Anatomical basis for carrying out a state-of-the-art radical prostatectomy

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy has consolidated the position of surgical treatment for localized prostate cancer in the USA. In a few years, it is expected to spread rapidly worldwide. However, surgical anatomy has trailed the advance in surgical techniques of robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. Therefore, we reviewed the recent literature, which sometimes refutes the established consensus on pelvic anatomy, for the state-of-the-art technique. We also describe the anatomical findings for each basic step during robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, and show evidence-based surgical techniques. Of course, these findings will also be useful for radical retropubic, perineal and conventional laparoscopic prostatectomy. Surgical anatomy should always be developing and changing with advances in surgical approaches.     

Diagnostic strategies and the incidence of prostate cancer： reasons for the low reported incidence of prostate cancer in China

We have analysed the reasons for the low reported incidence of prostate cancer in China and argue for early diagnosis and treatment of this disease. According to the 2002 database of the International Agency for Research on Cancer （IARC）, the age-standardized incidence of prostate cancer in China is 1.6/105 person years （PY）, with a mortality rate of 1.0/105 PY and mortality-to-incidence rate ratio （MR/IR） = 0.63. The MR/IR ratio of prostate cancer in China was found to be higher than the average in Asia （MR/IR = 0.57） and much higher than that in North America （MR/IR = 0.13）. These data indicate that in China most prostate cancers were in the advanced stages at the time of diagnosis, and that patients had a short survival time thereafter. In 2004, Stamey et al. reported a retrospective American study of prostate cancer for the years 1983-2003. It was shown that most cases of prostate cancer detected by prostate-specific antigen （PSA） screening were in the advanced stage at the start of this 20-year period. These early follow-up data are quite similar to the results obtained from mass PSA screening of elderly men in Changchun, China. However, after the American programmes for early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer were accepted, tumours were diagnosed at earlier stages. On the basis of these findings, mass screening should be performed in the whole of China using serum PSA to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.     

Ultrasound of the Prostate and Testicles

Considerable advances have occurred in the sonographic imaging of small parts over recent years, including improved transducer technology and Doppler imaging. After reviewing briefly prostatic anatomy, including McNeal's concept of zonal anatomy, the techniques used for examining the prostate gland sonographically and for performing biopsy are discussed. Ultrasound (US) findings in the normal gland, in benign prostatic hyperplasia, and in prostatic cancer are described, with an emphasis on cancer. The role of targeted and random biopsy is assessed, as is the role of color Doppler in detecting prostatic cancer. An overview of the findings in inflammation and infertility also is provided. The technique used for examining the scrotum and testicles is discussed after a short review of scrotal anatomy. The sonographic appearances of the normal scrotal contents are described, followed by a discussion of findings in tumors, inflammatory conditions, and testicular torsion. A synopsis of the appearances of cysts and microlithiasis also is provided. Both the increased use and expectations by surgeons of US in the assessment of the prostate and testicles make it imperative to understand the techniques, range of findings, new developments, and limitations involved in using this modality.     

Early diagnosis and surgical management of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and Europe. The natural ageing of the population as well as the continued and widespread use of diagnostic tests such as prostate specific antigen (PSA), has led to an increase in the numbers of men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer. Screening to identify organ-confined disease has provoked much public and scientific attention, but remains controversial. Radical prostatectomy is one of the most challenging urological procedures performed. Improvements in technique due to better understanding of pelvic anatomy have reduced complications, with acceptable standards and excellent results in high-volume institutions. Continual refinements in technique and the recent introduction of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy are likely to improve functional outcome further. However the effectiveness of surgery in improving survival and quality of life, in men with early prostate cancer remains to be determined. The results from large randomised controlled trials are eagerly awaited.     

Proliferative inflammatory atrophy: a background lesion of prostate cancer?

Proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) belongs to the atrophic lesions that frequently occur in the prostate. The location of PIA in the periphery of the gland near to prostate carcinoma or even showing direct transition to malignant or pre-malignant epithelia suggested a connection between PIA and prostate cancer. Further findings in PIA, such as imbalance between proliferation and apoptosis and detection of molecular-biological abnormalities specific for oxidative stress or malignancy, supported this hypothesis. Recently, epidemiological studies including large cohorts of patients have been undertaken in order to investigate the causal connection between PIA and prostate carcinoma. The current understanding of PIA allows us to consider it as a benign lesion with certain genetic instability which can degenerate into prostate intraepithelial neoplasia or carcinoma, provided that the balance between anti-carcinogens and carcinogens is perturbed. To evaluate the role of PIA as a precursor lesion of prostate cancer, further examinations of genetic or epigenetic aberrations are required.     

Metabolomic signatures of aggressive prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Current diagnostic techniques have increased the detection of prostate cancer; however, these tools inadequately stratify patients to minimize mortality. Recent studies have identified a biochemical signature of prostate cancer metastasis, including increased sarcosine abundance. This study examined the association of tissue metabolites with other clinically significant findings.

METHODS

A state of the art metabolomics platform analyzed prostatectomy tissues (331 prostate tumor, 178 cancer‐free prostate tissues) from two independent sites. Biochemicals were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses identified metabolites associated with cancer aggressiveness: Gleason score, extracapsular extension, and seminal vesicle and lymph node involvement.

RESULTS

Prostate tumors had significantly altered metabolite profiles compared to cancer‐free prostate tissues, including biochemicals associated with cell growth, energetics, stress, and loss of prostate‐specific biochemistry. Many metabolites were further associated with clinical findings of aggressive disease. Aggressiveness‐associated metabolites stratified prostate tumor tissues with high abundances of compounds associated with normal prostate function (e.g., citrate and polyamines) from more clinically advanced prostate tumors. These aggressive prostate tumors were further subdivided by abundance profiles of metabolites including NAD+ and kynurenine. When added to multiparametric nomograms, metabolites improved prediction of organ confinement (AUROC from 0.53 to 0.62) and 5‐year recurrence (AUROC from 0.53 to 0.64).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support and extend earlier metabolomic studies in prostate cancer and studies where metabolic enzymes have been associated with carcinogenesis and/or outcome. Furthermore, these data suggest that panels of analytes may be valuable to translate metabolomic findings to clinically useful diagnostic tests. Prostate 73: 1547–1560, 2013 © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Real-time transrectal ultrasound guidance during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: impact on surgical margins

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether intraoperative real-time TRUS navigation during LRP can decrease the incidence of positive surgical margins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since March 2001, 294 patients with clinically organ confined prostate cancer undergoing LRP have been retrospectively divided into 2 groups, including group 1-217 who underwent LRP without TRUS from March 2001 to February 2003 and group 2-77 who have undergone LRP with TRUS since March 2003. Various baseline parameters were similar between the groups. Before March 2001 the senior surgeon had already performed more than 50 cases of LRP, thus, gaining reasonable familiarity with the technique. RESULTS: Compared to group 1, group 2 had a significantly decreased rate of positive surgical margins in patients with pT3 disease (57% vs 18%, p = 0.002). Positive margin rates also decreased in our overall experience (29% vs 9%, p = 0.0002). Intraoperative TRUS correctly predicted pT2 and pT3 disease in 85% and 86% of patients, respectively. Of the 54 TRUS visualized hypoechoic lesions at sites corresponding to biopsy proven cancer extracapsular extension was suspected in 31, leading to a real-time recommendation of calibrated wider, site specific dissection to achieve negative surgical margins. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative TRUS monitoring during LRP allows individualized, precise dissection tailored to the specific prostate contour anatomy, thus, compensating for the muted tactile feedback of laparoscopy. In what is to our knowledge the initial experience real-time TRUS guidance significantly decreased the incidence of positive surgical margins during LRP. In the future this concept of rectum based, intraoperative real-time navigation may facilitate a more sophisticated performance of radical prostatectomy.     

Optimizing prostate cancer detection during biopsy by standardizing the amount of tissue examined per core

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? The main goal of a prostate biopsy is to identify clinically relevant prostate cancer with the lowest possible morbidity from the procedure. Over time, many have tried different variations in the procedure in an attempt to find the optimal methodology for performing prostate biopsies. These changes include better equipment in helping optimize cancer localization, varying the number of cores in efforts to improve cancer detection, and sampling various areas of the prostate to find cancer that might be difficult to identify. To our knowledge we are the first to describe performing prostate biopsies by keeping the sampling size constant and varying the number of cores based on the size of the prostate. The study adds a variation in the current techniques used for prostate biopsies. In certain situations, using a standard number of cores makes obtaining proper sampling of a prostate difficult. We propose a methodology in performing prostate biopsies that will allow for standardization of the tissue per core analysed, thus improving the sampling of the prostate.

OBJECTIVE

? To investigate the effect on cancer detection by varying the number of cores taken for prostate biopsy according to the size of the prostate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

? A retrospective review of a prospectively registered prostate biopsy database identified 3040 consecutive patients undergoing prostate biopsy at a Veterans Administration Hospital between 1994 and 2008. ? Of 2224 biopsies, 681 (31%) were found to have cancer and 1540 (69%) had negative biopsies. ? Prostate volume to biopsy core ratios (volume/number of cores) were derived and a comparative analysis was performed to determine the impact on cancer detection rates.

RESULTS

? The median prostate volume was significantly smaller for those patients diagnosed with prostate cancer than for those with negative biopsies (33 vs 43 cc, P= 0.01). ? The median number of cores was the same for both groups of patients (median 12, P= 0.66). ? The median transrectal ultrasonography TRUS size/core ratio was 3.5 [interquartile range (IQR) 2.5] for patients with identified cancer as compared with 4.7 (IQR = 3.9) for those with negative biopsies (P= 0.000). ? On multivariable logistic regression analysis TRUS size/core ratio had a significant impact on cancer detection with a relative risk ratio of 1.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.1–1.5, P= 0.001) even when controlled for age, race, prostate volume, digital rectal examination and prostate‐specific antigen level.

CONCLUSIONS

? Prostate cancer detection can be enhanced by individualizing the number of cores performed to a real‐time prostate volume sampling. ? The present study emphasizes that optimal cancer detection rates were observed when a ratio of 3.5 cc per tissue core was achieved. ? Proper prospectively designed studies must be performed to further validate these findings.     

A risk index for prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to create a simple numerical index predicting the presence of prostate cancer in a group of high risk patients, for the purpose of selecting those most likely to need prostate biopsy. METHODS: 100 consecutive patients at high risk of having prostate cancer seen at Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand between November 2000 and February 2002 were prospectively studied. All patients underwent transrectal prostate biopsies. The following predictor variables were obtained: age, digital rectal examination (DRE) findings, prostate specific antigen level, transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) findings, and prostate volume determined by TRUS. The outcome was the presence of prostate cancer on histological examination of the biopsy specimens. A risk index for prostate cancer based on the linear predictor of a multiple logistic regression model was created. RESULTS: Almost all predictor variables were significantly related to the presence of prostate cancer. The final multiple logistic regression model with four categorized predictors (excluding DRE) was shown to have good discrimination, calibration, and cross-validity. For a cutoff risk index of 10, corresponding to a 10% probability of having prostate cancer, the sensitivity for detecting prostate cancer was 96.2%, with a specificity of 73.0%. Based on this cutoff, 55% of patients in this series might not require prostate biopsy. CONCLUSION: A risk index for prostate cancer was developed. If this index can be externally validated, the potential savings from avoiding unnecessary prostate biopsies, on the basis of selection using the index, could be significant.     

Impact of age and metabolic syndrome-like components on prostate cancer development: a nationwide population-based cohort study

BackgroundBecause of the contradictory results, more epidemiologic data is needed to determine if metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for developing prostate cancer. This study investigated whether metabolic syndrome-like components affect the incidence of prostate cancer in a Korean population.MethodsMen over 50 years of age who underwent health examinations in 2009 were followed until December 2015 (n=1,917,430) using National Health Insurance System data. Subjects were divided into three groups according to the number of metabolic syndrome-like components. The predictive accuracy of age for prostate cancer was assessed by the Youden index and multivariate adjusted Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the effect of metabolic syndrome-like components on prostate cancer development.ResultsThe risk of prostate cancer increases with age, and the best cutoff age for prostate cancer detection was 62 years (the maximum value of the Youden index). When stratified by the number of metabolic syndrome-like components, the age with the highest Youden index of each group is still 61 or 62 years. In multivariate adjusted Cox regression analysis, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence rate among the non-component group, the group with 1 or 2 components, and the group with ≥3 components.ConclusionsThe current study found that there was no statistically significant association between metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer development in a Korean population. However, results of this study should be interpreted with consideration due to several limitations including the diversity of definitions of metabolic syndrome components.     

Performance of prostate‐specific antigen mass in estimation of prostate volume in Japanese men with benign prostate hyperplasia

Objectives: Obese men with benign prostate hyperplasia might have lower serum prostate‐specific antigen because of hemodilution, resulting in underestimation of total prostate volume by serum prostate‐specific antigen. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of prostate‐specific antigen mass as the absolute amount of prostate‐specific antigen protein secreted into circulation with that of serum prostate‐specific antigen in the prediction of total prostate volume. Methods: A total of 1517 men with serum prostate‐specific antigen up to 10 ng/mL, including 1425 with biopsy‐proven benign prostate hyperplasia, were enrolled in this study. Height and weight were used to estimate body mass index, body surface area and plasma volume. Prostate‐specific antigen mass was calculated as serum prostate‐specific antigen multiplied by plasma volume. The association between serum prostate‐specific antigen or prostate‐specific antigen mass and transrectal ultrasound‐measured total prostate volume were evaluated by Pearson's correlation coefficient (Υ), linear regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Serum prostate‐specific antigen had an inverse relationship with plasma volume, decreasing as plasma volume increased, after adjustment of total prostate volume. Larger total prostate volume per serum prostate‐specific antigen was found in men with higher body mass index or plasma volume. Among all participants, the correlation (Υ = 0.456) between prostate‐specific antigen mass and total prostate volume was apparently stronger than that (Υ = 0.442) between serum prostate‐specific antigen and total prostate volume. Prostate‐specific antigen mass outperformed serum prostate‐specific antigen at estimating total prostate volume cut‐off values of 30 and 40 mL. These findings were more significant in men aged ≥60 years. Conclusions: Prostate‐specific antigen mass performs better than serum prostate‐specific antigen in estimating TPV, especially in men aged ≥60 years.     

常规临床检查与PSA灰区患者前列腺癌检出率的关系

目的:探讨直肠指检(DRE)、影像学(TRUS、MRI)检查、血清游离与总前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)比值(f/t)与PSA在4～10μg/L之间患者前列腺癌检出率的关系。方法:回顾性分析365例PSA处于灰区的患者进行DRE、TRUS、MRI检查、游离PSA测定,并对这些患者行经直肠B超引导下的前列腺穿刺活检。评估其临床资料与前列腺穿刺病理结果的关系。结果:在365例患者中,穿刺病理为前列腺癌的患者共有87例(23.84%)。DRE阳性的患者共有128例,穿刺阳性40例,阳性率为31.25%,TRUS检查的患者共有257例,其中有异常回声结节的69例患者中穿刺阳性26例,阳性率为37.68%,MRI检查的患者共有191例,其中有异常信号结节的107例患者中穿刺阳性59例,阳性率为55.14%。198例患者行fPSA与tPSA比值分析,其中前列腺癌患者的平均f/t PSA明显低于穿刺阴性患者。f/t PSA受试者曲线(ROC)下的面积(0.725)高于患者PSA ROC的面积(0.542)。结论:结合临床DRE、影像学资料及f/t PSA比值可以有效提高前列腺癌检出率,从而减少不必要的穿刺给患者带来的痛苦。     

Growth hormone receptor expression in the Dunning R 3327 prostatic carcinoma of the rat.

The Dunning R3327 rat carcinoma is an important model for human prostate adenocarcinoma. In the present study this tumor was further characterized by immunohistochemical demonstration of receptors for growth hormone (GH-R). Weak GH-R immunoreactivity was present in the secretory epithelial cells of the tumor acini. Large epithelial cells which were localized at the periphery of the acini and large cells in the stroma, which are probably derived from the epithelium ("Large neoplastic epithelial cells"), displayed a strong staining with one of the monoclonal antibodies (Mab 263) to GH-R. The presence of GH-R receptors in proliferating prostatic tumor cells supports the concept that GH reacts directly on prostate target tissue to facilitate tumor cell growth.     

Low reduction of prostate volume is a significant predictor of prostate cancer at subsequent biopsy in patients with dutasteride: A retrospective study

Appropriate decision of prostate biopsy in men with 5α-reductase inhibitor (5AR inhibitor) is still unclear to avoid unnecessary biopsy. We retrospectively investigated patients with initial PSA 4.0 ng/ml or more and underwent subsequent prostate biopsy following dutasteride treatment. From September 2009 to August 2018, 399 cases of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) were treated with dutasteride in our department. Of the total, 36 cases with elevated pre-treatment PSA (4.0 ng/ml or more) and underwent subsequent prostate biopsy were included into this study. We evaluated PSA kinetics and changing prostate volumes (PV), and detection of prostate cancer. Overall, average PSA reduced by half at 6 months from dosing. Pre-treatment biopsy was performed in 17 of 36 cases, and all were diagnosed as having no malignancy. After treatment, prostate cancer was detected in 15 cases by subsequent biopsy. Fourteen of 15 cases were clinically significant cancer (Gleason score 7 or more). Logistic regression analysis detected a nominal association between prostate cancer detection and three variants, PSAD, PV reduction (1–Before/After PV) and abnormal MRI findings. In addition to abnormal MRI findings and pre-treatment of high PSAD, the case with low reduction of PV after treatment should consider performing prostate biopsy.     

早期前列腺癌的诊断与治疗

随着前列腺癌发病率在我国的逐年升高,泌尿外科医生对此疾病的早期诊断与治疗也越来越关注。尽管美国的资料显示前列腺癌的筛查可以降低前列腺癌相关的死亡率,但对是否开展此项筛查依然存在争议。诊断方面依然以直肠指检(DRE)、前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)和B超引导的经直肠前列腺穿刺活检为主。治疗方面强调对这类患者实施治愈性治疗手段如前列腺癌根治术和放疗。严密的随访可以尽早发现肿瘤复发并及时开始二线治愈性治疗。本文对早期前列腺癌诊断与治疗的现状进行了综述。     

Pathological features of Gleason score 6 prostate cancers in the low and intermediate range of prostate‐specific antigen level: is there a difference?

OBJECTIVE

To assess the pathological features of Gleason score 6 prostate cancers after radical prostatectomy in the low (<4 ng/mL) and intermediate range of prostate‐specific antigen level (4–10 ng/mL), as such prostate cancers are considered to be well differentiated tumours with a low risk for recurrence after therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 1354 patients with T1c prostate cancer and PSA levels of <10.0 ng/mL had a radical retropubic prostatectomy. Patients with Gleason score 6 tumours were divided into two groups, those with PSA levels of <4 and 4.0–10.0 ng/mL. Extracapsular extension, positive surgical margins, biochemical recurrence (BCR) and mean time to BCR were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 1354 patients, there were 437 (32.3%) with Gleason score 6 prostate cancers. Patients in the low PSA group had less extraprostatic disease than those with a higher level (5.9% vs 14.5%) and both groups had an almost equal proportion of positive surgical margins (9.4% vs 11.0%). In the low PSA group there was statistically significantly shorter BCR than in the high PSA group, with a mean time to BCR of 1.7 vs 3.1 years.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show a statistically significantly higher rate of extraprostatic disease and earlier BCR in men with a high than a low PSA level even in Gleason score 6 prostate cancer. As the rate of BCR and extracapsular extension are significantly related to prostate cancer mortality, these findings further support the concept of screening using low PSA levels.     

Endobronchial metastasis from prostate carcinoma

Metastasis from the prostate to the lungs is common; however, endobronchial metastasis from the prostate has been reported only twice. We report a patient with endobronchial metastases from the prostate in the absence of bony metastases. Clinical and roentgenographic findings of pulmonary metastases from prostate cancer are described, and therapeutic considerations are discussed.     

Associations between coronary heart disease,obesity and histological prostate cancer

Objective The present study investigates the possible associations between coronary heart disease and histological prostate carcinoma in autopsy material. Material and method The material of our study, were 116 men between 55 years and 98 years of age, who died in the period of August 2002–January 2005. The initial segment of the aorta and the prostate glands of all cadavers were removed while the initial 30 mm of the left and right coronary arteries and the peripheral zone of the prostate gland underwent pathologic examination. Results Of all subjects examined 71.8% had pathological findings suggesting advanced coronary heart disease. Twenty out of 116 cadavers were found with histological carcinoma in their prostate specimen. Among subjects positive for prostate cancer, 12 had died of cardiovascular diseases, while 16 had macroscopic evidence of advanced coronary artery obstructive disease, a finding that was confirmed on pathologic examination. Although most of the subjects had atheromatous lesions on the coronary arteries, the percentage of men with prostate cancer, which had advanced atheromatosis, was greater when compared to those of subjects without prostate cancer. The relation between the coronary artery obstructive disease severity and the presence of latent prostate cancer was statistically significant (P = 0.02). No statistically significant correlation was obtained between body mass index and the presence of prostate cancer. Conclusions Our results indicate that there could be an association between coronary artery obstructive disease and prostate cancer, however due to the relatively low sample further studies are needed in order to confirm such findings.     

Serum levels of phytanic acid are associated with prostate cancer risk

BACKGROUND: Recent findings of over-expression of the AMACR gene in prostate cancer and association between sequence variants in the AMACR gene and prostate cancer risk, along with the well established findings of association between prostate cancer risk and over-consumption of dairy products and red meat, indirectly suggest that phytanic acid, which primarily comes from dietary intake of dairy and red meat and requires the AMACR enzyme for its metabolism, may be associated with prostate cancer risk. In this small case-control study, we assessed the association between phytanic acid levels and prostate cancer risk. METHODS: One hundred and four prostate cancer patients and controls were recruited in North Carolina. Serum levels of phytanic acid were measured using a gas liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy analysis, and a food frequency questionnaire was administered to each individual to assess dietary intake. RESULTS: Three key findings are reported. First, there was a high correlation between two independent measurements of phytanic acid levels from the same individuals and the levels of phytanic acid were within the expected range, suggesting that serum levels of phytanic acid levels can be reliably measured in large epidemiological studies. Second, serum levels of phytanic acid among prostate cancer patients were significantly higher than that of unaffected controls, suggesting an association between phytanic acid and prostate cancer risk. Lastly, there was a significantly positive correlation between serum levels of phytanic acid and dietary intake of dairy and red meat servings during the year prior to the serum measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results from our study suggest phytanic acid levels may be associated with prostate cancer risk, they were based on a study with a small sample size. Much larger studies are required to confirm these important findings.