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Objective: To evaluate the potential utility of antibody‐drug conjugates targeting trophoblast cell surface antigen‐2 (TROP‐2) in patients with primary penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC), patients with recurrence (REC cohort), and patient‐matched distant metastases (MET cohort), and to assess the potential use of TROP‐2 as a predictive non‐invasive biomarker in PSCC. Methods: A cohort comprising a PRIM (n = 37), REC (n = 5) and MET subcohort (n = 7), with MET including lymph node and lung metastases, was analysed using quantitative real‐time PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemical staining with evaluation of H‐score. Results: TROP‐2 mRNA and serum protein levels were significantly increased in primary and recurrent PSCC compared to cancer‐free controls (both P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that most of the PRIM cohort (n = 34/37, median H‐score 260, interquartile range [IQR] 210–300), as well as all patients in the REC (median [IQR] H‐score 200 [165–290]) and MET cohorts (median [IQR] H‐score 280 [260–300]) exhibited moderate to strong membranous TROP‐2 expression. Additionally, The H‐score (membranous TROP‐2 expression) was positively correlated with TROP‐2 mRNA (ρ = 0.69, P < 0.0001, R2 = 0.70) and protein levels (ρ = 0.86, P < 0.0001, R2 = 0.59), indicating its potential as a non‐invasive biomarker in PSCC. Conclusion: In summary, our results support further studies on TROP‐2 as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in primary, recurrent and metastatic PSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In narrow anterior urethral strictures, the combined buccal mucosa graft (BMG) with pedicled penile skin flap (PSF) represents a well‐known effective alternative to staged urethroplasty. We hypothesized that if the native urethral plate and adjacent corpus spongiosum were preserved, a narrower flap would be needed, and reinforced ventral stability could be achieved without compromising the surgical outcome. Methods: Twelve patients with narrow penile urethral strictures underwent single‐stage augmentation urethroplasty using a combined technique. A BMG was quilted to the corpora cavernosa in a dorsal onlay approach, and a longitudinal ventral PSF was transposed ventrally and sutured to the scarred native urethral mucosa on one side and to the BMG on the other side to form a neourethra of triangular form. The preserved corpus spongiosum was wrapped and fixed around the flap ventrally. Results: The median age was 47 years (IQR 35–59), and the median stricture length was 5 cm (IQR 3, 8–7). The median surgical time was 205 min (IQR 172–236). The overall success rate (SR) was 91.7% without sacculation or diverticula formation after a median follow‐up period of 38 months (IQR 33–40). Three transient fistulas healed through prolonged urinary diversion. Five patients (41.7%) reported postvoid dribbling following urethroplasty. Conclusion: Preservation of the native urethral plate is a valuable adjunct to the combination of graft and flap for single‐stage augmentation urethroplasty for narrow urethral strictures, with satisfactory mid‐term success and an acceptable complication rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibody‐drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a novel type of targeted cancer therapy combining the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytotoxicity of conventional chemotherapy. Recently, ADCs have demonstrated practice‐changing efficacy across diverse solid cancers. The anti‐NECTIN‐4 ADC enfortumab vedotin (EV) has just been approved for patients with urothelial cancer and is currently under investigation for patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC e.g. Phase II ENCORE trial). Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of EV in established prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and to examine the membranous NECTIN‐4 expression in primary tumours (PRIM) and distant metastases (MET). NECTIN‐4 was heterogeneously expressed in the panel of PCa cell lines. EV led to growth inhibition in NECTIN‐4 expressing PCa cells (22Rv1 and LNCaP), whereas the NECTIN‐4‐negative PC‐3 cells were significantly less responsive to EV, emphasizing the dependence of EV response on its target expression. Immunohistochemical staining revealed moderate membranous NECTIN‐4 expression only in a small subgroup of CRPC patients with lung and peritoneal MET [n = 3/22 with H‐score ≥100, median H‐score 140 (IQR 130–150)], while 100% of PRIM (n = 48/48) and 86.4% of common MET sites (n = 19/22), including lymph node, bone and liver MET, were NECTIN‐4 negative. In summary, EV may be effective in NECTIN‐4‐positive PCa. However, our findings demonstrate that the tumoural NECTIN‐4 expression is predominantly low in metastatic PCa, which suggests that EV may only be effective in a biomarker‐stratified subgroup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Improved survival rates have been observed in castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) due to advancements in treatment options. However, individuals with brain metastases still have limited therapeutic options and an unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new therapeutic avenues, such as antibody‐drug conjugates (ADCs), which have demonstrated significant clinical activity against active brain metastases in solid tumors. Our objective was to determine the expression levels of the ADC targets Trop‐2 and NECTIN‐4 in cerebral metastasized CRPC (mCRPC). Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of Trop‐2 and NECTIN‐4 with evaluation of H‐score was performed in CRPC brain metastases (n = 31). Additionally, we examined Trop‐2 protein expression in prostate cancer cell lines and studied their responsiveness to the anti‐Trop‐2 ADC Sacituzumab govitecan (SG) in vitro. Results: Our analysis revealed that most patients exhibited moderate to strong Trop‐2 expression [n = 27/31 with H‐score ≥100, median H‐score 220 (IQR 180–280)], while NECTIN‐4 was absent in all cerebral metastases. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that the efficacy of SG depends on Trop‐2 expression levels in vitro. Overexpression of Trop‐2 in Trop‐2‐negative PC‐3 cells led to sensitization to SG, whereas CRISPR‐Cas9‐mediated knockdown of Trop‐2 in Trop‐2‐expressing DU‐145 cells conferred resistance to SG. Conclusion: The substantial expression of Trop‐2 in cerebral metastases, along with our preclinical in vitro results, supports the efficacy of SG in treating cerebral mCRPC. Thus, our results extend the understanding of the potential of ADCs in prostate cancer treatment and provide an additional treatment strategy for the challenging subset of patients with cerebral metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: The Mediator complex is a key regulator of gene transcription, and several studies have demonstrated altered expression of particular subunits in diverse human diseases, especially cancer. To date, nothing is known about the role of MED30 in bladder cancer., Materials and Methods: We, therefore, performed an RNA expression and survival analysis of the subunit MED30 in 537 samples of bladder cancer by using the database cBioPortal. To validate these data on the protein level, we practiced immunohistochemical staining against MED30 on a tissue microarray containing 210 samples of all tumour stages and performed survival analyses. For functional analysis, the siRNA-mediated knockdown of MED30 was performed in the cell lines T24 and TCCSUP followed by proliferation, migration, and invasion assays., Results: On the mRNA and protein levels, higher expression of MED30 is associated with better patient survival. In accordance with this, advanced T- and N-stages showed lower expression of MED30. In contrast, knockdown of MED30 led to reduction of the tumour parameters proliferation, migration, and invasion in the BCa cell lines., Conclusion: MED30 appears to be integrated in the progression of the urothelial tumour in the bladder., (Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)