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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as biomarkers for the detection and prognosis of cancers due to their inherent stability and resilience. To summarize the evidence regarding the role of urinary miRNAs (umiRNAs) in the detection, prognosis, and therapy of genitourinary cancers, we performed a systematic review of the most important scientific databases using the following keywords: (urinary miRNA) AND (prostate cancer); (urinary miRNA) AND (bladder cancer); (urinary miRNA) AND (renal cancer); (urinary miRNA) AND (testicular cancer); (urinary miRNA) AND (urothelial cancer). Of all, 1364 articles were screened. Only original studies in the English language on human specimens were considered for inclusion in our systematic review. Thus, a convenient sample of 60 original articles was identified. UmiRNAs are up- or downregulated in prostate cancer and may serve as potential non-invasive molecular biomarkers. Several umiRNAs have been identified as diagnostic biomarkers of urothelial carcinoma and bladder cancer (BC), allowing us to discriminate malignant from nonmalignant forms of hematuria. UmiRNAs could serve as therapeutic targets or recurrence markers of non-muscle-invasive BC and could predict the aggressivity and prognosis of muscle-invasive BC. In renal cell carcinoma, miRNAs have been identified as predictors of tumor detection, aggressiveness, and progression to metastasis. UmiRNAs could play an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of urological cancers.

Purpose of Review: In patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) or unresectable non-MIBC, radical cystectomy is routinely combined with bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LND) owing to the oncological benefits found in recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) compared with radical cystectomy alone. However, the optimal anatomic extent of LND is still unclear., Recent Findings: Retrospective studies were consistent in reporting oncological benefits of extended LND over nonextended LND. A recent RCT (the LEA trial) failed to demonstrate any benefit in terms of RFS, CSS and OS of super-extended LND over standard LND. Several confounding factors hindered the interpretation of the results, leaving the question of the right extent for LND still open. Results of a similar study, the SWOG S1011 are, therefore, highly anticipated. This study differed from the LEA study in several aspects but might also turn out to be a negative study., Summary: There are still no firm data on the oncological benefit brought by more extended LND in patients with MIBC. Survival benefits seem limited, at least in the general population. Other factors could influence the impact of LND on survival, including the administration of adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapies., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Seventy-five percent of bladder cancers are non-muscle invasive. The treatment strategy includes the transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURB) followed by intravesical immunotherapy with the bacillus of Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or chemotherapy, depending on the grade of bladder tumor. Despite a proper BCG intravesical instillations schedule, up to 40% of patients present a failure within 2 years. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the predictive factors in the response to BCG in patients with a high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer diagnosis., Materials and Methods: Patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer from 13 hospitals and academic institutions were identified and treated, from January 1, 2002, until December 31, 2012, with TURB and a subsequent re-TURB for restaging before receiving BCG. Follow-up was performed with urine cytology and cystoscopy every 3 months for 1 year and, successively every 6 months. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models addressed the response to BCG therapy. Kaplan-Meier overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) estimates were determined for BCG responsive vs. BCG unresponsive patients., Results: A total of 1,228 patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer were enrolled. Of 257 (20.9%) patients were BCG unresponsive. Independent predictive factors for response to BCG were: multifocality (HR: 1.4; 95% CI 1.05-1.86; P = 0.019), lymphovascular invasion (HR: 1.75; 95% CI 1.22-2.49; P = 0.002) and high-grade on re-TURB (HR: 1.39; 95% CI 1.02-1.91; P = 0.037). Overall survival was significantly reduced in BCG-unresponsive patients compared to BCG-responsive patients at 5 years (82.9% vs. 92.4%, P < 0.0001) and at 10 years (44.2% vs. 74.4%, P < 0.0001). Similarly, cancer-specific survival was reduced in BCG-unresponsive patients at 5 years (90.6% vs. 97.3%, P < 0.0001) and at 10 years (72.3% vs. 87.2%, P < 0.0001)., Conclusion: Multifocality, lymphovascular invasion, and high-grade on re-TURB were independent predictors for response to BCG treatment. BCG-unresponsive patients reported worse oncological outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflict of interests The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate prevalence and predictors of renal function variation in a multicenter cohort treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC)., Methods: Patients from 17 tertiary centers were included. Renal function variation was evaluated at postoperative day (POD)-1, 6 and 12 months. Timepoints differences were Δ1 = POD-1 eGFR - baseline eGFR; Δ2 = 6 months eGFR - POD-1 eGFR; Δ3 = 12 months eGFR - 6 months eGFR. We defined POD-1 acute kidney injury (AKI) as an increase in serum creatinine by ≥ 0.3 mg/dl or a 1.5 1.9-fold from baseline. Additionally, a cutoff of 60 ml/min in eGFR was considered to define renal function decline at 6 and 12 months. Logistic regression (LR) and linear mixed (LM) models were used to evaluate the association between clinical factors and eGFR decline and their interaction with follow-up., Results: A total of 576 were included, of these 409(71.0%) and 403(70.0%) had an eGFR < 60 ml/min at 6 and 12 months, respectively, and 239(41.5%) developed POD-1 AKI. In multivariable LR analysis, age (Odds Ratio, OR 1.05, p < 0.001), male gender (OR 0.44, p = 0.003), POD-1 AKI (OR 2.88, p < 0.001) and preoperative eGFR < 60 ml/min (OR 7.58, p < 0.001) were predictors of renal function decline at 6 months. Age (OR 1.06, p < 0.001), coronary artery disease (OR 2.68, p = 0.007), POD-1 AKI (OR 1.83, p = 0.02), and preoperative eGFR < 60 ml/min (OR 7.80, p < 0.001) were predictors of renal function decline at 12 months. In LM models, age (p = 0.019), hydronephrosis (p < 0.001), POD-1 AKI (p < 0.001) and pT-stage (p = 0.001) influenced renal function variation (ß 9.2 ± 0.7, p < 0.001) during follow-up., Conclusion: Age, preoperative eGFR and POD-1 AKI are independent predictors of 6 and 12 months renal function decline after RNU for UTUC., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of robotic radical nephroureterectomy (RRNU) and laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LRNU) within a large multi-institutional worldwide dataset. Materials and Methods: The ROBotic surgery for Upper tract Urothelial cancer STudy (ROBUUST) includes data from 17 centers worldwide regarding 877 RRNU and LRNU performed between 2015 and 2019. Baseline features, perioperative and oncologic outcomes, were included. A 2:1 nearest-neighbor propensity-score matching with a 0.001 caliper was performed. A univariable and a multivariable logistic regression model were built to evaluate the predictors of a composite "tetrafecta" outcome defined as occurrence of bladder cuff excision+LND+no complications+negative surgical margins. Results: After matching, 185 RRNU and 91 LRNU were assessed. Patients in the RRNU group were more likely to undergo bladder cuff excision (81.9% vs 63.7%; p  < 0.001) compared to the LRNU group. A statistically significant difference was found in terms of overall postoperative complications ( p  = 0.003) and length of stay ( p  < 0.001) in favor of RRNU. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that LRNU was an independent predictor negatively associated with achievement of "tetrafecta" (odds ratio: 0.09; p  = 0.003). Conclusions: In general, RRNU and LRNU offer comparable outcomes. While the rate of overall complications is higher for LRNU in this study population, this is mostly related to low-grade complications, and therefore with more limited clinical relevance. RRNU seems to offer shorter hospital stay, but this might also be related to the different geographical location of participating centers. Overall, the implementation of robotics might facilitate achievement of a "tetrafecta" outcome as defined in the present study.

The objective of the current research was to explore the potential prognostic value of readily available clinical and pathologic variables in bladder cancer. The novel association found between cholesterol levels and prognosis may provide the rationale for exploring novel treatments. Patients included had histologically confirmed urothelial bladder cancer and were treated with at least 3 cycles of cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical cystectomy with lymphadenectomy. A total of 245 patients at low, intermediate and high risk, presenting with 0-1, 2 or 3-4 risk factors, including positive lymph nodes, Hb <12.8, NLR ≥2.7 and cholesterol levels ≥199, were included. Five-year cancer-specific survival rate was 0.67, 0.78 and 0.94 at high, intermediate and low risk, respectively. Total cholesterol levels at the time of cystectomy may represent a commonly assessable prognostic factor and may be incorporated in a clinically meaningful risk-group classification model.