Use of percutaneous transperineal 198Au seeds to treat recurrent prostate adenocarcinoma after failure of definitive radiotherapy

Patients who fail external radiation therapy for prostatic cancer pose a therapeutic challenge. No further external radiation treatment can be delivered safely to the local lesion, although some patients are candidates for salvage surgery. In this study, 31 patients who failed prior external beam radiotherapy received percutaneous transperineal placement of gold seeds (¹⁹⁸Au). Initial prostate volume was 17.7 cc and decreased to 10 cc 24 months after ¹⁹⁸Au implantation. Of 15 patients biopsied at 12 months after treatment, 4 (27%) were positive, 6 (40%) were negative, and 5 (33%) showed prostate cancer with radiation changes. Two of three patients have died of prostate cancer, with an overall 5-year estimated survival of 67%. Interstitial brachytherapy was found to be an additional welltolerated treatment modality in this group of 31 patients. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Transrectal ultrasonometry of the prostate: the prognostic relevance of volume changes under endocrine management

Summary Since 1980, a total of 55 patients with previously untreated prostatic carcinoma have been managed by castration and were followed regularly by means of transrectal ultrasonometry of the prostate. During the period of the study, distant metastases occurred in 20 patients; 10 showed progression after less than 1 year and 10 after more than 1 year. All patients showed a decrease of prostatic volume following castration. In the group of 10 patients who progressed within 1 year after castration, the initial volume reduction of the prostate was significantly smaller than in the rest of the patients. In patients whose prostatic volume decreased to at least 50% of the pretreatment volume after 3 months, none developed distant progression within 1 year. Of those patients whose prostatic volume did not decrease to at least 70% of the pretreatment volume after 3 months, 78% developed distant progression before or after 1 year. There was no significant difference in the volume decrease observed in patients who showed progression later than 1 year after initiation of treatment as compared to those patients who did not show progression at all. This prognostic information was compared to the impact of other commonly used prognostic factors, such as T-category, N- and M-status and grading. None of these factors reproduced the predictive value of the volume changes of the primary tumor. It therefore seems that transrectal ultrasonometry of the primary tumor has a place in monitoring the effects of endocrine management. The prediction of progression in 78% of the patients with prostatic volume >70% may be of limited clinical value now, but will be of greater importance as soon as effective treatment for hormone-unresponsive prostatic carcinoma becomes available.     

Photoselective vaporization of the prostate: a volume reduction analysis in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia and carcinoma of the prostate

PURPOSE: In this study preoperative and postoperative transrectal ultrasound prostate volume was evaluated in patients undergoing photoselective vaporization of prostate using an 80 W potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser (Greenlight PV Laser System, Laserscope, San Jose, California) for obstructive uropathy secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia or carcinoma of the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 18 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (8) and carcinoma of the prostate (10) were treated with an 80 W quasicontinuous KTP laser. Preoperative and immediate postoperative treatment prostate volume measurements were recorded by transrectal ultrasound. The end point of treatment was complete vaporization of the obstructive adenoma to the level of the capsular fibers and the creation of an adequate transurethral resection-like prostatic cavity. KTP/532 laser energy was delivered by a side firing glass fiber through a 27Fr continuous flow resectoscope. Photoselective vaporization of the prostate using sterile water irrigation was performed with all patients under spinal anesthesia. Mean lasting time +/- SEM was 33.5 +/- 12 minutes (range 11 to 53). RESULTS: Mean preoperative prostate volume +/- SEM was 53.2 +/- 24.7 ml (range 23.6 to 110), while mean postoperative prostate volume was decreased to 26.2 +/- 14.8 ml (range 8 to 58) during a mean followup of 2.8 +/- 2.3 months (range 1 to 10), resulting in a 51% mean decrease in prostate volume, as measured by transrectal ultrasound. There was no significant intraoperative bleeding and no change in serum sodium postoperatively. One patient sustained a small capsular perforation with persistent venous bleeding, which could not be controlled with KTP laser. Because of poor vision, the procedure was completed with electroresection. Complications included mild dysuria in 2 patients (11%) and mild hematuria longer than 2 weeks in duration in 4 (22%). CONCLUSIONS: Photoselective prostate vaporization can effectively vaporize obstructive benign and malignant prostatic tissue, leading to a significant decrease in the total volume of the treated prostate (p = 0.000).     

Clinical experience of local hyperthermia for benign prostatic hyperplasia]

A total of 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia underwent transrectal local hyperthermia. For heating of the prostate gland, the PROSTATHERMER (Biodan-Medical System, Israel) was used. Patients were treated twice weekly, for 1 hour, with 6 sessions on an outpatient basis. Four of the 20 patients who had acute toxicity such as urethral irritability due to urethral thermoprobe could not tolerate the treatment. In the majority of the patients who were completely treated, a significant decrease in frequency of nocturia, decrease in post-void residual urine capacity and increase in urine flow rate were observed. No significant change in prostate volume was noted. With a mean follow-up of 6 months, only 1 patient required subsequent prostatic resection. These findings indicate that local hyperthermia applied by this method is effective in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and that improvement of the thermometry system is needed.     

Prostate carcinoma Measures to improve therapeutic response and prevent complications

Between 1965 and 1973, 80 patients with prostatic carcinoma were treated with definitive supervoltage irradiation; 35 patients received adjuvant estrogens. A favorable tumor response was uniformly observed in patients with less advanced tumors who received a minimum of 6,000 rads tumor dose and adjuvant estrogens. Radiation complications were frequent and severe in patients with locally advanced tumors who had antecedent lower urinary tract surgery and received a minimum of 7,000 rads tumor dose. Complications were less frequent in patients who received adjuvant estrogens, and complications were uncommon and mild in patients who received less than 7,000 rads.     

膀胱前列腺共存肿瘤的诊断和治疗（附14例报告）

目的：提高对膀胱前列腺共存肿瘤的诊断与治疗水平。方法：结合文献回顾性分析14例膀胱前列腺共存肿瘤患者的临床和病理资料。结果：以膀胱肿瘤首诊11例,术前均经膀胱镜活检病理证实为膀胱移行细胞癌（9例）、鳞癌（2例）,该组有3例行经直肠前列腺穿刺活检,结果2例为前列腺癌,1例为前列腺增生症,该例与余8例行膀胱前列腺切除或TURBT＋TURP后病理证实为前列腺癌。术后随访6～37个月。1例术后23个月死于心梗;1例术后10个月死于全身广泛转移和并发症;1例失访;8例无瘤生存。以前列腺肿瘤首诊3例分别行膀胱部分切除术＋双睾丸切除术、前列腺癌根治术＋TURBT、姑息性输尿管皮肤造瘘术,随访42、16、25个月,2例术后死于多发性转移,1例无瘤生存。结论：膀胱前列腺共存肿瘤是较少见的一种多原发肿瘤,临床上易漏诊。直肠指检、经直肠B超、PsA测定、活检和膀胱镜检的综合应用是目前诊断膀胱前列腺共存肿瘤的主要方法。两者共存并不提示预后不良。     

罕见的前列腺混合型恶性肿瘤的诊断及治疗

目的:探讨罕见前列腺混合型肿瘤的诊断及治疗。方法:回顾性分析本院1995年2月至2008年2月确诊的6例前列腺混合型肿瘤患者的临床资料并结合文献讨论。结果:3例(前列腺混合型小细胞癌和腺癌2例,前列腺腺鳞癌1例)行姑息性TUVP术及内分泌治疗,均于7～10个月死亡。3例(前列腺腺鳞癌2例,前列腺癌肉瘤1例)予以膀胱、前列腺切除并尿流改道,无瘤生存时间均超过1年,2例仍处于随访中。结论:前列腺混合型恶性肿瘤预后差,确诊需经详细病检及免疫组化技术,根治性手术是目前治疗前列腺混合型肿瘤较有效的措施。     

~(137)Csγ射线经直肠照射治疗良性前列腺增生的安全性和有效性临床研究

目的:验证137Csγ射线经直肠照射治疗良性前列腺增生(BPH)的安全性和有效性。方法:2003年12月~2004年9月应用137Csγ射线经直肠照射治疗BPH患者30例。结果:治疗后随访6个月,患者最大尿流率、国际前列腺症状评分(IPSS)及生活质量评分(QOL)均有改善(P<0.05),前列腺体积、残余尿无显著变化(P>0.05)。结论:137Csγ射线经直肠照射治疗BPH安全有效。     

去势加磷酸雌二醇氮芥治疗前列腺癌(附15例报告)

目的探讨去势加磷酸雌二醇氮芥治疗不宜手术根治的前列腺癌的疗效。方法１９９０年１月～１９９６年５月采用去势加磷酸雌二醇氮芥治疗前列腺癌１５例，其中Ｂ２期５例，Ｃ期７例，Ｄ期３例。１５例均行双侧睾丸切除，术后口服磷酸雌二醇氮芥２８０ｍｇ／次，每日２次。结果随访２０～７９个月，平均４７个月。１３例取得客观疗效，１例肿块无明显缩小者因排尿困难行耻骨上膀胱造瘘，１例死于非瘤疾病。所有病例血常规化验未见骨髓抑制，１０例有乳房胀大。结论去势加磷酸雌二醇氮芥治疗前列腺癌效果较满意，易被患者接受     

Brain metastases from bladder carcinoma: presentation, treatment and survival

PURPOSE: We report the presentation of brain metastases from bladder carcinoma. We investigated the role of whole brain radiation therapy for treating this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1982 and November 1999, 16 patients with brain metastases from bladder carcinoma were treated at our institution. We reviewed patient and tumor characteristics at the time of the primary diagnosis and the brain metastasis diagnosis. We analyzed treatment results in regard to survival and local metastasis control. RESULTS: Brain metastases from bladder carcinoma were commonly accompanied by uncontrolled systemic metastases. Multiple brain lesions developed in 14 of the 16 patients. Of the 16 patients 14 received radiation therapy with or without surgery, 1 was treated surgically and 1 did not receive any treatment. The 11 patients treated with whole brain radiation therapy had a median survival of only 2 months (range 0.5 to 11). A patient who received stereotactic radiosurgery survived 12 months after the brain metastasis diagnosis and 2 treated with radiation therapy after surgery survived 12.75 and 2.75 months, respectively (median 7.75). The patient treated with surgery alone survived 1.25 months after the brain metastasis diagnosis and 1 who received no treatment survived 1.75 months. Patients with multiple brain metastases had shorter survival than those with a single metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Overall survival after brain metastasis development in patients with bladder carcinoma was poor. Although the number of patients in this study was small, results indicate that radiation therapy alone is inadequate treatment. Therefore, when possible, we advocate more effective treatment by combining radiation therapy with other treatment modalities, as recommended in ongoing clinical trials.     

Diagnostic value of transrectal ultrasound in tumor staging and in the detection of incidental prostatic cancer

To evaluate the accuracy of transrectal ultrasonography in staging and detection of prostatic cancer, a prospective study was initiated. In 466 patients transrectal ultrasonography was performed before transurethral resection, suprapubic adenomectomy, or radical prostatectomy. The findings were compared with the histopathologic results. In 160 of the 466 patients a carcinoma of the prostate was proven by histology. In 21 patients the cancer was an incidental finding after transurethral resection. In 133 of the 160 patients (83.1%) the tumor was detected by ultrasound prior to surgery. The analysis of the results revealed, however, great differences in the accuracy in the different tumor stages. In those patients where the tumor was confined to the prostate, the carcinoma was identified only in 37.5% of the cases. Especially prostatic cancer stage pT1a-b (incidental) was detected only in 3 out of 21 patients. Thus, it can be concluded that transrectal ultrasonography is not more sensitive than the rectal palpation for detection of prostatic cancer stage T1a-b.     

Advantage of systematic random ultrasound-guided biopsies, measurement of serum prostate-specific antigen level and determination of prostate volume in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Two hundred and sixteen patients, presenting with a suspicious digital examination (stage T3 excluded) or a level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) greater than or equal to 2.5 ng/ml, assessed by radioimmunoassay, underwent a transrectal ultrasound examination. Prostate volume was systematically calculated and correlated to PSA level. Biopsies were performed: (1) on suspicious peripheral hypoechoic areas; ultrasound-guided biopsies; (2) systematically on the 2 prostate lobes, whatever the result of transrectal ultrasound imaging:random systematic ultrasound-guided biopsies. In the 186 patients who had never undergone prostate surgery, ultrasound-guided biopsies showed 42 prostate cancers and random systematic ultrasound-guided biopsies showed 75; 14 of the 76 patients with normal digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasound imaging had a prostate cancer. In the 30 patients who had previously undergone surgery for benign prostatic hypertrophy, random systematic ultrasound-guided biopsies showed 18 prostate cancers, 13% more than ultrasound-guided biopsies; 75% of patients with a serum PSA greater than 5 ng/ml had a prostate cancer. A very significant correlation was found between PSA level and prostatic volume (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Prostatic carcinoma in a young adult: a case report]

We report a case of carcinoma of the prostate in a 30-year-old man. Serum acid phosphatase was normal. A transrectal biopsy of the prostate demonstrated an undifferentiated carcinoma. Total prostatocystectomy was performed and subsequent pathologic report stated that the mass was an undifferentiated carcinoma of the prostate gland. Metastases to the intrapelvic lymph node were present. Although immunohistochemical prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) activity was not demonstrated, prostatic specific antigen (PSA) staining revealed a positive reaction within the tumor cells, confirming prostatic carcinoma. The patient's course has been uneventful without any recurrence by the intermittent adjuvant chemotherapy 8 months postoperatively. Review of the literature in Japan disclosed 16 cases (including our case) of carcinoma of the prostate in patients under 40 years of age.     

Iridium 192 high-dose-rate brachytherapy —a useful alternative therapy for localized prostate cancer?

We report on a novel protocol involving iridium 192 high-dose-rate brachytherapy and follow-up of up to 130 months in patients with prostatic carcinoma. Using regional anesthesia, five to seven hollow needles are placed within the prostate by perineal puncture under ultrasound guidance. A 9-Gy prostate dose is applied followed by 30 min of hyperthermia (since 1991). This treatment is repeated once after 7 days; 2 weeks later, 18 × 2-Gy external beam radiation (small-field prostate) is added as percutaneous dose saturation. Since 1984 we have treated 40 patients with this protocol. Local tumor control was achieved by means of prostatic biopsy at 18 months after therapy and determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values in bout 70% of the patients; after a mean follow-up period of more than 6 years (16–130 months), 80% of the patients show either no evidence of disease or stable disease. We therefore conclude that iridium 192 high-dose-rate brachytherapy is a useful alternative in the treatment of localized prostate cancer in patients who are not eligible for radical prostatectomy.     

Transrectal ultrasound evaluation of local prostate cancer in patients treated with LHRH agonist and in combination with flutamide.

We followed total prostate and prostatic tumor volumes in patients who received combination endocrine therapy with the antiandrogen flutamide and the LHRH agonist [D-Trp6,des-Gly-NH2(10)]LHRH ethylamide. Twenty-three men with proved prostatic adenocarcinoma (Stages B1 to D2) were subjected to a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) study before and after a three-month period of combination antihormonal therapy. A total prostatic volume reduction ranging from 17 percent to 70 percent (median 47%, p less than 0.0001) was observed. An even greater effect was observed on tumor volume which was reduced by 20 percent to 91 percent (median 81%, p less than 0.01). After treatment, the original suspicious zone became nonvisible in 4 cases. The TRUS measurements were confirmed by direct examination of the radical prostatectomy specimen in 7 cases. TRUS is thus a precise, sensitive, and valid method for evaluating the effect of combined antihormonal therapy on normal and tumoral prostatic tissues. These data indicate that combination therapy induces a rapid and marked reduction in glandular and tumoral prostatic volume which could well improve the success of radical prostatectomy and increase the changes of cure of localized prostatic cancer.     

The role of prostate-specific antigen in the diagnosis and treatment of prostatic adenocarcinoma]

Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were determined in four groups of patients with prostatic carcinoma: 230 untreated patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate after careful clinical staging; in 102 patients with localized prostatic carcinoma who were treated by radical prostatectomy; in 183 patients after radiation therapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate; and in 45 antiandrogen-treated patients with documented metastatic disease. Within each treatment modality PSA proved to be a powerful tool in predicting stage and prognosis of each patient. In the untreated group the PSA level was directly proportional to advancing clinical stage and Gleason score. The rate of increase of PSA in clinical stage A and B cancer patients suggested a doubling time of at least 2 years. In the group of patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, PSA correlated extremely well with the tumor volume and had a high predictive value for pelvic lymph node metastasis. No patient with pelvic lymph node metastasis achieved an undetectable PSA level following radical prostatectomy without adjunctive therapy. Both anti-androgen and radiation treatment were followed initially by dramatic falls in serum PSA concentrations, but the majority of patients soon experienced a reversal of this initial response, signifying early failure and again providing new information unavailable from any other source.     

Ultrasonically guided 125iodine seed implantation with external radiation in management of localized prostatic carcinoma

Thirty-three patients with localized prostatic carcinoma (16 poorly differentiated) were treated with transperineal 125Iodine seed implantation (160 Gy) guided by transrectal ultrasonography and subsequent external beam irradiation (47.4 Gy). The observation time was six to sixty-eight months with a median follow-up of thirty-five months. Median change in prostatic volume was a reduction of 35 percent. Re-biopsy or transurethral resection of the prostate was performed in 25 patients after one to two years, revealing still malignant histology in 12 (48%). Development of distant metastases occurred in 14 patients (44%), and 8 have died of prostatic cancer. Fourteen patients suffered from late complications of which surgical intervention was indicated in 3 cases.     

Transrectal Microwave Hyperthermia for Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background:
A randomized study evaluated the efficacy of treatment with transrectal microwave hyperthermia (TMH) treatment in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Methods:
Eighty BPH patients received TMH therapy and 20 patients were given a sham treatment. TMH was achieved using a prostathermer which includes a microwave transrectal heat generator, a cooling system and a transurethral sensor probe. Patients that received TMH had 5 to 6 sessions of 1 hour each where the prostate was heated to 42°C to 43.5°C. The sham treatment consisted of a single session where the temperature was maintained at 37°. All patients were evaluated at 3 and 12 months after treatment.
Results:
There was an improvement of subjective obstructive symptoms in 54 patients (75%) after TMH. An evaluation of urodynamic parameters revealed an increase in the maximum flow rate and a decrease of the detrusor opening pressure as well as the detrusor pressure at maximum flow in patients treated with TMH. A significant improvement in the amount of residual urine was seen in all TMH-treated patients ( P <0.0001).
Conclusion:
Although TMH cannot be considered a superior alternative to open surgical or transurethral excision of the prostate, it is a valid option for patients who have indwelling urethral catheters and for those at high surgical risk.     

Changes in serum prostate-specific antigen following prostatectomy in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia

PURPOSE: To investigate how prostatectomy for patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) affected the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. METHODS: In 193 patients who underwent prostatectomy for BPH, serum PSA levels were measured before and three months after the operation. The total prostate weight measured by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and the weight of the surgical specimen were examined in relation to the pretreatment PSA value and the changes in PSA levels after the operation. RESULTS: The transition zone volume measured by TRUS could well estimate the weight of the surgical specimen in patients who underwent subcapsular prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate. The concentration of preoperative serum PSA showed a significant correlation with the prostatic volume and with the transition zone volume. Removal of 1 g of BPH tissue reduced serum PSA levels by an average of 0.18 ng/mL. The change in serum PSA levels after the prostatectomy correlated with the total prostatic gland volume and with the transition zone volume. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated PSA levels in patients with BPH were caused by the enlargement of the transition zone. After the resection of the adenoma, PSA levels should be expected to decrease to the normal range.     

Longitudinal comparison of sexual function after 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy or prostate brachytherapy

PURPOSE: The risk of erectile dysfunction can influence treatment decisions for localized prostate cancer. To estimate the risk from 2 popular radiotherapies we compared erectile function and overall satisfaction with sexual function after 3-dimensional (D) conformal radiation therapy and transperineal prostate brachytherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 128 patients with prostate cancer underwent 3-D conformal radiation therapy (median dose 70.2 Gy. to the planning target volume) and 60 underwent palladium transperineal prostate brachytherapy (median dose 90 or 115 Gy. to 80% of the prostate with or without external nonconformal beam radiation therapy. Of the 128 patients 47 (37%) also received a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist (3 to 4 months), whereas 26 (43%) of the 60 patients received external beam radiation therapy and LH-RH (8 to 9 months). We evaluated erectile function and overall satisfaction with questions from validated, self-administered questionnaires. Patients responded to the questions serially before any prostate cancer therapy and at regular followup visits thereafter. We used the time until a patient returned to baseline erectile function and overall satisfaction to compare treatment modalities. RESULTS: Median followup was 21 months. Of patients receiving 3-D conformal radiation therapy with or without LH-RH agonists 65% (95% CI 47% to 82%) and 67% (53% to 81%), respectively, returned to baseline overall satisfaction within 12 months after treatment versus 23% (9% to 50%) and 56% (38% to 75%) of the patients treated with transperineal prostate brachytherapy with or without external beam radiation therapy and LH-RH agonists, respectively. Reductions in overall satisfaction appeared to relate to changes in erectile function. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that in the absence of LH-RH agonist use 3-D conformal radiation therapy and transperineal prostate brachytherapy have a similar impact on erectile function and overall satisfaction. Differences observed in erectile function and overall satisfaction in the 2 groups of patients who received adjuvant LH-RH may be due to the different duration of therapy (3 versus 8 months). Longer followup will be needed to evaluate this hypothesis.