Investigational agent improves survival in advanced RCC
November 18th 2005An interim analysis of a phase III trial of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma shows an estimated 39% improvement in survival in patients receiving the investigational drug sorafenib tosylate (Nexavar) compared with those receiving placebo (p=.018).
Prostate cancer post-TURP should be treated as high-risk disease
November 18th 2005Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia recommend more aggressive treatment in men whose prostate cancers occurred after transurethral resection of the prostate and whose PSA level is considered intermediate.
Long-term hormone treatment improves prostate cancer survival
November 18th 2005Treating high-risk prostate cancer patients with radiation therapy in conjunction with hormone therapy for more than 1 year allows patients to live longer and to achieve better PSA control, according to a study from the BC Cancer Agency, Victoria, British Columbia.
Awareness campaign targets imaging technology for prostate Ca
November 4th 2005Leaders from the medical, government, industry, and academic communities, among others, have unveiled a public awareness campaign to help spread the message about imaging technologies that may some day transform early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.
Smokers face higher risk of TCC after radiation
November 1st 2005Vancouver, British Columbia--It's known that smoking increases the risk of transitional cell carcinoma by approximately two to three times over the baseline rate. Researchers now say that pelvic radiation may further increase the risk of TCC in smokers.
Smokers face higher risk of TCC after radiation
November 1st 2005Vancouver, British Columbia--It's known that smoking increases the risk of transitional cell carcinoma by approximately two to three times over the baseline rate. Researchers now say that pelvic radiation may further increase the risk of TCC in smokers.
Pay for performance bill packs a mixed bag of issues
November 1st 2005Washington--Legislation backed by AUA to abolish the controversial Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula in the Medicare fee schedule also contains provisions designed to implement a payment system based on "pay for performance," a plan to compensate physicians according to the quality of care they provide.
Two EPS proteins are diagnostic markers for CPPS
November 1st 2005Chicago--A study of cytokines in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) has identified two potential candidates as diagnostic markers for inflammatory and noninflammatory forms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), according to researchers from Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago.
CPPS data document its impact, but more work is needed
November 1st 2005Paris--Most cases of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) are spontaneous with unknown causes, and more studies are needed on all aspects of the condition, said Anthony Schaeffer, MD, who chaired the Committee on Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain at the International Consultation on New Developments in Prostate Cancer and Prostate Diseases here.
BPH: Data needed to sort out ideal office-based treatment
November 1st 2005Paris--Minimally invasive and surgical treatments for BPH are poorly studied and lack standardized techniques, said Jean de la Rosette, MD, of the department of urology, University of Amsterdam. Dr. de la Rosette chaired a committee on these rapidly expanding treatment approaches at the International Consultation on New Developments in Prostate Cancer and Prostate Diseases. Therapies considered by the committee included transurethral microwave thermotherapy, transurethral needle ablation, transurethral resection of the prostate, water-induced thermotherapy, transurethral ethanol ablation of the prostate (TEAP), prosthetic stents, and lasers.
New prostate cancer test could minimize false positives
November 1st 2005Ann Arbor, MI--Researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School are developing a new test for prostate cancer, one that takes advantage of the sensitivity of the immune response. If the test achieves only a portion of its promise, it will have a significant impact on false-positive results generated by the current PSA screening test and on the unnecessary biopsies that subsequently follow.
Terminology regarding LUTS need to be upgraded
November 1st 2005Paris--The term "lower urinary tract symptoms," or LUTS, is controversial because many urologists regard it as a replacement for prostatism, which focuses mainly on voiding dysfunction. But the most bothersome symptoms of LUTS relate to storage, said Christopher Chapple, MD.
BPH progression: Prevention is determined by risk
November 1st 2005Paris--Although there is very little evidence for primary prevention of BPH and LUTS, evidence does exist for tertiary prevention after the condition is established, said Claus G. Roehrborn, MD, who chaired a committee on prevention of BPH outcomes at the International Consultation on New Developments in Prostate Cancer and Prostate Diseases.
New treatments escalate war on metastatic prostate cancer
November 1st 2005Paris--An expert committee charged with examining coming trends in new therapeutic targets and treatments for metastatic prostate cancer painted a positive picture of the future, with chemotherapy, vaccines, and gene therapy all potentially playing a role. But the committee also recognized a milestone advancement of the recent past.
Research mounts on options for preventing prostate cancer
November 1st 2005Paris--Taking measures to prevent prostate cancer is a noble, potentially life-saving goal, but the cost of providing a preventive agent may be prohibitive at present. Based on statistical analysis, 500 of every 100,000 U.S. men in the 54- to 65-year age group would need to receive a moderately effective agent for 1 year to prevent just one case of prostate cancer, said Peter Gann, MD, who chaired a committee on prostate cancer prevention at the International Consultation on New Developments in Prostate Cancer and Prostate Diseases.