Surgery (Austin & Northern Health) - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography funding grants free access to superior staging for Australian men with prostate cancer Comment
    O'Brien, JS ; McVey, A ; Kelly, BD ; Jenjitranant, P ; Buteau, J ; Hofman, MS ; Kasivisvanithan, V ; Eapen, R ; Moon, D ; Murphy, DG ; Lawrentschuk, N (WILEY, 2022-11)
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Impact of Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in the Management of Oligometastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
    Udovicich, C ; Callahan, J ; Bressel, M ; Ong, WL ; Perera, M ; Tran, B ; Azad, A ; Haran, S ; Moon, D ; Chander, S ; Shaw, M ; Eapen, R ; Goad, J ; Lawrentschuk, N ; Murphy, DG ; Hofman, M ; Siva, S (ELSEVIER, 2022-10)
    BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed in the neovasculature of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, there remains limited evidence regarding the use of PSMA positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in RCC. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of PSMA PET/CT in the management of metastatic RCC. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a retrospective review of patients who underwent PSMA PET/CT from 2014 to 2020 for restaging or suspected metastatic RCC in a tertiary academic setting. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Management plans before and after PSMA PET/CT were recorded. Impact was classified as high (change of treatment intent, modality, or site), medium (change in treatment method), or low. Secondary outcomes included the patient-level detection rate, PSMA PET/CT parameters, sensitivity, and comparison to CT and, if available, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Sixty-one patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 54 (89%) had clear cell RCC. PSMA-positive disease was detected in 51 patients (84%). For 30 patients (49%) there was a change in management due to PSMA PET/CT (high impact, 29 patients, 48%). In 15 patients (25%), more metastases were detected on PSMA PET/CT than on CT. The sensitivity of combined PSMA PET/CT and diagnostic CT was 91% (95% confidence interval 77-98%). In a subcohort of 40 patients, the detection rate was 88% for PSMA and 75% for FDG PET/CT (p = 0.17). The maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) was higher for PSMA than for FDG PET/CT (15.2 vs 8.0; p = 0.02). Limitations include selection bias due to the retrospective design, and a lack of corresponding histopathology for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: PSMA PET/CT is a promising imaging modality in metastatic RCC and led to a change in management in 49% of patients. PSMA PET/CT detected additional metastases compared to CT in 25% of patients and registered a significantly higher SUVmax than FDG PET/CT. Prospective studies are required to further define its role. PATIENT SUMMARY: We report on a group of patients undergoing a new type of imaging for suspected advanced kidney cancer, called PSMA PET/CT. This imaging changed the management plan in 49% of the patients. PSMA PET/CT detected metastases in 84% of our patients and detected more metastases than computed tomography imaging in 25%.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Tumor immune microenvironment of primary prostate cancer with and without germline mutations in homologous recombination repair genes
    Trigos, AS ; Pasam, A ; Banks, P ; Wallace, R ; Guo, C ; Keam, S ; Thorne, H ; Mitchell, C ; Lade, S ; Clouston, D ; Hakansson, A ; Liu, Y ; Blyth, B ; Murphy, D ; Lawrentschuk, N ; Bolton, D ; Moon, D ; Darcy, P ; Haupt, Y ; Williams, SG ; Castro, E ; Olmos, D ; Goode, D ; Neeson, P ; Sandhu, S (BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2022-06)
    BACKGROUND: Aberrations in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes are emerging as important biomarkers for personalized treatment in prostate cancer (PCa). HRR deficiency (HRD) could affect the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), potentially contributing to differential responses to poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Spatial distribution of immune cells in a range of cancers identifies novel disease subtypes and is related to prognosis. In this study we aimed to determine the differences in the TIME of PCa with and without germline (g) HRR mutations. METHODS: We performed gene expression analysis, multiplex immunohistochemistry of T and B cells and quantitative spatial analysis of PCa samples from 36 patients with gHRD and 26 patients with sporadic PCa. Samples were archival tumor tissue from radical prostatectomies with the exception of one biopsy. Results were validated in several independent cohorts. RESULTS: Although the composition of the T cell and B cells was similar in the tumor areas of gHRD-mutated and sporadic tumors, the spatial profiles differed between these cohorts. We describe two T-cell spatial profiles across primary PCa, a clustered immune spatial (CIS) profile characterized by dense clusters of CD4+ T cells closely interacting with PD-L1+ cells, and a free immune spatial (FIS) profile of CD8+ cells in close proximity to tumor cells. gHRD tumors had a more T-cell inflamed microenvironment than sporadic tumors. The CIS profile was mainly observed in sporadic tumors, whereas a FIS profile was enriched in gHRD tumors. A FIS profile was associated with lower Gleason scores, smaller tumors and longer time to biochemical recurrence and metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: gHRD-mutated tumors have a distinct immune microenvironment compared with sporadic tumors. Spatial profiling of T-cells provides additional information beyond T-cell density and is associated with time to biochemical recurrence, time to metastasis, tumor size and Gleason scores.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate can evade androgen deprivation, with emergence of castrate-tolerant cells
    Porter, LH ; Hashimoto, K ; Lawrence, MG ; Pezaro, C ; Clouston, D ; Wang, H ; Papargiris, M ; Thorne, H ; Li, J ; Ryan, A ; Norden, S ; Moon, D ; Bolton, DM ; Sengupta, S ; Frydenberg, M ; Murphy, DG ; Risbridger, GP ; Taylor, RA (WILEY, 2018-06)
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the relevance of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) in advanced prostate cancer by first examining whether IDC-P was originally present in patients who later developed advanced prostate cancer and then using patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) to investigate the response of IDC-P to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective pathology review of IDC-P in primary prostate biopsy or surgery specimens from 38 men who subsequently developed advanced prostate cancer. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. To demonstrate the response of IDC-P to ADT, we established PDXs from seven patients with familial and/or high-risk sporadic prostate cancer. After castration and testosterone restoration of host mice, we measured the volume and proliferation of IDC-P within PDX grafts. RESULTS: We found that IDC-P was a prominent feature in the primary prostate specimens, present in 63% of specimens and often co-existing with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Overall survival was similar in patients with or without IDC-P. In the PDXs from all seven patients, IDC-P was identified and present at a similar volume to adenocarcinoma. Residual IDC-P lesions persisted after host castration and, similar to castrate-tolerant adenocarcinoma, testosterone restoration led to tumour regeneration. CONCLUSION: The study showed that IDC-P is prevalent in aggressive prostate cancer and contains cells that can withstand androgen deprivation. Thus, IDC-P appears functionally relevant in advanced prostate cancer. The presence of IDC-P may be a trigger to develop innovative clinical management plans.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Cytoreductive surgery for men with metastatic prostate cancer
    Katelaris, N ; Murphy, D ; Lawrentschuk, N ; Katelaris, A ; Moon, D (ELSEVIER INC, 2016-09)
    BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery for metastatic prostate cancer is an emerging area of interest with a potential upside that includes local control, delayed initiation of hormone therapy, and possibly improved cancer specific survival. In order for radical prostatectomy to be an effective treatment option for men in this group, the benefits must outweigh the surgical morbidity. The aim of this study was to present a case series and assess the literature feasibility of cytoreductive surgery for men with metastatic prostate cancer. METHODS: A retrospective review of clinical notes was performed to identify men with metastatic prostate cancer who underwent cytoreductive surgery between 2012 and 2014 for a group of urologists at a single institution in Melbourne. Each patient was evaluated with regard to preoperative prostate-specific antigen, grade, stage, adjuvant therapy, and surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Six cases were identified. This included 1 pelvic exenteration and 5 robot-assisted radical prostatectomies. The men who underwent RARP had uncomplicated recoveries, regained continence within 3 months and remained pad-free at follow up. All patients proceeded to additional treatment of sites of metastatic disease with a variable PSA response, however, 3 of 6 men required recommencement of ADT for biochemical progression at follow up. CONCLUSIONS: This data supports recent findings demonstrating that radical prostatectomy for metastatic prostate cancer is feasible. Further studies are needed to explore the role of cytoreductive surgery with regards to the potential oncological benefit.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Updates of prostate cancer staging: Prostate-specific membrane antigen
    Sathianathen, NJ ; Lamb, A ; Nair, R ; Geurts, N ; Mitchell, C ; Lawrentschuk, NL ; Moon, DA ; Murphy, DG (KOREAN UROLOGICAL ASSOC, 2016-12)
    The ability to accurately stage prostate cancer in both the primary and secondary staging setting can have a major impact on management. Until recently radiological staging has relied on computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear bone scans to evaluate the extent of disease. However, the utility of these imaging technologies has been limited by their sensitivity and specificity especially in detecting early recurrence. Functional imaging using positron-emission tomography with a radiolabeled ligand targeted to prostate-specific membrane antigen has transformed the prostate cancer imaging landscape. Initial results suggest that it is a substantial improvement over conventional imaging in the setting of recurrence following primary therapy by having a superior ability to detect disease and to do so at an earlier stage. Additionally, it appears that the benefits seen in the secondary staging setting may also exist in the primary staging setting.