No abstract

IntroductionRegulated exocytosis from vascular endothelial cells forms the first line of repair following tissue damage and inflammation. 1 Endothelial-specific secretory granules, the so-called Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), 2 release their contents in response to various physiologic stimuli such as physical trauma, mediators of inflammation, and hypoxia. The major secretory product of WPBs, von Willebrand Factor (VWF), assembles into remarkably long strings (up to several millimeters long) that capture flowing platelets and bind to connective tissue at the site of vascular injury to form a hemostatic plug. [3][4][5] WPBs have a distinctive elongated shape of 0.1 to 0.2 m wide and up to 5 m long, with a uniform pattern of striations running along the longitudinal axis. [6][7][8] These striations represent VWF filaments that have assembled into helical tubules. 9 Packing of VWF multimers into tubules requires both the N-terminal domains of mature VWF and the cleaved VWF propeptide, while the maintenance of the tubules in WPBs depends on a pH-sensitive interaction between mature VWF and the propeptide. 4,10,11 Microscopic imaging techniques have been instrumental in advancing our knowledge of WPB biogenesis and exocytosis. In particular, live-cell imaging studies using genetically labeled WPB cargo proteins have stressed the extraordinary plasticity of the regulated secretory pathway leading to WPB exocytosis. [12][13][14][15][16] Thus secretagogues that elevate intracellular cAMP levels cause a subset of WPBs to cluster at the level of the microtubuleorganizing center so that they do not partake in exocytosis. 12 Secretagogues that elevate intracellular Ca 2ϩ levels, on the other hand, do not elicit this effect. On the basis of these findings, and taking into account evidence for the existence of WPB subpopulations that except for VWF differ in their content of cargo molecules, it has been suggested that WPB clustering allows for the differential release of bioactive molecules from WPBs. 17 Further modulation of the release of WPB constituents is possible during the exocytosis process itself, as it has been shown that WPBs can engage in 2 modes of exocytosis, full-collapse and a slow form of kiss-and-run (lingering kiss). 14 In the latter mode, a 10-to 12-nm fusion pore is formed that acts as a molecular sieve allowing for the selective release of smaller molecules (interleukin-8, CD63) while larger molecules such as VWF are retained.In the present report, we expand the palette of exocytosis modes of WPBs by providing evidence for multigranular exocytosis, that is, the homotypic fusion of secretory granules prior to exocytosis. Using confocal, live-cell, correlative, scanning electron, and electron tomographic imaging techniques applied to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we identified a novel structure, which we termed secretory pod, and which represents a secretory intermediate resulting from the coalescence of WPBs. In addition, our data suggest that fusion of WPBs with secretory pods is mediate...

Background: Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial. Objective: To bring together a large multidisciplinary group of experts to develop consensus statements on controversial topics in bladder cancer management. Design: A steering committee compiled proposed statements regarding advanced and variant bladder cancer management which were assessed by 113 experts in a Delphi survey. Statements not reaching consensus were reviewed; those prioritised were revised by a panel of 45 experts prior to voting during a consensus conference. Setting: Online Delphi survey and consensus conference. Participants: The European Association of Urology (EAU), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), experts in bladder cancer management. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Statements were ranked by experts according to their level of agreement: 1-3 (disagree), 4-6 (equivocal), and 7-9 (agree). A priori (level 1) consensus was defined as 70% agreement and 15% disagreement, or vice versa. In the Delphi survey, a second analysis was restricted to stakeholder group(s) considered to have adequate expertise relating to each statement (to achieve level 2 consensus). Results and limitations: Overall, 116 statements were included in the Delphi survey. Of these statements, 33 (28%) achieved level 1 consensus and 49 (42%) achieved level 1 or 2 consensus. At the consensus conference, 22 of 27 (81%) statements achieved consensus. These consensus statements provide further guidance across a broad range of topics, including the management of variant histologies, the role/limitations of prognostic biomarkers in clinical decision making, bladder preservation strategies, modern radiotherapy techniques, the management of oligometastatic disease, and the evolving role of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in metastatic disease. Conclusions: These consensus statements provide further guidance on controversial topics in advanced and variant bladder cancer management until a time when further evidence is available to guide our approach. Patient summary: This report summarises findings from an international, multistakeholder project organised by the EAU and ESMO. In this project, a steering committee identified areas of bladder cancer management where there is currently no good-quality evidence to guide treatment decisions. From this, they developed a series of proposed statements, 71 of which achieved consensus by a large group of experts in the field of bladder cancer. It is anticipated that these statements will provide further guidance to health care professionals and could help improve patient outcomes until a time when good-quality evidence is available.

These consensus statements were developed by the European Association of Urology (EAU) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and are published simultaneously in European Urology and Annals of Oncology. Background: Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial. Objective: To bring together a large multidisciplinary group of experts to develop consensus statements on controversial topics in bladder cancer management. Design: A steering committee compiled proposed statements regarding advanced and variant bladder cancer management which were assessed by 113 experts in a Delphi survey. Statements not reaching consensus were reviewed; those prioritised were revised by a panel of 45 experts before voting during a consensus conference. Setting: Online Delphi survey and consensus conference. Participants: The European Association of Urology (EAU), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), experts in bladder cancer management.

Chemohyperthermia is an effective approach to nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer for which standard intravesical treatments fail. Patients with highly recurrent disease before chemohyperthermia have lower recurrence-free survival. Furthermore, recurrence-free survival appears to improve with earlier chemohyperthermia. No significant differences were observed between the 2 chemotherapy agents.