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Introduction: To test the hypothesis that basal total testosterone (TT) levels are associated with International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) tumor grade groups at the time of diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCA). Methods: From November 2014 to March 2018, preoperative TT and PSA were measured in 601 consecutive patients who were not under androgen deprivation and undergoing surgery for PCA. Patients were classified into low (ISUP 1; reference group), intermediate (ISUP 2/3), and high (ISUP 4/5) tumor grade groups. The association of TT and other clinical factors with tumor groups was evaluated by multinomial multivariate regression analysis. Results: 218 patients (36.3%) were biopsy low grade (ISUP 1), 297 (49.4%) intermediate grade (ISUP 2/3), and 86 (14.3) high grade (ISUP 4/5). Median basal circulating TT levels progressively increased as tumor grade groups increased. On multivariate models, TT, among other clinical factors, was positively associated with the risk of intermediate (OR 1.001; p = 0.023) and high tumor grades (OR 1.002, p = 0.022) compared to low-grade cancers. Conclusions: Increased endogenous circulating basal TT levels were positively associated with ISUP tumor grade groups at the time of diagnosis indicating a close association with tumor biology. Basal TT levels may reflect the heterogeneity of the cancer population.

Introduction: To assess the association of prostate volume index (PVI), defined as the ratio of the central transition zone volume to the peripheral zone volume, and prostatic chronic inflammation (PCI) as predictors of prostate cancer (PCA) risk in patients presenting with normal digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤10 ng/mL at baseline random biopsies. Methods: We evaluated patients with a negative digital rectal examination (DRE) and a PSA ≤10 ng/mL who underwent initial baseline prostate biopsy from 2010 to 2017. Parameters evaluated included age, PSA, total prostate volume (TPV), PSA density (PSAD), PVI and PCI. All patients underwent 14 core trans-perineal standard biopsies. The association of factors with the risk of PCA was evaluated by logistic regression analysis, utilizing 2 multivariate models: model I included age, TPV, PVI and PCI; model II included age, PSAD, PVI and PC. Results: Overall, 564 Caucasian patients were included. PCA and PCI were detected in 242 (42.9%) and 129 (22.9%) cases respectively. In patients with PCA, the median PVI was 0.83 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.62–1.04). In patients with PCI, the median PVI was 1.12 (IQR 0.81–1.47). In model I, age (OR 1.080) TPV (OR 0.961), PVI (OR 0.517) and PCI (OR 0.249) were associated with PCA risk. In model II, the age (OR 1.074), PSAD (OR 3.080), PVI (OR 0.361) and PCI (OR 0.221) were associated with PCA risk. Conclusions: Higher PVI and PCI predicted decreased PCA risk in patients presenting with normal DRE, and a PSA ≤10ng/mL at baseline random biopsy. In this subset of patients, PVI is able to differentiate patients with PCI or PCA.

Objectives: To identify preoperative risk factors for 90-day mortality and to validate existing nomograms in a multicenter series of patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC). Materials and Methods: We evaluated 90-day mortality in 475 patients following RC and urinary diversion at 2 Italian institutions and validated Aziz and Isbarn nomogram. Univariable logistic models assessed the predictive ability of operative volume, age at intervention, gender, body mass index, carcinoma in situ at transurethral resection of the bladder, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, clinical stage and pathological stage (TNM). Results: Of the total number of patients, 387 of them (81%) were male. The median age at RC was 71.8. The most frequent ASA score was 2 (53%). Twenty-five deaths occurred within 90 days (5.3%), all among patients who had undergone RC and incontinent urinary diversion. Risk was higher in patients with advanced disease (OR 2.4); moreover, 90-day mortality odd in 70-79-year-old patients was 13 times higher than those of younger patients (Conclusions: Our multicenter study confirmed the moderate predictive value of the Aziz nomogram. Larger studies are needed to improve on existing nomograms with the aim of enhancing preoperative counseling.

Objective: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) outcomes in elderly patients with different type of urinary diversion (UD), ileal conduit (IC) and ileal orthotopic neobladder (IONB), after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer, by using validated self-reported cancer-specific instruments. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 77 patients who received an IC or an IONB after RC. HR-QoL was assessed with specific and validated disease questionnaires, administered at last follow-up. Result: At univariate analysis, at a mean follow-up of 60.91 ± 5.63 months, IONB results were favourable with regard to the following HR-QoL aspects: nausea and vomiting (p = 0.045), pain (p = 0.049), appetite loss (p = 0.03), constipation (p = 0.000), financial impact (p = 0.012) and cognitive functioning (p = 0.000). This last functional aspect was significantly worse in female patients (p = 0.029). Emotional functioning was significantly better in patients without long-term complications (p = 0.016). At multivariate analysis, male gender and IONB were independent predictors of better cognitive functioning, while long-term complications negatively affected emotional functioning. Conclusions: Obtained results suggest that an IONB can also be suitable for elderly patients compared with an IC with few and selected advantages in favour of the former UD. Preoperative patient’s selection, counselling, education and active participation in the decision-making process lead to a more suitable choice of treatment.

How to manage patients with prostate cancer (PCa) with biochemical recurrence (BCR) following primary curative treatment is a controversial issue. Importantly, this prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-only recurrence is a surrogate neither of PCa-specific survival nor of overall survival. Physicians are therefore challenged with preventing or delaying the onset of clinical progression in those deemed at risk, while avoiding over-treating patients whose disease may never progress beyond PSA-only recurrence. Adjuvant therapy for radical prostatectomy (RP) or local radiotherapy (RT) has a role in certain at-risk patients, although it is not recommended in low-risk PCa owing to the significant side-effects associated with RT and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The recommendations for salvage therapy differ depending on whether BCR occurs after RP or primary RT, and in either case, definitive evidence regarding the best strategy is lacking. Options for treatment of BCR after RP are RT at least to the prostatic bed, complete or intermittent ADT, or observation; for BCR after RT, salvage RP, cryotherapy, complete or intermittent ADT, brachytherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), or observation can be considered. Many patient- and cancer-specific factors need to be taken into account when deciding on the best strategy, and optimal management depends on the involvement of a multidisciplinary team, consultation with the patient themselves, and the adoption of an individualised approach. Improvements in imaging techniques may enable earlier detection of metastases, which will hopefully refine future management decisions.

Background/Aims/Objectives: In patients elected to the first prostate biopsy set, the risk of prostate cancer (PCA) may be predicted by clinical factors. The aim of this study was to investigate on prostate volume index (PVI), defined as the ratio of volume of the transitional zone to the volume of the peripheral zone, and PCA risk. Methods: The study retrospectively evaluated 1,327 patients and included only the first biopsy set with 14 cores. PCA risk was assessed by using the multivariate logistic regression model. Results: The analysis evaluated 596 patients. The detection rate of PCA was 49%. Age, prostate specific antigen, PVI and digital rectal exam were independent factors of PCA risk, which was decreased by PVI (OR 0.224; 95% CI 0.157-0.380). The goodness of fit statistics assessed model efficacy. Conclusions: In a large cohort undergoing the first biopsy set, PVI associated with a decreased risk of PCA. Confirmatory studies are required.

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse is a common condition, affecting about 50% of women with children. The aim of our study was to evaluate results and complication rates in a consecutive series of female patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterosacropexy (RALHSP). Materials and Methods: We performed a medical record review of female patients with uterine prolapse who had consecutively undergone RALHSP from February 2010 to 2013 at our department. Results: Fifteen patients were included in the analysis. All patients had uterine prolapse stage ≥II and urodynamic stress urinary incontinence. The mean age was 58.26 years. According to the Clavien-Dindo system, 4 out of 15 patients (26.6%) had grade 1 early complications and 1 patient had a grade 2 complication. At a median follow-up of 36 months, there was a significant prolapse relapse rate of 20% (3/15). Conclusion: In our hands RALHSP is easy to perform, with satisfying mid-term outcomes and a low complication rate.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer (PCA) alter the normal growth patterns of zonal anatomy with changes of prostate volume (PV). Chronic inflammatory infiltrates (CII) type IV are the most common non-cancer diagnosis of the prostate after biopsy. Objective: To evaluate associations of both PV index (PVI), i.e. the ratio of transitional zone volume (TZV) to peripheral zone volume (PZV), and CII with PCA in patients undergoing biopsy. Subjects and Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2008, 268 consecutive patients who underwent prostate biopsy were retrospectively evaluated. PV and TZV were measured by transrectal ultrasound. PZV was computed by subtracting the PV from the TZV. CII were evaluated according to standard criteria. Significant associations of PVI and the presence of CII (CII+) with PCA risk were assessed by statistical methods. Results and Limitations: We evaluated 251 patients after excluding cases with painful rectal examinations, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >20 μg/ml and metastases. The PCA detection rate was 41.1%. PVI was a negative independent predictor of PCA. A PVI ≤1.0 was directly [odds ratio (OR) = 2.36] associated with PCA, which was detected more frequently in patients with a PVI ≤1.0 (29.1%) than in those with a PVI >1.0 (11.9%). CII+ was inversely (OR = 0.57) and independently associated with PCA, which was detected less frequently in cases with CII (9.9%) than in those without CII (21.1%). Potential study limitations might relate to the fact that PV was not measured by prostatectomy specimens and there was PSA confounding for CII and PCA. Conclusions: Low values of PVI are directly associated with risk of PCA, which was almost 2.5 times higher in patients with a PVI ≤1.0. The PVI might be an effective parameter for clustering patients at risk of PCA. CII+ was inversely associated with risk of PCA and decreased the probability of detecting PCA by 43%. The role of the PVI and CII in PCA carcinogenesis needs further research.