Objective We performed a multicenter Phase IIb clinical trial of NMK36, a novel amino acid analog for positron emission tomography containing trans-1-amino-3-[¹⁸F]fluorocyclobutanecarboxylic acid, to evaluate its safety and diagnostic performance for primary prostate cancer. Methods Sixty-eight subjects with primary prostate cancer scheduled for radical prostatectomy or hormone therapy underwent whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography after injection of NMK36. The diagnostic performances of NMK36-positron emission tomography/computed tomography were evaluated for (i) regional lymph node metastasis: comparison with contrast-enhanced computed tomography under setting reference standard (histopathology or 6-month follow-up), (ii) bone metastasis: concordance rate with conventional imaging (combination of bone scintigraphy and contrast-enhanced computed tomography) and (iii) primary lesion: comparison with histopathological findings. Results The accuracy of NMK36-positron emission tomography/computed tomography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography for regional lymph node metastasis were 85.5 and 87.3%, respectively. NMK36-positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed positive findings for regional lymph nodes with short-axis diameters of 5–9 mm at 23 regions in 13 patients of hormone therapy cohort, but they were not confirmed with reference standard in this study. The concordance rate of NMK36-positron emission tomography/computed tomography with conventional imaging for bone metastases was 83.3%, and seven patients had positive findings only by NMK36-positron emission tomography/computed tomography. The sensitivity and specificity of NMK36-positron emission tomography/computed tomography for primary lesion in six-segment analysis was 92.5 and 90.1%, respectively. Seven of non-serious adverse events were observed in six patients. Conclusions This study showed the comparable diagnostic performance of NMK36-positron emission tomography/computed tomography compared with conventional imaging. Some lesions of lymph node and bone were positive solely by NMK36-positron emission tomography/computed tomography, which needs to be confirmed with reference standard in future study to evaluate the usefulness of NMK36-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in staging prostate cancer.

Background: LATITUDE was a randomized, double-blind, international and phase 3 study of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in patients with high-risk metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer. In the first interim analysis of LATITUDE (clinical cutoff date: 31 October 2016), significant prolongation in overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival (co-primary endpoints) was observed when compared with placebo. The results of the Japanese subgroup analysis of LATITUDE first interim analysis were consistent with those of the overall population. In this study, overall survival and safety results from the final analysis of the Japanese subgroup of the LATITUDE study are presented (clinical cutoff date: 15 August 2018). Methods: Abiraterone acetate (1000 mg/day) and prednisone (5 mg/day) were administered orally in the abiraterone acetate plus prednisone group, and matching placebos in the placebo group. Results: Of the 1199 patients included in LATITUDE, 70 constituted the Japanese subgroup (abiraterone acetate plus prednisone: n = 35, placebo: n = 35). Following a median (range) follow-up of 56.6 (2.5, 64.2) months, the median overall survival was not reached in both the treatment arms of the Japanese subgroup (hazard ratio: 0.61; 95% confidence interval: 0.27–1.42; nominal P = 0.2502). A total of 23 deaths (abiraterone acetate plus prednisone: 9 [25.7%], placebo group: 14 [40.0%]) were reported in Japanese subgroup. Grade 3/4 adverse events were reported in 24 (68.6%) and 9 (25.7%) patients in the abiraterone acetate plus prednisone and placebo groups, respectively. Conclusions: In this Japanese subgroup analysis, addition of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone to androgen-deprivation therapy demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer. Survival benefits observed in the Japanese subgroup first interim analysis were sustained long-term and were consistent with the overall population.

(1) Background: This study aimed to evaluate the associations of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) at first transurethral resection of bladder (TURBT) and radical cystectomy (RC) with survival outcomes, and to evaluate the concordance between LVI at first TURBT and RC. (2) Methods: We analyzed 216 patients who underwent first TURBT and 64 patients who underwent RC at Toho University Sakura Medical Center. (3) Results: LVI was identified in 22.7% of patients who underwent first TURBT, and in 32.8% of patients who underwent RC. Univariate analysis identified ≥cT3, metastasis and LVI at first TURBT as factors significantly associated with overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Multivariate analysis identified metastasis (hazard ratio (HR) 6.560, p = 0.009) and LVI at first TURBT (HR 9.205, p = 0.003) as significant predictors of CSS. On the other hand, in patients who underwent RC, ≥pT3, presence of G3 and LVI was significantly associated with OS and CSS in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis identified inclusion of G3 as a significant predictor of OS and CSS. The concordance rate between LVI at first TURBT and RC was 48.0%. Patients with positive results for LVI at first TURBT and RC displayed poorer prognosis than other patients (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: We found that the combination of LVI at first TURBT and RC was likely to provide a more significant prognostic factor.

Adrenal tumors with more than one cellular component are uncommon. Furthermore, an adrenal tumor composed of a pheochromocytoma and a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor is extremely rare. A composite pheochromocytoma with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a 42-year-old man is reported here. After adequate preoperative control, left adrenalectomy was performed simultaneously with resection of the ipsilateral kidney for spontaneous rupture of the left adrenal tumor. Pathological findings demonstrated pheochromocytoma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a ruptured adrenal tumor. To date, there have been only four reported cases of composite pheochromocytoma with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, so the present case is only the fifth case in the world. Despite the very poor prognosis of patients with pheochromocytoma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors reported in the literature, the patient remains well without evidence of recurrence or new metastatic lesions at 36 months postoperatively.

Prostate cancer (PCa) exhibits a spectrum of heterogeneity, from indolent to highly aggressive forms, with approximately 10–20% of patients experiencing metastatic PCa. Oligometastatic PCa, characterized by a limited number of metastatic lesions in specific anatomical locations, has gained attention due to advanced imaging modalities. Although patients with metastatic PCa typically receive systemic therapy, personalized treatment approaches for oligometastatic PCa are emerging, including surgical and radiotherapeutic interventions. This comprehensive review explores the latest developments in the field of oligometastatic PCa, including its biological mechanisms, advanced imaging techniques, and relevant clinical studies. Oligometastatic PCa is distinct from widespread metastases and presents challenges in patient classification. Imaging plays a crucial role in identifying and characterizing oligometastatic lesions, with new techniques such as prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography demonstrating a remarkable efficacy. The management strategies encompass cytoreductive surgery, radiotherapy targeting the primary tumor, and metastasis-directed therapy for recurrent lesions. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the effectiveness of these approaches. Oligometastatic PCa occupies a unique position between locally advanced and high-volume metastatic diseases. While a universally accepted definition and standardized diagnostic criteria are still evolving, emerging imaging technologies and therapeutic strategies hold promise for improving the patient outcomes in this intermediate stage of PCa.