Prostate International最新文献

Introduction

Although the clinical benefits of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) at the time of radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer remain uncertain, major guidelines recommend PLND based on risk profile. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the association between PLND and survival among patients undergoing RP stratified by Gleason grade group (GG) with the aim of allowing patients and physicians to make more informed care decisions about the potential risks and benefits of PLND.

Materials and methods

From the SEER-17 database, we examined overall (OS) and prostate cancer-specific (PCSS) survival of prostate cancer patients who underwent RP from 2010 to 2015 stratified by GG. We applied propensity score matching to balance pre-operative characteristics including race, age, PSA, household income, and housing status (urban/rural) between patients who did and did not undergo PLND for each GG. Statistical analyses included log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier curves.

Results

We extracted a matched cohort from 80,287 patients with GG1-5 who underwent RP. The median PSA value was 6.0 ng/mL, and the median age was 62-years-old. 49,453 patients underwent PLND (61.60%), while 30,834 (38.40%) did not. There was no difference in OS and PCSS between patients who received PLND and those who did not for all Gleason GG (OS–GG1: P = 0.20, GG2: P = 0.34, GG3: P > 0.05, GG4: P = 0.55, GG5: P = 0.47; PCSS–GG1: P = 0.11, GG2: P = 0.96, GG3: P = 0.81, GG4: P = 0.22, GG5: P = 0.14).

Conclusions

In this observational study, PLND at the time of RP was not associated with improved OS or PCSS among patients with cGS of 3 + 3, 3 + 4, 4 + 3, 4 + 4, 4 + 5, and 5 + 4. These findings suggest that until definitive clinical trials are completed, prostate cancer patients who have elected RP should be appropriately counseled on the potential risks and lack of proven survival benefit of PLND.

Purpose

Patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) often experience comorbid depression and anxiety, yet the mechanisms underlying this association remain incompletely understood. This prospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between depression, anxiety, and LUTS in men.

Materials and methods

A prospective study was conducted with 350 male patients who underwent urologic examinations at our institution from January 2021 to December 2021. Of these, 131 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Various questionnaires, including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), as well as LUTS examinations (prostate-specific antigen test, transrectal ultrasonography, and urine flowmetry), were administered.

Results

Among the 350 patients, 131 were included in the analysis, with an average age of 58.0 ± 13.69 years. The total IPSS was 18.0 ± 8.69, with the average voiding symptom score at 8.7 ± 5.19 and the average storage symptom score at 6.0 ± 3.27. Both anxiety and depression were found to be correlated with LUTS (P < 0.05). After adjusting for age, hypertension, and diabetes, anxiety (but not depression) was significantly associated with LUTS based on regression analysis.

Conclusion

Men with LUTS are more likely to experience anxiety. Therefore, it is essential to assess and address anxiety when managing men with LUTS.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects up to 80% of men in their lifetime. It causes bladder outflow obstruction, leading to lower urinary tract symptoms, which can have a large impact on quality of life. Lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy are often offered as first-line treatments for patients. These include alpha blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, anticholinergics, B3-agonists, and desmopressin. While often well tolerated, these pharmacotherapies do have significant side effects, which both clinicians and patients should understand and discuss in order to make an informed treatment decision among alternatives. The purpose of this review is to provide a current overview of the risks and side effects of commonly used medications in benign prostatic hyperplasia management.

Background

Epidemiological reports indicate a potential association between androgenic alopecia (AGA) and increased prostate cancer (PC) prevalence, but conflicting reports also exist. This study aims to elucidate the causality of AGA on PC risk using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Materials and methods

Two-sample MR analyses utilized public genome-wide association studies summary data for single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with AGA. Four statistical methods were used: inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode, with IVW as the preliminary estimation method. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted to address pleiotropic bias.

Results

Genetically proxied AGA did not demonstrate a causal effect on PC risk (IVW P > 0.05). Consistently, complementary methods yielded results aligned with IVW.

Conclusions

Our MR analysis indicates no causal relationship between genetically predicted AGA and PC risk, suggesting that observed associations in epidemiological studies may not be causal.

Post prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) is a well-recognized and bothersome complication following radical prostatectomy. Conservative measures such as pelvic floor physical therapy, biofeedback, and medication are first line management of PPI. When first line therapies fail, patients are offered a variety of surgical procedures based on the degree of incontinence, prior radiation therapy, and comorbidities. Among the various surgical options, placement of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is the gold standard for PPI. However, AUS placement has a high rate of re-operation and requires good manual dexterity. In cases of mild-moderate incontinence, especially in patients without prior radiation therapy, male slings and proACT are a less invasive option. Bulking therapy, although highly successful for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI), is not currently advised in the treatment of male SUI. Regardless of surgical approach used to treat PPI, providers should counsel patients regarding risks of re-operation and have an open an honest discussion regarding the degree of continence that can be restored following each procedure.

Background

Despite progress in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), issues of prostate cancer invisibility and underestimated tumor burden persist. This study investigates the potential of an ultra-high field MRI at 7-T in an ex-vivo setting to address these limitations.

Methods

This prospective study included 54 tumors from 20 treatment-naïve clinically significant prostate cancer patients, confirmed by biopsy, despite negative findings on preoperative 3-T MRI. Ex-vivo 7-T MRI of resected prostates was performed, with assessment on tumor visibility and size. Factors influencing visibility were analyzed using logistic regression analyses.

Results

Tumor visibility was confirmed in 80% of patients, and 48% of all tumors on ex-vivo imaging. Gleason pattern 4 percentage (odds ratio 1.09) and tumor size on pathology (odds ratio 1.36) were significantly associated with visibility (P < 0.05). Mean MRI-visible and invisible tumor sizes were 10.5 mm and 5.3 mm, respectively. The size discrepancy between MRI and pathology was 2.7 mm.

Conclusion

Tumor visibility on ex-vivo 7-T MRI was influenced by tumor grade and size. The notable tumor visibility initially overlooked on 3-T MRI, along with small size discrepancy with pathology, suggests potential improvements in resolution.

Nomograms help to predict outcomes in individual patients rather than whole populations and are an important part of evaluation and treatment decision making. Various nomograms have been developed in malignancies to predict and prognosticate clinical outcomes such as severity of disease, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival. In prostate cancer, nomograms were developed for determining need for biopsy, disease course, need for adjuvant therapy, and outcomes. Most of these predictive nomograms were based on Caucasian populations. Prostate cancer is significantly affected by race, and Asian men have a significantly different racial and genetic susceptibility compared to Caucasians, raising the concern in generalizability of these nomograms. We reviewed the existing literature for nomograms in prostate cancer and their application in Asian men. There are very few studies that have evaluated the applicability and validity of the existing nomograms in these men. Most have found significant differences in the performance in this population. Thus, more studies evaluating the existing nomograms in Asian men or suggesting modifications for this population are required.

Background

Endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) has gained acceptance as an equitable alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Our primary aim is to compare peri-operative outcomes of EEP using thulium fiber laser (TFL) against high-power holmium laser (HPHL) in hands of experienced surgeons for large prostates (≥80 ml in volume). Secondary outcomes were assess complications within 1 year of follow up.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent EEP with TFL or HPHL in 13 centers (January 2019-January 2023). Patients with prostate volume ≥80 ml were included, while those with concomitant prostate cancer, previous prostate/urethral surgery, and pelvic radiotherapy were excluded.

Results

Of 1,929 included patients, HPHL was utilized in 1,459 and TFL in 470. After propensity score matching (PSM) for baseline characteristics, 247 patients from each group were analyzed. Overall operative time (90 [70, 120] vs. 52.5 [39, 93] min, P < 0.001) and enucleation time (90 [70, 105] vs. 38 [25, 70] min, P < 0.001) were longer in the TFL group, with comparable morcellation time (13 [10, 19.5] vs. 13 [10, 16.5] min, P = 0.914). In terms of postoperative outcomes, there were no differences in 30-day complications such as acute urinary retention, urinary tract infection or sepsis. In the PSM cohort, univariable analyses showed that higher age, lower preoperative Qmax, higher preoperative PVRU, and longer operation time were associated with higher odds of postoperative incontinence, while 2-lobe enucleation had lower odds of incontinence compared to 3-lobe enucleation.

Conclusions

This real-world study reaffirms that HPHL and TFL in large prostates are equally efficacious in terms of 30-day complications. TFL with the en-bloc technique has a shorter operative time which significantly improves short- and medium-term functional outcomes.

Background

Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) treatment has changed drastically during the last years with the emergence of androgen receptor–targeted agents (ARTAs). ARTA combined with androgen deprivation therapy has demonstrated better oncological and survival outcomes in these patients. However, the optimal choice among different ARTAs remains uncertain due to their analogous efficacy.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to describe prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response and oncological outcomes of patients with mHSPC treated with apalutamide.

Material and methods

Medical records from three different hospitals in Spain were used to conduct this study. Patients diagnosed with mHSPC and under apalutamide treatment were included between March 2021 and January 2023. Data regarding PSA response, overall survival (OS), and radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) were collected and stratified by metastasis volume, timing, and stating.

Results

193 patients were included; 34.2% of patients were de novo mHSPC, and the majority was classified as m1b. The 18-month OS and rPFS were 92.5% and 88.9%, respectively. Patients with PSA levels ≤0.2 ng/ml showcased an 18-month OS rate of 98.7%, contrasting with 65.3% for those with PSA >0.2 ng/ml. Similar trends emerged for rPFS (97.4% and 53.7%, respectively). When differentiating between low-volume and high-volume metastasis, the OS rate stood at 98.4% and 80.7%, respectively, while the rPFS rates were 93% and 81.6%, respectively. No significant differences were found between groups stratified by metastasis timing.

Conclusion

This real-world study on patients with mHSPC treated with apalutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy revealed robust oncological outcomes, aligning with the emerging evidence. The study's hallmark finding highlights the significance of rapid and deep PSA response as a predictor of improved oncological and survival outcomes.