HOW I DO IT

• How I Do It: Maintenance avelumab for advanced urothelial carcinoma

  Lalani A. Aly-Khan Department of Oncology, Juravinski Cancer Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

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  For more than four decades, platinum-based chemotherapy regimens have served as the established standard-of-care for advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC). However, advancements in our understanding of cancer biology and tumor microenvironment have reshaped the therapeutic landscape and prognosis of this incurable disease. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that target programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) are firmly established tools in aUC management, leading to enhanced life span and improved quality of life for patients. In patients who achieved stable disease or better following platinum-based chemotherapy, maintenance therapy with the PD-L1 antibody avelumab significantly enhanced overall survival (OS) by approximately 7 months compared to best supportive care in the phase 3 JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial. As a result, avelumab received FDA approval in June 2020 as a maintenance therapy for aUC patients treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Therefore, aUC care plans should incorporate maintenance avelumab into standard first-line treatment regimens for these patients. The objective of this brief article is to provide insight into the utilization of avelumab, identify patients who may benefit from this treatment, and review the methodology, advantages, potential side effects and their management.

  Keywords: bladder cancer, avelumab, advanced urothelial carcinoma, metastatic, immune checkpoint inhibitor,

  Aug 2023 (Vol. 30, Issue 4 , Page 11633)
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• Adjunctive use of Narrow Band Imaging during transurethral resection/vaporization of bladder tumors to aid In identifying mucosal and sub-mucosal hypervascularity

  Diorio J. Gregory, Canter J. Daniel, MD Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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  For patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, cystoscopy and transurethral resection/vaporization of the bladder tumor plays an integral role in the treatment of a given patient's bladder cancer. Although considered the current gold standard for tumor detection, traditional or white light cystoscopy has been shown to have its limitations visualizing both small papillary tumors and/or carcinoma in-situ. Current efforts have been directed to closing this gap with data demonstrating that by identifying these previously missed lesions, tumor recurrence and progression rates are reduced, thereby improving patient outcomes. Narrow Band Imaging, which can be used during cystoscopy and transurethral resection/vaporization of bladder tumors, can aid in visualizing mucosal and sub-mucosal hypervascularity--a probable surrogate for malignant lesions--potentially visualizing the boundaries of lesions that may have been missed during white light cystoscopy alone. This technique may produce equivalent visual markers with fewer logistical hurdles than currently available methods. In this article, we detail our technique for the adjunctive use of Narrow Band Imaging during cystoscopy and transurethral resection/vaporization of bladder tumors to aid in visualizing mucosal and sub-mucosal hypervascularity. Although not yet readily adopted, Narrow Band Imaging may be a practical and easy to use adjunct to existing methods in visualizing occult bladder lesions.

  Keywords: bladder cancer, transurethral resection/vaporization of a bladder tumor, Narrow Band Imaging,

  Apr 2015 (Vol. 22, Issue 2 , Page 7763)
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• A critical appraisal of accuracy and cost of laboratory methodologies for the diagnosis of hypogonadism: the role of free testosterone assays

  Morales Alvaro, Collier P. Christine, Clark F. Albert, MD Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

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  The biochemical diagnosis of male hypogonadism remains a controversial issue. The problem is compounded by the variety of laboratory assays available to measure serum testosterone (T) and the limited understanding, among clinicians, of their relative diagnostic validity. It is widely accepted that only the testosterone not bound to sex hormone-bounding globulin is metabolically active. Therefore, for diagnostic purposes it is frequent practice to order the measurement of free T (FT) or bioavailable T (BAT). Our objective is to describe the methods available for measuring FT and to review the literature to determine the relevance of ordering FT as a diagnostic laboratory tool in cases of suspected hypogonadism. We also provide our biochemical approach in evaluating men with T deficiency. The limited information available in this regard is frequently confined to the biochemistry literature. The few reliable studies indicate that analog-based measurement of FT offers no diagnostic or financial advantage over automated assay for total T. The manuscript also describes 'How we do it.' For optimal diagnostic accuracy and financial responsibility, total T and calculated FT (cFT) should be the tests employed for initial and confirmatory diagnosis respectively. Measurement of bioavailable T is an alternative option but not germane to the points to which we are calling attention in this paper. While clinicians should be discouraged from ordering FT assays, laboratories performing it should indicate what method was used and warned about possible reliability concerns. FT assays should no longer be a reimbursable test

  Keywords: free testosterone, superficial bladder cancer, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, fluorescence cystoscopy,

  Jun 2012 (Vol. 19, Issue 3 , Page 6314)
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• Blue light cystoscopy for detection and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

  Mark Ryan J. , Gelpi-Hammerschm Francisco, Trabulsi J. Edouard , Gomella G. Leonard, MD Department of Urology, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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  In patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, fluorescence cystoscopy can improve the detection and ablation of bladder tumors. In this paper we describe the technique and practical aspects of hexaminolevulinate (HAL) fluorescence cystoscopy, also known as "blue light cystoscopy"

  Keywords: blue light cystoscopy, bladder cancer, transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, Olympus Button Electrode,

  Apr 2012 (Vol. 19, Issue 2 , Page 6227)
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