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Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was diagnosed in over 400 000 individuals globally in 2020, making it a significant global health concern. The incidence of RCC varies by region and overall mortality rates have been declining. This decline is attributed in part to advancements in early cancer detection through imaging and the development of more effective systemic therapies. Cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) was adopted as a standard treatment for metastatic RCC (mRCC) based on clinical experience and early clinical trials. However, the treatment landscape has shifted with the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in 2007 and, more recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Dual ICI therapy and combinations of ICIs with TKIs are collectively referred to as immuno‐combination therapies and have become standard first‐line treatments. This review examines the evolving role of CN in the era of immuno‐combination therapies, with a focus on patient selection and the timing of surgery. The immunogenic nature of RCC, characterized by spontaneous tumor regression and immune cell infiltration, suggests a potential benefit from combining CN with ICI therapy to enhance treatment outcomes. This is supported by several clinical studies that reported improved outcomes; however, these were limited by their retrospective nature. Ongoing clinical trials, such as NORDIC‐SUN, PROBE, and SEVURO‐CN, are expected to provide critical insights into the role of CN in the ICI era. Their findings will ultimately guide future clinical decision‐making and further refine treatment strategies for mRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the prognostic outcomes between metastatic castration‐sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) patients receiving conventional androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and those receiving ADT plus a novel androgen‐receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI) in routine clinical practice in Japan. Methods: This was conducted as a retrospective multicenter study including 581 mCSPC patients, consisting of 305 receiving ADT alone or in combination with bicalutamide (group 1) and 276 receiving ADT plus one of the following ARSIs: abiraterone acetate, apalutamide, or enzalutamide (group 2). Prognostic outcomes between these 2 groups were comprehensively compared. Results: In the entire cohort, prostate‐specific antigen—progression‐free survival (PSA‐PFS) in group 2 was significantly longer than that in group 1, while no significant difference was noted in overall survival (OS) between the two groups. In patients corresponding to the LATITUDE high‐risk group, however, both PSA‐PFS and OS in group 2 were significantly longer than those in group 1. Of several factors examined, the following were identified as independent predictors of poor PSA‐PFS in the entire cohort as well as the LATITUDE high‐risk group: high C‐reactive protein, high lactate dehydrogenase, high alkaline phosphatase, high Gleason score, and group 1. Furthermore, it was possible to precisely classify both the entire cohort and LATITUDE high‐risk group into 3 risk groups regarding PSA‐PFS according to the positive numbers of independent factors: positive for ≤1 factor, favorable; 2 factors, intermediate; and ≥3 factors, poor. Conclusion: Combined use of ARSIs with ADT could improve the prognostic outcomes of mCSPC patients, particularly those in the LATITUDE high‐risk group, in real‐world clinical practice in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In a primary analysis of data from the BRIGHT study (UMIN000035712), photodynamic diagnosis‐assisted transurethral resection of bladder tumor (PDD‐TURBT) using oral 5‐aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride reduced residual tumors in high‐risk non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PDD‐TURBT for intravesical recurrence after a second transurethral resection for high‐risk NMIBC. Methods: High‐risk NMIBC patients initially treated with PDD‐TURBT (PDD group) were prospectively registered between 2018 and 2020. High‐risk patients with NMIBC who were initially treated with white‐light TURBT (WL group) were retrospectively registered. Intravesical recurrence‐free survival after the second transurethral resection was compared between the PDD and WL groups using propensity score matching analysis. Results: In total, 177 patients were enrolled in the PDD group, and 306 patients were registered in the WL group. After propensity score matching (146 cases in each group), intravesical recurrence within 1 year was significantly less frequent in the PDD group than in the WL group (p = 0.004; hazard ratio [HR] 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25–0.77). In subgroup analysis, PDD‐TURBT showed a particularly high efficacy in reducing intravesical recurrence within 1 year, especially in cases of tumors measuring less than 3 cm (p = 0.003; HR 0.31, 95% CI: 0.14–0.67), absence of residual tumor at second transurethral resection (p = 0.020; HR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.16–0.86), and no postoperative intravesical Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin therapy (p < 0.001; HR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13–0.58). Conclusions: PDD‐TURBT may reduce short‐term intravesical recurrence in patients with high‐risk NMIBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes between patients receiving second TUR after initial white‐light transurethral resection of bladder tumor (WL‐TURBT) and initial photodynamic diagnosis (PDD)‐assisted TURBT. Methods: A total of 1007 patients were divided into four groups based on the treatment pattern: WL‐TURBT with second TUR (161 patients, WL‐second group) or without second TUR (540 patients, WL‐alone group) and PDD‐TURBT with second TUR (112 patients, PDD‐second group) or without second TUR (194 patients, PDD‐alone group). Oncologic outcomes (bladder cancer recurrence, progression, urothelial cancer‐specific mortality) and rates of residual tumor and risk stratification of non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after second TUR were evaluated. Results: After propensity score‐matching 121 patients were included each in the WL‐alone and WL‐second groups, and 63 patients each in the PDD‐alone and PDD‐second groups. In the WL group, the second TUR was significantly associated with improved progression‐free (p = 0.012) and urothelial cancer‐specific free survival (p = 0.011), but not with recurrence‐free survival (p = 0.93). Patients initially treated with PDD‐TURBT, and with a tumor diameter <30 mm and multifocality had a relatively high benefit from second TUR. The rates of residual tumor and risk stratification of NMIBC did not significantly differ between WL‐TURBT and PDD‐TURBT groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that a second TUR could be omitted after an initial PDD‐TURBT in selected patients with high‐risk NMIBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We assessed preoperative factors predicting the poor therapeutic efficacy of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. Methods: The present study included 159 patients who underwent HoLEP between August 2015 and June 2021 at our institution. Overall therapeutic efficacy was divided into good and poor therapeutic efficacies according to changes in the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), IPSS quality of life (IPSS‐QOL), and the maximum urinary flow rate. Patients were divided into good and poor therapeutic efficacy groups based on findings obtained 3 months after HoLEP, and comparative assessments were performed between the two groups. Results: The therapeutic efficacy of HoLEP was poor in 53 (33.3%) out of 159 patients. Intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP), IPSS, IPSS‐QOL, post‐void residual volume (PVR), and the presence of overactive bladder (OAB) were significantly higher in the poor therapeutic efficacy group than in the good therapeutic efficacy group. A multivariable analysis of several factors identified the preoperative presence of OAB and short IPP as independent risk factors for the poor therapeutic efficacy of HoLEP. When treatment efficacy was divided according to risk factors, poor therapeutic efficacy was observed in only 14% of patients with prolonged IPP and the absence of OAB. Conclusions: The therapeutic efficacy of HoLEP may be poor in patients with OAB and short IPP, resulting in the significant deterioration of lower urinary tract symptoms. Accordingly, it is important to consider the presence or absence of OAB and IPP measurements when selecting indications for HoLEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prognostic outcomes in mRCC patients receiving second‐line TKI following first‐line IO combination therapy. Methods: This study retrospectively included 243 mRCC patients receiving second‐line TKI after first‐line IO combination therapy: nivolumab plus ipilimumab (n = 189, IO–IO group) and either pembrolizumab plus axitinib or avelumab plus axitinib (n = 54, IO–TKI group). Oncological outcomes between the two groups were compared, and prognostication systems were developed for these patients. Results: In the IO–IO and IO–TKI groups, the objective response rates to second‐line TKI were 34.4% and 25.9% (p = 0.26), the median PFS periods were 9.7 and 7.1 months (p = 0.79), and the median OS periods after the introduction of second‐line TKI were 23.1 and 33.5 months (p = 0.93), respectively. Among the several factors examined, non‐CCRCC, high CRP, and low albumin levels were identified as independent predictors of both poor PFS and OS by multivariate analyses. It was possible to precisely classify the patients into 3 risk groups regarding both PFS and OS according to the positive numbers of the independent prognostic factors. Furthermore, the c‐indices of this study were superior to those of previous systems as follows: 0.75, 0.64, and 0.61 for PFS prediction and 0.76, 0.70, and 0.65 for OS prediction by the present, IMDC, and MSKCC systems, respectively. Conclusions: There were no significant differences in the prognostic outcomes after introducing second‐line TKI between the IO–IO and IO–TKI groups, and the histopathology, CRP and albumin levels had independent impacts on the prognosis in mRCC patients receiving second‐line TKI, irrespective of first‐line IO combination therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]