1.Active Surveillance for Taiwanese Men with Localized Prostate Cancer: Intermediate-Term Outcomes and Predictive Factors
Jian-Hua HONG ; Ming-Chieh KUO ; Yung-Ting CHENG ; Yu-Chuan LU ; Chao-Yuan HUANG ; Shih-Ping LIU ; Po-Ming CHOW ; Kuo-How HUANG ; Shih-Chieh Jeff CHUEH ; Chung-Hsin CHEN ; Yeong-Shiau PU
The World Journal of Men's Health 2024;42(3):587-599
Purpose:
Active surveillance (AS) is one of the management options for patients with low-risk and select intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PC). However, factors predicting disease reclassification and conversion to active treatment from a large population of pure Asian cohorts regarding AS are less evaluated. This study investigated the intermediate-term outcomes of patients with localized PC undergoing AS.
Materials and Methods:
This cohort study enrolled consecutive men with localized non-high-risk PC diagnosed in Taiwan between June 2012 and Jan 2023. The study endpoints were disease reclassification (either pathological or radiographic progression) and conversion to active treatment. The factors predicting endpoints were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model.
Results:
A total of 405 patients (median age: 67.2 years) were consecutively enrolled and followed up with a median of 64.6 months. Based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk grouping, 70 (17.3%), 164 (40.5%), 140 (34.6%), and 31 (7.7%) patients were classified as very low-risk, low-risk, favorable-intermediate risk, and unfavorable intermediate-risk PC, respectively. The 5-year reclassification rates were 24.8%, 27.0%, 18.6%, and 25.3%, respectively. The 5-year conversion rates were 20.4%, 28.8%, 43.6%, and 37.8%, respectively. A prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) of ≥0.15 ng/mL2 predicted reclassification (hazard ratio [HR] 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–2.88) and conversion (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.05–2.31). A maximal percentage of cancer in positive cores (MPCPC) of ≥15% predicted conversion (15% to <50%: HR 1.41, 95% CI 0.91–2.18; ≥50%: HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.1453–3.40) compared with that of <15%. A Gleason grade group (GGG) of 3 tumor also predicted conversion (HR 2.69, 95% CI 1.06–6.79; GGG 3 vs 1). One patient developed metastasis, but none died of PC during the study period (2,141 person-years).
Conclusions
AS is a viable option for Taiwanese men with non-high-risk PC, in terms of reclassification and conversion. High PSAD predicted reclassification, whereas high PSAD, MPCPC, and GGG predicted conversion.
2.Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver-Taiwan Society of Cardiology Taiwan position statement for the management of metabolic dysfunction- associated fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases
Pin-Nan CHENG ; Wen-Jone CHEN ; Charles Jia-Yin HOU ; Chih-Lin LIN ; Ming-Ling CHANG ; Chia-Chi WANG ; Wei-Ting CHANG ; Chao-Yung WANG ; Chun-Yen LIN ; Chung-Lieh HUNG ; Cheng-Yuan PENG ; Ming-Lung YU ; Ting-Hsing CHAO ; Jee-Fu HUANG ; Yi-Hsiang HUANG ; Chi-Yi CHEN ; Chern-En CHIANG ; Han-Chieh LIN ; Yi-Heng LI ; Tsung-Hsien LIN ; Jia-Horng KAO ; Tzung-Dau WANG ; Ping-Yen LIU ; Yen-Wen WU ; Chun-Jen LIU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2024;30(1):16-36
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasingly common liver disease worldwide. MAFLD is diagnosed based on the presence of steatosis on images, histological findings, or serum marker levels as well as the presence of at least one of the three metabolic features: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic risk factors. MAFLD is not only a liver disease but also a factor contributing to or related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the major etiology responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with MAFLD. Hence, understanding the association between MAFLD and CVD, surveillance and risk stratification of MAFLD in patients with CVD, and assessment of the current status of MAFLD management are urgent requirements for both hepatologists and cardiologists. This Taiwan position statement reviews the literature and provides suggestions regarding the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, risk stratification, nonpharmacological interventions, and potential drug treatments of MAFLD, focusing on its association with CVD.