This issue contains three Review Articles, 12 Original Articles, one case report and two Letters to the Editor. Wieczorek et al. (Lodz, Poland) reviewed polymorphisms in the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes, and their association with bladder cancer risk and recurrence. MMP are well known to play crucial roles in tumor invasion and metastasis in several human cancers. Many papers reported an association between increased expression or activation of MMP and the invasiveness or progression of bladder cancer. In contrast, polymorphisms of genes are associated with their protein expression or activation. Therefore, it is important to clarify the association between polymorphisms of MMP genes and the risk of recurrence or metastasis. The authors reviewed articles reporting polymorphisms in MMP genes in bladder cancer. This review gives us up-to-date knowledge on polymorphisms in MMP genes for bladder cancer. The genetic polymorphism of the MMP1 gene (rs1799750) was most widely studied, and interestingly, the results suggested that the 2G2G genotype might show increased susceptibility for bladder cancer, particularly among smokers. However, further large studies are necessary to confirm these results. Improvement of the effect of systemic therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) by cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) before systemic therapy has been reported in the era of cytokines therapy. However, CN has decreased in the era of targeted therapy. It is important to clarify the benefit and risk of CN for treatment of mRCC in the era of molecular targeted therapy. Takagi et al. (Tokyo, Japan) investigated perioperative outcomes of CN in patients with mRCC. The authors used the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database from 2007 to 2012 to evaluate in-hospital mortality, complications, blood transfusion, anesthesia time and so on. A total of 1074 patients including 270 with T1, 215 with T2, 479 with T3 and 110 with T4 were investigated. Minimally-invasive surgeries were carried out more frequently in low T stage (44.1% for T1, 26.5% for T2, 12.1% for T3, 9.1% for T4). Multivariate analysis showed that increasing T stage was significantly associated with unfavorable perioperative outcomes, except in-hospital mortality. Clinical N stage was the only significant predictor for in-hospital mortality. This article provides helpful information for treatment strategy to mRCC in the era of molecular targeted therapy. α-1 blockers have been used as first-line therapy for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). 5-α reductase inhibitors are also used for BPH mainly as combination therapy with α-1 blockers. Two articles reported the effect of dutasteride. Matsukawa et al. (Nagoya, Japan) evaluated the effects of dutasteride monotherapy for untreated patients with BPH. A total of 105 patients were enrolled and 97 patients were evaluated. Symptom parameters including storage and voiding International Prostate Symptom Score improved significantly after 2 months, and progressively improved until after 12 months. Significant improvement of objective parameters including first desire volume and maximum flow rate were observed after 6 months, and further improvements were obtained after 12 months. Araki et al. (Chiba, Japan) evaluated the early additional effect of dutasteride on α-1 blockers for BPH. A total of 88 patients were enrolled, and 74 patients were analyzed early effects. Lower urinary tract symptoms were improved at 1 month after dutasteride administration. These effects continued for at least 6 months. These articles give us useful information on treatment of symptomatic BPH. Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is a candidate for the first-line treatment of mRCC, particularly clear cell RCC with lung metastasis. Yamamoto et al. (Sapporo, Japan) reported a 70-year-old man treated with IFN-α after unsuccessful molecular targeted therapies. Nephrectomy was carried out before systemic therapy, and the pathological diagnosis was clear cell RCC. Lung metastasis was 30 mm in diameter. The patient was treated by axitinib as first-line treatment and at 8 weeks. Computed tomography showed enlargement of the lung tumor and multiple new lesions in the lung. Everolimus was used for second-line treatment; however, it was discontinued because of interstitial lung disease, and was followed by sorefenib for third-line treatment. Sorafenib was also stopped and discontinued because of thrombocytopenia, proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome. Then, IFN-α was started, and a partial response was shown at 8 week. However, IFN-α was stopped, because the patient was diagnosed with depression after maintenance of 2 years. The residual tumor was resected, and no viable cells were observed. None declared.