Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.0
4.5
Journals
Cancers
Special Issues
New Insights into Urologic Oncology
share announcement

New Insights into Urologic Oncology

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Therapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 November 2024 | Viewed by 8952

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Justin H. Hwang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Interests: genomics; epigenomics; multi-omics; metastasis; treatment resistance
Dr. Song Yi Bae

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Interests: cancer biology; drug resistance; prostate cancer; neuroendocrine tumors; receptor tyrosine kinase pathway; targeted therapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urologic cancer comprises malignancies that affect the prostate, kidney, bladder, penis, and testis, and stands as one of the prominent global contributors to cancer-related mortality. The treatment landscape for these conditions has evolved significantly, incorporating enhanced surgical interventions, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, and precision medicines. However, despite these advancements, many advanced urologic cancer patients still have poor outcomes. We therefore require deeper insights into these diseases. Understanding these mechanisms can improve patient stratification for existing therapies, elucidate the evolving landscape of drug resistance, and drive the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic approaches.

This Special Issue shall discuss concurrent research strategies and clinical observations that advance our understanding of urologic cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Additionally, this will expand our knowledge of causal mechanisms and novel target genes. These areas of research are aimed to improve patient outcomes.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Germline and somatic alterations that drive the disease progression and resistance of urologic cancers;
  • The mechanisms and roles of epigenetic reprogramming on the advancement and resistance of urologic cancers;
  • Innovative predictive tools for therapy responses in patients with urologic cancers;
  • Emerging targets that promote the progression of urologic cancers;
  • The influence of tumor heterogeneity on the responses and resistance to therapies in urologic cancers;
  • The mechanisms that drive lineage plasticity in the context of therapeutic resistance;
  • Identifying novel biomarkers for disease status and developing biomarker-driven therapies to overcome therapeutic resistance.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Justin H. Hwang
Dr. Song Yi Bae
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • urologic cancer
  • therapeutic resistance
  • heterogeneity
  • genomic alterations
  • lineage plasticity
  • epigenetic reprogramming

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

16 pages, 3428 KiB  
Article
Development of Traceable Mouse Models of Advanced and Metastatic Bladder Cancer
by Emma Desponds, Konstantina Kioseoglou, Hana Zdimerova, Marco Ongaro, Grégory Verdeil and Marine M. Leblond
Cancers 2024, 16(12), 2245; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16122245 - 17 Jun 2024
Viewed by 815
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BC) is the fourth most common cancer in men, with a poor patient prognosis for advanced disease. The poor survival of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and metastatic status emphasizes the urgent need to develop new therapies. Lacking in the [...] Read more.
Bladder cancer (BC) is the fourth most common cancer in men, with a poor patient prognosis for advanced disease. The poor survival of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and metastatic status emphasizes the urgent need to develop new therapies. Lacking in the field of BC is the availability of relevant advanced BC mouse models, especially metastatic ones, that accurately recapitulate the complexities of human pathology to test and study new therapeutic strategies. Addressing this need, we developed a traceable mouse model of BC that expresses tumor-associated antigens within the context of advanced muscle-invasive BC. This novel system was achieved through the deletion of the tp53 and pten genes, alongside the incorporation of the fusion construct of Firefly luciferase (Luc) and the SIYRYYGL (SIY) T-cell antigen. We validate that the presence of the transgene did not impact on the development of the tumors while allowing us to measure tumor progression by bioluminescence. We show that the transgene did not influence the composition of the immune tumor microenvironment. More importantly, we report that this model was unresponsive to anti-PD-1 treatment, as in the majority of patients with BC. We also develop a new model based on the orthotopic injection of BC clonal cell lines derived from our first model. We demonstrate that this new model invades the muscle layer and has a metastasis development rate of 83%. The advantage of this model is that we can visualize tumor growth and metastasis development in vivo. These mouse models’ characteristics, displaying many similarities with the human pathology, provide a valuable tool for tracking tumor progression, metastasis spread in vivo, and treatment resistance, as well as exploring fundamental and translational aspects of BC biology. This work contributes to the improvement in the landscape of mouse models of advanced BC for testing new therapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Urologic Oncology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 571 KiB  
Article
Low Alanine Aminotransferase as a Marker for Sarcopenia and Frailty, Is Associated with Decreased Survival of Bladder Cancer Patients and Survivors—A Retrospective Data Analysis of 3075 Patients
by Menachem Laufer, Maxim Perelman, Gad Segal, Michal Sarfaty and Edward Itelman
Cancers 2024, 16(1), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16010174 - 29 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1102
Abstract
Background. Sarcopenia is characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function and is associated with frailty, a syndrome linked to an increased likelihood of falls, fractures, and physical disability. Both frailty and sarcopenia are recognized as markers for shortened survival in a [...] Read more.
Background. Sarcopenia is characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function and is associated with frailty, a syndrome linked to an increased likelihood of falls, fractures, and physical disability. Both frailty and sarcopenia are recognized as markers for shortened survival in a number of medical conditions and in cancer patient populations. Low alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values, representing low muscle mass (sarcopenia), may be associated with increased frailty and subsequently shortened survival in cancer patients. In the current study, we aimed to assess the potential relationship between low ALT and shorter survival in bladder cancer patients and survivors. Patients and Methods. This was a retrospective analysis of bladder cancer patients and survivors, both in and outpatients. We defined patients with sarcopenia as those presenting with ALT < 17 IU/L. Results. A total of 5769 bladder cancer patients’ records were identified. After the exclusion of patients with no available ALT values or ALT levels above the upper normal limit, the final study cohort included 3075 patients (mean age 73.2 ± 12 years), of whom 80% were men and 1362 (53% had ALT ≤ 17 IU/L. The mean ALT value of patients within the low ALT group was 11.44 IU/L, while the mean value in the higher ALT level group was 24.32 IU/L (p < 0.001). Patients in the lower ALT group were older (74.7 vs. 71.4 years; p < 0.001), had lower BMI (25.8 vs. 27; p < 0.001), and their hemoglobin values were lower (11.7 vs. 12.6 g/dL; p < 0.001). In a univariate analysis, low ALT levels were associated with a 45% increase in mortality (95% CI 1.31–1.60, p < 0.001). In a multivariate model controlling for age, kidney function, and hemoglobin, low ALT levels were still associated with 22% increased mortality. Conclusions. Low ALT values, indicative of sarcopenia and frailty, are associated with decreased survival of bladder cancer patients and survivors and could potentially be applied for optimizing individual treatment decisions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Urologic Oncology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

18 pages, 1058 KiB  
Review
Developmental Therapeutics in Metastatic Prostate Cancer: New Targets and New Strategies
by Jingsong Zhang and Juskaran S. Chadha
Cancers 2024, 16(17), 3098; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16173098 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 544
Abstract
There is an unmet need to develop new treatments for metastatic prostate cancer. With the development of targeted radioligand therapies, bispecific T cell engagers, antibody–drug conjugates and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapies, tumor-associated cell surface antigens have emerged as new [...] Read more.
There is an unmet need to develop new treatments for metastatic prostate cancer. With the development of targeted radioligand therapies, bispecific T cell engagers, antibody–drug conjugates and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapies, tumor-associated cell surface antigens have emerged as new therapeutic targets in metastatic prostate cancer. Ongoing and completed clinical trials targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), six transmembrane epithelial antigens of the prostate 1 (STEAP1), kallikrein-related peptidase 2 (KLK2), prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), and delta-like protein 3 (DLL3) in metastatic prostate cancer were reviewed. Strategies for sequential or combinational therapy were discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Urologic Oncology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

0 pages, 302 KiB  
Review
Is There an Opportunity to De-Escalate Treatments in Selected Patients with Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer?
by María Antonia Gómez-Aparicio, Fernando López-Campos, David Buchser, Antonio Lazo, Patricia Willisch, Abrahams Ocanto, Paul Sargos, Mohamed Shelan and Felipe Couñago
Cancers 2024, 16(13), 2331; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16132331 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 2012
Abstract
The treatment landscape for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer continues to evolve, with systemic treatment being the mainstay of current treatment. Prognostic and predictive factors such as tumour volume and disease presentation have been studied to assess responses to different treatments. Intensification and de-escalation [...] Read more.
The treatment landscape for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer continues to evolve, with systemic treatment being the mainstay of current treatment. Prognostic and predictive factors such as tumour volume and disease presentation have been studied to assess responses to different treatments. Intensification and de-escalation strategies arouse great interest, so several trials are being developed to further personalize the therapy in these populations. Is there an optimal sequence and a possible option to de-intensify treatment in selected patients with a favourable profile? This and other goals will be the subject of this review. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Urologic Oncology)
14 pages, 1855 KiB  
Review
Diagnostic Biomarkers in Renal Cell Tumors According to the Latest WHO Classification: A Focus on Selected New Entities
by Francesca Sanguedolce, Roberta Mazzucchelli, Ugo Giovanni Falagario, Angelo Cormio, Magda Zanelli, Andrea Palicelli, Maurizio Zizzo, Albino Eccher, Matteo Brunelli, Andrea Benedetto Galosi, Giuseppe Carrieri and Luigi Cormio
Cancers 2024, 16(10), 1856; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16101856 - 13 May 2024
Viewed by 1239
Abstract
The fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for urogenital tumors, released in 2022, introduces some novelties in the chapter on renal epithelial tumors compared to the previous 2016 classification. Significant changes include the recognition of new disease entities and adjustments [...] Read more.
The fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for urogenital tumors, released in 2022, introduces some novelties in the chapter on renal epithelial tumors compared to the previous 2016 classification. Significant changes include the recognition of new disease entities and adjustments in the nomenclature for certain pathologies. Notably, each tumor entity now includes minimum essential and desirable criteria for reliable diagnosis. This classification highlights the importance of biological and molecular characterization alongside traditional cytological and architectural features. In this view, immunophenotyping through immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays a crucial role in bridging morphology and genetics. This article aims to present and discuss the role of key immunohistochemical markers that support the diagnosis of new entities recognized in the WHO classification, focusing on critical topics associated with single markers, in the context of specific tumors, such as the clear cell capillary renal cell tumor (CCPRCT), eosinophilic solid and cystic renal cell carcinoma (ESC-RCC), and so-called “other oncocytic tumors”, namely the eosinophilic vacuolated tumor (EVT) and low-grade oncocytic tumor (LOT). Their distinctive characteristics and immunophenotypic profiles, along with insights regarding diagnostic challenges and the differential diagnosis of these tumors, are provided. This state-of-the-art review offers valuable insights in biomarkers associated with novel renal tumors, as well as a tool to implement diagnostic strategies in routine practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Urologic Oncology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

37 pages, 5146 KiB  
Systematic Review
Application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Study of Prostate Cancer Disparities: A Systematic Review
by Christiane J. El Khoury
Cancers 2024, 16(15), 2715; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16152715 - 30 Jul 2024
Viewed by 717
Abstract
Introduction: PCa is one of the cancers that exhibits the widest disparity gaps. Geographical place of residence has been shown to be associated with healthcare access/utilization and PCa outcomes. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are widely being utilized for PCa disparities research, however, [...] Read more.
Introduction: PCa is one of the cancers that exhibits the widest disparity gaps. Geographical place of residence has been shown to be associated with healthcare access/utilization and PCa outcomes. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are widely being utilized for PCa disparities research, however, inconsistencies in their application exist. This systematic review will summarize GIS application within PCa disparities research, highlight gaps in the literature, and propose alternative approaches. Methods: This paper followed the methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and the criteria set of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Articles published in peer-reviewed journals were searched through the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases until December 2022. The main inclusion criteria were employing a GIS approach and examining a relationship between geographical components and PCa disparities. The main exclusion criteria were studies conducted outside the US and those that were not published in English. Results: A total of 25 articles were included; 23 focused on PCa measures as outcomes: incidence, survival, and mortality, while only 2 examined PCa management. GIS application in PCa disparities research was grouped into three main categories: mapping, processing, and analysis. GIS mapping allowed for the visualization of quantitative, qualitative, and temporal trends of PCa factors. GIS processing was mainly used for geocoding and smoothing of PCa rates. GIS analysis mainly served to evaluate global spatial autocorrelation and distribution of PCa cases, while local cluster identification techniques were mainly employed to identify locations with poorer PCa outcomes, soliciting public health interventions. Discussion: Varied GIS applications and methodologies have been used in researching PCa disparities. Multiple geographical scales were adopted, leading to variations in associations and outcomes. Geocoding quality varied considerably, leading to less robust findings. Limitations in cluster-detection approaches were identified, especially when variations were captured using the Spatial Scan Statistic. GIS approaches utilized in other diseases might be applied within PCa disparities research for more accurate inferences. A novel approach for GIS research in PCa disparities could be focusing more on geospatial disparities in procedure utilization especially when it comes to PCa screening techniques. Conclusions: This systematic review summarized and described the current state and trend of GIS application in PCa disparities research. Although GIS is of crucial importance when it comes to PCa disparities research, future studies should rely on more robust GIS techniques, carefully select the geographical scale studied, and partner with GIS scientists for more accurate inferences. Such interdisciplinary approaches have the potential to bridge the gaps between GIS and cancer prevention and control to further advance cancer equity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Urologic Oncology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2877 KiB  
Systematic Review
Urine-Based Biomarker Test Uromonitor® in the Detection and Disease Monitoring of Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Test Performance
by Anton P. Kravchuk, Ingmar Wolff, Christian Gilfrich, Ralph M. Wirtz, Paula Soares, Kay-Patrick Braun, Sabine D. Brookman-May, Lisa Kollitsch, Katharina Hauner, Martin Burchardt, Johannes Bründl, Maximilian Burger and Matthias May
Cancers 2024, 16(4), 753; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16040753 - 11 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1711
Abstract
Optimal urine-based diagnostic tests (UBDT) minimize unnecessary follow-up cystoscopies in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder-cancer (NMIBC), while accurately detecting high-grade bladder-cancer without false-negative results. Such UBDTs have not been comprehensively described upon a broad, validated dataset, resulting in cautious guideline recommendations. Uromonitor®, [...] Read more.
Optimal urine-based diagnostic tests (UBDT) minimize unnecessary follow-up cystoscopies in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder-cancer (NMIBC), while accurately detecting high-grade bladder-cancer without false-negative results. Such UBDTs have not been comprehensively described upon a broad, validated dataset, resulting in cautious guideline recommendations. Uromonitor®, a urine-based DNA-assay detecting hotspot alterations in TERT, FGFR3, and KRAS, shows promising initial results. However, a systematic review merging all available data is lacking. Studies investigating the diagnostic performance of Uromonitor® in NMIBC until November 2023 were identified in PubMed, Embase, Web-of-Science, Cochrane, Scopus, and medRxiv databases. Within aggregated analyses, test performance and area under the curve/AUC were calculated. This project fully implemented the PRISMA statement. Four qualifying studies comprised a total of 1190 urinary tests (bladder-cancer prevalence: 14.9%). Based on comprehensive analyses, sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value/PPV, negative-predictive value/NPV, and test accuracy of Uromonitor® were 80.2%, 96.9%, 82.1%, 96.6%, and 94.5%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.886 (95%-CI: 0.851–0.921). In a meta-analysis of two studies comparing test performance with urinary cytology, Uromonitor® significantly outperformed urinary cytology in sensitivity, PPV, and test accuracy, while no significant differences were observed for specificity and NPV. This systematic review supports the use of Uromonitor® considering its favorable diagnostic performance. In a cohort of 1000 patients with a bladder-cancer prevalence of ~15%, this UBDT would avert 825 unnecessary cystoscopies (true-negatives) while missing 30 bladder-cancer cases (false-negatives). Due to currently limited aggregated data from only four studies with heterogeneous quality, confirmatory studies are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Urologic Oncology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop