All News

When performed by the hands of experienced prostate cancer surgeons at a center of excellence, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) are associated with comparable outcomes in the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer, according to findings reported by urologists from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Patients with a relatively small volume of low-grade, upper-tract transitional cell carcinoma can be managed by purely endoscopic means over a long period of time, surgeons from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, reported here.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) delivered in conjunction with surgery, radiation therapy, or cryotherapy for localized prostate cancer appears to significantly increase the risk of fatal cardiovascular (CVD) events among men 65 years and older. The increased risk is maintained after adjusting for most known coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors and increases with increasing duration of therapy, but is present in men receiving as little as 3 months of ADT, according to the findings of a retrospective study reported yesterday at the AUA annual meeting.

Adding new data to the controversy involving urology and orthopedics, a review of trauma-associated posterior urethral distraction injury revealed a post-treatment infection rate of 8.8% in men who received suprapubic catheters with orthopedic intervention for pelvic fractures.

Listen to the Urology Times Radio podcast from Day One of the 2007 AUA Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California. This podcast includes interviews with highly regarded experts in urological medicine including: J. Quentin Clemens, MD, discusses primary care practice patterns of chronic prostatitis Neal Shore, MD, reports on research comparing two devices for treating BPHDean Tripp, PhD, and J. Curtis Nickel, MD, discuss a biopsychosocial model for quality of life in CP/CPPS

AUA paid tribute to outstanding health journalism by presenting the first Excellence in Urology Health Reporting Awards at a press reception yesterday. Eric T. Rosenthal received the Trade Press award for his Oncology Times article, "Prostate Cancer: Pros and Cons of the Integration of Urology and IMRT Services in the Community Practice." MSNBC reporter Michael Stuckey took the Consumer Broadcast award for his series, "Low Blow: One Man's Battle with Prostate Cancer."

The oncoFISH Bladder robotic digital microscopy system from Ikonisys (New Haven, CT) identifies and measures aneuploidy on chromosomes 3, 7, 9, and 17 in urine sediment specimens for diagnosis of initial and recurrent bladder cancer. Up to 170 prepared slides can be loaded, scanned, and the images captured in this walkaway system, which generates a gallery of images for review and interpretation. Select slide images and the analytical report can be transmitted to the urologist within 24 hours for diagnosis.

The deaths of two internationally known urologists who helped lay the foundations of pediatric and reconstructive urology were announced recently.

Some patients may be especially susceptible to urinary tract infections, and some uropathogens may be particularly virulent. But that's not the whole story. Virulent bacteria, in fact, may actually change their hosts' immune systems to break through their defenses.

Preliminary results from the REDUCE (REduction by DUtasteride of prostate Cancer Events) trial suggest a relationship between the degree of chronic inflammation and LUTS, but not clinical prostatitis-like symptoms in the REDUCE population. Also, men with more severe LUTS are more likely to experience pelvic pain as part of their symptom complex, according to the study findings presented here yesterday.

Highlights of the prostate cancer research presented at the 2007 AUA meeting will include maturing data on minimally invasive surgery, information on novel markers, and reports on diagnostic imaging techniques.

It appears that ureteroscopy and other minimally invasive techniques, such as laser lithotripsy, are safe and effective in managing pediatric nephrolithiasis, including ureteric calculi, renal pelvic stones, and lower-pole stones.

Stone disease studies being presented at the upcoming AUA annual meeting are progressing deliberately along several fronts.

A new generation of devices and medical therapies is simplifying the treatment of kidney stone disease and allowing urologists to be more effective at treating stone disease.

Simple dietary modifications may help reduce men's risk for prostate cancer.

A novel herbal extract is showing evidence that it may reverse the effects of high-grade prostatic intræpithelial neoplasia (PIN), a known precursor to prostate cancer.

The good news is there are useful skills, techniques, and state-of-the art technologies that urologists can incorporate into their practices to improve outcomes.

Recent research has shown that urologists who have not been formally trained in laparoscopic or robotic surgery can safely flatten the learning curve with a combination of courses and mentoring that are designed to increase the uptake of skills.

The use of cryoablation, rather than radiofrequency (RF) ablation for the treatment of small renal masses may be controversial for some urologists, but recent data support the superiority of cryoablation.

The concept of physicians demanding and getting stipends for being on call at hospital emergency rooms is becoming a well-established trend that many feel will eventually reach into all hospitals. Urologists are no exception.

Highlights of the prostate cancer research presented at the 2007 AUA meeting will include maturing data on minimally invasive surgery, information on novel markers, and reports on diagnostic imaging techniques.

Satraplatin, an investigational oral drug administered with prednisone, reduces the risk of disease progression in patients with advanced prostate cancer who have failed to respond to hormone treatment and chemotherapy by one-third.

Improved survival of prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy has drawn attention to the side effects of androgen-dependent care.

The mainstay of treatment for men with metastatic prostate cancer, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists are also the subject of recent studies showing that they raise the risk of such adverse effects as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The emergence of cardiovascular risks associated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has received considerable attention in the urologic and internal medicine communities over the past year.

Spurred by evidence that androgens remain a key factor in the progression of hormone-refractory prostate cancer, novel approaches to hormonal manipulation have begun the transit from laboratory to clinical evaluation, and some of the preliminary results are encouraging.

Developments in stem cell therapy, new minimally invasive sling procedures, and research on botulinum toxin (Botox) therapy for overactive bladder soon will give urologists far more effective treatment for incontinence than they can offer their patients today.

A baseline bone density test to screen for osteoporosis, simple lifestyle changes to prevent osteoporosis from developing, and aggressive treatment if it develops are strongly recommended for men on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for advanced prostate cancer.