Drug Therapy

Orlando, FL-Intermittent androgen deprivation appears to be as effectiveas continuous androgen deprivation in the treatment of advanced prostatecancer, say researchers from the University of Liege, Belgium.

Orlando, FL-The 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride (Proscar)is associated with symptom improvement in men with category IIIA chronicpelvic pain syndrome, say leading prostatitis researchers.

Orlando, FL-Treatment with an alpha blocker used commonly in men withBPH is associated with improvement of symptoms in men with moderate to severechronic non-bacterial prostatitis, said Perinchery Narayan, MD.

Orlando, FL-A newer, novel 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor offersBPH symptom relief and improvements in urinary flow rates, according tofindings from three 2-year, multicenter, phase III trials.

Q Can you characterize the patient who uses complementary and alternativemedicine?Virtually everybody uses complementary medicine. When you ask patientsabout the medications they are taking, they may tell you they are on oneor two drugs. But if you don't ask them, they will never tell you aboutall the vitamins and supplements they take. When you specifically ask themabout vitamins and supplements, you end up getting laundry lists. What Ifind is that many men, in particular, will say they take whatever theirwife gives them.

Newton, MA-Matritech Inc. has received FDA clearance to market the NMP22 BladderChek bladder cancer test for use in conjunction with cystoscopy. The test works like a home pregnancy test and returns results while the patient is in the physician's office, the company says.

Orlando, FL-In a finding that will likely change the way physicianstreat patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, the combination of twocommonly used drugs was shown to slow progression of the disease significantlybetter than placebo or either drug alone. In fact, treatment with the combinationof finasteride (Proscar) and doxazosin (Cardura) lowers the risk of BPHprogression by as much as 67% and the risk of urinary retention by as muchas 79%.

Single bill would award physicians with a 2% increase and offer drugcoverage to seniorsWashington-Despite continued concerns over terrorism and corporate shenanigansthat have sent the stock markets tumbling, there is some good news for urologistsfrom Washington this summer. By the end of this session of Congress, chancesare good that last year's Medicare fee cuts will be fixed and that Medicarepatients will be given some form of prescription drug coverage.

Orlando, FL-After 7 years follow-up, researchers from the UnitedKingdom report that a landmark clinical trial in bladder cancer now showsa significant reduction in mortality if patients underwent 3 months of neoadjuvantchemotherapy prior to definitive surgery or radiation for muscle-invasivebladder cancer.

Presented by H. Barton Grossman, MD, University of Texas M.D.Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.

Presented by Dean G. Assimos, MD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.

Presented by Ralph Buttyan, PhD, Columbia-Presbyterian MedicalCenter, New York.

Presented by Edward Kim, MD, University of Tennessee School ofMedicine, Knoxville.

Presented by John N. Krieger, MD, University of Washington School ofMedicine, Seattle.

Presented by Ricardo Gonzalez, MD, University of Miami Schoolof Medicine.

Presented by Michael B. Siroky, MD, Boston University.

Presented by Dominick J. Carbone, Jr, MD, Wake Forest University,Winston-Salem, NC.

Presented by Mostafa M. Elhilali, MD, University of Montreal.

Presented by John Trachtenberg, MD, University of Toronto.

Separate group would ensure strong, effective leadership for urologyprogramWashington-Frustrated with a lack of progress at the NationalInstitute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), AUA isnow pushing for creation of a separate urology division that would give"strong and effective leadership for the urology program" at theNational Institutes of Health.

New director named to head Office of EducationQ What do you see as the most pressing concerns or issues facing theAUA in the next year or two?

The incidence of hydronephrosis diagnosed in the neonatal period has increased dramatically with the routine use of ultrasound in obstetrical care. Prior to the mid-1980s, most children with obstructive uropathy secondary to ureteropelvic junction obstruction or ureterovesical junction obstruction were diagnosed after urinary tract infections had occurred or an abdominal mass was noted.

Orlando, FL-Just as researchers were beginning to quantify the value of PC-SPES in treating advanced prostate cancer, the product was found to be contaminated, was taken off the market, and the manufacturer went out of business.

Birmingham, United Kingdom-Using standard x-rays, a digital camera orscanner, and a basic graphics software package, physicians can reliablydetermine the chemical composition of urinary calculi, thereby aiding treatmentplanning, say German urologists.

San Francisco-Prostate cancer bone metastases appear to react favorablyto treatment with a new bisphosphonate and the tyrosine-kinase inhibitorsPKI-166 and STI-571, according to studies presented at the American Associationfor Cancer Research annual meeting here.