Hospital de Santa Maria

This study will study circulating tumor cell (CTC) release during laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for RCC. The main objective is to determine if CTC release can be reduced during RN by using a no-touch technique, with an early renal pedicle ligation. The investigators also aim to describe the CTC profile in terms of CTC count (CTCn), epithelial/mesenchymal status, and CTC cellular features in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients, stratified by "primary tumor, regional nodes, metastasis" (TNM) staging, histological subtype, and other clinical and radiological features.
Patients undergoing RN will enter a two-arm prospective single-center randomized controlled trial (RCT), comparing a no-touch RN technique, with direct pedicle ligation (Group A) vs. the more conventional approach of kidney traction and manipulation to reach the renal pedicle before its ligation (Group B).
A microfluidic size-based CTC isolation device will be used to capture and count CTCs from peripheral blood samples of these patients. CTCs will be identified by staining with antibodies to cytokeratin 8/18, vimentin, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and cluster of differentiation antigen 45 (CD45).
CTC release will be correlated with the disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). The investigators will determine if CTC reducing no-touch radical nephrectomy technique improves these hard outcomes.

Investigate the short- and long-term efficacy and safety of intradermal NSAIDs and lidocaine (delivered through mesotherapy) for the treatment of LE comparing it with empty intradermal injections.

The Ripple VT-1 Study is a prospective clinical trial that aims to investigate if catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with ischaemic heart disease can be effectively performed using Ripple Mapping.