Prostate Cancer

Benefit evident regardless of metastasis site, phase III analysis shows.

~40% of sipuleucel-T recipients in lowest PSA quartile alive after 5 years.

It appears to be safe for clinicians to consider testosterone therapy for symptomatic men with testosterone deficiency and a history of prostate cancer, according to new data presented at the AUA annual meeting in San Francisco.

Although active surveillance for prostate cancer is on the rise in younger, privately insured men, many patients do not undergo a repeat biopsy.

The combination appears to be a more powerful predictor than mpMRI/PSA density.

Other take-home messages on transplantation from AUA 2018 included the finding that kidney paired donations have more than doubled since their inception in 2009 as well as early robotic kidney transplantation studies.

"Despite the potential benefits (fewer biopsies, less cost), the proposed approach to cancer detection and biopsy-that can miss 16%-40% of existing csPCa-may be difficult to justify for all patients," writes Badar M. Mian, MD.

Other key prostate cancer studies from AUA 2018 included updated survival data from the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer and a multicenter trial of MRI-targeted biopsy.

Apalutamide (Erleada) treatment in men with nonmetastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer significantly improves metastasis-free survival and does so without adversely affecting health-related quality of life.

“A multivariable analysis confirmed that AR-V7 status independently predicted PSA response,” says researcher Matthias Heck, MD.

"Although we commend the USPSTF for upgrading the recommendation for PSA- and digital rectal exam-based prostate cancer screening from a “D” to a “C” grade (JAMA 2018; 319:1901–13), we believe that not enough emphasis is placed on screening high-risk groups for prostate cancer," write Navin Shah, MD, and Vladimir Ioffe, MD.

Findings from a retrospective analysis of data collected at the National Institutes of Health provide insight on how multiparametric MRI/transrectal ultrasound-fusion biopsy (“fusion biopsy”) may be affecting management patterns and outcomes for men with prostate cancer.

Adding abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA) to androgen deprivation therapy for the management of patients with metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer does not increase medical resource utilization.

The treatment method may delay need for systemic therapy in men with oligometastatic prostate cancer.

Study findings bolster the idea that frequent repeat biopsies are unnecessary.

Learn about this and other products in the pipeline for prostate cancer and bladder cancer.

"Every effort should be made to reduce the cost of molecular testing and expand their access," writes Ashley Ross, MD, PhD.

A new study examining gene expression assays for stratifying prostate cancer risk is suggesting that it may be possible to develop lower-cost alternatives and expand access.

This article discusses the risk of depression and suicide in men, focusing on increased risk in men with genitourinary cancer and other urologic conditions.

The urologist argued that he did obtain informed consent to the injection treatment, noting that the patient had signed a document that explained that scars were a possible outcome.

“If the PRECISION study results hold up in future research, any time you can avoid an invasive procedure with risks, obviously that’s good for patients,” says one urologist.

While a recent study of salvage radical prostatectomy after focal therapy demonstrates satisfactory functional outcomes, oncologic outcomes were not as good as after primary RP, said researcher Jaime O. Herrera-Caceres, MD.

Recent data support the product’s use in protecting organs at risk for radiation exposure.

"This important study provides strong validation of the utility of multiparametric MRI of the prostate prior to initial biopsy," writes Badar M. Mian, MD.

"AS is very cost effective over the short term compared to prostatectomy and radiation, but there a number of factors may impact actual AS cost savings over the long term," writes Leonard G. Gomella, MD.

Active surveillance as an initial management strategy for men with low-risk prostate cancer results in cost savings compared with immediate treatment, regardless of the treatment chosen.

To help you sift the enormous scientific program and prioritize your schedule at the AUA annual meeting, the editors have called upon Urology Times’ editorial advisory board to identify the key research across multiple areas of the specialty.

The benefits of bilateral nerve-sparing procedures in men undergoing radical prostatectomy may be concentrated in those patients who have high sexual function at baseline.