Urology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Bicalutamide (Casodex) 150 mg as immediate therapy in patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer significantly reduces the risk of disease progression.
To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of bicalutamide (Casodex) as immediate therapy, either alone or as adjuvant to treatment of curative intent, in patients with localized or locally advanced (T1b-T4, any nodal status, M0) prostate cancer. ⋯ Bicalutamide 150 mg daily as immediate therapy, alone or as adjuvant to treatment of curative intent, significantly reduced the risk of disease progression in patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. Longer follow-up is underway to assess any benefit in overall survival.
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There is little evidence that neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) of 3 months' duration before radical prostatectomy (RP) favorably influences disease-free survival. However, recent data suggest that prolonged treatment may improve outcome. We conducted a prospective cohort study to determine whether ADT of either standard or prolonged duration before RP influences the risk of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure. ⋯ The inverse association with the risk of PSA failure became statistically significant from the third year on, reached its greatest magnitude after 4 years, and was still present 8 years after RP. No association was observed for ADT of =92 days. These results suggest that neoadjuvant ADT before RP has a real, delayed, and persistent effect on disease-free survival, if and only if ADT is prolonged beyond 3 months.
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Clinical Trial
Modulation of omega-3/omega-6 polyunsaturated ratios with dietary fish oils in men with prostate cancer.
The results of epidemiologic and animal studies support the role of a low-fat diet supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil in preventing the development and progression of prostate cancer. As a first step in studying the role of a low-fat, fish oil-supplemented (LF/FOS) diet in a clinical setting, we conducted a prospective study in men with untreated prostate cancer to evaluate whether a 3-month dietary intervention affects the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in plasma and gluteal fat. In addition, we evaluated the feasibility of studying cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in serial prostate needle biopsy specimens before and after the diet. ⋯ A short-term dietary intervention in men with prostate cancer leads to a significant increase in the omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid ratios in plasma and adipose tissue. The potential for this diet to prevent the development and progression of prostate cancer by way of altered COX-2 expression and prostaglandin production in prostatic tissue requires further study.
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Case Reports
Diagnostic difficulties before definitive treatment of an extragonadal retroperitoneal germ cell tumor.
A primary extragonadal germ cell tumor of the retroperitoneum was diagnosed in a 47-year-old man without elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, or lactate dehydrogenase levels. The diagnosis was made by histologic analysis after resection. ⋯ The patient was alive and disease free 24 months after diagnosis. The diagnostic difficulties of this particular situation are discussed.
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To identify therapeutic patterns for putative prostate cancer treatment failures and the role played by androgen ablation therapy in these patients, a questionnaire study was undertaken with urologists and radiation oncologists who had attended a brachytherapy forum at the Seattle Prostate Institute (SPI). Hypothetical questions were asked about recommendations the physicians would give to a patient demonstrating biochemical or local failure after external-beam radiation therapy. Most of the physicians queried were in private practice; 53% were radiation oncologists and 47% were urologists. ⋯ In the older patient, observation was recommended most often, followed closely by androgen ablation. Overall, there was a lack of consensus on how to deliver androgen ablation. However, there was remarkable agreement between urologists and radiation oncologists on virtually all issues queried.