PURPOSE:Prostate-specific membrane antigen radioligand therapy (PSMA RLT) improves survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, evidence in Japanese cohorts is limited. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of PSMA RLT in Japanese patients with mCRPC. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 82 Japanese patients with mCRPC treated with PSMA RLT between 2018 and 2024 in Australia. PSMA RLT included Lutetium-177, Actinium-225, or Terbium-161 conjugated PSMA ligands, following PSMA Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography confirmation of target expression. Endpoints were prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response (≥50% decline), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TrAEs). Cox proportional hazards regression identified prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS:Thirty-one patients (38%) achieved a PSA response. Median PFS and OS were 4 and 20 months, respectively. While no significant difference was observed in >50% PSA decline, >80% decline was significantly higher in chemo-naïve patients (43% vs. 7.4%, P < .001), with longer PFS (8 vs. 3 months, P = .006) and OS (not reached vs. 11 months, P < .001). On multivariable analysis, poorer performance status and prior chemotherapy were independent factors for worse OS. TrAEs of any grade occurred in 49 patients (60%), most commonly fatigue. Grade ≥ 3 TrAEs occurred in 15%, with no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION:PSMA RLT provided meaningful clinical benefit with favorable tolerability in Japanese patients with mCRPC, especially those without prior chemotherapy. Early integration of PSMA RLT may offer additional therapeutic advantages.

Objectives:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bilateral vas deferens sutures in preventing postoperative inguinal hernia after prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Materials and Methods:This retrospective study included 282 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent open or laparoscopic radical prostatectomy between July 2012 and July 2023. The inguinal hernia incidence rates were compared between the vas deferens suture group (141 patients, May 2017 to July 2023) and the control group (141 patients, July 2012 to April 2017). We further determined the risk factors for inguinal hernia after prostatectomy using a multivariate regression analysis. Results:Among the 282 patients analysed, postoperative inguinal hernia was observed in 10 (7.1%) and 37 (26.2%) patients in the vas deferens suture and control groups, respectively. The incidence differed significantly between patients who did and did not undergo radical prostatectomy with a prophylactic procedure (P = 0.006). The 2-year inguinal hernia-free rates were 93.4% and 85.1% in the vas deferens suture and control groups, respectively. The median duration for inguinal hernia development was 15 months. Multivariate analysis identified the vas deferens suture procedure as a single factor associated with protection against inguinal hernia development after radical prostatectomy (hazard ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.177-0.734; P = 0.005). Conclusions:The vas deferens suture is a simple and safe prophylactic procedure to decrease the risk of inguinal hernia after radical prostatectomy.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligand therapy (RLT) is a widely accepted treatment option for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, synthesized evidence regarding potential prognostic factors for oncologic outcomes in patients treated with PSMA-RLT is lacking. We aimed to synthesize prognosticators of oncologic outcomes in patients with mCRPC treated with PSMA-RLT. PubMed®, Web of Science™, and Embase® databases were systemically searched in March 2025 for studies. Eligible studies investigated pretreatment clinical, hematologic, or radiographical prognostic factors for oncologic outcomes, such as progression-free (PFS) or overall survivals (OS) in patients with mCRPC treated with PSMA-RLT. Only parameters assessed through multivariable analysis adjusting for potential confounders were synthesized. (CRD42024598718) A total of 39 studies (n = 4819) were included in the systematic review and 32 studies (n = 3038) were included in the meta-analysis. Prior chemotherapy (pooled HR: 1.43, 95%CI: 1.10–1.85), visceral metastases (pooled HR: 1.41, 95%CI: 1.05–1.89), and liver metastasis (pooled HR: 1.75, 95%CI: 1.37–2.25) were associated with worse PFS. Poor performance status (PS) (pooled HR: 1.99, 95%CI: 1.45–2.74), prior chemotherapy (pooled HR: 1.39, 95%CI: 1.19–1.63), visceral metastasis (pooled HR: 1.65, 95%CI: 1.33–2.05), bone metastasis (pooled HR: 2.09, 95%CI: 1.39–3.13), liver metastasis (pooled HR: 2.15, 95%CI: 1.84–2.50), and lower pretreatment hemoglobin levels (pooled HR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.09–1.43) were associated with poorer OS. Higher pretreatment SUVmean was associated with improved OS benefit (pooled HR: 0.91, 95%CI: 0.85–0.97). PSA decline after treatment initiation, particularly ≥50%, was associated with improved PFS and OS. Prior chemotherapy use and location of metastases influence the prognosis of patients with mCRPC treated with PSMA-RLT. A higher pre-treatment SUVmean is predictive of better PSMA-RLT efficacy, and a greater PSA 'response is associated with improved survival outcomes. These findings may help guide clinical decision-making regarding PSMA-RLT and support prognostication of its oncological benefits.

Automated PROMISE (aPROMISE), which is an artificial intelligence-supported software for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT based on PROMISE V2, has demonstrated diagnostic utility with better correspondence rates compared to manual diagnosis. However, previous studies have consistently utilized 18F-PSMA PET/CT. Therefore, we investigated the diagnostic utility of aPROMISE using both 18F- and 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT of Japanese patients with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). We retrospectively evaluated 21 PSMA PET/CT images (68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT: n = 12, 18F-PSMA PET/CT: n = 9) from 21 patients with mPCa. A single, well-experienced nuclear radiologist performed manual diagnosis following PROMISE V2 and subsequently performed aPROMISE-assisted diagnosis to assess miTNM and details of metastatic sites. We compared the diagnostic time and correspondence rates of miTNM diagnosis between manual and aPROMISE-assisted diagnoses. Additionally, we investigated the differences in diagnostic performance between the two radioisotopes. aPROMISE-assisted diagnosis was significantly associated with shorter median diagnostic time compared to manual diagnosis (427 s [IQR: 370–834] vs. 1,114 s [IQR: 922–1291], p < 0.001). The time reduction with aPROMISE-assisted diagnosis was particularly notable when using 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT. aPROMISE had high diagnostic accuracy with 100

Purpose: To analyze the effects of adjuvant hormonal therapy (AHT) on time to event after neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and 125I-transperineal prostate brachytherapy (TPPB), compared with neoadjuvant ADT and TPPB only, in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IRPC). Methods and Materials: In this multicenter, open-label, phase 3 randomized controlled trial (SHIP0804), 421 patients with IRPC were randomly assigned to either 9-month AHT (AHT arm) or no AHT (non-AHT arm) after 3 months of neoadjuvant ADT and TPPB. The primary endpoint was biochemical progression-free survival, and secondary endpoints included overall survival and clinical progression-free survival. Prostatic biopsy results 36 months after treatment were evaluated in a correlative investigation (SHIP36B). Results: With a median follow-up of over 11 years, the 10-year biochemical progression-free survival rates were comparable: 82.9% in the AHT group and 78.4% in the non-AHT group (P = .51). Results were consistent across key prognostic indicators such as age at randomization, baseline prostate-specific antigen level, clinical stage, Gleason grade group, number of National Comprehensive Cancer Network intermediate-risk factors, and prostatic volume. The secondary endpoints, including overall survival and clinical progression-free survival, were also comparable between the 2 arms. Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 5.4% and 1.4% of patients in the AHT and non-AHT arms, respectively. At 36-month post-TPPB prostate biopsy, only 3.1% of biopsied patients tested positive for residual tumors. There were no deaths due to prostate cancer in either group. Conclusions: Adding 9-month AHT to TPPB after 3-month neoadjuvant ADT did not improve long-term outcomes in patients with IRPC. These findings suggest that moderate-term AHT may not offer substantial benefits and thus should not be considered a standard treatment in this population with IRPC. (c) 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Purpose To treat renal cell carcinoma, local ablative therapy is a viable alternative treatment option. Traditionally, cryoablation has been used for the treatment of T1a renal tumors. However, recent technological developments have expanded its application to encompass select T1b renal tumors. Here, we present a retrospective study of the utilization of preoperative tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to induce tumor shrinkage and achieve favorable outcomes in percutaneous cryoablation (PCA). Methods We retrospectively evaluated the data from nine patients with clinical T1b renal tumors who underwent PCA. Six patients with TKI pretreatment at our institution between 2016 and 2018 were included in the study. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of preoperative TKIs prior to PCA. Results All patients received axitinib with a median treatment duration of 80.5 days (IQR: 49-85). All patients experienced tumor shrinkage (median: 13.5 mm; IQR: 7-16); five experienced downstaging to T1a following tumor shrinkage. There were no severe adverse events (common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE) grade >= 3) in TKIs. After the discontinuation of TKIs for two weeks, all PCA procedures were performed successfully without any severe complications. During a median follow-up of 46 months, no local recurrence was observed in any of these cases. Conclusion In cases with large renal tumors, TKI pretreatment prior to PCA had potential benefits in terms of tumor shrinkage and long-term local control rate. Further well -designed studies in larger populations are needed to validate our findings.

ImportanceThe association between the use of bone-modifying agents (BMAs) and the outcomes among patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) treated with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AAP) remains unclear.ObjectiveTo investigate the association between BMA use and the outcomes of patients with mCSPC receiving AAP.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this cohort study, a post hoc analysis of individual participant data from the LATITUDE trial was performed. The LATITUDE trial, a phase 3 randomized clinical trial, aimed to assess the efficacy of AAP and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) vs dual-placebo and ADT in patients with high-risk mCSPC (data cutoff, August 15, 2018). Eligible patients had newly diagnosed prostate cancer with metastases and at least 2 of 3 high-risk factors (Gleason score ≥8, presence of ≥3 lesions on bone scan, or presence of measurable visceral metastasis). The trial was conducted at 235 sites in 34 countries. Data for the present study were evaluated from July 18 to September 23, 2023.ExposuresUse of BMAs was defined as the administration of bisphosphonates and denosumab within 90 days before and after randomization.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcomes were time to skeletal-related events (SREs) and overall survival (OS). An SRE was defined as a clinical or pathological fracture, spinal cord compression, palliative radiation to bone, or surgery involving bone. Differences in these outcomes were examined using the restricted mean survival time from inverse probability of treatment weighting–adjusted Kaplan-Meier curves, estimated until the last event was observed (longest time observed, 63.9 months). Treatment × covariate interactions were analyzed using weighted Cox proportional hazards regression models for the total cohort.ResultsIn the total cohort of 1199 patients (956 [79.7%] younger than 75 years), 597 (49.8%) received AAP and ADT, including 474 (79.4%) younger than 75 years and 384 (64.3%) with more than 10 bone metastases (AAP cohort); 602 (50.2%) were treated with dual placebo and ADT, including 482 (80.1%) younger than 75 years and 377 (62.6%) with more than 10 bone metastases (ADT cohort). In the AAP cohort, 132 patients (22.1%) received BMAs, while in the ADT cohort, 131 (21.8%) did. Zoledronic acid was the most frequently administered BMA in both the AAP (93 [70.5%]) and the ADT (88 [67.2%]) cohorts. During the median follow-up of 51.8 (IQR, 47.2-57.0) months in the AAP cohort, BMA use was associated with a longer time to SRE (difference, 7.8 [95% CI, 4.2-11.3] months) but not with OS (difference, 1.6 [95% CI, −2.5 to 5.8] months). In the ADT cohort, BMA use was associated with both time to SRE (difference, 9.3 [95% CI, 5.2-13.3] months) and OS (difference, 5.5 [95% CI, 3.2-9.8] months). No evidence was found that the outcomes of BMA varied by AAP or ADT (hazard ratio for time to SRE, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.48-2.08]; P = .99 for interaction; hazard ratio for OS, 1.31 [95% CI, 0.88-1.96]; P = .18 for interaction).Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings of this cohort study suggest that use of BMAs was associated with a longer time to SRE in patients with high-risk mCSPC treated with ADT, with or without AAP, suggesting that BMA use might provide benefits to this population.

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) has been recognized as an adverse pathological feature of prostate cancer (PCa). We performed a retrospective analysis of 138 patients with clinically high -risk, very high -risk, or locally advanced PCa who received high -dose -rate brachytherapy with external beam radiation therapy, elucidating a significant association between the presence of IDC-P and a higher incidence of disease progression. Background: We compared oncological outcomes between prostate cancer (PCa) patients with and without intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) after high -dose -rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 138 patients with clinically high -risk, very high risk, or locally advanced PCa who received HDR-BT with EBRT. Of these, 70 (50.7 %) patients were diagnosed with IDC-P; 68 (49.3 %) patients with acinar adenocarcinoma of prostate. The oncological outcomes, including biochemical recurrence -free survival (BCRFS) and clinical progression -free survival (CPFS), were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Additionally, Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify significant prognostic indicators or biochemical recurrence (BCR). Meta -analysis of existing literatures was performed to evaluate the risk of BCR in patients with IDC-P after radiation therapy, compared to those without IDC-P. Results: Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated significantly inferior BCRFS and CPFS in patients with IDC-P. Multivariate analysis revealed that IDC-P and Grade Group 5 status were associated with increased BCR risk. in our meta -analysis, IDC-P was associated with BCR (HR = 2.13, P = .003). Conclusion: Amongst the patients who received HDR-BT, patients with IDC-P displayed significantly more rapid disease progression, compared with patients who did not have IDC-P.

BACKGROUND:The critical role of radiographic assessment at the time of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) diagnosis is underscored by this study. We performed a retrospective analysis of radiographic changes in metastasis from the time of diagnosis of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) to CRPC diagnosis. We also explored its impact on prognosis post-CRPC. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 98 men who underwent radiographic examinations (bone scans and computed tomography [CT]) at the time of CRPC diagnosis. When radiographic studies demonstrated progression at CRPC diagnosis, patients were assigned to the radiographic progressive disease (rPD) group. The remaining patients were placed in the "non-rPD" group. The overall survival (OS) post-CRPC was compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS:The median OS post-CRPC was significantly shorter in the rPD group (n = 50) compared to the non-rPD group (n = 48) (32 months vs. not reached, P = .0124). Multivariate analysis showed that radiographic progression and shorter time to CRPC were associated with a shorter OS post-CRPC (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-8.12, P = .019). CONCLUSION:Radiographic progression at the point of CRPC diagnosis independently predicts a shorter OS post-CRPC in patients with mHSPC. Therefore, assessing radiographic changes at the time of CRPC diagnosis could be instrumental in managing CRPC in patients with mHSPC.

Background:Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is increasingly used for the early detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). However, the achievement of accurate detection rates, particularly for transition zone (TZ) lesions, remains challenging. We investigated the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 3-5 lesions and csPCa within the TZ. Methods:We retrospectively evaluated TZ lesions in patients who underwent 3.0 Tesla MRI followed by MRI-targeted/transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsies (MRI-FBx). Fusion biopsies were performed for potentially cancerous lesions, defined as lesions with PI-RADS scores 3-5. We analyzed 196 lesions for which fusion biopsies were performed. Results:The overall prostate cancer (PCa) detection rate was 53.6% (105/196); csPCa constituted 33.7% (66/196) of cases. The minimum ADC value was significantly lower for patients with csPCa (484.9±112.3 µm2/s) than for patients with benign histology or non-csPCa (P<0.001). Older age, higher initial prostate-specific antigen level, larger region of interest, and minimum and mean ADC values were associated with the presence of csPCa. Multivariate analysis indicated that only the minimum ADC value was an independent predictor of csPCa. Using a cutoff minimum ADC value <561 µm2/s to detect csPCa in TZ lesions increased the detection rate to 57.4% (54/94). Conclusions:The minimum ADC value provides substantial additional information regarding the presence of csPCa in the TZ, potentially improving the detection rates for lesions rated as PI-RADS 3-5 and informing the need for follow-up biopsies in areas that are initially cancer-free.

BACKGROUND/AIM:To evaluate the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound (MRI-US)-guided fusion biopsy in the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPC) and analyze the clinical features of patients highly suspected of having prostate cancer (PCa) but shown to be negative in target biopsies (TB) among patients with prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) 4 or 5 lesions on multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) evaluations.PATIENTS AND METHODS:We retrospectively evaluated all patients who underwent MRI/transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided fusion biopsies at our institution between April 2018 and April 2022. All patients with at least one PI-RADS 3 or higher lesion and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤20 ng/ml were enrolled in our study and subjected to TB in the region of interest (ROI). CSPC was defined as grade group (GG) ≥2 (equivalent to a Gleason score of 3+4).RESULTS:The detection rates of CSPC were higher in patients who underwent systematic biopsy (SB) and TB (54%; 177/328) than in those who underwent SB alone (39%; 128/328). Significant differences were noted in the detection of CSPC depending on age, prostate volume, PI-RADS score, PSA density (PSAD), number of biopsies obtained, lesion location, and ROI.CONCLUSION:MRI/TRUS-guided fusion prostate biopsy increased the detection rate of CSPC. PCa was less likely to be detected in patients with a low PSAD, large prostate volume and no family history among those with PI-RADS 4 or 5 lesions and should be considered in such patients and addressed by performing additional SB for improving CSPC detection rate.

(Objective) This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of upfront docetaxel (DTX) treatment and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in male patients with high-volume metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (HV-mCSPC). (Methods) This retrospective study was conducted using the medical records of 30 patients treated for HV-mCSPC by using upfront DTX treatment along with ADT at Atsugi City Hospital between December 2015 and December 2022. The patient characteristics, demographics, oncological outcomes, adverse events, and sequential therapy were evaluated. (Results) Thirty patients were included in the final analysis. The median patient age and prostate-specific antigen at diagnosis were 73 years (range, 53-83 years) and 250 mg/ml (range, 0.54-3,817 ng/ml), respectively. The completion rate of six cycles of upfront DTX treatment was 86.7%. The median progression-free survival was 24 months; the median overall survival was not reached, and the 5-year survival rate was 71.5%. Alopecia was the most frequent non-hematological adverse event (60%) followed by fatigue (53.3%). Overall, adverse events of grade 3 or higher occurred in 46.7% of the patients, with neutropenia being the most frequent. The incidence of neutropenia of grade 3 or higher was significantly lower in the group receiving primary prophylaxis with long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (7.7% vs. 75%, P = 0.009). Abiraterone was the most frequently administered sequential treatment in 12 patients (60%). (Conclusion) In the triplet combination treatment era, upfront DTX treatment and ADT for patients with HV-mCSPC was safe as primary prophylaxis for severe neutropenia and effective as an upfront treatment. However, it should be selected if its effectiveness is superior to triplet treatment considering adverse events, cost-effectiveness, and quality of life.

BackgroundTo explore correlations between the clinical attributes of secondary bladder cancer and brachytherapy, we retrospectively reviewed our institutional database on patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) or high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) with or without external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or radical prostatectomy (RP).MethodsFrom October 2003 to December 2014, 2551 patients with localized prostate cancer were treated at our institution. Of these, data on 2163 were available (LDR-BT alone: n = 953; LDR-TB with EBRT: n = 181; HDR-BT with EBRT: n = 283; RP without EBRT: n = 746). The times of secondary bladder cancer development subsequent to radical treatment, and their clinical characteristics, were studied.ResultsAge-adjusted Cox's regression analyses indicated that brachytherapy did not significantly impact the incidence of secondary bladder cancer. However, the pathological characteristics of such cancer differed between patients treated via brachytherapy and RP without EBRT; invasive bladder cancer was more common in such patients.ConclusionThe risk for secondary bladder cancer was not significantly increased after brachytherapy compared to non-irradiation therapy. However, brachytherapy patients exhibited a higher incidence of invasive bladder cancer. Therefore, meticulous follow-up is crucial for early detection and treatment of bladder cancer in such patients.

Background/Aim: A recent clinical trial indicated the usefulness of local radiation therapy of the prostate in patients with low-volume metastatic prostate cancer. High-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) is used mainly for high-risk, localized, and locally advanced cases. However, few studies exist on the efficacy of HDR-BT and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for metastatic prostate cancer. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 39 patients diagnosed with regional lymph node metastasis and/or a limited number of metastases who underwent HDR-BT and EBRT with long-term androgen deprivation therapy. We utilized Cox's proportional hazards models to identify predictors of oncological outcomes. Treatment outcomes, including biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS), clinical progression-free survival (CPFS), and castration-resistant prostate cancer-free survival (CRPCFS), were compared according to the clinical stage. Results: The median follow-up duration was 49 months (range=23-136 months). The 5-year BCRFS, CPFS, CRPCFS, and cancer-specific survival rates were 62.2%, 67.2%, 83.2%, and 93.4%, respectively. Based on Kaplan-Meier analysis, N1M0 and N0-1M1b showed favorable outcomes compared with N1M1a. Multivariate analysis revealed that N1M1a prostate cancer was an independent risk factor for poor BCRFS, CPFS, and CRPCFS. Conclusion: HDR-BT and EBRT with androgen deprivation therapy is a feasible approach for patients with newly diagnosed regional and low-metastatic-burden prostate cancer. However, in our cohort M1a prostate cancer had significantly inferior outcomes. A well-controlled prospective study is imperative to confirm our results.

Introduction Prostate biopsy is commonly performed using a transrectal ultrasound probe through a transrectal or transperineal approach. However, this is not possible for patients without a rectum. Case presentation A 75‐year‐old male was referred to our hospital because of an elevated prostate‐specific antigen and a suspicious prostate lesion (PIRADS 5) in the left peripheral zone. The patient had previously undergone abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer, which excluded the use of transrectal ultrasound. We describe the use of the transperineal ultrasound‐guided biopsy with cognitive magnetic resonance imaging‐transperineal ultrasound fusion and the utility of the injection of bubbled lidocaine jelly into urethra to improve its visualization. The pathological findings revealed clinically significant cancer with a Gleason score of 5 + 4. Conclusion Cognitive magnetic resonance imaging‐transperineal ultrasound fusion transperineal prostate biopsy with injection of bubbled jelly into urethra is a feasible and practical technique that does not require any specialized equipment.

Adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies have radically altered the treatment landscape for renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma. However, studies have reported negative data regarding adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies. Thus, this study aimed to assess the role of adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for both renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma. A systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Multiple databases were searched for articles published as of February 2023. Studies were deemed eligible if they evaluated disease-free survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma receiving adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. In a network meta-analysis, pembrolizumab was shown to be the most effective regimen for patients with renal cell carcinoma, whereas nivolumab was found to be the most effective regimen for patients with urothelial carcinoma. Additionally, these results were consistently observed in a sub-analysis of the T stage. The present analysis provides findings that support the usefulness of adjuvant nivolumab therapy in urothelial carcinoma and adjuvant pembrolizumab therapy in renal cell carcinoma, in agreement with the currently available guidelines. However, the caveat is that the randomized controlled trials included in this analysis differed in important respects despite being similar in study design. Therefore, with these differences in mind, care needs to be taken when selecting patients for these immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies to maximize their benefits.

Background/Aim: We retrospectively investigated the effect of a biologically effective dose (BED) of Low-dose rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) and its possible interaction with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) during LDR-BT treatment for intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa). Patients and Methods: A total of 693 patients with localized, intermediate-risk PCa, who underwent LDR-BT with or without supplemental external beam radiotherapy, were included in this study. We stratified patients into two groups according to BED (<180 Gy2, lower BED group; ≥180 Gy2, higher BED group) and evaluated the effect of ADT duration on the oncological outcomes of each group. Results: In total, 431 patients received BED ≥180 Gy2. Significant differences in biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS) and clinical progression-free survival (CPFS) were observed among the non-ADT, ADT ≤3 months, and ADT >3 months subgroups of the lower BED group (p=0.005 and 0.049, respectively). However, no significant differences in BCRFS or CPFS were detected in the higher BED group (p=0.63 and 0.76, respectively). Multivariate analysis of BCR and CP in the lower BED group revealed a significant decreasing trend in the BCRFS (p for trend=0.001) and CPFS rates (p for trend=0.015) as ADT duration increased, which was associated with favorable outcomes. However, no significant trend was observed in the BCRFS or CPFS rate in the higher BED group. Conclusion: An adequate local radiation dose provides favorable oncological outcomes and could potentially reduce the need for long-term ADT.