Results of conservative management of clinically localized prostate cancer

Lower urinary tract symptoms in elderly men: Considerations for prostate cancer testing

PURPOSE

Both lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and prostate cancer (PCa) are common in elderly men. While LUTS are generally due to a benign etiology, they may provoke an evaluation with prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which can lead to a cascade of further testing and possible overdiagnosis in patients with competing risks. There is limited patient and provider understanding of the relationship between LUTS and PCa risk, and a lack of clarity in how to evaluate these men to balance appropriate diagnosis of aggressive PCa with avoidance of overdiagnosis.

METHODS

A literature review was performed using keywords to query the electronic database PubMed. All articles published before November 2023 were screened by title and abstract for articles relevant to our subject.

RESULTS

Epidemiological studies suggest that LUTS and PCa are largely independent in elderly men. The best available tools to assess PCa risk include PSA permutations, novel biomarkers, and imaging, but there are limitations in older men based on lack of validation in the elderly and unclear applicability of traditional definitions of "clinically significant" disease. We present a three-tiered approach to evaluating these patients.

CONCLUSION

Elderly men commonly have LUTS as well as a high likelihood of indolent PCa. A systematic and shared decision-making-based approach can help to balance objectives of appropriate detection of phenotypically dangerous disease and avoidance of over-testing and overdiagnosis.

Long-term outcomes of the first prospective study of active surveillance for prostate cancer in Japan

BACKGROUND

Active surveillance for prostate cancer was initiated in the early 2000s. We assessed the long-term outcomes of active surveillance in Japan.

METHODS

This multicenter prospective observational cohort study enrolled men aged 50-80 years with stage cT1cN0M0 prostate cancer in 2002 and 2003. The eligibility criteria included serum prostate-specific antigen level ≤ 20 ng/mL, ≤ 2 positive cores per 6-12 biopsy samples, Gleason score ≤ 6, and cancer involvement < 50% in the positive core. Patients were encouraged to undergo active surveillance. Prostate-specific antigen levels were measured bimonthly for 6 months and every 3 months thereafter. Triggers for recommending treatment were prostate-specific antigen doubling time of < 2 years and pathological progression on repeat biopsy.

RESULTS

Among 134 patients, 118 underwent active surveillance. The median age, prostate-specific antigen level at diagnosis, and maximum cancer occupancy were 70 years, 6.5 ng/mL, and 11.2%, respectively. Ninety-one patients had only one positive cancer core. The median observation period was 10.7 years. At 1 year, 65.7% underwent a repeat biopsy, and 37% of patients experienced pathological progression. The active surveillance continuation rates at 5, 10, and 15 years were 28%, 9%, and 4%, respectively. One prostate cancer-related death occurred in a patient who refused treatment despite pathological progression at the one-year repeat biopsy.

CONCLUSION

Active surveillance according to this study protocol was associated with conversion to the next treatment without delay, when indicated, despite the selection criteria and follow-up protocols being less rigorous than those recommended in current international guidelines.

Health care delivery system contributions to management of newly diagnosed prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite clinical guidelines advocating for use of conservative management in specific clinical scenarios for men with prostate cancer, there continues to be tremendous variation in its uptake. This variation may be amplified among men with competing health risks, for whom treatment decisions are not straightforward. The degree to which characteristics of the health care delivery system explain this variation remains unclear.

METHODS

Using national Medicare data, men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer between 2014 and 2019 were identified. Hierarchical logistic regression models were used to assess the association between use of treatment and health care delivery system determinants operating at the practice level, which included measures of financial incentives (i.e., radiation vault ownership), practice organization (i.e., single specialty vs. multispecialty groups), and the health care market (i.e., competition). Variance was partitioned to estimate the relative influence of patient and practice characteristics on the variation in use of treatment within strata of noncancer mortality risk groups.

RESULTS

Among 62,507 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer, the largest variation in the use of treatment between practices was observed for men with high and very high-risk of noncancer mortality (range of practice-level rates of treatment for high: 57%-71% and very high: 41%-61%). Addition of health care delivery system determinants measured at the practice level explained 13% and 15% of the variation in use of treatment among men with low and intermediate risk of noncancer mortality in 10 years, respectively. Conversely, these characteristics explained a larger share of the variation in use of treatment among men with high and very high-risk of noncancer mortality (26% and 40%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Variation among urology practices in use of treatment was highest for men with high and very high-risk noncancer mortality. Practice characteristics explained a large share of this variation.

Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: Past, Current, and Future Trends

In response to the rising incidence of indolent, low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) due to increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in the 1990s, active surveillance (AS) emerged as a treatment modality to combat overtreatment by delaying or avoiding unnecessary definitive treatment and its associated morbidity. AS consists of regular monitoring of PSA levels, digital rectal exams, medical imaging, and prostate biopsies, so that definitive treatment is only offered when deemed necessary. This paper provides a narrative review of the evolution of AS since its inception and an overview of its current landscape and challenges. Although AS was initially only performed in a study setting, numerous studies have provided evidence for the safety and efficacy of AS which has led guidelines to recommend it as a treatment option for patients with low-risk PCa. For intermediate-risk disease, AS appears to be a viable option for those with favourable clinical characteristics. Over the years, the inclusion criteria, follow-up schedule and triggers for definitive treatment have evolved based on the results of various large AS cohorts. Given the burdensome nature of repeat biopsies, risk-based dynamic monitoring may further reduce overtreatment by avoiding repeat biopsies in selected patients.

Active surveillance protocol in prostate cancer in Portugal

OBJECTIVE

To examine clinical practice patterns in locally managing patients under an active surveillance protocol among Portuguese urologists.

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous disease with many prostate adenocarcinomas being indolent and a low probability of ever causing symptoms or death. Active surveillance (AS) is a form of conservative management aimed to reduce over-treatment for low-risk PCa patients. Over the years, experience with AS has grown considerably and is now standard in some countries, however a universal protocol still does not exist.

METHODS

Nationwide anonymous e-survey concerning habits and practices on AS among Portuguese urologists, that consisted of twelve questions and was sent electronically to all 368 current members of the Portuguese Urological Association.

RESULTS

56 urologists were surveyed (15.21% answer rate), evenly distributed geographically and allocated according to years of experience as well as number of PCa patients managed monthly. The vast majority of respondents recommends AS to their patients, particularly ISUP grade 1 patients, whose PSA serum level is bellow 20 ng/mL. Observance of AS programs by patients was not in question but concerns exist over psychological morbidity while harboring disease. Majority believed that international guidelines surveillance protocols were adequate and sufficient, but there are some constraints concerning availability of periodic MRIs and re-biopsy needs.

CONCLUSIONS

AS seems to be sustained in urologist clinical practice, although patients still lag to adhere and choose for active treatment. AS may not be an easy choice for patients and clinicians due to uncertainty of disease progression, risk of loss to follow-up and repeated biopsies but is also a cause for anxiety, depression, uncertainty and a perception of danger.

Twins from different fathers: A heteropaternal superfecundation case report in Colombia

Heteropaternal superfecundation is an extremely rare phenomenon that occurs when a second ova released during the same menstrual cycle is additionally fertilized by the sperm cells of a different man in separate sexual intercourse. In August, 2018, the Grupo de Genética de Poblaciones e Identificación at Universidad Nacional de Colombia received a request to establish the paternity of a pair of male twins with genetic markers. The following analyses were performed: amelogenin gene, autosomal short tandem repeat (STR), and Y-STR analyses by means of human identification commercial kits, paternity index, and the probability of paternity calculation and interpretation. A paternity index of 2.5134E+7 and a probability of paternity of 99.9999% for twin 2 were obtained while 14 out of 17 Y-chromosome markers and 14 out of 21 autosomal short tandem repeats were excluded for twin 1. The results indicated that the twins have different biological fathers. Although heteropaternal superfecundation is rarely observed among humans given its low frequency, in paternity disputes for dizygotic twins it is mandatory to demand the presence of the two twins in the testing to avoid wrong conclusions.

Active monitoring, radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy in PSA-detected clinically localised prostate cancer: the ProtecT three-arm RCT

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK. Prostate-specific antigen testing followed by biopsy leads to overdetection, overtreatment as well as undertreatment of the disease. Evidence of treatment effectiveness has lacked because of the paucity of randomised controlled trials comparing conventional treatments.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of conventional treatments for localised prostate cancer (active monitoring, radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy) in men aged 50-69 years.

DESIGN

A prospective, multicentre prostate-specific antigen testing programme followed by a randomised trial of treatment, with a comprehensive cohort follow-up.

SETTING

Prostate-specific antigen testing in primary care and treatment in nine urology departments in the UK.

PARTICIPANTS

Between 2001 and 2009, 228,966 men aged 50-69 years received an invitation to attend an appointment for information about the Prostate testing for cancer and Treatment (ProtecT) study and a prostate-specific antigen test; 82,429 men were tested, 2664 were diagnosed with localised prostate cancer, 1643 agreed to randomisation to active monitoring (n = 545), radical prostatectomy (n = 553) or radical radiotherapy (n = 545) and 997 chose a treatment.

INTERVENTIONS

The interventions were active monitoring, radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy.

TRIAL PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

Definite or probable disease-specific mortality at the 10-year median follow-up in randomised participants.

SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Overall mortality, metastases, disease progression, treatment complications, resource utilisation and patient-reported outcomes.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for 17 prostate cancer-specific (p = 0.48) and 169 all-cause (p = 0.87) deaths. Eight men died of prostate cancer in the active monitoring group (1.5 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 0.7 to 3.0); five died of prostate cancer in the radical prostatectomy group (0.9 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 2.2 per 1000 person years) and four died of prostate cancer in the radical radiotherapy group (0.7 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 2.0 per 1000 person years). More men developed metastases in the active monitoring group than in the radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy groups: active monitoring, n = 33 (6.3 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 4.5 to 8.8); radical prostatectomy, n = 13 (2.4 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 4.2 per 1000 person years); and radical radiotherapy, n = 16 (3.0 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 4.9 per 1000 person-years; p = 0.004). There were higher rates of disease progression in the active monitoring group than in the radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy groups: active monitoring (n = 112; 22.9 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 19.0 to 27.5 per 1000 person years); radical prostatectomy (n = 46; 8.9 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 6.7 to 11.9 per 1000 person-years); and radical radiotherapy (n = 46; 9.0 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval 6.7 to 12.0 per 1000 person years; p < 0.001). Radical prostatectomy had the greatest impact on sexual function/urinary continence and remained worse than radical radiotherapy and active monitoring. Radical radiotherapy's impact on sexual function was greatest at 6 months, but recovered somewhat in the majority of participants. Sexual and urinary function gradually declined in the active monitoring group. Bowel function was worse with radical radiotherapy at 6 months, but it recovered with the exception of bloody stools. Urinary voiding and nocturia worsened in the radical radiotherapy group at 6 months but recovered. Condition-specific quality-of-life effects mirrored functional changes. No differences in anxiety/depression or generic or cancer-related quality of life were found. At the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence threshold of £20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year, the probabilities that each arm was the most cost-effective option were 58% (radical radiotherapy), 32% (active monitoring) and 10% (radical prostatectomy).

LIMITATIONS

A single prostate-specific antigen test and transrectal ultrasound biopsies were used. There were very few non-white men in the trial. The majority of men had low- and intermediate-risk disease. Longer follow-up is needed.

CONCLUSIONS

At a median follow-up point of 10 years, prostate cancer-specific mortality was low, irrespective of the assigned treatment. Radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy reduced disease progression and metastases, but with side effects. Further work is needed to follow up participants at a median of 15 years.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN20141297.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 24, No. 37. See the National Institute for Health Research Journals Library website for further project information.

Long-term oncologic outcomes after radical prostatectomy in clinically localized prostate cancer: 10-year follow-up in Korea

Purpose

The clinical behavior of prostate cancer differs by race and ethnicity; however, data on the Korean population are scarce. We assessed the long-term oncologic outcomes of clinically localized prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy in Korean men.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed 786 clinically localized prostate cancer patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, from June 1993 to June 2008. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis and log-rank test were used to assess the oncologic outcomes.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 64.9±6.6 years. Pelvic lymph node dissection was performed in 373 patients. Pathologic T and N stage cancer with local advancement and invasion were detected by radical prostatectomy in 307 and 22 patients, respectively. In total, 38 patients who underwent adjuvant therapy were excluded from the analysis of progression after biochemical recurrence (BCR), which occurred in 261 men. In total, 219 patients underwent salvage treatment. Local recurrence and distant metastasis occurred in 109 and 42 patients, respectively; 36 patients experienced metastasis with local recurrence. Castration-resistant prostate cancer developed in 22 patients, and overall and disease-specific mortality was noted in 148 and 23 patients, respectively. The median duration from operation to BCR, BCR to metastasis, and metastasis to disease-specific death was 25, 40, and 22 months, respectively.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the long-term prognosis of localized prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy among Koreans. Our results differ from those reported in the Western literature, with a lower prevalence of distant metastasis and shorter time to metastasis after BCR.

Survival and mortality of elderly men with localized prostate cancer managed with primary androgen deprivation therapy or by primary observation

BACKGROUND

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains a primary treatment for localized prostate cancer (PCa) even though there is no evidence that its use is beneficial in the absence of curative treatment.

METHODS

Men aged ≥70 years (n = 16,534) diagnosed with localized PCa from 1985 to 2014 and managed either with primary observation or ADT in the absence of curative treatment were included. The cases were identified from the population-based Finnish Cancer Registry. We estimated the standardized mortality ratios (SMR) for overall mortality by treatment group. We determined the relative risk (RR) of PCa-specific mortality (PCSM) and other-cause mortality between the two treatment groups. Survival was determined using the life table method. Two age groups (70-79 years and ≥ 80 years) and three calendar time cohorts (1985-1994, 1995-2004, and 2005-2014) were compared following adjustment of propensity score matching between the treatment groups with four covariates (age, year of diagnosis, educational level, and hospital district). Follow-up continued until death or until December 31, 2015.

RESULTS

Patients in the observation group had lower overall SMRs than those in the ADT group in both age cohorts over the entire study period. PCSM was higher in men aged 70-79 years undergoing primary ADT compared to those managed by observation only (RR: 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-2.23 [1985-1994]; RR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.35-1.84 [1995-2004]; and RR 2.71, 95% CI: 2.08-3.53 [2005-2014]); p = 0.005 for periodic trend. A similar trend over time was also observed in men aged > 80 years; (p for age-period interaction = 0.237). Overall survival was also higher among men in their 70's managed by observation compared to those undergoing ADT.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary ADT within four months period from diagnosis is not associated with improved long-term overall survival or decreased PCSM compared to primary conservative management for men with localized PCa. However, this observational study's conclusions should be weighted with confounding factors related to cancer aggressiveness and comorbidities.

Partial ablation versus radical prostatectomy in intermediate-risk prostate cancer: the PART feasibility RCT

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer in men in the UK. Patients with intermediate-risk, clinically localised disease are offered radical treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy, which can result in severe side effects. A number of alternative partial ablation (PA) technologies that may reduce treatment burden are available; however the comparative effectiveness of these techniques has never been evaluated in a randomised controlled trial (RCT).

OBJECTIVES

To assess the feasibility of a RCT of PA using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) versus radical prostatectomy (RP) for intermediate-risk PCa and to test and optimise methods of data capture.

DESIGN

We carried out a prospective, multicentre, open-label feasibility study to inform the design and conduct of a future RCT, involving a QuinteT Recruitment Intervention (QRI) to understand barriers to participation.

SETTING

Five NHS hospitals in England.

PARTICIPANTS

Men with unilateral, intermediate-risk, clinically localised PCa.

INTERVENTIONS

Radical prostatectomy compared with HIFU.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

The randomisation of 80 men.

SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Findings of the QRI and assessment of data capture methods.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven patients consented to participate by 31 March 2017 and 82 men were randomised by 4 May 2017 (41 men to the RP arm and 41 to the HIFU arm). The QRI was conducted in two iterative phases: phase I identified a number of barriers to recruitment, including organisational challenges, lack of recruiter equipoise and difficulties communicating with patients about the study, and phase II comprised the development and delivery of tailored strategies to optimise recruitment, including group training, individual feedback and 'tips' documents. At the time of data extraction, on 10 October 2017, treatment data were available for 71 patients. Patient characteristics were similar at baseline and the rate of return of all clinical case report forms (CRFs) was 95%; the return rate of the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) questionnaire pack was 90.5%. Centres with specific long-standing expertise in offering HIFU as a routine NHS treatment option had lower recruitment rates (Basingstoke and Southampton) - with University College Hospital failing to enrol any participants - than centres offering HIFU in the trial context only.

CONCLUSIONS

Randomisation of men to a RCT comparing PA with radical treatments of the prostate is feasible. The QRI provided insights into the complexities of recruiting to this surgical trial and has highlighted a number of key lessons that are likely to be important if the study progresses to a main trial. A full RCT comparing clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and quality-of-life outcomes between radical treatments and PA is now warranted.

FUTURE WORK

Men recruited to the feasibility study will be followed up for 36 months in accordance with the protocol. We will design a full RCT, taking into account the lessons learnt from this study. CRFs will be streamlined, and the length and frequency of PROMs and resource use diaries will be reviewed to reduce the burden on patients and research nurses and to optimise data completeness.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN99760303.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 22, No. 52. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

A decision analysis comparing 3 active surveillance protocols for the treatment of patients with low-risk prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Active surveillance (AS) is a viable management option for approximately 50% of men who are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. To the authors' knowledge, no direct comparisons between the different variants of AS protocols have been conducted to date. The authors developed a microsimulation decision model to evaluate which of 3 alternative AS protocols is optimal for men with low-risk prostate cancer, and compared each of these with immediate treatment.

METHODS

Men who were diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer at age 65 years were modeled as having been treated with either immediate therapy or via each of 3 AS protocols. Modeled AS protocols represent those in the literature; a modified AS protocol was included in a sensitivity analysis. Immediate therapy included radical prostatectomy, external-beam radiotherapy, or brachytherapy. Outcome measures were quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and costs. Cost-effectiveness analysis and deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Immediate therapy produced fewer QALYs than all variants of AS. Of the AS protocols evaluated, biennial biopsy was found to be the only efficient option, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $3490 per QALY compared with immediate therapy. It delayed the need for curative therapy by a mean of 56 months, and was found to be preferred in >86.9% of cases in probabilistic sensitivity analysis. A modified version of low-intensity AS dominated all other options.

CONCLUSIONS

For a 65-year-old man with low-risk prostate cancer, AS with biennial biopsy appears to be highly cost-effective compared with common alternatives. An AS protocol using triennial biopsy was found to dominate all other strategies and should be considered for men who are comfortable with a longer period between biopsies. The optimal strategy depends on a patient's tolerance for periodic biopsies and comfort with delaying radical treatment. Physicians should incorporate these patient preferences into decision making.

Analysis of regulator of G-protein signalling 2 (RGS2) expression and function during prostate cancer progression

Prostate cancer (PC) represents the second highest cancer-related mortality among men and the call for biomarkers for early discrimination between aggressive and indolent forms is essential. Downregulation of Regulator of G-protein signaling 2 (RGS2) has been shown in PC, however the underlying mechanism has not been described. Aberrant RGS2 expression has also been reported for other carcinomas in association to both positive and negative prognosis. In this study, we assessed RGS2 expression during PC progression in terms of regulation and impact on tumour phenotype and evaluated its prognostic value. Our experimental data suggest that the RGS2 downregulation seen in early PC is caused by hypoxia. In line with the common indolent phenotype of a primary PC, knockdown of RGS2 induced epithelial features and impaired metastatic properties. However, increased STAT3, TWIST1 and decreased E-cadherin expression suggest priming for EMT. Additionally, improved tumour cell survival and increased BCL-2 expression linked decreased RGS2 levels to fundamental tumour advantages. In contrast, high RGS2 levels in advanced PC were correlated to poor patient survival and a positive metastatic status. This study describes novel roles for RGS2 during PC progression and suggests a prognostic potential discriminating between indolent and metastatic forms of PC.

Efficacy of Belimumab for active lupus nephritis in a young Hispanic woman intolerant to standard treatment: a case report

Background

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a frequent severe complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), especially in patients of non-Caucasian ethnicity. Induction treatment for LN consists in the combination of steroids plus a second agent (cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil) or, as a second-line, calcineurin inhibitors or Rituximab. Induction treatment for LN can be complicated by a series of side effects, the most severe being serious infections. Belimumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that targets soluble B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), approved for treatment of serologically active SLE in addition to standard of care.

Case presentation

A young Hispanic woman was diagnosed with SLE at the age of 15. After several immunosuppressive treatments for arthritic symptoms (high-dose steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, Rituximab, cyclophosphamide) leading to serious complications and scarce clinical improvement, she developed severe LN. Induction treatment with a combination of intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide was started but, after few days, the patient developed cryptococcal meningitis. After institution of appropriate antifungal therapy, treatment with Tacrolimus was attempted but poorly tolerated by the patient and withdrawn. Eventually, Belimumab was initiated off-label as a last resource to treat LN. Belimumab was well tolerated by the patient and resulted in a rapid and marked improvement in clinical symptoms and reduction in proteinuria, serum complement levels and anti-dsDNA titer; of note, the patient developed no infectious complications.

Conclusions

We report the case of a severe LN in a young Hispanic woman who did not respond to conventional and second-line induction therapies, due both to intolerance and to the development of serious infectious complications. Eventually, Belimumab was successfully added to steroids and was well tolerated by the patient, resulting in a marked improvement in clinical and biochemical parameters. We suggest that Belimumab should be considered as a potentially efficacious treatment in patients with LN who cannot tolerate conventional therapies.

Bright insights into palladium-triggered local chemotherapy

The incorporation of transition metal catalysts to the bioorthogonal toolbox has opened the possibility of producing supra-stoichiometric amounts of xenobiotics in living systems in a non-enzymatic fashion. For medical use, such metals could be embedded in implantable devices (i.e. heterogeneous catalyst) to "synthesize" drugs in desired locations (e.g. in a tumour) with high specificity and for extended periods of time, overcoming the useful life limitations of current local therapy modalities directed to specific organ sites (e.g. brachytherapy, controlled release systems). To translate this approach into a bona fide therapeutic option, it is essential to develop clinically-accessible implantation procedures and to understand and validate the activation process in relevant preclinical models. Herein we report the development of a novel Pd-activatable precursor of the red-fluorescent drug doxorubicin and Pd devices of optimized size and activity. Screening in state-of-the-art cancer models provided fundamental insights into the insertion protocols, safety and stability of the devices and into the prodrug distribution profile before and after activation.

Usefulness of combined androgen blockade therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist for bone metastatic prostate cancer with pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level ≥ 50 ng/mL

BACKGROUND

This study was performed to examine the usefulness of combined androgen blockade (CAB) therapy with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist (CAB-antagonist therapy), instead of CAB therapy with GnRH agonist (CAB-agonist therapy) against very high-risk prostate cancer (Pca).

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 84 Pca patients with pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level ≥ 50 ng/mL, who were pathologically diagnosed between January 2007 and December 2016. GnRH antagonist was administered to 34 patients and GnRH agonist was administered to 50 patients. All patients received concurrent antiandrogen treatment. The primary end point was PSA progression-free survival (PSA-PFS).

RESULTS

PSA-PFS was significantly longer for the CAB-antagonist group compared to the CAB-agonist group (log-rank test, P <  0.01) in Pca patients with more than six bone metastases (the extent of disease [EOD] grade 2-4). On multivariate analysis, CAB-antagonist therapy was shown to be a possible prognostic factor for PSA-PFS (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.41, 95% confidence interval: 0.16-0.90, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

CAB-antagonist therapy may be a useful option in bone metastatic Pca patients with EOD grade 2-4.

Symptom assessment to guide treatment selection and determine progression in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: Expert opinion and review of the evidence

Multiple new agents to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) have become available in recent years; however, the appropriate timing and sequencing of these agents have yet to be elucidated. Until accurate biomarkers become available to allow more focused therapeutic targeting for this population, treatment selection for men with mCRPC will continue to be driven largely by close assessment of patient-related factors and symptoms. Pain, as the predominant symptom of mCRPC, is often the focus when assessing progression and the need for a change in treatment. A myriad of other symptoms, including fatigue, impact on activities of daily living, sleep, and lower urinary tract symptoms, also affect men with mCRPC, and assessment of the composite of these symptoms provides an earlier signal for the need to adjust treatment. A number of tools are available for assessing symptoms in patients with advanced prostate cancer, but they are not routinely used, given their complexity and length. A new simplified questionnaire is proposed for the assessment of symptoms, beyond pain, to inform treatment decisions for men with mCRPC.

Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: AUA/ASTRO/SUO Guideline. Part II: Recommended Approaches and Details of Specific Care Options

PURPOSE

This guideline is structured to provide a clinical framework stratified by cancer severity to facilitate care decisions and guide the specifics of implementing the selected management options. The summary presented herein represents Part II of the two-part series dedicated to Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: AUA/ASTRO/SUO Guideline discussing risk stratification and care options by cancer severity. Please refer to Part I for discussion of specific care options and outcome expectations and management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The systematic review utilized in the creation of this guideline was completed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and through additional supplementation by ECRI Institute. This review included articles published between January 2007 and March 2014 with an update search conducted through August 2016. When sufficient evidence existed, the body of evidence for a particular treatment was assigned a strength rating of A (high), B (moderate), or C (low) for support of Strong, Moderate, or Conditional Recommendations. Additional information is provided as Clinical Principles and Expert Opinions (table 2 in supplementary unabridged guideline, http://jurology.com/).

RESULTS

The AUA (American Urological Association), ASTRO, and SUO (Society of Urologic Oncology) formulated an evidence-based guideline based on a risk stratified clinical framework for the management of localized prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

This guideline attempts to improve a clinician's ability to treat patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, but higher quality evidence in future trials will be essential to improve the level of care for these patients. In all cases, patient preferences should be considered when choosing a management strategy.

MR Imaging-Guided Focal Treatment of Prostate Cancer: An Update

Focal treatment of prostate cancer has evolved from a concept to a practice in the recent few years and is projected to fill an existing need, bridging the gap between conservative and radical traditional treatment options. With its low morbidity and rapid recovery time compared with whole-gland treatment alternatives, focal therapy is poised to gain more acceptance among patients and health care providers. As our experience with focal treatment matures and evidence continues to accrue, the landscape of this practice might look quite different in the future.

Physiological and ecological implications of ocean deoxygenation for vision in marine organisms

Climate change has induced ocean deoxygenation and exacerbated eutrophication-driven hypoxia in recent decades, affecting the physiology, behaviour and ecology of marine organisms. The high oxygen demand of visual tissues and the known inhibitory effects of hypoxia on human vision raise the questions if and how ocean deoxygenation alters vision in marine organisms. This is particularly important given the rapid loss of oxygen and strong vertical gradients in oxygen concentration in many areas of the ocean. This review evaluates the potential effects of low oxygen (hypoxia) on visual function in marine animals and their implications for marine biota under current and future ocean deoxygenation based on evidence from terrestrial and a few marine organisms. Evolutionary history shows radiation of eye designs during a period of increasing ocean oxygenation. Physiological effects of hypoxia on photoreceptor function and light sensitivity, in combination with morphological changes that may occur throughout ontogeny, have the potential to alter visual behaviour and, subsequently, the ecology of marine organisms, particularly for fish, cephalopods and arthropods with 'fast' vision. Visual responses to hypoxia, including greater light requirements, offer an alternative hypothesis for observed habitat compression and shoaling vertical distributions in visual marine species subject to ocean deoxygenation, which merits further investigation.This article is part of the themed issue 'Ocean ventilation and deoxygenation in a warming world'.

Hypo-fractionated SBRT for localized prostate cancer: a German bi-center single treatment group feasibility trial

BACKGROUND

For prostate cancer treatment, treatment options with minimal side effects are desired. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is non-invasive, standard of care and delivered in either conventional fractionation over 8 weeks or with moderate hypo-fractionation over about 5 weeks. Recent advances in radiotherapy technology have made extreme hypo-fractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of prostate cancer feasible, which has not yet been introduced as a standard treatment method in Germany. Initial results from other countries are promising, but long-term results are not yet available. The aim of this study is to investigate feasibility and effectiveness of SBRT for prostate cancer in Germany.

METHODS/DESIGN

This German bi-center single group trial (HYPOSTAT) is designed to evaluate feasibility and effectiveness, as measured by toxicity and PSA-response, respectively, of an extreme hypo-fractionated SBRT regimen with five fractions of 7 Gy in treatment of localized low and intermediate risk prostate cancer. The target volume includes the prostate with or without the base of seminal vesicles depending on risk stratification and uncertainty margins that are kept at 3-5 mm. SBRT treatment is delivered with the robotic CyberKnife system, which was recently introduced in Germany. Acute and late toxicity after one year will be evaluated according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v. 4.0), Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) Scores. The quality of life will be assessed before and after treatment with the EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire. Hypothesizing that the proportion of patients with grade 2 side effects or higher is less or equal than 2.8%, thus markedly lower than the standard EBRT percentage (17.5%), the recruitment target is 85 patients.

DISCUSSION

The HYPOSTAT trial aims at demonstrating short term feasibility of extreme hypo-fractioned SBRT for the treatment of prostate cancer and might be used as the pilot study for a multi-center multi-platform or for randomized-controlled trials comparing conventional radiotherapy with SBRT for localized prostate cancer in the future. The study concept of patient enrollment, follow up and evaluation by multiple public university clinics and actual patient treatment in dedicated private radiosurgery practices with high-tech radiation equipment is unique for clinical trials.

STUDY STATUS

The study is ongoing and currently recruiting patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registration number: NCT02635256 ( clinicaltrials.gov ). Registered 8 December 2015.

Validation of prostate-specific antigen laboratory values recorded in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries

BACKGROUND

Researchers have used prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) values collected by central cancer registries to evaluate tumors for potential aggressive clinical disease. An independent study collecting PSA values suggested a high error rate (18%) related to implied decimal points. To evaluate the error rate in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, a comprehensive review of PSA values recorded across all SEER registries was performed.

METHODS

Consolidated PSA values for eligible prostate cancer cases in SEER registries were reviewed and compared with text documentation from abstracted records. Four types of classification errors were identified: implied decimal point errors, abstraction or coding implementation errors, nonsignificant errors, and changes related to “unknown” values.

RESULTS

A total of 50,277 prostate cancer cases diagnosed in 2012 were reviewed. Approximately 94.15% of cases did not have meaningful changes (85.85% correct, 5.58% with a nonsignificant change of <1 ng/mL, and 2.80% with no clinical change). Approximately 5.70% of cases had meaningful changes (1.93% due to implied decimal point errors, 1.54% due to abstract or coding errors, and 2.23% due to errors related to unknown categories). Only 419 of the original 50,277 cases (0.83%) resulted in a change in disease stage due to a corrected PSA value.

CONCLUSIONS

The implied decimal error rate was only 1.93% of all cases in the current validation study, with a meaningful error rate of 5.81%. The reasons for the lower error rate in SEER are likely due to ongoing and rigorous quality control and visual editing processes by the central registries. The SEER program currently is reviewing and correcting PSA values back to 2004 and will re‐release these data in the public use research file. Cancer 2017;123:697–703. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Researchers have used prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) values collected by central cancer registries to evaluate tumors for potential aggressive clinical disease. The current study describes the comprehensive review of PSA laboratory values recorded across all Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries for 2012 prostate cancer cases and the proposed mechanism for reviewing and correcting PSA laboratory values.

Theory about Heuristic Strategies Based on Verbal Protocol Analysis: The Emperor Needs a Shave

A research report in the present issue of Medical Decision Making raises questions about the definition of heuristic strategies, the validity of conclusions drawn from the analysis of verbal protocols, and the tradeoff between rigor and relevance in research on the psychology of patient decision making.

Preference Assessment Method Affects Decision-Analytic Recommendations: A Prostate Cancer Treatment Example

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of preference assessment method on treatment recommended by an individualized decision-analytic model for early prostate cancer. Methods. Health state preferences were elicited by time tradeoff, rating scale, and a power transformation of the rating scale from 63 men ages 55 to 75. The authors used these values in a Markov model to determine whether radical prostatectomy or watchful waiting yielded the greater quality-adjusted life expectancy. Results. Time tradeoff and transformed rating scale recommendations differed widely. Time tradeoff and transformed rating scale utilities differed in their treatment recommendation for 21% to 52% of men, and the mean difference in quality-adjusted life years varied from less than 0.5 to greater than 1.0. Conclusions. Treatment recommendations from the prostate cancer decision model were sensitive to the method of preference assessment. If decision analysis is used to counsel individual patients, careful considerationmust be given to the method of preference elicitation.

Percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) of prostate cancer: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings

PURPOSE

To evaluate the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) after irreversible electroporation (IRE) of prostatic cancer tissue to assess the ablation status by depicting microvascularisation in the ablation area.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective evaluation of CEUS of 13 patients (mean age: 61.4 ± 7.5 years) with histologically confirmed prostatic cancer who underwent percutaneous IRE. In the course of clinical routine, the tumor lesions were documented before, immediately after, and 1 day after the ablationusing color-coded transabdominal and transrectal CEUS. The obtained image data (DICOM loops and images) were subsequently evaluated by 2 experienced radiologists and assessed with regard to micro vascularisation by means of a 5-point scale.

RESULTS

CEUS images showed significantly reduced microcirculation of the lesions (mean 0.9 ± 0.6 cm (0.5-1.5 cm) after IRE. Microcirculation was reduced from 2.15 ± 0.56 prior to ablation to 0.65 ± 0.63 (p <  0.001) immediately after the ablation and to 0.27 ± 0.44 one day after IRE (p <  0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study showed rapid and significant reduction of the microcirculation in the ablation area afterpercutaneous IRE of prostatic cancer tissue.

Early oncological and functional outcomes following radical treatment of high-risk prostate cancer in men older than 70 years: A prospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Assess early oncological and functional outcomes following radical treatment of men with high-risk prostate cancer and aged more than 70 years.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 335 men with high-risk prostate cancer (prostate-specific antigen ≥20ng/ml or biopsy Gleason score 8 to 10 or≥cT2c) received radical treatment between 2007 and 2014. Men were identified from comprehensive clinical databases hosted at a tertiary cancer center in the UK. The data included basic demographics, and follow-up on functional and oncological outcomes using validated patient-reported outcome questionnaires. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used.

RESULTS

In all, 117 patients received radical radiotherapy (RT) alone, 167 patients received neoadjuvant hormone therapy and RT, and 54 patients underwent radical prostatectomy with extended lymph node dissection. Mean age was 72.8, standard deviation (SD) = 2.1, mean follow-up of 40.9 months, SD = 25.5 months. Patients who underwent laparoscopic prostatectomy = 24 (44.4%) had positive surgical margins, and mean lymph nodes dissected were 18.7, SD = 6.7. Further, 5 men experienced postoperative complications in the form of pseudoaneurism of internal iliac branch, leg ischemia, high CO2 retention, and 2 men experienced sepsis. Incidence of biochemical recurrence was significantly lower at 16.7% in the surgery group, compared with RT 51.3% and RT and hormone therapy 30.5%, and Kaplan-Meier analysis P<0.001 over 3 years of follow-up

CONCLUSION

Radical surgery with extended lymph nodes dissection appears to have good short-term oncological and functional outcomes compared with RT with or without hormones in high-risk men older than 70 years of age. Based on these findings, treatment decisions and surgical therapy should be considered on individual basis in older men with high-risk disease.

Saudi oncology society and Saudi urology association combined clinical management guidelines for prostate cancer

This is an update to the previously published Saudi guidelines for the evaluation, medical, and surgical management of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is categorized according to the stage of the disease using the tumor node metastasis staging system 7(th) edition. The guidelines are presented with supporting evidence level, they are based on comprehensive literature review, several internationally recognized guidelines, and the collective expertise of the guidelines committee members (authors) who were selected by the Saudi oncology society and Saudi urological association. Considerations to the local availability of drugs, technology, and expertise have been regarded. These guidelines should serve as a roadmap for the urologists, oncologists, general physicians, support groups, and health care policy makers in the management of patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the prostate to.

Acknowledging unreported problems with active surveillance for prostate cancer: a prospective single-centre observational study

OBJECTIVE

To report outcomes of patients with localised prostate cancer (PCa) managed with active surveillance (AS) in a standard clinical setting.

DESIGN

Single-centre, prospective, observational study.

SETTING

Non-academic, average-size hospital in Switzerland.

PARTICIPANTS

Prospective, observational study at a non-academic, average-size hospital in Switzerland. Inclusion and progression criteria meet general recommendations. 157 patients at a median age of 67 (61-70) years were included from December 1999 to March 2012. Follow-up (FU) ended June 2013.

RESULTS

Median FU was 48 (30-84) months. Overall confirmed reclassification rate was 20% (32/157). 20 men underwent radical prostatectomy with 1 recurrence, 11 had radiation therapy with 2 prostate-specific antigen relapses, and 1 required primary hormone ablation with a fatal outcome. Kaplan-Meier estimates for those remaining in the study showed an overall survival of 92%, cancer-specific survival of 99% and reclassification rate of 41%. Dropout rate was 36% and occurred at a median of 48 (21-81) months after inclusion. 68 (43%) men are still under AS.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful administration of AS can and will yield excellent results in long-term management of PCa, and also helps physicians and patients alike to balance quality of life and mortality. Our data revealed significant dropout from FU. Patient non-compliance can be a relevant problem in AS.

Guidance on patient consultation. Current evidence for prostate-specific antigen screening in healthy men and treatment options for men with proven localised prostate cancer

The main objective of this review is to summarise, for primary and secondary care doctors, the management options and current supporting evidence for clinically localised prostate cancer. We review all aspects of management including current guidelines on early cancer detection and the importance of informed consent on PSA-based screening and assess the most common treatment options and the evidence for managing patients with low-, medium-, and high-risk disease.

CHADS2 scores as a predictor of ischemic stroke after radical prostatectomy

Patients with prostate cancer have an increased risk of stroke, but their absolute rate of stroke depends on age and comorbid conditions. The Charlson Comorbidity Index Score (CCIS) is a widely accepted measure for risk adjustment in administrative claims data sets. This study assesses the predictive value of CHADS2 scores and CCIS for stroke among patients with prostate cancer. The study was conducted based on data taken from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). We identified a total of 5414 participants with nonatrial fibrillation (AF) prostate cancer diagnoses who underwent radical prostatectomy between 1997 and 2011. CHADS2 scores and CCIS were used to stratify the 5‐year ischemic stroke risk. All participants were followed from the date of enrollment until ischemic stroke, death, or the end of the 5‐year follow‐up period. The 5‐year risk of ischemic stroke in the present study was 1.7%. Ischemic stroke has a better correlation with CHADS2 (CHADS2 score = 0 to 1: 0.02%, CHADS2 score = 2 to 3: 13.9%, CHADS2 score ≥ 4: 44.4%; AUC = 0.978) than CCIS (CCIS = 0 to 1: 1.6%, CCIS = 2 to 3: 1.7%, CCIS ≥ 4: 3.8%; AUC = 0.520). Our results show that patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy show significantly higher risk of ischemic stroke in high CHADS2 score patients, and the CHADS2 score could be applied for ischemic stroke prediction. Cardiovascular risks evaluation and management are suggested for prostate cancer patients with higher CHADS2 score.

Active surveillance in localized prostate cancer: comparison of incidental tumours (T1a/b) and tumours diagnosed by core needle biopsy (T1c/T2a): results from the HAROW study

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a comparative prospective analysis of patients with incidental T1a/T1b prostate cancer (IPCa) and those with prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosed by core needle biopsy, treated by active surveillance (AS), with regard to inclusion criteria, progression and switch to deferred treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The HAROW study is an observational outcomes research study on the management of localized PCa. Treating urologists reported clinical variables and information on therapy and clinical course of disease at 6-month intervals. With respect to therapy, only recommendations were made; the final decision on the therapeutic method rested with the treating physician.

RESULTS

Out of 2 957 patients included in the HAROW study, 447 chose AS. The median follow-up was 28.3 months. T1a, T1b, T1c and T2a disease were diagnosed in 81, 18, 292 and 56 patients, respectively. Patients in the IPCa group had lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (4.2 vs 6.1 ng/mL) and more comorbidities than those diagnosed by core needle biospy. The IPCa group also had fewer re-biopsies (25.3 vs 43.2%) and fewer changes to invasive treatment (12.1 vs 25.9%). No significant differences were found with respect to the criteria for discontinuation, subsequent therapies and histological findings after radical prostatectomy.

CONCLUSION

Urologists are highly inclined to use AS as a therapeutic option in IPCa. More patients with IPCa than those diagnosed after core needle biopsy continued on AS, which was also associated with the indication for a re-biopsy being less stringently observed.

Prostate-specific antigen-based screening: controversy and guidelines

Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has improved the detection of prostate cancer, allowing for stage migration to less advanced disease, the precise mortality benefit of early detection is unclear. This is in part due to a discrepancy between the two large randomized controlled trials comparing PSA screening to usual care. The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) found a survival benefit to screening, while the United States Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial did not. Furthermore, the benefit of immediate surgical intervention for screen-detected prostate cancer is unclear, as the results superficially differ between the two large randomized controlled trials comparing prostatectomy to observation. The Prostate Cancer Intervention Versus Observation Trial (PIVOT) found no survival benefit for prostatectomy in PSA screened U.S. men, while the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group Study Number Four (SPCG-4) found a survival benefit for prostatectomy in clinically diagnosed prostate cancer. As a result of the controversy surrounding PSA screening and subsequent prostate cancer treatment, guidelines vary widely by organization.

High risk of under-grading and -staging in prostate cancer patients eligible for active surveillance

Background

Active surveillance (AS) is increasingly offered to patients with low risk prostate cancer. The present study was conducted to evaluate the risk of tumor under-grading and -staging for AS eligibility. Moreover, we analyzed possible biomarkers for predicting more unfavorable final tumor histology.

Methods

197 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RPE) but would have met the EAU (European Association of Urology) criteria for AS (PSA<10 ng/ml, biopsy GS ≤6, ≤2 cancer-positive biopsy cores with ≤50% of tumor in any core and clinical stage ≤T2a) were included in the study. These AS inclusion parameters were correlated to the final histology of the RPE specimens. The impact of preoperative PSA level (low PSA ≤4 ng/ml vs. intermediate PSA of >4–10 ng/ml), PSA density (<15 vs. ≥ 15 ng/ml) and the number of positive biopsy cores (1 vs. 2 positive cores) on predicting upgrading and final adverse histology of the RPE specimens was analyzed in uni- and multivariate analyses. Moreover, clinical courses of undergraded patients were assessed.

Results

In our patient cohort 41.1% were found under-graded in the biopsy (final histology 40.1% GS7, 1% GS8). Preoperative PSA levels, PSA density or the number of positive cores were not predictive for worse final pathological findings including GS >6, extraprostatic extension and positive resection margin (R1) or correlated significantly with up-grading and/or extraprostatic extension in a multivariate model. Only R1 resections were predictable by combining intermediate PSA levels with two positive biopsy cores (p = 0.004). Sub-analyses showed that the number of biopsy cores (10 vs. 15 biopsy cores) had no influence on above mentioned results on predicting biopsy undergrading. Clinical courses of patients showed that 19.9% of patients had a biochemical relapse after RPE, among all of them were undergraded in the initial biopsy.

Conclusion

In summary, this study shows that a multitude of patients fulfilling the criteria for AS are under-diagnosed. The use of preoperative PSA levels, PSA density and the number of positive cores were not predictable for undergrading in the present patient collective.

Saudi oncology society and Saudi urology association combined clinical management guidelines for prostate cancer

In this report, updated guidelines for the evaluation, medical, and surgical management of prostate cancer are presented. They are categorized according the stage of the disease using the tumor node metastasis staging system 7(th) edition. The recommendations are presented with supporting evidence level.

Predictive factors of unfavorable prostate cancer in patients who underwent prostatectomy but eligible for active surveillance

PURPOSE

To investigate the predictive factors of unfavorable prostate cancer in Korean men who underwent radical prostatectomy but eligible for active surveillance according to Epstein criteria.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 2,036 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer between 1994 and 2011. Among these, 233 patients were eligible for active surveillance based on Epstein criteria. Unfavorable prostate cancer was defined as pathologic Gleason sum ≥7 or non-organ-confined disease. We investigated pathologic outcomes and predictive factors for unfavorable prostate cancer.

RESULTS

Of 233 cases, 91 patients (39.1%) were pathologic Gleason sum ≥7, 11 (4.7%) had extracapsular extension, and three (1.3%) had seminal vesicle invasion. Ninety-eight patients (42.1%) had unfavorable prostate cancer. When comparing clinically insignificant and significant prostate cancer, there were significant differences in mean age (P=0.007), prostate volume (P=0.021), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density (P=0.03), maximum tumor volume in biopsy core (P<0.001), and rate of two positive cores (P=0.001). On multivariate analysis, age (P=0.015), PSA density (P=0.017) and two positive cores (P=0.001) were independent predictive factors for unfavorable prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of patients who were candidates for active surveillance had unfavorable prostate cancer. Age, PSA density, and two positive cores were independent significant predictive factors for unfavorable prostate cancer. These factors should be considered when performing active surveillance.

EAU guidelines on prostate cancer. part 1: screening, diagnosis, and local treatment with curative intent-update 2013

CONTEXT

The most recent summary of the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on prostate cancer (PCa) was published in 2011.

OBJECTIVE

To present a summary of the 2013 version of the EAU guidelines on screening, diagnosis, and local treatment with curative intent of clinically organ-confined PCa.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A literature review of the new data emerging from 2011 to 2013 has been performed by the EAU PCa guideline group. The guidelines have been updated, and levels of evidence and grades of recommendation have been added to the text based on a systematic review of the literature, which included a search of online databases and bibliographic reviews.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

A full version of the guidelines is available at the EAU office or online (www.uroweb.org). Current evidence is insufficient to warrant widespread population-based screening by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for PCa. Systematic prostate biopsies under ultrasound guidance and local anesthesia are the preferred diagnostic method. Active surveillance represents a viable option in men with low-risk PCa and a long life expectancy. A biopsy progression indicates the need for active intervention, whereas the role of PSA doubling time is controversial. In men with locally advanced PCa for whom local therapy is not mandatory, watchful waiting (WW) is a treatment alternative to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), with equivalent oncologic efficacy. Active treatment is recommended mostly for patients with localized disease and a long life expectancy, with radical prostatectomy (RP) shown to be superior to WW in prospective randomized trials. Nerve-sparing RP is the approach of choice in organ-confined disease, while neoadjuvant ADT provides no improvement in outcome variables. Radiation therapy should be performed with ≥ 74 Gy in low-risk PCa and 78 Gy in intermediate- or high-risk PCa. For locally advanced disease, adjuvant ADT for 3 yr results in superior rates for disease-specific and overall survival and is the treatment of choice. Follow-up after local therapy is largely based on PSA and a disease-specific history, with imaging indicated only when symptoms occur.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge in the field of PCa is rapidly changing. These EAU guidelines on PCa summarize the most recent findings and put them into clinical practice.

PATIENT SUMMARY

A summary is presented of the 2013 EAU guidelines on screening, diagnosis, and local treatment with curative intent of clinically organ-confined prostate cancer (PCa). Screening continues to be done on an individual basis, in consultation with a physician. Diagnosis is by prostate biopsy. Active surveillance is an option in low-risk PCa and watchful waiting is an alternative to androgen-deprivation therapy in locally advanced PCa not requiring immediate local treatment. Radical prostatectomy is the only surgical option. Radiation therapy can be external or delivered by way of prostate implants. Treatment follow-up is based on the PSA level.

Single foci prostate cancer: current diagnosis and management

Diagnosis of small prostate cancer foci is a real challenge for pathologists and urologists as it carries the risk of false positive or negative diagnosis with clinical consequences. Diagnosis of small prostate cancer foci requires a strict methodological approach which includes a search for major and minor features under low and high magnification. Ambiguous cases can be further clarified with the use of basal cell immunomarkers complemented by a positive indicator of malignancy. Despite the new diagnostic armamentarium, a few cases will continue to remain doubtful and might require an appropriate rebiopsy.

Impact of age on clinical presentation, treatment, and cancer-specific survival of patients with small-cell carcinoma of the prostate

Background

The effects of age on clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes for patients with small-cell carcinoma of the prostate (SCCP) are unclear.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed on 259 patients who were identified with SCCP in the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry from January 1973 to December 2004. The patients were categorized into two groups according to age at diagnosis, ie, younger than 75 years (n = 158, 61%) or 75 years and older (n = 101, 39%). Patient and treatment characteristics and cancer-specific survival were compared between the groups. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic factors associated with cancer-specific survival.

Results

The median age of the patients was 72 (30–95) years. There was no significant difference in terms of tumor characteristics, concomitant adenocarcinoma grade, SEER stage, and treatment (including prostatectomy and radiation therapy) received between the groups. Median cancer-specific survival was 19 months (95% confidence interval 13–25). By multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling, older age group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.95; P = 0.001), concomitant high-grade adenocarcinoma (HR 7.13; P = 0.007), and not having prostatectomy (HR 3.77; P = 0.005) were found to be significant independent predictors of poor cancer-specific survival.

Conclusion

Older patients with SCCP had increased risk of poor cancer-specific survival. Whether this age-related poor outcome can be attributed to more aggressive tumor biology in older patients, or is simply a refection of age-related poor performance status and suboptimal chemotherapy needs further investigation.

Quality of life in men undergoing active surveillance for localized prostate cancer

Active surveillance is an important arrow in the quiver of physicians advising men with prostate cancer. Quality-of-life considerations are paramount for patient-centered decision making. Although the overall deleterious impact on health is less dramatic than for those who pursue curative treatment, men on active surveillance also suffer sexual dysfunction and distress. Five-year outcomes revealed more erectile dysfunction (80% vs 45%) and urinary leakage (49% vs 21%) but less urinary obstruction (28% vs 44%) in men undergoing prostatectomy. Bowel function, anxiety, depression, well-being, and overall health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were similar after 5 years, but at 6-8 years, other domains of HRQOL, such as anxiety and depression, deteriorated significantly for those who chose watchful waiting. Further research is needed to compare prospectively HRQOL outcomes in men choosing active surveillance and those never diagnosed with prostate cancer, in part to help weigh the potential benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening.

What is the risk posed by prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer carries an extraordinarily varied prognosis. Previously, most men presented with clinical symptoms often succumbed to their disease several years following treatment with hormonal manipulation. With the advent of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, most men are now diagnosed with localized, well- to moderately differentiated disease. The most powerful predictor of long-term outcome is the Gleason score, followed by tumor volume. Over the past two decades, changes in the interpretation of Gleason patterns have resulted in the reclassification of many well-differentiated tumors as higher grade tumors. Men with well-differentiated disease have an excellent prognosis and often survive 10-20 years without intervention. Conversely, men with poorly differentiated disease often succumb to their cancer within a decade. PSA can estimate tumor volume, but poorly differentiated disease may not produce much PSA. We are unable to predict accurately the risk posed by a specific prostate cancer.