bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Access to care and health care quality metrics in urban versus rural patients (pts) with advanced prostate cancer (aPC).
Authors: Li Haoran , Sahu Kamal Kant Kant , Kumar Shruti Adidam , Mathew Thomas Vinay , Tripathi Nishita , Gebrael Georges , Sayegh Nicolas , Chigarira Beverly , Jo Yeonjung , Swami Umang , Gupta Sumati , Maughan Benjamin L. , Agarwal Neeraj 
Published: March 2023

37 Background: Compared to the urban population, pts in rural areas face healthcare disparities and experience inferior healthcare-related outcomes. Herein we aimed to compare the health care quality metrics and outcomes between pts with aPC from rural versus urban areas treated at a tertiary cancer hospital. Methods: In this IRB approved retrospective study, eligibility criteria were: presence of aPC, treatment at a single center (NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCI-CCC), between 10/2017 to 9/2021). Rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes from the 2010 census /were used to classify the pts’ residences as urban (1-3) or rural (4-10) areas. The straight-line to distance of the pts’ place of residence from our institute was also calculated and included in the analysis. The median household income data were obtained and calculated from “The Michigan Population Studies Center”, based on individual zip codes. Results: A total of 994 pts were eligible and included (83.9% urban vs 16.1% rural). The baseline demographic profile and tumor characteristics were similar between the two groups. The median household income of pts from urban areas was higher by $8604/annum than that from rural areas (p<0.0001). There was no difference between urban versus rural pts in terms of receipt of lines of systemic therapies, clinical trial accrual, and receipt of tumor genomic profiling. No significant difference was found in the median overall survival between the two population (83.7 versus 92.8 months; p=0.14). Conclusions: These hypothesis generating data show that access to quality care, as available in an NCI-CCC can mitigate the disparities in the quality of health care delivery and clinical outcomes in urban versus rural pts with aPC. [Table: see text]
HDR brachytherapy and radiotherapy as salvage treatment for macroscopic recurrence in the prostate bed after radical prostatectomy.
Authors: Guix Benjamin , Panichi Marco , Garcia Ivan , Gonzalez Emma , Najjari Dina , Guix Ines , Costa Fernando , Sole Josep Maria , Guix Teresa , Quinzaños Luis 
Published: March 2023

370 Background: To present early and late toxicity, biochemical, local, regional and distant control and survival in a prospective series of 75 patients with macroscopic local recurrence in the prostate bed after radical prostatectomy treated by salvage HDR brachytherapy. Methods: Between 12/1999 and 12/2020, 75 patients (pts) with exclusive macroscopic recurrence in the prostate bed after radical prostatectomy without nodal or distant metastases, were included in the study. Pts were prospectively treated by 46 Gy IMRT radiotherapy to the surgical bed followed by 16 Gy HDR brachytherapy in 2 implants of 8Gy each, one week apart and hormone therapy for 36 months. Rectal limitant dose was 85% and for urethra 115% of the prescribed dose. Toxicity was recorded according to the EORTC/RTOG criteria. Special attention to PSA levels, biochemical, local, nodal and distant metastases control and survival, as well as to quality of life was taken. Results: All pts completed treatment. No pts experienced grade 3 or higher rectal or urinary toxicity. odos los pacientes completaron el tratamiento. 2 pts presented G1 rectal toxicity (ocasional rectorragia) and 1 pts G2 rectitis (persistent rectorragia), that ceased with topic treatment (cortisone ointment) 1 Pts had G1 urethral toxicity (dysuria), that spontaneously disappeared qat few months no requiring any medical intervention. No patient developed stenosis, necrosis or urethral fistula during follow-up. With a median follow-up of 102 months, 13 pts had failure of the disease: 6 biochemical-only, 2 local recurrence, 2 pelvic recurrence, 1 paraaortic recurrence and 2 distant metastases. 2 patients died by the disease and 1 patient died by other cause (age related). Conclusions: IMRT plus HDR brachytherapy was a safe treatment without any early or late significant side-effect. Combined treatment by IMRT and HDR plus androgen deprivation was extraordinary effective in the control or macroscopic local recurrences in the prostatectomy bed after radical prostatectomy. Further studies are warranted.
Development and clinical validation of a novel biopsy-based six-gene signature to accurately risk-stratify men with early-stage prostate cancer to aid treatment decision making.
Authors: Krzyzanowska Agnieszka , Barron Stephen , Higgins Debra , Loughman Tony , Sheehan Katherine , Chan-Ju Wang Angel , Fender Bozena , McGuire Leah M , Galvin David Jonathan , O'Neill Amanda , Fay Joanna , O'Grady Anthony , O'Leary Des , Watson William , Bjartell Anders , Gallagher William M. 
Published: March 2023

374 Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is diagnosed in over 1.2 million men worldwide annually, making it the second-most common non-cutaneous cancer in men. Most men have indolent PCa and can safely defer treatment with active surveillance. However, many patients are commonly treated with surgery (radical prostatectomy, RP) or radiation therapy, which are associated with a significant reduction in quality of life. Molecular signatures have been developed to assist clinicians in stratifying patients based on their risk of aggressive PCa; while these have shown promise, there remains a significant opportunity for improving prognostic capacity. Methods: A panel of fourteen prognostic genes was identified from The Cancer Genome Atlas Prostate Adenocarcinoma (TCGA PRAD) database. Gene expression was measured by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction in RP samples from an Irish cohort of men diagnosed with PCa and treated with RP (PCRC, n=426). Cross-validated logistic regression analysis identified a six-gene molecular risk score (MRS) with strong prognostic performance to predict aggressive PCa, i.e., adverse pathology (AP) at RP or biochemical recurrence (BCR). The MRS was combined with the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) score to create a molecular plus clinical risk score (MCRS). The MRS and MCRS were clinically validated in biopsy samples from an independent Swedish cohort of men diagnosed with PCa and treated by RP (UPCA, n=100). Results: We identified a six-gene signature, consisting of four prognostic and two reference genes, with improved prognostic value over clinical features. In the clinical biopsy validation study univariable analysis, the AUC of the signature for AP was 0.72 (MRS) and 0.82 (MCRS) versus 0.72 for EAU risk categories and 0.82 for CAPRA. The C-index for BCR was 0.62 (MRS) and 0.74 (MCRS) versus 0.65 for EAU risk categories and 0.73 for CAPRA. Furthermore, in bivariable analysis, the six-gene signature added statistically significant (p < 0.001) prognostic value to EAU risk categories and CAPRA. Conclusions: The six-gene prognostic signature has strong performance for AP and BCR in an independent clinical biopsy validation study. MCRS can provide improved prognostic stratification and inform optimal patient management post-diagnosis.
Prediction of early prostate cancer recurrence using a liquid biopsy approach.
Authors: Rahbar Kambiz , Kidd Mark , Seitzer Konstantin Egon , Schrader Andres Jan , Boegemann Martin , Modlin Irvin Mark 
Published: March 2023

386 Background: A critical clinical concern after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer (PCa) is the timely identification of residual disease. Recurrent disease (biochemical recurrence: BCR) develops in approximately 30% of radical prostatectomies within 5 years of surgery. Currently, clinicopathological variables, including pathological tumor stage (pT-stage), Gleason score and PSA, or algorithmic combinatorial calculations (e.g., CAPRA-S) are used to predict BCR. Early and objective prediction of individuals at high risk of BCR would enable stratification of follow-up strategies and facilitate therapeutic therapy. To achieve these goals, we developed a liquid biopsy, the PROSTest, to identify PCa. This is a 27 multigene algorithmic signature with a high sensitivity and specificity (>90%) for PCa detection. We investigated if the PROSTest had utility as a predictive biomarker for BCR. Methods: Prospective recruitment of 60 PCa for radical prostatectomy with assessment of standard pathological, clinical and biomarker (PSA) data. D’Amico Risk scores and CAPRA-S were calculated. Blood was collected for PROSTest measurement pre-surgery. Target genes were amplified using qPCR and scored (0-100) using algorithmic analysis. Pre-surgical PROSTest scores were evaluated as predictors of BCR and compared with standard criteria as well as DR and CAPRA-S scores. Data was evaluated using Mann-Whitney U-test, multiple regression analyses, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox-proportional modeling. All data: median (range). Results: Consent was obtained in 48 (80%) patients. Median age (range) was 64 (50-82). Gleason was predominantly 7 (85%; 26: 7A, 15: 7B); TNM was primarily T2c (48%) and T3a (32%) with nodal disease evident in 8% and 0% cM1 disease. Resections were R0 (85%) and 7 R1. The median follow-up was 42 days (range: 14-782). Early BCR occurred in 8 (17%) patients. This included 3/7 (43%) of R1 and 5/41 (12%) R0 resections. PSMA imaging confirmed 3 LN recurrences and new visceral ( n=1) and bone ( n=1) disease. D’Amico Risk scores were mostly “high” (88% with risk score ≥50%) and were not associated with early BCR. CAPRA-S scores were higher in those who developed early BCR (5: 1-9) than in those who did not (2: 0-5). Pre-surgical PROSTest scores were elevated in all (median 59: 15-81). Multiple regression analysis identified only PROSTest score ≥60 and nodal status were associated with BCR. The median Recurrence Free Survival (mRFS) was 89 days compared to undefined in those with baseline PROSTest scores ≥60 (HR: 9.7; 95%CI: 2.16-43.7; p=0.003). No recurrences were identified in those with scores <60. Conclusions: Early biochemical recurrence (within 3 months of surgery) can be accurately predicted by elevated (≥60) pre-surgical PROSTest blood gene expression scores. This suggests the marker could be used as a stratification tool for neoadjuvant therapy, or to guide the frequency of monitoring during follow-up.
Use of IsoPSA with prostate MRI PIRADS score in biopsy decision making in patients with elevated PSA.
Authors: Benidir Tarik , Lone Zaeem M , Abdallah Nour , Wood Andrew , Campbell Rebecca , Purysko Andrei , Nguyen Jane , Klein Eric A. , Abouassaly Robert , Campbell Steven , Weight Christopher J. 
Published: March 2023

388 Background: IsoPSA is prospectively validated to be superior to PSA and percent free PSA in predicting prostate cancer (PCa) as well as clinically significant prostate cancer. We sought to evaluate the use of IsoPSA in combination with prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the prostate imaging reporting and data systems (PIRADS) on predicting either benign/indolent or csPCA at biopsy. Methods: This was a single center retrospective review of prospectively collected patient data that included all patients who underwent IsoPSA testing, preoperative prostate MRI and prostate biopsy from 2019-2021. Chi Squared analysis was used to assess for associations between a binary classification of low (<6) or elevated (>6) IsoPSA index, in combination with PIRADS scores in predicting either indolent/benign or csPCa at biopsy. Logistic regression was used to explore independent predictors of csPCa. Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analysis was completed with areas under the curve (AUC) for IsoPSA and PIRADS scores, both alone and in combination. Predictive probabilities were assessed using combinations of IsoPSA thresholds and PIRADS scores. Results: 207 patients met inclusion criteria. Among patients with a negative MRI, low IsoPSA index was associated with a lower chance of csPCa compared to those with elevated IsoPSA (2% vs 15%, p<0.018). For those with a PIRADS 4-5 lesion, elevated IsoPSA index was associated with a higher chance of csPCa at biopsy compared to a low IsoPSA index (49% vs 19%, p=0.05). On multivariate analysis, elevated IsoPSA and PIRADS 4-5 were independent predictors of csPCa (p<0.001). Similarly, low IsoPSA index and negative MRI were independent predictors of benign/indolent disease at biopsy (p<0.001). Using predictive probabilities, the combination of PIRADS 4-5 with elevated IsoPSA was associated with the highest risk of csPCa (48%) and the highest AUC (0.83) for predicting csPCa. This AUC value was superior to either marker alone (0.76, 0.76) and total PSA alone (0.57) (p<0.001). Conclusions: The combination of elevated IsoPSA with adverse PIRADS score (4-5) is associated with a 48% predicted probability of csPCa at biopsy with an AUC of 0.83, which was more accurate than either marker alone. A low IsoPSA in combination with a negative MRI resulted in a 98% chance of benign/indolent disease at biopsy. These findings may prove useful for the practicing Urologist and may help guide discussions regarding the need for biopsy when interpreting various IsoPSA/PIRADS combinations. [Table: see text]
Testicular radiomics correlated with pathology at time of post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for non-seminomatous germ cell tumor.
Authors: Taylor Jacob , Venishetty Nikit , Xi Yin , Howard Jeffrey , Ng Yee Seng , Bagrodia Aditya 
Published: March 2023

413 Background: Testicular germ cell tumors are the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in men aged 20 to 39 years old. Up to a third of patients will have metastatic disease at presentation typically managed with upfront chemotherapy. For many patients with metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT), post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) is performed to further stage and treat residual disease in the retroperitoneum. Although 50% of patients will have viable GCT or teratoma, we do not have accurate tools to predict pre-operatively which patients will have residual disease after chemotherapy. Testicular radiomics is an emerging field that collects complex quantitative tumor imaging data from conventional imaging to aid in clinical decision making. Our aim was to use testicular radiomics data to predict pathology after PC-RPLND. Methods: We extracted radiomics data on 45 patients with metastatic NSGCT undergoing PC-RPLND from 2008-2019. Clinical and pathologic data were collected. Regions of interest (ROI) around metastatic nodes were drawn by a dedicated abdominal radiologist. PyRadiomics, an open-source imaging extraction software, was used to extract first order, shape, and second order statistics from each ROI. Multiple t-tests of testing difference in radiomic features between binary pathology type were performed. P values were adjusted using the BH method to control false discovery rate. Boxplot of features with adjusted p value < 0.05 were shown. Radiomic feature extraction was done in python 3.7 and statistical analyses were done in R 4.2.0. Results: There were 16 (36%) clinical stage II patients and 28 (62%) clinical stage III. 19 (42%) patients had necrosis on PC-RPLND pathology, while 24 (53%) and 2 (4%) patients had teratoma and viable germ cell tumor, respectively. First order statistics mean, median, 90th percentile and root mean squares were significant. Strong correlations were observed between these four features and a lower signal was associated with positive pathology (Table). No significant difference was observed in other first order, shape, or texture features. Conclusions: Testicular radiomics is an emerging tool that has the potential to help predict which patients with metastatic NSGCT are at higher risk of persistent disease after chemotherapy. This study found relatively few first order radiomic data that were correlated with post-operative pathology. Further precision of extraction of the radiomics data may improve clinical decision-making in patients with metastatic NSGCT after chemotherapy prior to RPLND. [Table: see text]
High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant (HDCT) for patients (pts) with advanced germ-cell tumors (aGCT): Real-world evidence from a tertiary cancer center in Brazil.
Authors: Polho Gabriel Berlingieri , Cunha Mateus Trinconi , Xavier Erick Menezes , Silva Jamile Almeida , Hidalgo Filho Cassio Murilo Trovo , Crusoé Nathália de Souza Del Rey , Atanazio Marcelo Junqueira , Horita Vivian , Fialho de Freitas Guilherme , Muniz David Queiroz Borges , Geraldo Rocha Vanderson , Mota Jose Mauricio 
Published: March 2023

414 Background: HDCT is a potentially curative treatment for pts with aGCT after conventional-dose chemotherapy (CDC). There is scarce evidence of outcomes from aGCT pts treated with HDCT in low and middle-income countries. Methods: We reviewed our institutional database to identify pts with progressive aGCT referred for HDCT following tumor boards. Medical charts were analyzed to extract clinical data. Log-rank was used to compare survival estimates and Cox proportional hazard to determine effects on overall survival (OS). Exploratory correlation and survival trend analysis used synthetic minority oversampling and Spearman’s rho estimated correlations. Results: From 1/2013 to 8/2022, 35 aGCT pts were referred for HDCT. Median age was 28 years (IQR 25-30). Most pts had testicular primary (84%), non-seminoma histology (87%), 1 prior treatment line (62%), poor-risk by IGCCCG (78%), and intermediate to very high-risk by IPFSG (45%). Of these, 32 pts were deemed eligible after initial evaluation, 25 had mobilization chemotherapy, and 21 received ≥1 cycle of HDCT. Reasons for treatment non-fulfillment included progressive disease and/or performance deterioration due to toxicity. HDCT regimen varied, with most pts receiving TI-CE (62%). Most pts had delays ≥1 month (85%) and ≥2 months (52%) in the scheduled treatment. The 1-year and 2-year OS rates were 42% and 38% in the eligible population, while 70% and 62% among those who had ≥ 1 cycle HDCT. No risk factors correlated with OS in the univariate analysis (Table). Exploratory analysis of oversampled pts treated with ≥1 cycle of HDCT showed correlation of poor IGCCCG (p<0.01) and IPFSG (p=0.03) with OS. Time to mobilization (TTM) was larger in poor-risk IGCCCG pts (0.4 vs. 1.7 months, p<0.01). Four deaths were attributed to HDCT. Conclusions: HDCT was feasible at our tertiary center in Brazil, despite some treatment-related deaths. For pts who had at least 1 HDCT cycle, survival outcomes were similar to the established literature. Significant delays in protocol were noted and correlated with prognostic group risk. [Table: see text]
Impact of age on the therapy-related characteristics and outcomes of testicular germ cell tumors at a tertiary care center in India.
Authors: Pathak Neha , Kumar Sudhir , Raj Abhishek , Sahoo Ranjit Kumar , KP Haresh , Singh Prabhjot , Shamim Shamim Ahmed , Seth Amlesh , Ray M D , Kaushal Seema , Das Chandan Krushna , Batra Atul 
Published: March 2023

415 Background: Testicular germ cell tumors (t-GCTs) commonly present in age group 20-40 years (yrs). Older patients (pts) in many cancers have worse tolerance to therapy and outcomes. We examine herein the effect of older age in t-GCT pts. Methods: We conducted a chart-review-based retrospective analysis of pts of t-GCTs diagnosed and treated at our urogenital clinic from 2015-2021. Pts were divided into two groups: Age ≤40 years (Group A) and >40 years (Group B). Multivariable Cox regression models were constructed to analyze the prognostic value of older age while adjusting for measured confounders. Results: A total of 298 patients of t-GCT were identified; the median age was 30 yrs (interquartile range 24-37), 43.0% with intermediate or poor risk, 64.8% patients with non-seminomatous GCT (NSGCT), 250 pts in gp A and 48 in gp B. Baseline characteristics in both gps differed significantly with respect to the risk category, and seminoma histology, while there was no difference for performance status (ECOG ≥2), see table. Bleomycin, cisplatin, and etoposide (BEP) was the most common chemotherapy (226/262 pts), and use of BEP was not different in 2 gps (p=0.249). Grade III/IV adverse effect burden was greater in gp B vs gp A for febrile neutropenia, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea, while infertility was more in gp A (Table). Outcomes in terms of markers normalization (163 vs 33, p=0.408) and radiological response (complete remission, 93 vs 20, p=0.205) did not differ. Median overall survival was not reached in both gps, and the hazard ratio for age >40 yrs was 1.91 (95% confidence interval 0.91-3.99, p =0.086), after adjusting for risk category, performance status, and response to therapy. Conclusions: Age does not deter the use of platinum-based therapy, which, although more toxic, has similar efficacy to younger pts of t-GCT. [Table: see text]
POMB/ACE, a cocktail of 7 drugs to treat intermediate to poor prognosis and high volume germ cell cancers: A large retrospective study.
Authors: Howlett Sarah , Reid India , Gogbashian Andrew , Devine Rebecca , Charalambous Linda , Agarwal Samita , Sharma Anand 
Published: March 2023

419 Background: Patients presenting with intermediate and poor risk germ cell tumours tend to be young and fit. Although more than half of patients may hope to be cured, a proportion will die because of their cancer. An aggressive strategy is required to maximise the chance of cure. Alternating high dose chemotherapy regimens have been trialled with varying outcomes. We present real world data demonstrating the efficacy and safety of first-line POMB/ACE (Cisplatin, Vincristine, Methotrexate, Bleomycin alternating with Actinomycin D, Cyclophosphamide, Etoposide) for these patients. Methods: 40 metastatic germ cell patients treated with POMB/ACE were identified at our centre. Patients were classified as being in intermediate or poor prognostic groups based on the International germ cell cancer collaborative group classification (IGCCCG). Treatment was administered every 2 weeks for up to 7 cycles. Response to treatment was determined by radiological imaging and serum tumour markers. Toxicities were evaluated using CTCAE version 5.0. Results: Clinical characteristics were as follows: median age at diagnosis 32 years (range 18-69). 36 patients (90%) were male and 4 patients (10%) were female. 29 (73%) presented with poor risk disease and 11 (27%) with intermediate risk. Patients completed between 1 and 7 cycles of POMB/ACE with the median number of cycles being 5. Data on toxicity severity was collected where available. This is summarised in the table. One grade 4 event was noted. 10 patients experienced grade 3 toxicities. Interestingly no patients were reported to develop bleomycin lung toxicity. This may be due to bleomycin being omitted in patients felt to be at higher risk of lung toxicity (smokers, older patients, pre-existing lung conditions). 30 (75%) patients were progression free following POMB/ACE. 9 (22%) patients went on to have subsequent systemic chemotherapy regimens and high dose stem cell transplant (HDSCT), as they had high volume disease, and persistent marker positive disease. 16 (40%) patients went on to have further surgical interventions, most commonly retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), no active malignancy was seen in the resected specimen. At a median follow-up of 43 months, 39 (97.5%) of patients are still alive. Conclusions: POMB/ACE is a safe and effective regimen for patients presenting with intermediate to poor risk germ cell tumours. Patients with high volume disease should be considered for subsequent HDSCT to achieve better outcomes. [Table: see text]