For patients with a residual mass after chemotherapy, the consensus conference noted that patients with masses <3 cm in diameter could likely be safely observed, and patients with residual masses >3 cm in diameter could be considered for immediate surgery or close observation. It was also noted that surgery in this setting is technically challenging and could be associated with greater morbidity than in patients with nonseminomatous tumors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]