Vesicocutaneous fistula (VCF) secondary to radiation therapy is a rare event. There are difficulties in establishing the early diagnosis and choosing the proper management option. We present a very unusual case of postradiotherapy vesicocutaneous fistula which developed more than 30 years later. Temporary urinary diversion was performed because of poor performance status and anatomical condition. However, it failed to achieve spontaneous closure of VCF. It is important to recognize that late onset of radiation induced VCF could develop even after a substantial period of time has lapsed. In addition, conservative treatment appears to be unsuccessful in patient with complicated VCF. Therefore, it must be counselled carefully after a making synthetic judgment based on different individual situation.
Cutaneous Fistula ; Early Diagnosis ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Judgment ; Urinary Diversion

PURPOSE: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly expressed during stress responses and cellular adaptation to environmental changes. One such protein is HSP27, a 27kDa protein that prevents cell death induced by many pro-apoptotic agents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between HSP27 expression and apoptosis induced by doxazosin treatment in prostate cancer cell line PC-3. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunocytochemical staining were performed to determine whether HSP27 mRNA and protein are expressed in PC-3 cells. Next, to investigate the effects of doxazosin on apoptosis and HSP27 protein expression in PC-3 cells, the cells were stained using a TUNEL kit (to detect apoptotic cells) and with HSP27 antibody (to assess HSP27 protein expression) 6, 12, 24, and 48h after treatment with 25microM doxazosin. In addition, to determine whether HSP27 mRNA interference accelerates doxazosin-induced apoptosis of PC-3, we knocked down HSP27 with siRNA and then evaluated the rate of apoptosis after doxazosin treatment. RESULTS: HSP27 mRNA and protein were expressed in PC-3 cells. Furthermore, HSP27 mRNA and protein levels increased until 12 hours after 25microM doxazosin treatment, whereas the rate of apoptosis did not increased dramatically. After 12 hours, HSP27 expression decreased and then apoptosis was accelerated. In addition, siRNA-mediated knockdown of HSP27 induce higher apoptosis rate of PC-3 cells even before 12hrs after doxazosin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: By inhibiting apoptosis, HSP27 expression might play an important role in inhibiting progression to castration-refractory prostate cancer and resistance to anti-cancer treatment.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Death ; Cell Line* ; Doxazosin ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering

PURPOSE: Climacturia is involuntary loss of urine during orgasm. The mechanism of climacturia in men who undergo radical prostatectomy (RP) is not fully understood, while deficiency in bladder neck coaptation during orgasm may be the cause. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of climacturia after RP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of prostate cancer patients who underwent RP from 2002 to 2013 and was able to have a vaginal intercourse postoperatively. RP was conducted using open or robot-assisted approach. We analysed the symptoms of climacturia, relationship between climacturia and several clinical factors. Also, we tried to find factors to predict the presence of climacturia. RESULTS: Total of 123 patients were analyzed in this study. The median age of the men was 65 year and postoperative follow-up period for the interview was 37 months. Of the total 123 patients, 29 (23.6%) complained of the climacturia. In climacturia group, robot-assisted RP (p=0.018), nerve-sparing (p=0.046) and penile rehabilitation (p=0.012) were significantly less frequent, and more pad were comsumed (p=0.001) compared to non-climacturia group. On multivariable analysis, post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) (OR 6.49, p=0.004) and penile rehabilitation (OR 0.22, p=0.036) were significant factors to predict the presence of climacturia. CONCLUSIONS: Climacturia occurs in more than 20% patients who were potent enough after RP in our study. PPI and penile rehabilitation were positive and negative factor to predict an occurrence of climacturia, respectively. Therefore, in addition to PPI and erectile dysfunction, patients must be informed of this complication before undergoing RP.
Erectile Dysfunction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neck ; Orgasm ; Prevalence ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence

PURPOSE: To investigate whether secretion of human beta-defensin 3 (HBD-3) is induced by bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and to determine whether HBD-3 affects BCG internalization in bladder cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RTPCR analysis was used to determine whether HBD-3 mRNA increases after incubation with BCG. HBD-3 proteins in 5637 and T24 human bladder cancer cell lines were assayed by ELISA. The internalization rate was evaluated by double immunofluorescence assay and confocal microscopy to test the optimal dose of HBD-3 for BCG internalization. We also investigated the difference in internalization rates and cell viability between recombinant HBD-3 protein, anti-HBD-3 antibody, and HBD-3 plus anti-HBD-3 antibody pretreatments. RESULTS: BCG induced HBD-3 mRNA expression and HBD-3 production dose and time-dependently in bladder cancer cells and affected BCG internalization. Pretreatment with recombinant HBD-3 protein lowered internalization of BCG dose-dependently. Moreover, anti-HBD-3 antibody prevented the effect of HBD-3 on BCG internalization in bladder cancer cells. The internalization rate of BCG pretreated with anti-HBD-3 antibody was higher than that in the control. The BCG internalization rate in cells pretreated with anti-HBD-3 antibody plus recombinant HBD-3 protein was higher than that in the control. BCG decreased bladder cancer cell viability, and anti-HBD-3 antibody prevented the inhibitory role of HBD-3 on the anti-proliferative effects of M. bovis BCG in bladder cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder cancer cells produce HBD-3 when they are infected by BCG to defend themselves against BCG internalization, which plays an important role during the initiation and propagation of the immunotherapeutic response in bladder cancer cells.
Bacillus* ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans* ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mycobacterium bovis ; RNA, Messenger ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

The standard management for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) involves radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. Although this treatment may be curative, a large proportion of patients will develop recurrence and will ultimately die of metastatic disease. Prospective, randomized clinical trial data demonstrate a survival advantage for those patients who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) prior to radical cystectomy and this concept was confirmed by meta-analysis. The administration of cisplatin-based combination NAC has consistently demonstrated a survival benefit of 5%. The pathologic downstaging is used as a surrogate end point. The efficacy of NAC for MIBC was established primarily with methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC), with complete response rates (pT0) as high as 38%. Dose dense M-VAC (DDMAVC) is preferred over standard MVAC, and gemcitabine/cisplatin is a reasonable alternative to standard M-VAC for NAC. In Korea, while NAC use has slowly increased over time, it remains an underutilized therapeutic approach in Korean clinical practice.
Biomarkers ; Cisplatin ; Cystectomy ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Node Excision ; Methotrexate ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Standard of Care* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Vinblastine

Active surveillance (AS) is an alternative to initial radical treatment for men with low-risk localized prostate cancer (PCa). Current AS criteria for selection and follow-up incorrectly exclude some patients eligible for AS and misclassify some who actually harbour significant disease. It is crucial what will serve as the best parameter to correctly identify tumors that progress to a more aggressive phenotype so as not to miss the window of curability. There is an unmet need for a noninvasive biomarker test that can provide a higher degree of specificity for detecting aggressive disease than currently available clinical tools. Several biomarkers are now being actively investigated as novel tools to improve PCa risk assessments. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) isoform [-2]proPSA and its derivatives, percentage of [-2]proPSA to free PSA (%[-2]proPSA) and Prostate Health Index (PHI), have higher accuracy than the currently used PSA and other PSA derivatives for predicting PCa detection and aggressiveness. In the AS program, %[-2]proPSA and PHI showed improved predictive value for an unfavorable biopsy conversion at annual surveillance biopsy. Although prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) was limited in predicting aggressive cancer, PCA3 and TMPRSS2:ERG also had additional independent predictive value for predicting PCa. However, the roles of PCA3 and TMPRSS2:ERG in risk assessment during AS need to be tested in additional multi-institutional studies. Tissue biomarkers also showed promising ability to predict disease progression. Although the biopsy-based tissue biomarkers provide additional prognostic information over existing clinical tools, further validation studies are also needed to provide robust evidence.
Biomarkers* ; Biopsy ; Disease Progression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Phenotype ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers are the three most prevalent urologic cancers in the Korean population. Throughout the last decade, there has been an upsurge in the incidence and prevalence of prostate and kidney cancers, along with a marked improvement in survival. A stage migration has been observed towards early detection of localized cancers, and accordingly, the landscape of urologic cancer treatment in Korea has been characterized by an exponential increase in the number of patients receiving surgery with curative intent. Herein, a substantial proportion of surgeries were performed using minimally-invasive methods, especially robot-assisted surgery. Current management strategies of urologic cancers in Korea are mostly based on evidences provided by international guidelines. There is prompt adoption and clinical application of novel systemic agents for advanced stage cancer, and surgical and oncological outcomes are comparable to those of Western reports. Multidisciplinary treatment options are available for various cancers at different stages. At the same time, treatment decisions are influenced by the availability of health-care resources, which is regulated by the National Health Insurance policy guidelines. Accumulating information on characteristics of urologic cancers in Korean patients demonstrates that Korean patients harbor more aggressive prostate cancer features compared to Western men. Due to the racial disparity in features of certain cancers, the optimal management strategy specific for the Korean population is yet to be validated. A comprehensive national cancer database may help to identify risk factors, select sequential strategies, and to assess survival outcome of Korean urologic cancer patients.
Epidemiology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Korea* ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urologic Neoplasms*

In spite of multidisciplinary treatment, about 70% of lymph node (LN) positive bladder cancer reported to be recurred within 5-year after radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy although considerable number of patients survived for a long period without adjuvant treatment after surgery. Current TNM nodal staging system doesn't account for this survival differences. In this regard, several LN-related parameters were developed to predict prognosis of LN positive bladder cancer. In this article, we will state the controversies on current TNM nodal staging system for bladder cancer. In addition, we will review the accuracy of imaging studies to predict LN metastasis before surgery and impact of several surgical and pathologic LN-related parameters, such as extent of lymphadenectomy, number of removed LNs, number of metastatic LNs, LN density, extracapsular extension of LN, on prognosis of LN positive bladder cancer. Moreover, we will review the value of adjuvant chemotherapy on LN positive bladder cancer.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cystectomy ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, and is diagnosed on the basis of the combined expression of CD34 and CD117 (C-kit protein). An extragastrointestinal stromal tumor of the urinary bladder is a very rare neoplasm. In this report, we describe a case of an extragastrointestinal stromal tumor originating from the inner surface of the urinary bladder. A 46-year-old man presented with an incident bladder mass, and he was diagnosed with an extragastrointestinal stromal tumor after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor. A tumor on the inner urinary bladder wall is an unusual presentation of an extragastrointestinal stromal tumor. The patient is doing well with no recurrence at 18 months after surgery.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

To study the impact of single instillation of epirubicin (SIE) on the cancer recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in Korean patients. The major inclusion criteria were NMIBC patients. The major exclusion criteria were muscle invasive bladder cancer, metastatic bladder cancer, combined urinary upper tract tumor, and carcinoma in situ. SIE group received 50 mg epirubicin within 6 hours after TURBT. Non-SIE group did not receive epirubicin. This study enrolled a total of 214 patients diagnosed as having NMIBC during the period from October 2003 through January 2010 at the single institutions. Follow-up of the patients was conducted through January 2012. The median age of patients was 63.4 years. Of 112 evaluable patients in the SIE group, cancer recurrence rate was 33.9% and in non-SIE group, cancer recurrence rate was 62.7% (p<0.001). The recurrence-free survival duration was longer in Group SIE compared with Group non-SIE (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that SIE was significantly associated with cancer recurrence (HR 0.213, p<0.001). We confirmed the impact of SIE on the cancer recurrence in the Korean patients who underwent TURBT for NMIBC. Single instillation of chemo-agent after TUR-B might be recommended in Korean patients for reduce bladder cancer recurrence and provide longer recurrence-free survival duration.
Carcinoma in Situ ; Epirubicin* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Recurrence ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*