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Directory of Authors from the Journal and their last article.

Joseph E RavenellView Articles
Joseph G CheaibView Articles

Volume 22, Number 1Review Articles

Active Surveillance for Small Renal Masses

Management Review

Shagnik RayJoseph G CheaibPhillip M Pierorazio

Active surveillance (AS) is a safe and reasonable management strategy for many patients with small renal masses (SRM) suspicious for a clinical T1a renal cell carcinoma based on excellent metastasis-free and cancer-specific survival. However, the expansion of robotic extirpation of SRM has outpaced the adoption of AS, resulting in the possibility of overtreatment for select patients with SRM, especially the elderly and comorbid. In this review of AS for SRM, with a focus on the Delayed Intervention and Surveillance for Small Renal Masses (DISSRM) Registry, we detail the rationale behind AS, review lessons learned from the past decades of literature, and offer suggestions for appropriate patient selection and follow-up. An improved understanding of the data supporting AS will empower physicians and patients to more comfortably pursue AS to avoid overtreatment and provide individualized care to patients with SRM. [Rev Urol. 2020;22(1):9–16] © 2020 MedReviews®, LLC

Renal cell carcinomaSmall renal massActive surveillanceRenal mass biopsyChest imaging

Joseph LiaoView Articles
Joseph M Brito IIIView Articles

Volume 19, Number 4Review Articles

The Use of Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer Screening and Treatment

Treatment Update

Joseph Renzulli IIAshley V AlfordJoseph M Brito IIIKamlesh K YadavShalini S YadavAshutosh K Tewari

Prostate cancer screening and diagnosis has been guided by prostate-specific antigen levels for the past 25 years, but with the most recent US Preventive Services Task Force screening recommendations, as well as concerns regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment, a new wave of prostate cancer biomarkers has recently emerged. These assays allow the testing of urine, serum, or prostate tissue for molecular signs of prostate cancer, and provide information regarding both diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, we discuss 12 commercially available biomarker assays approved for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. The results of clinical validation studies and clinical decision-making studies are presented. This information is designed to assist urologists in making clinical decisions with respect to ordering and interpreting these tests for different patients. There are numerous fluid and biopsy-based genomic tests available for prostate cancer patients that provide the physician and patient with different information about risk of future disease and treatment outcomes. It is important that providers be able to recommend the appropriate test for each individual patient; this decision is based on tissue availability and prognostic information desired. Future studies will continue to emphasize the important role of genomic biomarkers in making individualized treatment decisions for prostate cancer patients. [Rev Urol. 2017;19(4):221–234 doi: 10.3909/riu0772] © 2018 MedReviews®, LLC

Prostate cancerBiomarkers4KscoreProlarisPCA3Prostate Health IndexApifinyMichigan Prostate ScoreSelectMDxConfirmMDxProMarkPTEN/TMPRSS2:ERGDecipher

Joseph MashniView Articles
Joseph Renzulli IIView Articles

Volume 19, Number 4Review Articles

The Use of Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer Screening and Treatment

Treatment Update

Joseph Renzulli IIAshley V AlfordJoseph M Brito IIIKamlesh K YadavShalini S YadavAshutosh K Tewari

Prostate cancer screening and diagnosis has been guided by prostate-specific antigen levels for the past 25 years, but with the most recent US Preventive Services Task Force screening recommendations, as well as concerns regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment, a new wave of prostate cancer biomarkers has recently emerged. These assays allow the testing of urine, serum, or prostate tissue for molecular signs of prostate cancer, and provide information regarding both diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, we discuss 12 commercially available biomarker assays approved for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. The results of clinical validation studies and clinical decision-making studies are presented. This information is designed to assist urologists in making clinical decisions with respect to ordering and interpreting these tests for different patients. There are numerous fluid and biopsy-based genomic tests available for prostate cancer patients that provide the physician and patient with different information about risk of future disease and treatment outcomes. It is important that providers be able to recommend the appropriate test for each individual patient; this decision is based on tissue availability and prognostic information desired. Future studies will continue to emphasize the important role of genomic biomarkers in making individualized treatment decisions for prostate cancer patients. [Rev Urol. 2017;19(4):221–234 doi: 10.3909/riu0772] © 2018 MedReviews®, LLC

Prostate cancerBiomarkers4KscoreProlarisPCA3Prostate Health IndexApifinyMichigan Prostate ScoreSelectMDxConfirmMDxProMarkPTEN/TMPRSS2:ERGDecipher

Joseph SanfrancescoView Articles

Volume 17, Number 2Case Review

Long-term Survival From Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer With Initial Presentation of Symptomatic Cerebellar Lesion: The Role of Selective Surgical Extirpation of the Primary and Metastatic Lesion

Ganesh K KarthaJoseph SanfrancescoEsther UdojiHemant Chaparala (4)Donna HanselJ Stephen Jones

A 59-year-old man was diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma involving an isolated cerebellar metastasis after presenting to the emergency department for headache complaints. After selective surgical excision of the symptomatic brain lesion and delayed cystectomy due to intractable hematuria, he survived 11 years without evidence of recurrence or subsequent systemic chemotherapy. He eventually expired after delayed recurrence in the lung, supraclavicular lymph node, and brain. To our knowledge, this is the only case of prolonged survival from urothelial carcinoma after selective surgical extirpation of the primary and metastatic lesion without subsequent systemic chemotherapy. [Rev Urol. 2015;17(2):106-109 doi: 10.3909/riu0643] © 2015 MedReviews®, LLC

Urothelial carcinomaBladder cancerMetastasisCystectomy

Josh GottilebView Articles

Volume 18, Number 4Review Articles

Smoking-related Genitourinary Cancers: A Global Call to Action in Smoking Cessation

Disease Outcome Update

Marc A BjurlinJosh GottilebCory HigleyRoman Sosnowski

Smoking is a known modifiable risk factor in the development of genitourinary malignancies. Although the association has long been supported by numerous research studies, the impact of smoking cessation on the decreased risk of genitourinary malignancies is less well studied. PubMed databases were searched using the terms smoking, smoking cessation, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, penile cancer, testicular cancer, their synonyms, and also targeted manual searches to perform a literature review in order to summarize the benefits of cessation on disease progression and patient outcomes including survival and morbidities. Our review yielded substantial evidence highlighting the improved outcomes observed in those diagnosed with bladder, renal, and prostate cancers. The risk of bladder cancer is reduced by up to 60% in those who were able to quit for 25 years and the risk of kidney malignancy was reduced by 50% in those who abstained from smoking for 30 years. A similar trend of reduced risk was observed for prostate cancer with those who quit for more than 10 years, having prostate cancer mortality risks similar to those that never smoked. Although the data were encouraging for bladder, renal, and prostate malignancies, there are comparatively limited data quantifying the benefits of smoking cessation for penile and testicular cancers, highlighting an opportunity for further study. The role of urologists and their impact on their patients’ likelihood to quit smoking shows more than half of urologists never discuss smoking cessation upon diagnosis of a malignancy. Most urologists said they did not provide cessation counseling because they do not believe it would alter their patients’ disease progression. Studies show urologists have more influence at changing their patients’ smoking behaviors than their primary care physicians. The diagnosis of cancer may lead to a teachable moment resulting in increased smoking quit rates. Furthermore, implementing a brief 5-minute clinic counseling session increases quit attempts and quit rates. Diagnosis of genitourinary cancers and the following appointments for treatment provide a unique opportunity for urologists to intervene and affect the progression and outcome of disease. [Rev Urol. 2016;18(4):194-204 doi: 10.3909/riu0729] © 2016 MedReviews®, LLC

SmokingRisk reductionSmoking cessationGenitourinary malignancy

Joshua A CohnView Articles

Volume 20, Number 1Review Articles

Nocturia: Evaluation and Current Management Strategies

Management Update

Roger R DmochowskiW Stuart ReynoldsAlan J WeinCasey G KowalikJoshua A CohnSophia DelpeMelissa R KaufmanDoug F Milam

Nocturia is a complex condition that not only significantly affects quality of life, but may be an indicator of systemic disease. Initial assessment includes a detailed history and physical examination and completion of a frequency volume chart to help identify underlying causes, such as sleep disorders, bladder storage disorders, and polyuria. Treatment with alpha-blockers or antimuscarinic medications may help if the underlying cause is determined to be benign prostatic hyperplasia or overactive bladder, respectively. Treatment options for nocturnal polyuria have been limited to behavioral therapy and off-label use of timed diuretics and desmopressin. Desmopressin acetate nasal spray (Noctiva™, Avadel Pharmaceuticals, Chesterfield, MO) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 for the treatment of nocturia due to nocturnal polyuria in adults who awaken at least twice nightly and has shown efficacy in reducing nocturnal voids by $50% in up to 49% of patients in clinical trials. [Rev Urol. 2018;20(1):1–6 doi: 10.3909/riu0797] © 2018 MedReviews®, LLC

Benign prostatic hyperplasiaNocturiaDesmopressinNocturnal polyuriaOveractive bladder

Joshua E LoganView Articles

Volume 14, Number 3Review Articles

Systemic Therapy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Review and Update

Management Update

Karim ChamieJoshua E LoganEdward N RampersaudGeoffrey A SonnDennis J SlamonFairooz F KabbinavarArie S BelldegrunAllan J Pantuck

An in-depth understanding of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is important so that practitioners can make informed evidenced-based decisions with patients to optimize not only quantity of life but quality of life as well. Therefore, this review focuses on the biology of mRCC as it relates to targets for therapy, as well as on the small molecules rationally designed with these targets in mind. In addition, anticipated emerging therapies are highlighted, including the new tyrosine kinase inhibitors axitinib and tivozanib, as well as new immune-based therapies such as dendritic cell-based vaccines and antibodies. We also briefly review recent reports from the emerging field of predicting drug response based on molecular markers. And finally, management of metastatic non-clear cell RCC histologies are discussed focusing on available evidence to direct decision making when assessing therapeutic options. [Rev Urol. 2012;14(3/4):65-78 doi: 10.3909/riu0562] © 2013 MedReviews®, LLC

Metastatic renal cell carcinomaTyrosine kinase inhibitorsDendritic cell-based vaccines

Joycelyn L SpeightView Articles

Volume 8, Supplement 2Review Articles

New Techniques and Management Options for Localized Prostate Cancer

16th International Prostate Cancer Update

Mack Roach IIIJoycelyn L Speight

Prostate cancer is diagnosed in younger men who want treatment that does not compromise their quality of life, take time away from work, or cause worrisome side effects. Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, and third-generation cryotherapy are modifications of previously used techniques in the treatment of prostate cancer and are presented in this article. Although some or all of the outcomes might be expected to change in the future, the urologic surgeon is left to select an approach, presumably on the basis of the experience, level of training, and care pathways at his or her institution. [Rev Urol. 2006;8(suppl 2):S22-S29]

Prostate cancerLaparoscopic radical prostatectomyThird-generation cryotherapy

Juan A ReynaView Articles
Judd W MoulView Articles
Judson D RackleyView Articles
Julia FinkelsteinView Articles

Volume 11, Number 3Review Articles

Screening for Prostate Cancer: A Review of the ERSPC and PLCO Trials

Management Update

Herbert LeporSamir S TanejaBob DjavanElisabeth EckersbergerJulia FinkelsteinHelen SadriMarkus Margreiter

The advent of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in the early 1980srevolutionized the diagnosis of prostate cancer. As a result of PSA testing,there has been a surge in the number of prostate cancer diagnoses. Thisreview examines the results of 2 recent landmark trials that studied the effectof screening on prostate cancer mortality: the European Randomized Study ofScreening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) and the US-based Prostate, Lung,Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial.[Rev Urol. 2009;11(3):127-133 doi: 10.3909/riu0474]

PSA screeningEuropean Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer(ERSPC)Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial

Julia GrabowskiView Articles

Volume 10, Number 1Case Review

Use of a Vacuum-Assisted Device for Fournier’s Gangrene: A New Paradigm

Case Review

Julia GrabowskiJ Kellogg ParsonsJonathan Silberstein

Fournier’s gangrene is a necrotizing infection of the scrotum or perineum that requires aggressive surgical debridement. Radical debridement of perineal necrotizing fasciitis can leave extensive tissue defects that are difficult to close and often require multiple surgical interventions. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) devices have been shown to assist in a more rapid closure of these wounds, but placement of such devices in the perineum can pose significant challenges. We have had success with use of VAC devices and report our techniques for their placement. [Rev Urol. 2008;10(1):76-80]

Fournier’s gangreneVacuum-assisted closure devices

Julian HongView Articles

Volume 23, Number 4Prostate Cancer

Deep Learning for Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Based Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Current Status

Jessica E. ScholeyAbhejit RajagopalJulian HongPeder LarsonKe Sheng

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used for external beam radiation therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer because of its excellent soft tissue contrast and ability to provide functional and physiologic information about tumor behavior. At the same time, deep learning has seen widespread applications in medical imaging, including for MRI-based classification and synthesis. Deep learning–based approaches are being incorporated into the MRI-guided clinical external beam radiation therapy workflow for patient simulation, contouring of targets and critical structures, treatment planning, and treatment delivery. In this review, we examine the current status of deep learning for MRI-guided prostate external beam radiation therapy.

Artificial intelligenceProstatic neoplasmsRadiotherapyMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Deep Learning

Julian SpectorView Articles

Volume 20, Number 2Case Review

Clinical Relevance of Petit’s Triangle: A Forgotten Landmark

Scott HalperinJulian SpectorDavid PennBarry Zisholtz

This rare case details a right-sided hydronephrotic kidney herniated through Petit’s triangle. Petit’s triangle is an anatomical landmark that is usually not clinically significant and only alluded to during multiple-choice examinations. This case describes the clinical ramification of this area of weakness and allows us to revisit and relearn the anatomy, and its relevance in clinical practice. [Rev Urol. 2018;20(2):112–114 doi: 10.3909/riu0796] © 2018 MedReviews®, LLC

HerniaPetit’s triangleHydronephrotic kidney

Junqi QianView Articles
K James KallailView Articles

Volume 22, Number 3Case Review

From Radical to Partial Nephrectomy in the Setting of Solitary Functioning Kidney: Neoadjuvant Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma

David D WatsonNicole G FarhaK James KallailShaker DakhilA J Farha

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This case evaluates the use of neoadjuvant immunotherapy for localized RCC in a patient with solitary functioning kidney. A retrospective chart review was conducted between September 2019 and January 2020 on a single patient. Before treatment, the tumor was 7 cm × 8 cm × 8.5 cm. The patient trialed nivolumab + ipilimumab then cabozantinib. The tumor shrunk to 6.3 cm × 5.5 cm and was removed via partial nephrectomy. This case demonstrates the efficacy of immunotherapy in neoadjuvant treatment of RCC. Expansion of guidelines could allow for patients with RCC to undergo partial nephrectomy. [Rev Urol. 2020;22(3):126-129] © 2020 MedReviews®, LLC

Renal cell carcinomaImmunotherapyNeoadjuvant immunotherapySolitary kidney