Antibiotic, alpha-blocker ineffective for CP/CPPS
July 1st 2004San Francisco--A commonly prescribed antibiotic and alpha-blocker appear to be ineffective in the treatment of men with moderate to severe chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome of long duration. Results of a multicenter study found that both ciprofloxacin and tamsulosin-used primarily in the treatment of urinary tract infections and BPH, respectively-offered no significant benefit in the treatment of chronic prostatitis in patients who were heavily pretreated and had long-standing symptoms.
CMS, NCI to prioritize cancer research, improve drug approval process
June 24th 2004The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the National Cancer Institute have developed a joint Memorandum of Understanding to address how the two agencies can work together in five areas of technology, science, and patient care for cancer.
Organizations work to streamline approval of prostate cancer drugs
June 24th 2004Four leading prostate cancer advocacy groups are working in cooperation with the FDA to streamline the approval process of critical prostate cancer treatments by changing clinical trial endpoints, without compromising safety.
Radiotherapy after prostate cancer surgery lowers recurrence
June 24th 2004Prostate cancer patients who receive radiotherapy within 6 months of surgery live longer than those who do not receive radiotherapy, according to an Italian study appearing in the Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics (2004; 59:674-83).
Post-surgery radiation lessens recurrence of prostate cancer
June 10th 2004Regardless of whether it is given adjuvantly or as salvage therapy, radiation therapy reduces the likelihood of prostate cancer recurrence, according to a study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics (2004; 59: 329-40).
Medical therapy may be better option after PNL
June 1st 2004San Francisco--Second-look nephroscopy following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) could be supplanted by metabolic evaluation and aggressive medical therapy, said researchers from the Duke University Medical Center. Second-look nephroscopy is currently the gold standard for assessing and achieving stone-free status, but the Duke researchers sought to determine whether this additional procedure was necessary.
Chemo studies mark new era in prostate Ca care
June 1st 2004Studies of the effect of chemotherapy in men with metastatic prostatecancer have been enticing and, at the same time, disappointing. While showingPSA response in some cases, these studies have previously failed to demonstrateimproved survival. This is all about to change, and for the better. We areentering an exciting new era in the management of this patient population.
Neoadjuvant chemo shows mixed results in PCa
June 1st 2004San Francisco--Continuing a trend of mixed results seen in previousstudies, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel (Taxotere) resulted ina significant PSA response but failed to induce any histologic changes inlocally advanced prostate cancer, Cleveland Clinic investigators reportedat the AUA annual meeting.
Three modalities show equal outcomes in localized PCa
June 1st 2004Oceanside, NY--In men with clinically localized prostate cancer,monotherapy with radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation therapy,or permanent prostate brachytherapy offer the same excellent chance of biochemicalsuccess, according to the results of a large, retrospective study.