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Prostate cancer is a health problem in many Countries worldwide. Understanding the essential function of androgens in the prostate physiology led to the development of hormonal blockade as a therapeutic option in advanced disease, with limited response with time and development of resistance. In this stage, where castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is defined, it is associated with poor prognosis because survival varies between 18 and 24 months. Even with castration levels, tumors are dependent on the functional androgen receptor (AR). In this paper, we analyze pretreatment clinical parameters such as prognostic or progression-predictive biomarkers, castration resistance mechanisms, the development of new technologies for the use of the so called liquid biopsies from biological ayufluids and the identification of circulating tumor cells as CRPC response and progression biomarkers. Currently ongoing clinical trials are partially oriented to the search of new prognostic and predictive biomarkers, that will enable to open up precision medicine and so to improve oncological patient's quality of life with it.

We review the role of immunotherapy in castration resistant prostate cancer. Two immunotherapeutic strategies have been applied, isolated or in combination, either with each other or with other agents with demonstrated efficacy in this scenario that would play a role as immunomodulators: vaccines or monoclonal antibodies aimed to block immune response checkpoint inhibitors. Although CRPC presents, a priori, characteristics suggesting that immunotherapy may play a relevant role as a therapeutic strategy, its clinical application has demonstrated a limited and heterogeneous activity, in terms of proportion of responders and response intensity. Generally, the objective response rate is very low, although, in patients who have response it is possible to detect a clear, long-lasting benefit. Only the autologous vaccine Sipuleucel T has demonstrated an overall survival increase in patients with good prognosis criteria. In these treatments, it is characteristic that no progression free survival increase is visible due to its action mechanism. PSA evolution may not be considered a surrogate variable of radiological response or clinical benefit in this environment either. It is necessary to identify what patient's or tumor's characteristics are able to maximize the response. An important limitation is the absence of response predictive biomarkers that serve for patient preselection. As a general rule, the best responses with isolated immunotherapeutic treatments have been observed in patients with low tumor load, which may suggest that their optimal application could be in earlier phases of the disease (high risk localized, biochemical failure, etc) Combination strategy, without doubt the one with best future, is based on additional treatments increasing cell lysis with the subsequent antigen exposure and/ or producing an immunomodulatory effect that can surmount tumor induced immunologic tolerance. The results obtained suggest that immunotherapy may be more effective in combined therapy with other active therapies (abiraterone, enzalutamide, Radium 223, docetaxel) in a fight to achieve disease chronification.

Renal cell adenocarcinoma requires different therapeutic pathways because it is one of the most therapy-resistant tumors, on the other hand it is biologically one of the most attractive tumors. Its pathological classification has a genetic base. There is an anomaly of the Von Hippel Lindau gene in 80% of adenocarcinomas, being this fact determinant to know the biological characteristics of tumor initiation and development, as well as the identification of factors susceptible to be used as therapeutic targets. Since 2005 a group of molecules have been used in the treatment of metastatic adenocarcinomas and, even though therapeutic results are significant but not clinically relevant yet, we are sure they are a key way for more efficient future developments. The present study tries to make a tour on the research of the biological anomalies in renal adenocarcinoma with special emphasis in the Von HippelLindau gene.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of retransplantation in graft and recipient survival., Methods: We carried out a retrospective study in 419 renal transplants and studied the influence of retransplantation in graft and patient survival. A homogeneity study was performed between the two groups with a Student`s T and a chi-square tests. Graft survival analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meyer and log rank tests., Results: Of 419 transplants, 370 (88.3%) were first transplantations, 45 (10.7%) second transplantations and 4(1%) third ones. Mean follow-up of the whole group was 72.5 months (±54.1 SD). There were no differences in follow-up between groups (Mean Follow-up 73.1 months ±54.4 SD in first transplantations vs. 61.6 months ±51.2 SD in repeat transplantation. p >0.05). The actuarial graft survival showed no differences between patients with first transplantation and those with a repeat one. [3 and 5 year SV of 89% (95% CI: 87-91%) and 84%(95% CI: 82-86%) Vs 88% (95% CI; 83-93%) and 85% (95% CI:i; 80-90%) respectively]. After adjusting for all the heterogeneity variables we still did not find differences on graft survival. The actuarial recipient survival showed no differences between patients with first transplantation and those with a repeat one. [3 and 5 year SV of 98% and 96% Vs.97%]., Conclusions: There are no differences of graft and recipient survival between patients with a first transplantation and those with a repeat one.

Objective: Renal malformations are rare entities and rarely have clinical consequences. Crossed renal ectopia has an incidence of 1/2.000 autopsies. The association with aortic aneurysm is even more exceptional., Methods: We present our case and perform a bibliographic review., Results: To date and in our knowledge, seven cases of crossed renal ectopia associated with aortic aneurysm were described on the literature. This malformation makes the treatment of the aneurysm more complex. The possibility of renal function decrease caused by injuries to the renal arteries during the surgical procedure is always present. Because of this risk of injury of the kidney during surgery preoperative evaluation of the vascularization must include image technologies as the MRI, CT-angiography or conventional arteriography. During the aortic intervention vascular conservation must be performed and it is necessary to minimize the time of renal ischemia., Conclusions: The association of crossed renal ectopia and aortic aneurysm is a rare event. The surgical intervention of the aorta does not have to necessarily originate a loss of renal function. Anyway the worsening of the renal clearance must be foreseen.

Objective: To describe a case of epithelial cell paratesticular carcinoma of the epididymis and briefly review the literature on this tumor type., Methods/results: A 69-year-old male consulted for a testicular mass and intrascrotal pain, together with irritative bladder symptoms. The patient underwent orchidectomy, but consulted again shortly thereafter for persistent irritative bladder symptoms. A TUR biopsy of the bladder wall demonstrated undifferentiated carcinoma arising from the epididymis. The patient did not respond to chemotherapy. He developed systemic metastasis and died 4 months after the diagnosis., Conclusions: Carcinoma of the epididymis is a rare malignant paratesticular tumor arising from the epithelial cells with a very poor prognosis. Its clinical features are unspecific and this tumor type should be taken into account when making differential diagnosis from intrascrotal masses arsing from other causes. Due to the rarity of this disease, it has not been possible to identify treatments that might achieve better results.

We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the ureter with periureteral infiltration. Three years following radical surgery, no evidence of tumor progression has been observed. Only 1% to 1.6% of urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract are purely squamous cell tumors. This tumor type carries a poor prognosis. Currently, the best results can be achieved by early diagnosis and radical surgery.

We report a case of upper urothelial tumor in a patient who had previously received prolonged cyclophosphamide therapy for Waldeström's macroglobulinemia. Although bladder tumors in cyclophosphamide-treated patients are relatively frequent, upper urothelial tumors are rare. Only 5 cases of this latter tumor type have been reported as of 1987. The literature on this disease entity is reviewed. Patients who have received prolonged therapy with cyclophosphamide or similar drugs must be followed very closely.