The Leydig cells of the testis can respond positively to exogenous hCG even under hypergonadotropic conditions. HCG-based hormonal therapy prior to a second micro-TESE attempt is effective in men with hypospermatogenesis.

This study indicates that urinary IL-2 at the eighth instillation of BCG may serve as a valuable prognostic factor of treatment efficacy as well as tumor recurrence after treatment.

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) participates in bipolar spindle formation and entry into mitosis. Chromosomal instability (CIN) is caused by abnormalities in spindle formation and chromosome segregation. In this study, we investigated the relationship of PLK1 overexpression to CIN, and compared the PLK1 status with clinicopathological parameters in 101 human urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder. Expression of PLK1 and the number of centrosomes were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Numerical aberrations of chromosomes 7, 9 and 17 spots that allowed estimation of CIN were evaluated by fluorescence in situhybridization, and DNA ploidy was assessed by laser scanning cytometry. Cancers with a large intercellular variation in centromere copy number were defined as CIN cancers.Tumors with PLK1 overexpression were associated more frequently with CIN (p < 0.0001), DNA aneuploidy (p = 0.0007) and centrosome amplification (p = 0.0013) than those without. Overexpression of PLK1 was significantly related to higher pathological grade (p = 0.0024), multiple tumors (p = 0.0241) and positive urine cytology (p = 0.0192). These data suggest that a high level expression of PLK1 confers tumor progression advantages to urothelial cancer cells, although other factors are also involved.

DNA repair enzymes repair DNA damaged by platinum agents and ionising radiation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repair genes modulate the repair capacity and might affect response and prognosis following platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We investigated associations between the functional SNPs in DNA repair genes and response and survival in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients treated with CRT to determine the predictive value of the SNPs in patient selection for bladder conservation therapy. The study group comprised 78 patients who underwent CRT for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in xeroderma pigmentosum complementation groups C (Lys939Gln, A/ C), D (XPD; Lys751Gln, A/C), and G (Asp1104His, G/C), and X-ray repair cross-complementing groups 1 (XRCC1; Arg399Gln, G/ A) and 3 (Thr241Met, T/C) genes were genotyped. Combined genotypes with at least one variant allele in XPD or XRCC1 were significantly associated with improved cancer-specific survival compared with remaining groups (P ¼ 0.009). In multivariate analysis, only the combined XPD and XRCC1 genotypes were independently associated with cancer-specific survival (P ¼ 0.04). The association was stronger in stage T3/T4 patients (P ¼ 0.0008). These results suggest that combined XPD and XRCC1 genotypes might be prognostic factors in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients treated with CRT.

Objectives To evaluate operative and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy through a transperitoneal approach and retroperitoneal approach for large (>5 cm in diameter) pheochromocytomas. Methods We retrospectively compared the results of a transperitoneal approach with those of a retroperitoneal approach in 22 patients (mean age 57.5 years, range 38–76 years) with unilateral large pheochromocytomas (12 right, 10 left). The mean body mass index, operation time, pneumoperitoneum time, estimated blood loss, fluctuation in blood pressure and complication rate were compared between the two approaches. Results The mean tumor diameter (range) was 7.0 cm (range 5.2–15.5 cm), and no significant differences were observed between the transperitoneal approach and retroperitoneal approach in any baseline clinical parameter. For right‐sided procedures, significant differences were found for operation time (113 vs 85 min), pneumoperitoneum time (93 vs 64 min) and estimated blood loss (96 vs 23 mL; P < 0.05, transperitoneal approach and retroperitoneal approach, respectively). No open conversion or recurrence was reported, but one right transperitoneal approach case required blood transfusion. No difference in these parameters was noted on the left side. Conclusions For right side procedures, the retroperitoneal approach is feasible, safer and faster than the transperitoneal approach for large pheochromocytomas. Early transection of the feeding artery is beneficial for managing the tumor and reducing the risk of bleeding.