Owing to recent advancements in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics, genetic data of urological malignancies exponentially studied and published. Application of precision medicine strategies for cancer diagnosis, management is just around the corner, and we need to prepare for this paradigm change. For this reason, we performed the literature reviews of 13 landmark studies for urological malignancies, 5 for prostate cancer, 5 for renal cell carcinoma, and 3 for urothelial carcinoma. Furthermore, we reviewed potentially druggable genes for urological malignancies that have in vivo/in vitro evidence. Finally, we selected total 255 genes included important mutations, structural variations, copy number alterations, clinically informative genes and potential drug target genes for prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and urothelial carcinoma. This literature review and comprehensive molecular characterization of urological malignancies make help to understanding genetic backgrounds of the disease. However, there was less than 5% of Asian data included in current landmark studies for urological malignancies; thus we need to build up the large-scaled genetic studies for Korean population.

Lower urinary tract symptoms are highly prevalent and closely related to patients’ quality of life. Clinical research on urologic disease is essential for accumulating evidence on patient management; however, the major obstacle is converting patients’ subjective symptoms to objective parameters. The optimal application of well-developed and validated questionnaires is vital in achieving objectivity and minimizing bias in clinical research. Numerous questionnaires for measuring symptoms and quality of life in urologic diseases have been developed worldwide; however, they cannot be directly used in clinical studies without validation processes. This review aimed to explain the common procedures for translation, linguistic, and psychometric validation of developed questionnaires from other languages. Furthermore, we comprehensively reviewed currently available questionnaires for evaluating lower urinary tract symptoms in the Korean population.

Purpose: Bladder capacity is an important parameter in the diagnosis of lower urinary tract dysfunction. We aimed to determine whether the maximum bladder capacity (MCC) measured during a urodynamic study was affected by involuntary detrusor contraction (IDC) in patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS)/Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Between March 2020 and April 2021, we obtained maximum voided volume (MVV) from a 3-day frequency-volume chart, MCC during filling cystometry, and maximum anesthetic bladder capacity (MABC) during holmium laser enucleation of the prostate under spinal or general anesthesia in 139 men with LUTS/BPH aged >50 years. Patients were divided according to the presence of IDC during filling cystometry. We assumed that the MABC is close to the true value of the MCC, as it is measured under the condition of minimizing neural influence over the bladder. Results: There was no difference in demographic and clinical characteristics between the non-IDC (n=20) and IDC groups (n=119) (mean age, 71.5±7.4) (P>0.05). The non-IDC group had greater bladder volume to feel the first sensation, first desire, and strong desire than the IDC group (P<0.001). In all patients, MABC and MVV were correlated (r=0.41, P<0.001); however, there was no correlation between MCC and MABC (r=0.19, P=0.02). There was no significant difference in MABC between the non-IDC and IDC groups (P=0.19), but MVV and MCC were significantly greater in the non-IDC group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between MABC and MVV (MABC-MVV, P=0.54; MVV/MABC, P=0.07), but there was a significant difference between MABC and MCC between the non-IDC and IDC groups (MABC-MCC, P<0.001; MCC/MABC, P<0.001). Conclusions Maximum bladder capacity from a urodynamic study does not represent true bladder capacity because of involuntary contractions.

Radical nephrectomy with tumor thrombectomy for advanced renal cell carcinoma is an oncologically relevant approach that can achieve long-term survival even in the presence of distant metastases. However, the surgical techniques pose significant challenges. The objective of this clinical review was to present technical recommendations for tumor thrombectomy in the vena cava to facilitate surgical treatment. Transesophageal echocardiography is required to prepare for this procedure. Cardiopulmonary bypass should be considered when the tumor thrombus has invaded the cardiac chamber and clamping is not feasible because of the inability to milk the intracardiac chamber thrombus in the caudal direction. Prior to performing a cavotomy, it is crucial to clamp the contralateral renal vein and infrarenal and suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC). If the suprahepatic IVC is separated from the surrounding tissue, it can be gently pulled down toward the patient’s leg until the lower margin of the atrium becomes visible. Subsequently, the tumor thrombus should be carefully pulled downward to a position where it can be clamped. Implementing the Pringle maneuver to reduce blood flow from the hepatic veins to the IVC during IVC cavotomy is simpler than clamping the hepatic veins. Sequential clamping is a two-stage method of dividing thrombectomy by clamping the IVC twice, first suprahepatically and then midretrohepatically. This sequential clamping technique helps minimize hypotension status and the Pringle maneuver time compared to single clamping. Additionally, a spiral cavotomy can decrease the degree of primary closure narrowing. The oncological prognoses of patients can be improved by incorporating these technical recommendations.

Purpose: This study investigated functional outcomes in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), the incidence of incidental prostate cancer (PCa), and changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in patients with elevated PSA and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively designed protocol for patients who underwent HoLEP at our institution from January 2010 to May 2020 was conducted. Patients were classified into low-PSA (<3.0 ng/mL) and high-PSA (≥3.0 ng/mL) groups at baseline. Follow-up for PSA was performed at the sixth postoperative month. Baseline and postoperative clinical parameters, functional parameters, PCa incidence, and postoperative changes in PSA were compared between the lowand high-PSA groups. Results: The baseline PSA of 1,296 patients (mean age, 69.7±6.8 years) was 4.0±4.1 ng/mL, with 712 patients (55.0%) in the low-PSA group (1.6±0.8 ng/mL), and 584 patients (45.0%) in the high-PSA group (6.9±4.7 ng/mL). Incidental PCa was detected in 82 patients (6.3%), with a similar incidence in the low-PSA (41 patients, 5.9%) and high-PSA (41 patients, 7.0%) groups (P>0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, both groups showed significant improvements in the maximum flow rate, postvoid residual volume, and all domains of the International Prostate Symptom Score (P<0.05). At postoperative 6 months, the PSA level significantly decreased by 66.6%±23.6% in all patients (54.3%±23.9% in the low-PSA group; 79.6%±14.7% in the high-PSA group) (P<0.05), and the PSA levels of 1,264 patients (97.6%) had normalized. Conclusions In patients with elevated PSA presenting with LUTS/BPH, our study demonstrated significant improvements in functional parameters and decreased PSA after HoLEP. The incidental PCa detection rate did not show a statistically significant difference between the low- and high-PSA groups. Timely surgery for LUTS/BPH without delay due to PSA monitoring should be considered.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of administering tamsulosin before surgery on the successful insertion of a 12/14 French (F) ureteral access sheath (UAS) during the procedure, as well as the impact of preoperative and postoperative tamsulosin use on symptoms related to the ureteral stent. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized, single-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial involving 200 patients who underwent unilateral retrograde intrarenal surgery. Patients received either tamsulosin (0.4 mg) or placebo 1 week before surgery until stent removal. Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Group 1 received tamsulosin throughout the study period. Group 2 received tamsulosin before surgery and placebo after surgery. Group 3 received placebo before surgery and tamsulosin after surgery. Group 4 received placebo before and after surgery. The USSQ (Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire) was completed between postoperative days 7 and 14 immediately before stent removal. Results: A total of 160 patients were included in this analysis. Their mean age was 55.0±11.0 years, and 48 patients (30.0%) were female. In the group that received preoperative tamsulosin, the success rate of 12/14F UAS deployment was significantly higher than that of the preoperative placebo group (88.0 vs. 75.3%, p=0.038). Preoperative and postoperative tamsulosin did not significantly alleviate symptoms related to the ureteral stent. Conclusions Our results revealed that preoperative administration of tamsulosin improved the success of larger-sized UAS, whereas preoperative and postoperative tamsulosin use did not significantly alleviate symptoms related to ureteral stents.

Purpose: We evaluated the risk factors associated with failure to complete gemcitabine–cisplatin (GP) neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Materials and Methods: In total, 231 patients with MIBC treated with NAC before undergoing radical cystectomy between 2013 and 2022 participated in this study. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the likelihood of incomplete NAC and clinical and demographic variables, including age, sex, hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), prechemotherapy glomerular filtration rate, clinical T stage, clinical N stage, and body mass index (BMI). Results: Of 231 patients, 209 (90.5%) and 22 (9.5%) completed and discontinued the NAC course, respectively. The mean age was 66.13±9.15, 65.63±9.07, and 70.86±8.66 years for the total sample, continuation, and discontinuation groups, respectively (p=0.010). No significant inter-group differences in sex, HTN, height, weight, BMI, pre-chemotherapy glomerular filtration rate, clinical T stage, or clinical N stage were observed. According to the results of the multivariable analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.076, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.013–1.143, p=0.018) and the presence of DM (OR 2.541, 95% CI 1.028–6.281, p=0.043) were significantly associated with NAC discontinuation. Conclusions Thus, older age and presence of DM are potential risk factors for GP NAC discontinuation in patients with MIBC.Further studies are required to validate our findings and develop strategies to minimize the rate of GP NAC discontinuation in this population.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of administering tamsulosin before surgery on the successful insertion of a 12/14 French (F) ureteral access sheath (UAS) during the procedure, as well as the impact of preoperative and postoperative tamsulosin use on symptoms related to the ureteral stent. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized, single-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial involving 200 patients who underwent unilateral retrograde intrarenal surgery. Patients received either tamsulosin (0.4 mg) or placebo 1 week before surgery until stent removal. Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Group 1 received tamsulosin throughout the study period. Group 2 received tamsulosin before surgery and placebo after surgery. Group 3 received placebo before surgery and tamsulosin after surgery. Group 4 received placebo before and after surgery. The USSQ (Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire) was completed between postoperative days 7 and 14 immediately before stent removal. Results: A total of 160 patients were included in this analysis. Their mean age was 55.0±11.0 years, and 48 patients (30.0%) were female. In the group that received preoperative tamsulosin, the success rate of 12/14F UAS deployment was significantly higher than that of the preoperative placebo group (88.0 vs. 75.3%, p=0.038). Preoperative and postoperative tamsulosin did not significantly alleviate symptoms related to the ureteral stent. Conclusions Our results revealed that preoperative administration of tamsulosin improved the success of larger-sized UAS, whereas preoperative and postoperative tamsulosin use did not significantly alleviate symptoms related to ureteral stents.

Purpose: We evaluated the risk factors associated with failure to complete gemcitabine–cisplatin (GP) neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Materials and Methods: In total, 231 patients with MIBC treated with NAC before undergoing radical cystectomy between 2013 and 2022 participated in this study. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the likelihood of incomplete NAC and clinical and demographic variables, including age, sex, hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), prechemotherapy glomerular filtration rate, clinical T stage, clinical N stage, and body mass index (BMI). Results: Of 231 patients, 209 (90.5%) and 22 (9.5%) completed and discontinued the NAC course, respectively. The mean age was 66.13±9.15, 65.63±9.07, and 70.86±8.66 years for the total sample, continuation, and discontinuation groups, respectively (p=0.010). No significant inter-group differences in sex, HTN, height, weight, BMI, pre-chemotherapy glomerular filtration rate, clinical T stage, or clinical N stage were observed. According to the results of the multivariable analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.076, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.013–1.143, p=0.018) and the presence of DM (OR 2.541, 95% CI 1.028–6.281, p=0.043) were significantly associated with NAC discontinuation. Conclusions Thus, older age and presence of DM are potential risk factors for GP NAC discontinuation in patients with MIBC.Further studies are required to validate our findings and develop strategies to minimize the rate of GP NAC discontinuation in this population.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of administering tamsulosin before surgery on the successful insertion of a 12/14 French (F) ureteral access sheath (UAS) during the procedure, as well as the impact of preoperative and postoperative tamsulosin use on symptoms related to the ureteral stent. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized, single-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial involving 200 patients who underwent unilateral retrograde intrarenal surgery. Patients received either tamsulosin (0.4 mg) or placebo 1 week before surgery until stent removal. Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Group 1 received tamsulosin throughout the study period. Group 2 received tamsulosin before surgery and placebo after surgery. Group 3 received placebo before surgery and tamsulosin after surgery. Group 4 received placebo before and after surgery. The USSQ (Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire) was completed between postoperative days 7 and 14 immediately before stent removal. Results: A total of 160 patients were included in this analysis. Their mean age was 55.0±11.0 years, and 48 patients (30.0%) were female. In the group that received preoperative tamsulosin, the success rate of 12/14F UAS deployment was significantly higher than that of the preoperative placebo group (88.0 vs. 75.3%, p=0.038). Preoperative and postoperative tamsulosin did not significantly alleviate symptoms related to the ureteral stent. Conclusions Our results revealed that preoperative administration of tamsulosin improved the success of larger-sized UAS, whereas preoperative and postoperative tamsulosin use did not significantly alleviate symptoms related to ureteral stents.