Carcinosarcoma of the bladder is a rare malignancy characterized by an intimate admixture of malignant epithelial elements (carcinoma) and malignant soft tissue elements (sarcoma). Patients with carcinosarcoma usually present with high-stage malignancy. Cystectomy or transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TUR-Bt) is the preferred treatment, often followed by radiation therapy, but the prognosis is very poor1-7). To our knowledge, almost 80 cases have been reported in Japan, usually as case reports or small series6, 7). In almost all cases, the chief complaint was gross hematuria. We herein report a case of carcinosarcoma of the urinary bladder in a patient whose chief complaint was abdominal pain. His pain worsened, and the occurrence of hydronephrosis indicated that extremely rapid tumor growth may have occurred. No evidence of recurrence was noted 30 months after the performance of cystectomy.
Carcinosarcoma ; Bladder ; Malignant Neoplasms ; Rapid ; Case Report

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and renal failure that occurs predominantly in infants and young children. However, HUS in adults has also been described as a complication of various chemotherapy regimens with a relatively poor prognosis. Since cisplatin is now widely used for treatment of solid cancers, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of cisplatin-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome as a rare but potentially fatal side- effect. Herein, we describe our experience with a 67-year old woman being treated for a urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who suffered chemotherapy-induced HUS after a cisplatin-based regimen. Plasmapheresis was carried out five times; however, her serum platelets remained depressed, and she subsequently died. We conclude that there is a high risk potential for HUS in patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy for advanced-stage bladder cancer.
Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Chemotherapy-Oncologic Procedure ; Cisplatin ; Cancer of Bladder ; regimen

Objective: We carried out this study to clarify whether operative methods of laparoscopic prostatectomy (LRP) could become a standard therapy. The purpose was to evaluate the technical feasibility, oncologic effectiveness and perioperative and postoperative morbidity of LRP performed by a general urologist. Patients and Methods: Between June 2004 and May 2006, 30 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer consecutively underwent LRP by a single surgeon. Oncologic data were assessed by histopathological examination and by postoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Results: Complete laparoscopic removal of the prostate and seminal vesicles was achieved in all 30 patients. The average operation time was 250.9 min (range, 168 to 394 min). The total positive surgical margin rate was 20.7% (6 of 29 cases), with a total PSA recurrence rate was 23.3% (7 of 30 cases), but the frequencies tended to be decreased in the later phase cases. Perioperative complications were encountered in 5 patients; four of these patients were in the initial 10 cases. Two of the 30 cases (6.7%) required a blood transfusion (first case and 11th case). There were three surgical complications, one ureter injury, one rectal injury and one sigmoid serosal injury. The catheter duration intervals were reduced in the later cases. Conclusions: From our experience with one surgeon, with whom perioperative complications were concentrated in the initial 10 cases, we conclude that LRP should be performed by experienced surgeons after intensive training.

Objective: There are few reports of the long-term outcomes of elderlypatients with prostate cancer. We analyzed data from our institution from the past 12years, including the patient history, treatment methods, and prognosis of patients withprostate cancer aged 80 years or more.

Patients and Methods: A total of 179 cases of prostate cancer in patientsaged 80 years or more were retrospectively evaluated. We divided them chronologically intogroups A, B, C, and D: Group A included 40 cases from 2002–2004; Group B, 48 cases from2005–2007; Group C, 46 cases from 2008–2010; and Group D, 45 cases from 2011–2013.

Results: Sixty-one (30%) patients changed treatment course. Interestingly,no cancer deaths occurred in the patients who changed treatment course. Although 14 (7.8%)cancer deaths occurred (A: B: C: D = 4: 4: 6: 0, respectively), all occurred in 2011 orlater.

Conclusion: In our study, over 50 patients who underwent treatment survivedfor 5 years or more. By treating prostate cancer in elderly patients when appropriate, wecan lower the mortality rate due to prostate cancer. Our results support the activetreatment of prostate cancer in elderly patients.

Objective: In urological operations, many endourological procedures and pre-existing urinary tract infections may cause surgical complications. It is essential to identify the risk factors for surgical site infections (SSI) and determine additional influences. Patients and Methods: In the present retrospective investigation, a total of 324 patients who underwent open urological surgery between January 2003 and December 2007 at Anjo-Kosei Hospital were assessed for SSI along with possible associated factors. Results: Forty-four cases (13.6%) proved positive for SSIs during the surveillance period. Among these, 31 demonstrated incisional SSI and 13 demonstrated deep/organ space SSI. Greater age and body mass index, low preoperative haemoglobin levels, long preoperative hospital stay, prolonged operation time and increased blood loss during surgery were all positively associated with SSI in general. For the deep/organ space SSI cases, advanced age, low preoperative haemoglobin levels, long preoperative hospital stay and prolonged operation time were significant factors. Conclusion: This study identified several independent predictors of SSI in general, as well as deep/organ space infection, for urological open surgery at our hospital. The results provided a basis for urologists to decrease the incidence of urological SSI.
Surgical aspects ; Hospitals ; Organ ; Infection as complication of medical care ; Risk Factors

Background: We evaluated the effectiveness of gemcitabine and paclitaxel therapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma for whom two lines of sequential chemotherapy had been unsuccessful.

Methods: A total number of 105 patients who had previously received first-line chemotherapy consisting of gemcitabine and cisplatin or carboplatin, were treated with second-line gemcitabine and docetaxel therapy between June 2006 and May 2015. Of these patients, 15 with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0 or 1 were administered gemcitabine and paclitaxel as third-line treatment from 2013 after failure of the second-line therapy. For each 21-day cycle, gemcitabine (1000 mg/m²) was administered on days 1, 8, and 15, and paclitaxel (200 mg/m²) on day 1. Patients were assessed for each cycle and any adverse events were noted. Furthermore, a Short Form Health Survey questionnaire was used to assess each patient’s quality of life.

Results: Third-line gemcitabine and paclitaxel treatment cycles were undertaken for a median of four times (range 2–9). The disease control rate was 80.0%. After second-line gemcitabine and docetaxel therapy was completed, median progression-free survival and median overall survival were determined as 9.8 and 13.0 months, respectively. The only prognostic factor for overall survival, as determined by univariate and multivariate analyses, was third-line gemcitabine and paclitaxel therapy. Neutropenia (66.7%) and thrombocytopenia (53.3%) were noted as the grade 3 treatment-related toxicities. After two cycles of third-line gemcitabine and paclitaxel therapy, the pre- and post-treatment quality of life scores did not differ significantly.

Conclusions: Results demonstrate that third-line combination therapy using gemcitabine and paclitaxel is a feasible option for metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients.