Modern Detection of Prostate Cancer's Bone Metastasis: Is the Bone Scan Era Over?

Prostate cancer cells have an exquisite tropism for bone, which clinically translates into the highest rate of bone metastases amongst male cancers. Although in the latest years there has been an active development of new “bone targeted” therapies, modern diagnostic techniques for bone metastases still relies mostly on 99mTc bone scanning (BS) and plain X-ray. BS dramatically lacks specificity and sensitivity. Recent publications using modern imaging technologies have clearly pinpointed that BS grossly underestimates the true prevalence of bone metastasis. In addition BS does not allow tumour measurement and is, therefore, not appropriate to monitor response to therapy. This might be extremely important in patients harbouring high-risk localized disease that are eventually candidate for local therapy. Here we reviewed what are the emerging imaging strategies that are likely to supplant BS and to what extent they can be used in the clinic already

Chemoprevention of prostate cancer with nutrients and supplements

As the adult population is increasing, prostate cancer (PCa) will become a considerable health problem in the next millennium. This has raised public interest in potential chemoprevention of this disease. As PCa is extremely common and generally slow to progress it is regarded as an ideal candidate for chemoprevention. At present, the 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors finasteride and dutasteride have been identified as preventive agents. This review describes whether selenium, alpha-tocopherol, isoflavones, lycopene green tea polyphenols, calcium, and resveratrol may be useful for decreasing the risk of PCa in men. Although encouraging results are present, some studies show negative results. Differences in study design, sample size, dose administered, and/or concentrations achieved in the body may be the reason for these inconsistencies. Today, chemopreventive agents may be appropriate for high-risk patients like those with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and other high-risk groups such as patients with elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) and negative biopsy, rapid PSA velocity, and with a family history of PCa. Although larger randomized controlled studies are needed and epidemiologic evidence should be placed in a clinical context, physicians must be aware of these preventive opportunities in PCa care. Combinations of chemopreventive agents should be carefully investigated because mechanisms of action may be additive or synergistic

A Policy Impact Evaluation Model For Scotland: Decoupling Single Farm Payments

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impacts of decoupling single farm payments in Scotland. It focuses on aggregate impacts on the agricultural products in domestic and external markets and the spill-over effect of this on the non-agricultural sector as well as an aggregate impact on the Scottish GDP. In order to capture system-wide impacts of the policy reform, a CGE model was formulated and implemented using a social accounting matrix constructed for Scotland. The simulation results suggest that the Scottish agricultural sector may encounter declines in output and factor us as a result of the policy reform. However, this critically depends on two factors: (a) the price effect of the policy reform on Scottish agricultural products relative to the EU average as well as the conditions of changes in world agricultural market prices; and (b) the extent to which customers would be sensitive to price effects of the policy reform. As far as the spill-over effect to the non-agricultural sector is concerned, decoupling of direct payments seems to have a positive spill-over effect. Similarly, the aggregate GDP effect is positive under all simulation scenarios. Critically, the simulation experiments indicate that policy shock may have a symmetrical outcome across the two sectors, with contractions in agriculture being accompanied by expansions in the non-agricultural sector, mainly because of factor market interactions between the two sectors.

Intraparenchymal Renal Artery Pseudoaneurysm and Arteriovenous Fistula on a Solitary Kidney Occurring 38 Years after Blunt Trauma

Pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistulae of the renal artery are rare complications of kidney trauma. They commonly result from open traumas and occur within days after the injury. Common symptoms include acute haematuria, pain, or hypertension. We report the case of a fifty-three-year-old man presenting with symptomatic complex chronic high flow kidney arteriovenous fistula with interposition of a pseudoaneurysmal pouch and arterial aneurysmal dilatation in a solitary left kidney 38 years after a blunt trauma. Those conditions were successfully treated by endovascular embolization followed by regular radiologic, biological, and clinical follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, few similar cases were reported more than 20 years after trauma. However, no case combining an arteriovenous fistula and a pseudoaneurysm revealing as late as 38 years after trauma was found. In addition, management of those conditions on a solitary kidney and outcomes has not been described. We believe that our case depicts the clinical presentation and management of this rare entity that should not be unrecognized due to its potential lethal implications

Statin and metformin use and outcomes in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with enzalutamide: A meta-analysis of AFFIRM, PREVAIL and PROSPER

Castration-resistant prostate cancer; Metformin; Overall survivalCàncer de pròstata resistent a la castració; Metformina; Supervivència globalCáncer de próstata resistente a la castración; Metformina; Supervivencia globalBackground: Statins and metformin are commonly prescribed for patients, including those with prostate cancer. Preclinical and epidemiologic studies of each agent have suggested anti-cancer properties. Methods: Patient data from three randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III studies evaluating enzalutamide (AFFIRM, PREVAIL and PROSPER) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer were included in this analysis. This post hoc, retrospective study examined the association of statin and metformin on radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), toxicity and overall survival (OS). After adjusting for available clinical prognostic variables, multivariate analyses were performed on pooled data from AFFIRM and PREVAIL, all three trials pooled, and each trial individually, to assess differential efficacy in these end-points associated with the baseline use of these medications. Results: In the multivariate analysis of the individual trials, OS and rPFS/MFS were not significantly influenced by statin or metformin use in AFFIRM or PROSPER. However, in PREVAIL, OS was significantly influenced by statin (hazard ratio [HR] 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.89) and rPFS was significantly influenced by metformin (HR, 0.48; 95% CI 0.34-0.70). In pooled analyses, improved OS was significantly associated with statin use but not metformin use for AFFIRM+PREVAIL trials (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.72-0.96) and AFFIRM+PREVAIL+PROSPER (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.66-0.85). Conclusions: The association between statin or metformin use and rPFS, MFS and OS was inconsistent across three trials. Analyses of all three trials pooled and AFFIRM+PREVAIL pooled revealed that statin but not metformin use was significantly associated with a reduced risk of death in enzalutamide-treated patients. Additional prospective, controlled studies are warranted.This study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. (New York, NY, USA) and Astellas Pharma, Inc. (Northbrook, IL, USA), the co-developers of enzalutamide. Medical writing and editorial support funded by the sponsors were provided by Stephanie Vadasz, PhD, and Dena McWain of Ashfield MedComms (an Ashfield Health company), Lauren Rainer, BSc, and Julie B. Stimmel, PhD, of Onyx (a Prime Global agency)

ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ 1-, 3- И 6-МЕСЯЧНЫХ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННЫХ ДЕПО-ФОРМ ЛЕЙПРОРЕЛИНА АЦЕТАТА В ГОРМОНАЛЬНОЙ ТЕРАПИИ РАКА ПРЕДСТАТЕЛЬНОЙ ЖЕЛЕЗЫ В 9 ЕВРОПЕЙСКИХ СТРАНАХ: ОБЗОР ДОКАЗАТЕЛЬСТВ И ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКАЯ ОЦЕНКА

Применение 1-, 3- и 6-месячных лекарственных депо-форм лейпрорелина ацетата в гормональной терапии рака предстательной железы в 9 европейских странах: обзор доказательств и экономическая оценка.Введение. Лейпрорелин – хорошо известный агонист лютеинизирующего гормона рилизинг-гормона, используемый в терапии рака предстательной железы (РПЖ) первой линии. В связи с тем, что использование различных лекарственных форм и режимов дозирования влечет определенные материальные расходы, целью нашего исследования являлась оценка эффективности, безопасности и стоимости применения различных лекарственных форм и режимов дозирования в 9 европейских странах: Австрии, Бельгии, Чешской Республике, Венгрии, Италии, Латвии, Нидерландах, Польше, Португалии.Материалы и методы. В результате поиска в базах данных было выявлено 13 клинических исследований с применением лейпрорелина, применяемого в формах для введения 1 раз в месяц (1 М), 1 раз в 3 мес (3 М) и 1 раз в 6 мес (6 М). По всем 3 формам сравнивали только те данные о применении лейпрорелина с системой доставки Атригель, которые характеризовались одинаковой эффективностью, безопасностью и соблюдением предписанного режима терапии. Был проведен анализ минимизации затрат с учетом расходов на лечение препаратом Элигард, консультации специалистов, а также диагностику сроком до 12 мес последующего наблюдения. Анализ был проведен для органов государственного здравоохранения.Результаты. В выборке пациентов «все пациенты, начавшие получать лечение», уровень тестостерона которых составил ≤ 50 нг/дл после лечения препаратом Элигард в формах 1 M (93,3 %), 3 М (98,3 %) и 6 М (97,3 %), существенного различия не наблюдалось (p > 0,05). Также сопоставимыми были профили нежелательных явлений этих 3 форм. В целом форма 6 М была наименее дорогостоящей; средние общие годовые затраты составили от 788 евро (Бельгия) до 1839 евро (Португалия). Вариант использования формы 3 M был более дорогостоящим, затраты на него превышали таковые при применении формы 6 М на 2,5 % (Венгрия) – 37,6 % (Бельгия); использование формы 1 М было наиболее дорогостоящим при увеличении расходов на 15,5 и 151,6 % в сравнении с формой 6 М для этих стран соответственно. Форма 3 M была дешевле в сравнении с формой 1 М на 11,2–45,3 %. Общая сумма затрат была связана с частотой визитов для введения препарата и проведения мониторинга. Для лечения с применением формы 1 M потребовалось 12 визитов, формы 3 M – от 4,4 до 4,8 визита и формы 6 М – от 2,1 до 2,3 визита. До 50 % дополнительных визитов может финансироваться из сэкономленных средств, полученных в результате перевода соответствующих пациентов с форм 1 М и 3 М на форму 6 М. Полученные результаты одномерных и вероятностных анализов чувствительности были стабильными.Вывод. Формы препарата Элигард обеспечивают сопоставимую эффективность и безопасность, однако различные режимы дозирования препарата требуют различной частоты посещения лечебного учреждения пациентами. Лекарственная форма 6 М обеспечивает наибольшую экономию средств и должна рассматриваться в качестве препарата выбора для лечения соответствующих пациентов в Европе

Clinical Judgment Versus Biomarker Prostate Cancer Gene 3: Which Is Best When Determining the Need for Repeat Prostate Biopsy?

ObjectiveTo assess the value of best clinical judgment (BCJ) and the prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) assay in guiding the decision to perform a repeat prostate biopsy (PBx) after a previous negative PBx.Materials and MethodsUsing the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, 12 European urologists established recommendations (BCJ) for the appropriateness of PBx according to the prostate-specific antigen level, digital rectal examination findings, number of previous negative PBxs, prostate volume, and life expectancy, with and without consideration of the PCA3 scores. These recommendations were applied to 1024 subjects receiving placebo in the Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events trial, including men with a previous negative PBx, a baseline prostate-specific antigen level of 2.5-10 ng/mL, and a PCA3 test performed before the protocol-mandated 2- and 4-year repeat PBxs. Three scenarios (ie, BCJ alone, BCJ with PCA3, and the PCA3 score alone) were tested for their ability to reduce the repeat PBx rate versus missing Gleason sum ≥7 prostate cancer (PCa).ResultsBCJ with PCA3 would have avoided 64% of repeat PBxs compared with 26% for BCJ alone and 55% for PCA3 alone (cutoff score 20). Of 55 PCa cases (Gleason sum ≥7), 13 would have been missed using BCJ alone compared with 7 using PCA3 (cutoff score 20) alone and 8 using BCJ plus PCA3. The diagnostic accuracy for Gleason sum ≥7 PCa of the BCJ with PCA3 scenario was superior to that of the other scenarios, with a negative predictive value of 99%.ConclusionApplication of the BCJ together with PCA3 testing can reduce the number of repeat PBxs while maintaining the sensitivity to detect Gleason sum ≥7 PCa

Characterisation and classification of oligometastatic disease : a European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer consensus recommendation

Oligometastatic disease has been proposed as an intermediate state between localised and systemically metastasised disease. In the absence of randomised phase 3 trials, early clinical studies show improved survival when radical local therapy is added to standard systemic therapy for oligometastatic disease. However, since no biomarker for the identification of patients with true oligometastatic disease is clinically available, the diagnosis of oligometastatic disease is based solely on imaging findings. A small number of metastases on imaging could represent different clinical scenarios, which are associated with different prognoses and might require different treatment strategies. 20 international experts including 19 members of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer OligoCare project developed a comprehensive system for characterisation and classification of oligometastatic disease. We first did a systematic review of the literature to identify inclusion and exclusion criteria of prospective interventional oligometastatic disease clinical trials. Next, we used a Delphi consensus process to select a total of 17 oligometastatic disease characterisation factors that should be assessed in all patients treated with radical local therapy for oligometastatic disease, both within and outside of clinical trials. Using a second round of the Delphi method, we established a decision tree for oligometastatic disease classification together with a nomenclature. We agreed oligometastatic disease as the overall umbrella term. A history of polymetastatic disease before diagnosis of oligometastatic disease was used as the criterion to differentiate between induced oligometastatic disease (previous history of polymetastatic disease) and genuine oligometastatic disease (no history of polymetastatic disease). We further subclassified genuine oligometastatic disease into repeat oligometastatic disease (previous history of oligometastatic disease) and de-novo oligometastatic disease (first time diagnosis of oligometastatic disease). In de-novo oligometastatic disease, we differentiated between synchronous and metachronous oligometastatic disease. We did a final subclassification into oligorecurrence, oligoprogression, and oligopersistence, considering whether oligometastatic disease is diagnosed during a treatment-free interval or during active systemic therapy and whether or not an oligometastatic lesion is progressing on current imaging. This oligometastatic disease classification and nomenclature needs to be prospectively evaluated by the OligoCare study