Interactions in the aetiology,presentation and management of synchronous and metachronous adenocarcinoma of the prostate and rectum

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate and rectum are common male pelvic cancers and may present synchronously or metachronously and, due to their anatomic proximity. The treatment of rectal or prostate cancer (in particular surgery and/or radiotherapy) may alter the presentation, incidence and management should a metachronous tumour develop. This review focuses on the interaction between prostatic and rectal cancer diagnosis and management. We have restricted the scope of this large topic to general considerations, management of rectal cancer after prostate cancer treatment and vice versa, management of synchronous disease and cancer follow-up issues.     

An open‐label,long‐term evaluation of the safety,efficacy and tolerability of avanafil in male patients with mild to severe erectile dysfunction

Aim: Determine the long‐term efficacy, safety and tolerability of avanafil, a highly specific, rapidly absorbed phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor in male patients with mild to severe erectile dysfunction (ED), with or without diabetes. Methods: This was a 52‐week, open‐label extension of two 12‐week, randomised, placebo‐controlled, phase 3 trials. Patients were assigned to avanafil 100 mg, but could request 200 mg (for increased efficacy; ‘100/200‐mg’ group) or 50 mg (for improved tolerability). Primary end points included percentage of sexual attempts ending in successful vaginal penetration [Sexual Encounter Profile 2 (SEP2)] and intercourse (SEP3) and erectile function domain score per the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐EF). Results: Some 712 patients enrolled; 686 were included in the intent to treat population and contributed to the data. All primary end points showed sustained improvement. SEP2 and SEP3 success rates improved from 44% to 83% and from 13% to 68% (100‐mg group) and from 43% to 79% and from 11% to 66% (100/200‐mg group), respectively. Mean IIEF‐EF domain scores improved from 13.6 to 22.2 (100‐mg group) and from 11.9 to 22.7 (100/200‐mg group). Avanafil was effective in some patients ≤ 15 min and > 6 h postdose. Sixty‐five per cent (112/172) of ‘nonresponders’ to avanafil 100 mg responded to the 200‐mg dose. The most common (≥ 2%) treatment‐emergent adverse events were headache, flushing, nasopharyngitis and nasal congestion; < 3% of patients discontinued therapy because of adverse events. Conclusions: The long‐term tolerability and improvement in sexual function, coupled with rapid onset, suggest that avanafil is well suited for the on‐demand treatment of ED.     

VIRUSES OF POLIOMYELITIS : AN IMMUNOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF SIX STRAINS

Qualitative immunological differences exist between early passage strains or so called human strains of the virus of poliomyelitis. These differences show a relationship to the epidemic source of the virus and are exemplified in this study by 4 strains isolated in different years during an eastern and western epidemic of poliomyelitis.     

Detection of recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer: Comparison of positron emission tomography and computed tomography

Background: This study evaluates the clinical value of positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[F-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) as compared to computed tomography (CT) in patients with suspected recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: A retrospective review of the records of 58 patients who had FDG-PET for evaluation of recurrent or advanced primary CRC was performed. FDG-PET results were compared with those of CT and correlated with operative and histopathologic findings, or with clinical course and autopsy reports. Results: Recurrent or advanced primary CRC was diagnosed in 40 and 11 patients, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET were 91% and 100% for detecting local pelvic recurrence, and 95% and 100% for hepatic metastases. These values were superior to CT, which had sensitivity and specificity of 52% and 80% for detecting pelvic recurrence, and 74% and 85% for hepatic metastases. FDG-PET correctly identified pelvic recurrence in 19 of 21 patients; CT was negative in 6 of these patients and equivocal in 4. FDG-PET was superior to CT in detecting multiple hepatic lesions and influenced clinical management in 10 of 23 (43%) patients. Conclusion: FDG-PET is more sensitive than CT in the clinical assessment of patients with recurrent or metastatic CRC, and provides an accurate means of selecting appropriate treatment for these patients. Presented at the 50th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Chicago, Illinois, March 20–23, 1997.     

Age and the treatment of lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The average age of patients with lung cancer is increasing and there are large numbers of elderly symptomatic patients with this common disease. However, there are few data on how the treatment of this group differs from that of younger patients. METHODS: From 1 January 1990 information was collected for the Southend Lung Cancer Registry on all patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer in a geographically well defined health district of the UK with a population of 325,000. Every effort was made to find new cases from all departments of the hospital, including all clinical diagnoses, histopathological and cytological reports, and necropsies. All death certificates in the district were examined, irrespective of age, for any diagnosis of lung cancer. This therefore included any patient not seen by the hospital services. The differences in initial treatment have been analysed for three age groups: under 65, 65-74 years, and over 75. RESULTS: The 563 cases of lung cancer diagnosed during a 30 month period were included in the study, of whom 240 (43%) were aged over 75 years. The overall mean age was 71 years (range 31-95). The incidence of lung cancer in the general population was 69 per 100,000, but in men over 75 years of age it rose to 751 per 100,000. For all patients the active treatment rate (chemotherapy, surgery, or radiotherapy) was 49%, but for patients not reviewed by a chest physician (n = 86) it was only 21%. There were large differences in initial treatment between age groups. For patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) reviewed by a chest physician, surgery was undertaken in 18% of those under 65, 12% of the 65-74 age group, and 2.1% of those over 75. For patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) reviewed by a chest physician, 79% of those aged under 65, 64% of the 65-74 age group, and 41% of patients aged over 75 received chemotherapy. In patients with NSCLC reviewed by a chest physician, chemotherapy was given to 21% under 65, 6.4% in the 65-74 age group, and none over 75. If no histological diagnosis was made 37% of patients aged under 75 and only 5.4% of those over 75 received either surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Patients not reviewed by a chest physician were less likely to have had a histological diagnosis. Differences in treatment rates with age persisted even after allowing for performance score status at presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Lung cancer is a common disease in the elderly and, in our district, 43% of patients were aged 75 or over at presentation. Age alone appeared to be a major factor in influencing treatment choices, and treatment was more likely if histological confirmation was obtained. Further detailed analysis of the reasons for the differences is needed. Patients referred to chest physicians were more likely to have both histological confirmation and active treatment. This study supports the contention that all patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer, irrespective of age or condition, should be assessed by an accredited chest physician.