Castle, Erik P.

Objective To determine if massive renal size should be a contraindication for attempting a laparoscopic approach to bilateral native nephrectomies in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease ( ADPKD ). Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed all laparoscopic bilateral nephrectomies performed for ADPKD at our institution from 1 J anuary 2000 to 31 D ecember 2012. We stratified patients by kidney weight (with or without at least one kidney weighing >2500 g) and compared perioperative data, complications, and status of kidney allografts. Additionally, the subset of patients with at least one kidney weighing >3500 g was compared with the rest of the cohort. Results We identified 68 patients; mean (range) individual kidney weight was 1984 (197–5042) g. In all, 24 patients had at least one kidney weighing >2500 g, yet patients in this group were not significantly different from the rest of the cohort for complications, estimated blood loss, transfusion rate, or duration of hospitalisation. For those who underwent simultaneous renal allotransplantation, native kidney size was not associated with graft outcomes. Additionally, of the six patients with at least one kidney weighing >3500 g, only one required a blood transfusion, and the group had no intraoperative or postoperative Clavien grade ≥3 complications. None of the cohort required conversion to open surgery. Conclusion Massive size of polycystic kidneys is not a contraindication to attempting a laparoscopic approach to bilateral nephrectomies in an experienced, high‐volume centre.

Objective To evaluate outcomes of the first 18 patients treated with robot‐assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection ( RA‐RPLND ) for non‐seminomatous germ cell tumours ( NSGCT ) and paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma ( RMS ) at our institution. Patients and Methods Between M arch 2008 and M ay 2013, 17 patients underwent RA‐RPLND for NSGCT and one for paratesticular RMS . Data were collected retrospectively on patient demographics, preoperative tumour characteristics, and perioperative outcomes including open conversion rate, lymph node ( LN ) yield, rate of positive LNs , operative time, estimated blood loss ( EBL ), and length of stay ( LOS ). Perioperative outcomes were compared between patients receiving primary RA‐RPLND vs post‐chemotherapy RA‐RPLND . Medium‐term outcomes of tumour recurrence rate and maintenance of antegrade ejaculation were recorded. Results RA‐RPLND was completed robotically in 15 of 18 (83%) patients. LNs were positive in eight of 18 patients (44%). The mean LN yield was 22 LNs . For cases completed robotically, the mean operative time was 329 min, EBL was 103 mL, and LOS was 2.4 days. At a mean (range) follow‐up of 22 (1–58) months, there were no retroperitoneal recurrences and two of 17 (12%) patients with NSGCT had pulmonary recurrences. Antegrade ejaculation was maintained in 91% of patients with a nerve‐sparing approach. Patients receiving primary RA‐RPLND had shorter operative times compared with those post‐chemotherapy (311 vs 369 min, P = 0.03). There was no significant difference in LN yield (22 vs 18 LNs , P = 0.34), EBL (100 vs 313 mL, P = 0.13), or LOS (2.75 vs 2.2 days, P = 0.36). Conclusion This initial selected case series of RA‐RPLND shows that the procedure is safe, reproducible, and feasible for stage I – IIB NSGCT and RMS in the hands of experienced robotic surgeons. Larger studies are needed to confirm the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of this technique.

The purpose of the RAZOR (randomized open vs robotic cystectomy) study is to compare open radical cystectomy ( ORC ) vs robot‐assisted RC ( RARC ), pelvic lymph node dissection ( PLND ) and urinary diversion for oncological outcomes, complications and health‐related quality of life ( HRQL ) measures with a primary endpoint of 2‐year progression‐free survival ( PFS ). RAZOR is a multi‐institutional, randomized, non‐inferior, phase III trial that will enrol at least 320 patients with T 1– T 4, N 0– N 1, M 0 bladder cancer with ≈160 patients in both the RARC and ORC arms at 15 participating institutions. Data will be collected prospectively at each institution for cancer outcomes, complications of surgery and HRQL measures, and then submitted to trial data management services Cancer Research and Biostatistics ( CRAB ) for final analyses. To date, 306 patients have been randomized and accrual to the RAZOR trial is expected to conclude in 2014. In this study, we report the RAZOR trial experimental design, objectives, data safety, and monitoring, and accrual update. The RAZOR trial is a landmark study in urological oncology, randomizing T 1– T 4, N 0– N 1, M 0 patients with bladder cancer to ORC vs RARC , PLND and urinary diversion. RAZOR is a multi‐institutional, non‐inferiority trial evaluating cancer outcomes, surgical complications and HRQL measures of ORC vs RARC with a primary endpoint of 2‐year PFS . Full data from the RAZOR trial are not expected until 2016–2017.

SAGE-Journals-Accessible-Video-Player 10.1089/vid.2013.0079.M1 sj-vid-1-vid-10.1089_vid.2013.0079

ObjectiveTo examine the impact of body mass index, as a measure of obesity, on the surgical outcomes of cystectomy.MethodsThe American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to acquire data on 1293 cystectomies carried out from 2005 to 2011. Patients were divided into two groups: body mass index <30 kg/m2 and ≥30 kg/m2. A propensity score‐matched analysis of perioperative outcomes was carried out.ResultsA total of 869 patients had a body mass index <30, whereas 424 had a body mass index ≥30. Unadjusted comparisons showed higher rates of superficial surgical site infections (8.7% vs 5.3%, P = 0.04), renal insufficiency (4.0% vs 1.7%, P = 0.01) and increased operative times (365.7 min vs 338.6 min, P = 0.0004) in the obese patients, but interestingly lower rates of pneumonia (2.4% vs 4.8, P = 0.03) and cerebral vascular accidents (0.0% vs 0.9%, P = 0.05). However, the latter two observations might be explained by more tobacco use among non‐obese patients (26.6 mean pack‐years vs 20.0 mean pack‐years, P = 0.004). Notably, no differences in 30‐day mortality were noted. After adjusting for preoperative demographic and clinical data using propensity score‐matching methods, there were no observed differences between the two cohorts except for operative time (P = 0.04).ConclusionsObesity is not independently associated with an increased risk of perioperative complications or 30‐day mortality after cystectomy.

Abstract Increased angiogenesis and tumor-induced immune evasion are two mechanisms by which clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) proliferate and metastasize; however, the relationship between these pathways in human ccRCC is poorly understood. We conducted a nested case–control study using 98 archived tumor samples from patients diagnosed with primary ccRCC between 1990 and 2006, half of which were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) as either programmed death ligand 1 (PDL-1)–positive or PDL-1–negative. RNAs were extracted from the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor slides and the expression of the VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and PDL-1 genes was quantified. We assessed the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) by IHC for CD3, and then analyzed the relationship among VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, CD3, and PDL-1. When analyzed as a continuous variable, PDL-1 protein expression by IHC inversely correlates with the expression of the three VEGF-related genes: VEGFA (r = −0.23; P = 0.01), VEGFR1 (r = −0.34; P &lt; 0.001), and VEGFR2 (r = −0.23; P = 0.01). When dichotomized, the PDL-1–positive cohort trended toward a lower expression of VEGFA (fold change = 0.72; P = 0.056) and VEGFR1 (fold change = 0.69; P = 0.057). In addition, there was a significant and positive relationship between the presence of TIL as assessed by IHC for CD3 and PDL-1 by IHC (r = 0.25; P = 0.015), and there was a trend toward an inverse relationship between TIL and VEGFA gene expression (r = −0.18; P = 0.089). In conclusion, this is the first demonstration of an inverse association between the angiogenesis and PDL-1 pathways in tumor samples from primary ccRCC, and this relationship may be related to the immunosuppressive effects of VEGF signaling. Cancer Immunol Res; 1(6); 378–85. ©2013 AACR.

SAGE-Journals-Accessible-Video-Player 10.1089/vid.2013.0019.M1 sj-vid-1-vid-10.1089_vid.2013.0019