Comparative analysis of short - term functional outcomes and quality of life in a prospective series of brachytherapy and Da Vinci robotic prostatectomy

Quality of life in patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy compared with those who underwent low-dose-rate brachytherapy

BACKGROUND

To compare the quality of life (QOL) in patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) or low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) for prostate cancer.

METHODS

We enrolled patients who underwent LDR-BT (LDR-BT alone [n = 540] or LDR-BT plus external beam radiation therapy [n = 428]) and RARP (n = 142). QOL was evaluated using the International Prostate Symptom Score, Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), and 8-item Short Form (SF-8) health survey. The two groups were compared using propensity score matching analysis.

RESULTS

At 24 months after treatment, the number of patients with worsened urinary QOL in the urinary domain of EPIC compared with baseline was 78/111 (70%) and 63/137 (46%) in the RARP and LDR-BT groups, respectively (p < 0.001). In the urinary incontinence and function domain, this number was higher in the RARP group versus the LDR-BT group. However, in the urinary irritative/obstructive domain, the number of patients with improved urinary QOL at 24 months compared with baseline was 18/111 (16%) and 9/137 (7%), respectively (p = 0.01). Regarding the SHIM score, sexual domain of EPIC, and mental component summary of SF-8, there were more number of patients with worsened QOL in the RARP group than in the LDR-BT group. In the EPIC bowel domain, the number of patients with worsened QOL was lower in the RARP group versus the LDR-BT group.

CONCLUSION

The differences in QOL observed between patients treated with RARP and LDR-BT could assist in treatment selection for prostate cancer.

New Isotopes for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer in Collaboration With CERN: A Mini Review

The use of radioactivity in medicine has been developed over a century. The discovery of radioisotopes and their interactions with living cells and tissue has led to the emergence of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The CERN-MEDICIS infrastructure, recently inaugurated at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN), provides a wide range of radioisotopes of interest for diagnosis and treatment in oncology. Our objective is to draw attention to the progress made in nuclear medicine in collaboration with CERN and potential future applications, in particular for the treatment of aggressive tumors such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma, through an extensive review of literature. Fifty seven out of two hundred and ten articles, published between 1997 and 2020, were selected based on relevancy. Meetings were held with a multi-disciplinary team, including specialists in physics, biological engineering, chemistry, oncology and surgery, all actively involved in the CERN-MEDICIS project. In summary, new diagnostic, and therapeutic modalities are emerging for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Targeted radiotherapy or brachytherapy could be combined with existing therapies to improve the quality of life and survival of these patients. Many studies are still in the pre-clinical stage but open new paths for patients with poor prognosis.

Radical prostatectomy versus brachytherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer on oncological and functional outcomes: a meta-analysis

Background

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a form of malignancy that harms the health status of elderly men worldwide. It is unclear which of radical prostatectomy (RP) or brachytherapy (BT) is the more effective treatment for PCa. This study presents the first highly comprehensive and up-to-date comparative analysis of the overall outcomes of RP versus BT.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature search for studies published on PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library on the outcomes of RP versus BT in clinically localized PCa. The cumulative analysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.3 software, and the Chi-square test was employed to test the statistical heterogeneity. The summary odds ratio (OR) and standard mean difference (SMD) was estimated using random effects models at 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

In total, 2 randomized, 2 prospective, and 21 retrospective comparative studies were included. No significant differences in biochemical recurrence rate (BCR) (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.68) and prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 0.86, 3.04) between RP and BT were noted. With erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, BT was more protective than RP in both short-term post-operative reports (OR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.15, 3.70 and OR: 4.62; 95% CI: 2.33, 9.16) and long-term patient outcome reports (SMD: -5.62; 95% CI: -13.81, 2.57 and SMD: -11.52; 95% CI: -18.32, -4.72).

Conclusions

BT and RP for PCa therapy pose comparable risks of PCSM and BCR, while BT is associated with a lower incidence of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. This study tentatively confirms that BT is an alternative to RP for patients seeking a curative treatment with minimal risks of urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.