ABSTRACT Objective: To show a total transabdominal robotic approach to an extensive recalcitrant vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis (VUAS) after open radical prostatectomy (ORP) with end-to-end anastomosis. While there is very little literature on the matter and even fewer videos showing the actual surgical view with a step-by-step explanation in complex cases, VUAS robotic transabdominal surgery provides better view and reach, with potentially better continence results, without the need for pubectomy. Methods: A 72-year-old male was submitted to a failed ORP for Gleason 3+4 localized cancer 2 years before, where the wrong plane of dissection left behind prostate remnants and the seminal vesicles, which evolved with a complex stenosis and recurrent episodes of acute urinary retention (AUR) that started two weeks after the first catheter removal. Five endoscopic procedures in total were unsuccessful and AUR reoccurred. A vesico-urethral cystography (VUC) and multiparametric prostate and urethral MRI found the seminal vesicles with prostate remnants, two centimeters urethral stenosis from bladder neck to bulbar urethra and periurethral fibrosis with no evidence of residual tumor. PSA was 1.2 and prostate biopsy showed no tumor on prostate remnant. A transabdominal robotic approach was chosen. Results: Prostate residue, bladder neck and periurethral fibrosis were excised, with healthy mucosa found on both ends. End-to-end anastomosis was successful. Drain and catheter were removed on the 1st and 14th post-operative day, respectively, with good urinary stream. A VUC at 30 days showed a patent bladder neck. Incontinence was 3 pads/day after catheter removal and decreased to 1 pad/day after 180 days. Conclusions: VUAS may reach 15% (1, 2) and endourologic therapies are first-line choices, however, recalcitrant cases require reconstruction (3–6). The most common approach is perineal, with high incontinence rates, reaching >90% (7, 8). The retropubic alternative has better but also discouraging numbers of up to 58% incontinence rates (9). Though with 100% social continence results, the 2021 European guidelines still could not recommend the robotic procedure as standard of care due to evidence limited to anecdotal reports (10–12).

Introduction and objective: Overexpression of MMPs has been related to biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. TIMP1 and TIMP2 are controllers of MMPs and the aim of this study is to evaluate the expression levels of MMPs and their regulators using immunohistochemistry in tissue microarray of localized prostate cancer (PC). Materials and Methods: Immune-expression of MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP1, TIMP-2, MMP-14 and IL8, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in radical prostatectomy specimens of 40 patients with localized PC who underwent surgery between September 1997 and February 2000. Protein expression was considered as categorical variables, negative or positive. The results of the immune-expression were correlated to Gleason score (GS), pathological stage (TNM), pre-operatory PSA serum levels and biochemical recurrence in a mean follow up period of 92.5 months. Results: The loss of TIMP1 immune-expression was related to biochemical recurrence. When TIMP1 was negative, 56.3% patients recurred versus 22.2% of those whose TIMP1 was positive (p=0.042). MMP-9, MMP-2, IL8 and MMP-14 were positive in the majority of PC. TIMP-2 was negative in all cases. Conclusion: Negative immune-expression of TIMP1 is correlated with biochemical recurrence in patients with PC possibly by failing to control MMP-9, an important MMP related to cancer progression.

Introduction To analyze the association between serum levels of folate and risk of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy among men from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database. Materials and Methods Retrospective analysis of 135 subjects from the SEARCH database treated between 1991-2009 with available preoperative serum folate levels. Patients' characteristics at the time of the surgery were analyzed with ranksum and linear regression. Uni- and multivariable analyses of folate levels (log-transformed) and time to biochemical recurrence were performed with Cox proportional hazards. Results The median preoperative folate level was 11.6ng/mL (reference = 1.5-20.0ng/mL). Folate levels were significantly lower among African-American men than Caucasians (P = 0.003). In univariable analysis, higher folate levels were associated with more recent year of surgery (P < 0.001) and lower preoperative PSA (P = 0.003). In univariable analysis, there was a trend towards lower risk of biochemical recurrence among men with high folate levels (HR = 0.61, 95%CI = 0.37-1.03, P = 0.064). After adjustments for patients characteristics' and pre- and post-operative clinical and pathological findings, higher serum levels of folate were independently associated with lower risk for biochemical recurrence (HR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.20-0.89, P = 0.023). Conclusion In a cohort of men undergoing radical prostatectomy at several VAs across the country, higher serum folate levels were associated with lower PSA and lower risk for biochemical failure. While the source of the folate in the serum in this study is unknown (i.e. diet vs. supplement), these findings, if confirmed, suggest a potential role of folic acid supplementation or increased consumption of folate rich foods to reduce the risk of recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: Extracellular matrix homeostasis is strictly maintained by a coordinated balance between the expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their regulators. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether MMP-2 and its specific regulators, TIMP-2, MT1-MMP and IL-8, are expressed in a reproducible, specific pattern and if the profiles are related to prognosis and clinical outcome of prostate cancer (PCa). MATERIALS AND METHODS: MMP-2, TIMP-2, MT1-MMP and IL-8 expression levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in freshly frozen malignant and benign tissue specimens collected from 79 patients with clinically localized PCa who underwent radical prostatectomies. The control group consisted of 11 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The expression profile of the MMP-2 and its regulators were compared using Gleason scores, pathological stage, pre-operative PSA levels and the final outcome of the PCa. RESULTS: The analysis of 79 specimens of PCa revealed that MMP-2, TIMP-2, MT1-MMP and IL-8 were underexpressed at 60.0%, 72.2%, 62.0% and 65.8%, respectively, in malignant prostatic tissue in relation to BPH samples. Considering the prognostic parameters, we demonstrated that high Gleason score tumors (> 7) overexpressed MMP-2 (p = 0.048) and TIMP-2 (p = 0.021), compared to low Gleason score tumors (< 7). CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that MMP-2 and its regulators are underexpressed in PCa. Alternatively, overexpression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 was related to higher Gleason score tumors. We postulate that alterations in metalloproteinase expression may be important in the control of tissue homeostasis related to prostate carcinogenesis and tumor behavior.

In this study, the fixed - bed adsorption of carbon dioxide and a carbon dioxide - nitrogen mixture on zeolite 13X was investigated. The adsorption equilibrium and breakthrough curves were determined at different temperatures - 301 - 306 K, 323 K, 373 K and 423 K. A model based on the LDF approximation for the mass transfer, considering the energy and momentum balances, was used to describe the adsorption kinetics of carbon dioxide and a carbon dioxide - nitrogen mixture. The model acceptably reproduced all of the breakthrough curves and can be considered as adequate for designing a PSA cycle to separate carbon dioxidenitrogen mixtures.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a formula that estimates tumor volume in localized prostate cancer based on serum prostate specific antigen levels. One of the main prognostic variables in localized prostate cancer is tumor volume, which can be precisely defined only after prostate extirpation. The present study defines a simple method that allows for estimation of tumor volume before treatment, which can help to establish a better therapeutic strategy for each patient. METHODS: From 1997 to 2002, 735 patients with prostate cancer of stagesT1c-T2c without any previous treatment were submitted to radical prostatectomy. Surgical specimens were evaluated by the same pathologist and the total tumor volume (in cc) and the relative tumor volume (as the percent of the total prostate volume) were determined using the grid morphometric method. Pretreatment serum prostate specific antigen was correlated with tumor volume in each patient using a linear regression model. RESULTS: There were positive correlations between the serum levels of prostate specific antigen and the total tumor volume in cc (p<0.001) and the relative tumor volume as a percentage (p<0.001). For each ng/ml unit increment of serum prostate specific antigen, there was a 0.302 cc increase in total tumor volume and a 0.7% increase in relative tumor volume. Total and percent tumor volume could be calculated, respectively, using the formulas Volume (cc) = 3.476 + 0.302 x PSA (ng/ml) and Volume (%) = 11.331 + 0.704 x prostate specific antigen (ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor volume in patients with prostate cancer can be determined before treatment based on the serum prostate specific antigen levels.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the capacity of the PSA density (PSAD), Free PSA percentage (%FPSA) and PSA transition zone density (PSATZ) in improving the sensitivity and specificity of the PSA to detect prostate cancer (PCa) in men with a PSA between 4 and 10 ng/mL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty five men with PSA between 4 and 10 ng/mL were prospectively studied. Blood collection for the total PSA and free PSA was performed as well as transrectal ultra-sound with prostate biopsy and measurement of the total prostate volume (TPV) and transition zone volume (TZV). Patients with initial negative biopsy were followed and the prostate biopsy was repeated in those that presented PSA increase. The capacity of the PSAD, %FPSA and PSADTZ in improving the sensitivity and specificity pf the PSA test to the detection of the PCa was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses and through the ROC curve. RESULTS: Of the 145 patients, 38 (26.2%) had PCa and in 107 (73.8%) a benign prostate disease was diagnosed. No difference among the PSAD, %FPSA and PSADTZ was found. The multivariate analysis showed that the PSADTZ, %FPSA, TZV and age were those more powerful and highly significant PCa predictors. CONCLUSION:The determination of %FPSA and PSAD can allow a better discrimination between PCa and benign disease that the isolated use of PSA. The combination of PSADTZ, %FPSA, TZV and age promote a high accuracy for PCa detection.

OBJECTIVE: It is controversial whether age is associated with higher grade and worse outcome. Some studies have not found age to be related to outcome nor younger age to be associated with better response to therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 27 patients aged 55 years or younger and 173 patients 56 years or older submitted to radical prostatectomy. The variables studied were preoperative PSA, time to PSA progression following radical prostatectomy and pathologic findings in surgical specimens: Gleason score, Gleason predominant grade, positive surgical margins, tumor extent, extraprostatic extension (pT3a), and seminal vesicle invasion (pT3b). RESULTS: Comparing patients aged 55 years or younger and 56 years or older, there was no statistically significant difference for all variables studied: preoperative PSA (p = 0.4417), Gleason score (p = 0.3934), Gleason predominant grade (p = 0.2653), tumor extent (p = 0.1190), positive surgical margins (p = 0.8335), extraprostatic extension (p = 0.3447) and seminal vesicle invasion (p > 0.9999). During the study period, 44 patients (22%) developed PSA progression. No difference was found in the time to biochemical progression between men aged 55 years or younger and 56 years or older. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that age alone do not influence the biological aggressiveness of prostate cancer.