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ABSTRACT: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) have been gaining acceptance as tools in the evaluation of prostate cancer. We compared the accuracy of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI combined with three-dimensional (3D) MRSI in locating prostate tumours and determined the influence of prostate weight on MRI accuracy.
Between March 1999 and October 2006, 507 patients with localised prostate cancer underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) at the Jules Bordet Institute. Of these, 220 had undergone endorectal MRI (1.5 T Siemens Quantum Symphony) and 3D-MRSI prior to RP. We retrospectively reviewed data on tumour location and compared the results obtained by MRI and by TRUS-guided biopsy with those obtained on histopathology of the RP specimen.
Patient data were as follows: median age 62.4 years (45-74); median PSA 6.36 ng/ml (0.5-22.6); 73.6% of patients had non-palpable disease (T1c); median biopsy Gleason score 6 (3-9); median RP specimen weight 50 g (12-172); median pathological Gleason score 7 (4-10); 68.64% of patients had organ-confined (pT2) disease. Tumour localisation was correlated with RP data in a significantly higher percentage of patients when using MRI rather than TRUS-guided biopsy (47.4 vs. 36.6%, p < 0.0001). MRI was marginally superior to TRUS-guided biopsy in detecting malignancy at the prostate apex (48.3 vs. 41.9%, p = 0.0687) and somewhat better at the prostate base (46 vs. 39.1%, p = 0.0413). It was highly significantly better at mid-gland (52 vs. 41.1%, p = 0.0015) and in the transition zone (40.1 vs. 24.3%, p < 0.0001). MRI had higher sensitivity in larger (≥50 g) than smaller (<50 g) prostates (50.3 vs. 42.2%, p = 0.0017).
MRI was superior to TRUS-guided biopsy in locating prostate tumours except at the gland apex. MRI was more accurate in larger (≥50 g) than smaller prostates.
Urologia Internationalis 01/2012; 88(1):12-7. · 0.99 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Serum testosterone measurement has no widely accepted place in the management of patients with prostate cancer (PCa). However, several potential clinical applications of serum testosterone determination can be envisaged.
To review the role of testosterone and the androgen axis in the natural history of PCa and evaluate the evidence for the clinical application of serum testosterone measurement in patient screening, diagnosis, and management.
A Medline search retrieved original research and review articles relating to the androgen axis in PCa and the use of testosterone measurement for (1) assessing PCa risk in the general population, (2) adding to the specificity of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, (3) determining tumour aggressiveness, (4) assessing the efficacy of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), and (5) optimising the scheduling of intermittent ADT. Relevant data were reviewed during a roundtable discussion, and consensus recommendations were agreed.
A body of data implicates the androgen axis in PCa throughout its natural history. Based on current evidence, serum testosterone measurement cannot be recommended for determining PCa risk, increasing specificity of PSA testing, or assessing tumour aggressiveness. In contrast, for patients receiving ADT, there is a clear rationale for serum testosterone monitoring to ensure that castration levels are achieved. Practical recommendations for testosterone measurement during ADT are outlined. If PSA is rising while on ADT, castration levels of serum testosterone must be demonstrated before hormonal independence can be assumed. Serum testosterone levels might be considered an additional trigger for therapy reinitiation in intermittent ADT schedules. Finally, future prospective studies should further evaluate the potential relevance of testosterone measurement as an independent assessment of prognosis and treatment decision in different disease stages.
As a therapeutic target, serum testosterone levels should be monitored to verify response to ADT and confirm suspected castration independence.
European urology 04/2010; 58(1):65-74. · 7.67 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome continues to pose a treatment challenge for urologists. Chronic prostatitis
is a very common and poorly understood condition with significant impact on quality of life. In recent literature, studies
have been conducted with various treatment modalities that include antibiotics, α-blockers, anti-inflammatory agents, and
cognitive behavioral interventions such as biofeedback and psychotherapy. Patients have shown interest in phytotherapy as
a treatment option with increasing frequency due to lack of efficacy of conventional therapies. However, very little is known
about the efficacy of second- and third-line treatments, such as the use of herbal supplements. We review published literature
regarding phytotherapy usage for chronic prostatitis. The treatments include Chinese herbs, green tea extract, zinc, cernitin
pollen extract (bee pollen), quercetin, saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), and lycopene.
Current Prostate Reports 01/2009; 7(1):39-43.
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Claude C Schulman
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ABSTRACT: Tamsulosin MR has been on the market for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) for many years. Recently, tamsulosin OCAS was introduced, which has improved pharmacokinetics.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin.
Literature was identified through a PubMed search using the term 'tamsulosin' and by screening reference lists of review articles.
Tamsulosin rapidly improves LUTS/BPH, with benefits maintained in the long-term. The overall tolerability of tamsulosin MR 0.4 mg is comparable to that of placebo. While the efficacy of tamsulosin OCAS and MR is comparable, tamsulosin OCAS is slightly better tolerated.
Tamsulosin OCAS 0.4 mg has a favourable efficacy/safety profile and should be considered the treatment of choice for patients requiring optimal symptom control without increasing the risk of cardiovascular adverse events.
Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology 07/2008; 4(6):771-82. · 3.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the impact of "on-demand" clamping during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy on warm ischemia time.
We retrospectively reviewed 39 consecutive patients with renal tumors who had undergone transperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy from April 2002 to May 2006. Median tumor size was 2.3 cm. In all cases, the hilum was dissected early and extracorporeal clamping performed. The pedicle was clamped only in case of excessive bleeding, and it was released immediately after the closure of the renal defect with knot-tying sutures over Surgicel bolsters.
Median operative time was 120 min. Renal clamping was required in 31 of 39 patients and in this subgroup the median warm ischemia time was 9 min. Median operative blood loss was 150 ml. Eight patients required blood transfusion and among these two were converted to open surgery. Positive surgical margin was observed in one case. Renal cell carcinoma was present in 22 (54.4%) specimens. No recurrence was observed after a median follow-up of 15 mo.
This novel technique using extracorporeal clamping significantly decreases warm ischemia time, avoiding clamping of the pedicle in selected cases. Our study underlines the feasibility of performing laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with extracorporeal hilar clamping, allowing the shortest ischemia time ever published.
European Urology 10/2007; 52(3):804-09. · 8.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To report the utilization of a modified Endo GIA vascular stapler to obtain the full length of the renal vein during transperitoneal laparoscopic live donor right nephrectomy.
We used a modified Endo GIA stapler, in which the triple staggered rows of staples were removed from the kidney donor side to obtain the full length of the right renal vein. This technique has currently been used in nine consecutive transperitoneal laparoscopic right donor nephrectomies.
With this technique, the entire right renal vein length was harvested in all cases, without vascular complications. Mean renal warm ischemia time from clamping of the renal vessels to cold perfusion was 135s, and mean receptor postoperative glomerular filtration rate after 30 d was 67.3 ml/min. There were no graft losses.
A novel technique for laparoscopic live donor right nephrectomy is described. It allows harvesting the full length of the right renal vein in a safe and feasible way without compromising warm ischemia time.
European Urology 06/2007; 51(5):1326-31. · 8.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We reviewed the effects of 5alpha-reductase inhibitors on prostate specific antigen and clarified the adjustments that should be made to compensate for these effects to ensure that the usefulness of prostate specific antigen for detecting prostate cancer is maintained.
We reviewed articles published in the scientific literature with relevance to the effects of 5alpha-reductase inhibitors on the usefulness of prostate specific antigen for detecting prostate cancer.
A total serum prostate specific antigen of 4.0 ng/ml has traditionally been used as the threshold for triggering prostate biopsy. However, clinical trials of finasteride and dutasteride have shown that 5alpha-reductase inhibitors decrease serum prostate specific antigen in patients with and without prostate cancer. To compensate, the doubling rule has been applied in clinical trials and clinical practice. However, doubling serum prostate specific antigen may overestimate actual prostate specific antigen in some patients receiving 5alpha-reductase inhibitors for up to 6 to 9 months, accurately estimate prostate specific antigen from 1 to 3 years and underestimate it thereafter. An increase in prostate specific antigen of 0.3 ng/ml from nadir as a trigger for biopsy maintains 71% sensitivity for prostate cancer in men receiving dutasteride with 60% specificity, similar to the 4.0 ng/ml prostate specific antigen cutoff using placebo.
We propose that a prostate specific antigen increase from nadir of 0.3 ng/ml or greater could represent an alternative to the doubling rule for monitoring prostate specific antigen in patients on 5alpha-reductase inhibitors. The prostate specific antigen increase from nadir appears to be a more accurate cancer indicator than a doubled value in some patients.
The Journal of Urology 10/2006; 176(3):868-74. · 3.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Sexual function is one of the aspects in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that has gained increasing attention. We compared the influence on men's sexuality of Permixon, a lipido-sterolic extract of Serenoa Repens, with Tamsulosin and Finasteride using a specific validated questionnaire exploring patient's sexual functions.
A database was created comprising patients from 3 main double-blind, randomized studies - Permixon vs. Finasteride, Permixon vs. Tamsulosin and Permixon 160 mg vs. 320 mg including a total of 2511 patients. Three hundred fifty four were on Tamsulosin, 545 on Finasteride and 1612 patients on Permixon. LUTS were assessed using the I-PSS questionnaire. Peak flow rates and prostate volume were recorded. The MSF-4 questionnaire, including 4 items that explore the patient's interest in sex, quality of erection, achievement of orgasm and ejaculation, was used across the studies. This questionnaire was demonstrated as highly reproducible and both psychometrically and clinically valid across different cultures. Correlation coefficients were given to assess the linear relationship between continuous variables.
At 3 months, there were no statistically significant differences between the three treatment groups in terms of I-PSS or Qmax evolutions (all p values > 0.05). At 6 months, as compared to pretreatment data, there was a slight increase in sexual disorders in Tamsulosin (+0.3) and Finasteride (+0.8) treated patients while it slightly improved with Permixon therapy (-0.2). Ejaculation disorders were the most frequently reported side effects after Tamsulosin or Finasteride (both +0.2 on the specific MSF-4 question 4). There was no correlation between the evolution of the MSF-4 scores and the evolution in I-PSS neither in patients treated with Permixon, Finasteride or Tamsulosin. However, there was a slight correlation between the MSF-4 score at baseline and the I-PSS at baseline (r2 = 0.032). Although there was a correlation between the MSF-4 and age at baseline (r2 = 0.1452), there was no correlation between the evolution in MSF-4 during therapy and the age of the patients.
The present study demonstrates that Permixon therapy has no negative impact on male sexual function. Both Finasteride and Tamsulosin had a slight impact on sexual function, especially on ejaculation, although these effects were rare and in line with previous reports about these two drugs.
European Urology 09/2005; 48(2):269-76. · 8.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the long-term preventive effect of the immunotherapeutic OM-89 versus placebo in uncomplicated recurrent UTI in a large cohort of female patients only.
Adult female patients could enroll in this multicenter, double-blind study if they had acute UTI at the enrollment visit and positive results of urinalysis (> or =10(3)bacteria/ml). Patients received the immunotherapeutic OM-89 or a matching placebo; 1 capsule per day for 90 days, 3 months without treatment, then the first 10 days in Months 7, 8 and 9 and were followed up during 12 months. Primary efficacy criteria were UTI rates over 12 months, distribution of UTIs and proportion of patients with UTI.
A total of 453 patients were treated, 231 in the active group and 222 in the placebo group. Mean rate of post-baseline UTIs was significantly lower in the active group than in the placebo group (0.84 vs. 1.28; p<0.003), corresponding to a 34% reduction of UTIs in patients treated with OM-89. In the active group, 93 patients (40.3%) had 185 post-baseline UTIs, compared to 276 UTIs in 122 patients (55.0%) in the placebo group (p=0.001). The safety profile of OM-89 was good and consistent with that reported in previous studies.
OM-89 significantly reduced the incidence of UTI during the 12 months of the study including 3 months of treatment and three 10-day booster courses. These results confirm that OM-89 is a valuable component of the management of recurrent UTI.
European Urology 05/2005; 47(4):542-8; discussion 548. · 8.49 Impact Factor
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BJU International 03/2005; 95(3):447-9. · 2.84 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: With current treatments, men usually survive many years after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, without supportive care, the systemic effects of prostate cancer and therapies such as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) can undermine skeletal integrity, resulting in skeletal complications that may erode quality of life (QOL). Prostate cancer patients are at risk for fractures from cancer treatment-induced bone loss. In addition, they are also at risk for pathologic fractures, severe bone pain, and other sequelae from bone metastases, which almost invariably occur during the progression of prostate cancer. This review investigates the incidence and pathophysiology of bone loss and skeletal morbidity in prostate cancer patients and reviews available treatment options for maintaining skeletal health throughout the continuum of care for these patients.
Studies were identified through MEDLINE searches, review of bibliographies of relevant articles, and review of abstracts from national meetings.
Several supportive care options are available to prevent generalized and localized bone loss, including calcium and vitamin D supplements and bisphosphonates. Oral calcium and vitamin D supplementation alone, however, appears to be insufficient to prevent bone loss during ADT. Zoledronic acid administered every 3 months during ADT or every 3 to 4 weeks for patients with bone metastases can reverse bone loss and reduce skeletal morbidity, respectively, in patients with prostate cancer.
Skeletal complications contribute to the erosion of QOL in prostate cancer patients. Palliative care can provide important benefits to these patients. Some agents, such as zoledronic acid, may provide skeletal health benefits throughout the course of prostate cancer progression. Further investigations of the QOL impact of these benefits are warranted.
European Urology 01/2005; 46(6):731-39; discussion 739-40. · 8.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To examine, in a post-hoc, integrated analysis, the first-dose success, cumulative success by dose, and maintenance of success among men taking tadalafil. Early treatment success is important to men with erectile dysfunction.
In five double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week studies, men were randomized to placebo (n = 308), tadalafil 10 mg (n = 321), or tadalafil 20 mg (n = 258) as a fixed dose. The Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) diary questions assessed success from three perspectives: (a) first-dose success; (b) cumulative proportion of men with first success by dose; and (c) maintenance of success among men with first-dose success.
With the first dose, significantly greater proportions of men taking tadalafil 10 and 20 mg versus placebo achieved successful erection (SEP-Q1: 85% and 90% versus 66%, respectively), successful penetration (SEP-Q2: 74% and 79% versus 47%, respectively), successful intercourse (SEP-Q3: 56% and 67% versus 31%, respectively), and were satisfied overall with their sexual experience (SEP-Q5: 36% and 47% versus 15%, respectively; all P <0.001). The proportion of men achieving first success increased with continued dosing, reaching a plateau between doses 4 and 8 at approximately 95% (SEP-Q2), 90% (SEP-Q3), and 81% (SEP-Q5). For men with first-dose success, the subsequent success rate during the 12-week period was significantly greater for men taking tadalafil 10 and 20 mg versus placebo (all P <0.001; SEP-Q2: 85% and 91% versus 75%; and SEP-Q3: 81% and 88% versus 64%, respectively).
Most men taking tadalafil achieved successful erection, penetration, and intercourse after one dose and maintained the success over time. Because success increased with continued use, men who do not respond initially should continue treatment to increase the likelihood of treatment success.
Urology 11/2004; 64(4):783-8. · 2.43 Impact Factor
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Alexandre R Zlotta,
Thierry Roumeguère,
Vincent Ravery,
Paul Hoffmann,
Francesco Montorsi,
Levent Türkeri,
Michael Dobrovrits,
Vincenzo Scattoni,
Samuel Ekane,
Renaud Bollens,
Marc Vanden Bossche,
Bob Djavan,
Laurent Boccon-Gibod, Claude C Schulman
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ABSTRACT: With a shift in prostate cancer stage and a majority of patients operated nowadays with PSA levels <10 ng/ml, rates of seminal vesicle (SV) invasion found on radical prostatectomy specimens have decreased as compared to historical data. Since SV-sparing surgery may possibly have an influence on post-operative erectile dysfunction and urinary recovery, we tried to determine which patients could be safely spared SV excision during radical prostatectomy.
We used preoperative data from 1283 patients operated by radical retropubic prostatectomy--777 with serum PSA <10.0 ng/ml--to predict SV invasion on final pathological examination. Variables analyzed included age, digital rectal examination, serum PSA, biopsy Gleason score and percentage of biopsy cores invaded by prostate cancer. Statistical analysis included univariate, multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
Out of 1283 patients, 137 (10.6%) had SV involvement, 41/777 (5.2%) with PSA <10.0 ng/ml, 16.1% in the 10-20 ng/ml range and 26.2% when PSA was >20 ng/ml. Percentage of biopsies affected by prostate cancer and biopsy Gleason score were significant predictors of SV invasion in multivariate analysis, both in the entire population and in the subset of patients with PSA <10.0 ng/ml (p < 0.0001). Probability graphs created for patients with PSA <10 ng/ml indicate a risk of seminal invasion <5% when Gleason score on biopsy is <7 or when the percentage of biopsies affected by cancer is <50%.
Resection of SV might not be "oncologically" necessary in all patients undergoing RP when PSA levels are below 10 ng/ml except when biopsy Gleason score is > or =7 or when more than 50% of prostate biopsy cores show cancer involvement. SV-sparing surgery could be prospectively compared to standard retropubic prostatectomy in selected individuals analyzing potential benefits on erectile function and urinary continence.
European Urology 07/2004; 46(1):42-9. · 8.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the role of bisphosphonates in the long-term supportive care of patients with prostate cancer, an emerging medical challenge. Although the success of current therapeutic options has extended the survival of patients with prostate cancer, they often develop skeletal morbidity from disease and treatment-related effects that undermine skeletal integrity.
Studies were identified through MEDLINE searches, review of bibliographies of relevant articles, and review of abstracts from scientific meetings.
Low bone mass is prevalent in patients in early stages of prostate cancer, although the reasons for this correlation are unknown. Furthermore, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) by either pharmaceutical (including hormonal) or surgical castration causes significant decreases in bone mineral density. Pamidronate has been shown to prevent bone loss, whereas zoledronic acid has been shown to increase bone mass in men undergoing ADT. Finally, zoledronic acid is the only bisphosphonate that has demonstrated efficacy in reducing objectively measurable skeletal complications in patients with bone metastases secondary to prostate cancer.
Bisphosphonates, zoledronic acid in particular, have potent activities against osteoclasts, which affect bone integrity. Zoledronic acid has now become an additional option that can provide benefits to patients with prostate cancer throughout the course of their disease.
European Urology 02/2004; 45(1):26-34. · 8.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: With the arrival of new oral therapies the question arises about the role of surgery in patients with vascular impotence. We compared the sexual satisfaction rate in patients with arterial and/or venous impotence treated with 4 surgical techniques with long-term followup.
Surgery was performed in 130 patients with vascular erectile dysfunction by 1 surgeon. Two young patients (2%) with traumatic arterial lesions underwent penile revascularization (group 1), while 128 with arterial and/or venous impotence were also treated with surgery, including 11 of 130 (8%) with deep dorsal penile vein resection (group 2), 39 (30%) with arterialization of the deep dorsal penile vein (group 3) and 78 (60%) with penile implants (group 4). Sexual satisfaction, defined as the possibility of satisfactory sexual intercourse without any additional treatment or pain, was evaluated by patient interview.
Of the 130 patients 111 (85%) participated in the sexual life events interview, including 2 of 2 (100%) in group 1, 7 of 11 (63.6%) in group 2, 33 of 39 (85%) in group 3 and 69 of 78 (88%) in group 4. Mean followup was 50, 48, 46 and 54 months for groups 1 to 4, respectively. The sexual satisfaction rate was 2 of 2 (100%) for penile revascularization, 1 of 7 (14%) for venous resection, 4 of 33 (12%) for arterialization and 64 of 69 (93%) for penile implantation. Complications occurred in 9.5%, 12.5% and 20.5% of the patients in groups 2 to 4, respectively.
Except for young patients with traumatic arterial lesions this study demonstrated the poor sexual satisfaction rate in impotent patients treated with the vasculogenic approach and the high rate of satisfaction in those treated with penile implants. Better selection criteria must be applied for vascular surgical treatment for impotence.
The Journal of Urology 11/2003; 170(4 Pt 1):1284-6. · 3.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To assess the level of awareness of prostate cancer among the general public in Europe and the USA.
An independent survey was undertaken across six European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK) and the USA. A total of 1400 people, 700 men aged 50-70 years and 700 women aged >/=30 years with a partner or close male relative aged 40-70 years, completed a 10-minute telephone interview during which they answered questions about prostate cancer.
When asked about types of cancers, the majority of female respondents (79%) mentioned breast cancer but less than half of the male respondents (39%) mentioned prostate cancer. Urinary problems were identified as a symptom of prostate cancer by 86% of respondents, but only 1% of the sample was aware that the disease could be asymptomatic. Half of all respondents were unaware of the use of simple tests to detect early prostate cancer and only 25% mentioned the prostate-specific antigen test. Awareness of hormone therapy for early prostate cancer was relatively low (23%), while awareness of watchful waiting was almost negligible (1%).
This contemporary survey, the largest study of prostate cancer awareness ever undertaken and the first to provide an international perspective, clearly demonstrates the lack of awareness of prostate cancer among the general population and highlights the need for health education campaigns focusing on the disease.
European Urology 09/2003; 44(3):294-302. · 8.49 Impact Factor
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Claude C Schulman
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ABSTRACT: The beneficial effects of treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or LUTS/BPH, have to be balanced against the morbidity associated with treatment. Invasive surgery, such as transurethral resection of the prostate, has been associated with irreversible complications (eg, impotence and retrograde ejaculation). Alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists provide effective and fast relief of LUTS/BPH. In contrast to finasteride, they are not associated with sexual dysfunction (eg, decreased libido or impotence). Alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists induce adverse events associated with interference with blood pressure regulation. The alpha(1A)/alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor antagonist tamsulosin has the lowest potential to interfere with blood pressure regulation and induce related adverse events. In addition, tamsulosin seems to be as well tolerated as phytotherapy, except for a higher incidence of abnormal ejaculation. Abnormal ejaculation occurs in 4% to 11% of patients receiving a alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, which is, however, well tolerated; <1% of patients discontinue because of this adverse event. In placebo-controlled trials, abnormal ejaculation has been predominantly reported for tamsulosin, but in most direct comparative studies, the incidence was comparable to that of other alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists. Men with LUTS/BPH have an increased risk of impaired sexual function. However, alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists, such as tamsulosin, may slightly improve sexual dysfunction together with LUTS problems. Combination therapy of an alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist and finasteride has a similar adverse-event profile as each monotherapy, except for an increased risk of abnormal ejaculation. The discontinuation rate because of adverse events does not seem to be higher than with monotherapy. Medical therapies, and particularly alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists such as tamsulosin, can be considered a first-line treatment option for LUTS/BPH because they provide effective relief of bothersome LUTS with excellent tolerability.
Urology 09/2003; 62(3 Suppl 1):24-33. · 2.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: TUNA has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective therapy for BPH. However the major criticism, as with all alternative treatments for BPH, was the lack of long-term data. We present the clinical outcome of patients treated by TUNA and followed for 5 years.
188 consecutive patients with symptomatic BPH treated with TUNA were followed for five years in three different centers. All patients were treated using the TUNA II or TUNA III catheters under local anesthesia only without general or spinal anesthesia. Baseline and 5-year follow-up evaluation included urinary peak flow, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and post-void residual urine (PVR). The number of patients requiring additional medical or surgical treatment was recorded. Statistics were performed using the t-test.
At a mean follow-up of 63 months, mean urinary peak flow rate increased from 8.6 ml/s to 12.1 ml/s (p<0.01, t-test), IPSS and PVR decreased from 20.9 and 179 ml to 8.7 and 122 ml, respectively (both p<0.001, t-test). The percentage of patients who improved by at least 50% their peak uroflow and IPSS was 24% and 78% respectively. Mean prostate volume and PSA levels did not change significantly (53.9 cc vs. 53.8 cc and 3.3 vs. 3.6 ng/ml, respectively at 5 years, both p values > 0.05, t-test). Two patients died of unrelated comorbidities and 10 were lost for follow-up. Medical treatment was given to 12 patients (6.4%), a second TUNA performed in 7 patients (3.7%) and surgery indicated in 22/186 (11.1%). Overall 41/176 patients (188 at start, 2 deaths and 10 lost to follow-up) or 23.3% required additional treatment at 5 years follow-up following the original TUNA procedure.
TUNA is effective and provides good long-term clinical improvement at 5-year follow-up. TUNA treatment stands the test of time at 5-year follow-up with low and acceptable failure rates. More than 75% of the patients do not need additional treatment for BPH on the long run.
European Urology 07/2003; 44(1):89-93. · 8.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: An artificial neural network was developed to improve the prediction of pathological stage before radical prostatectomy based on variables available at biopsy and clinical parameters.
We used the prospectively accrued European prostate cancer detection data base to train an artificial neural network to predict pathological stage in 200 men with serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) 10 ng./ml. or less who underwent radical prostatectomy. Variables included in the artificial neural network were patient age, serum PSA, free-to-total PSA ratio, PSA velocity, transrectal ultrasound calculated total and transition zone volumes with their associated PSA parameters (transition zone PSA density and PSA density), digital rectal examination and Gleason score on biopsy. Two multilayer perceptron neural networks were trained on the remaining variables. Data on the 200 patients were divided randomly into a training set, a test set and a validation or prospective set.
Overall classification accuracy of the artificial neural network was 92.7% and 84.2% for organ confined and advanced prostate cancer staging, respectively. For preoperatively predicting local versus advanced stage the area under the ROC curve for the artificial neural network was significantly larger (0.91) compared with logistic regression analysis (0.83), Gleason score (0.69), PSA density (0.68), prostate transition zone volume (0.63) and serum PSA (0.62) (all p <0.01).
The artificial neural network outperformed logistic regression analysis and correctly predicted pathological stage in more than 90% of the validation patients with serum PSA 10 ng./ml. or less based on clinical, biochemical and biopsy data. In the future artificial neural networks may represent a significant step for improved staging of prostate cancer when counseling patients referred for radical prostatectomy or other curative treatments.
The Journal of Urology 06/2003; 169(5):1724-8. · 3.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Current treatment strategies for urological cancer are still based on empirical formulae as opposed to treatment tailored for each cancer patient. To individualize treatment, the multiple molecular abnormalities within tumor cell populations needs to be mapped out. The aim of this article is to explain molecular profiling (MP) and its associated techniques so that the process is not purely seen as a research tool but as a future adjunctive measure in patient diagnosis and treatment.
A Medline search of publications relating to MP of prostate and bladder cancer was carried out. A review article was written combining the relevant published literature along with the clinical and scientific experience of both centers.
The advent of MP now provides a strategy by which these molecular abnormalities can be assessed. As well as being of diagnostic and prognostic use, these molecular profiles will identify putative molecular abnormalities within tumor cells that may be appropriate for therapeutic modulation.
In prostate and bladder cancer, mapping out the molecular abnormalities could be translated into a valuable tool to help solve difficult issues regarding patient management decisions.
Clinical Cancer Research 05/2003; 9(4):1240-7. · 7.74 Impact Factor
