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Recent advances in high-intensity focused ultrasound, which was developed in the 1940s as a viable thermal tissue ablation approach, have increased its popularity. High-intensity focused ultrasound is currently utilized the most in Europe and Japan, but has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, USA, for this indication. The purpose of the present report is to review the scientific foundation of high-intensity focused ultrasound technology and the clinical outcomes achieved with commercially available devices. Recently published articles were reviewed to evaluate the current status of high-intensity focused ultrasound as a primary or salvage treatment option for localized prostate cancer. Improvements in the clinical outcome as a result of technical, imaging and technological advancements are described herein. A wide range of treatment options for organ-confined prostate cancer is available. However, high-intensity focused ultrasound is an attractive choice for men willing to choose less invasive options, although establishing the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound requires longer follow-up periods. Technological advances, together with cultural and economic factors, have caused a dramatic shift from traditional open, radical prostatectomy to minimally invasive techniques. High-intensity focused ultrasound is likely to play a significant role in the future of oncology practice.

Objectives: We report that a combination of gemcitabine and paclitaxel will effectively treat patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) who have been previously treated with methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin (MVAC). The objective of this study was to assess the tumor responses, toxicity, and overall survival of these patients as second-line treatment. Methods: Ten eligible patients were enrolled in this study. All patients had been previously treated with MVAC. Patients received paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 on day 1 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15. The treatment was repeated every 21 days. Tumors were assessed every two cycles by imaging study. Results: The median number of treatment courses was 4 (range 2–7). Two patients had complete response and five patients had partial response after two courses of treatment. Median overall survival was 10.3 months. Median overall survival from the first MVAC was 19.1 months. Median progression-free survival was 4.1 months. Of the seven responders, median progression-free survival was 7.4 months. Myelosuppresion was the most common toxicity. Nonhematologic toxicity consisted of hypersensitivity reactions to paclitaxel. There were no therapy-related deaths. Conclusions: Gemcitabine and paclitaxel chemotherapy is a favorable therapeutic alternative for patients with advanced or metastatic UC who have previously been treated with MVAC chemotherapy. Given the safety and benefit profile seen in this study, a large prospective research study is warranted to consider the potential role of gemcitabine and paclitaxel chemotherapy as a second-line treatment for urothelial cancer.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to use computer simulation to investigate the optimal biopsy scheme for enhancing the detection of cancer in palpably benign prostate glands. Methods: The predominant distribution of palpably benign prostate cancer is anterior apex to mid-prostate. We used computer simulation to optimize apical samplings and to simulate the biopsy procedure, including angle and length. A total of 254 consecutive patients with palpably benign prostate glands underwent sextant biopsy plus two additional deep apical biopsies. Results: Based on the computer simulation, lateral sextant and two additional medially located deep apical cores with a sagittal penetration angle of 80° had the maximum cancer detection. Of the 254 patients, 58 (22.8%) had prostate cancer: 28 (48.3%) were positive only at the standard sextant sites, 12 (20.7%) were positive exclusively at the deep apical sites, and the remaining 18 (31.0%) were positive at both sites. Patients with gray-zone prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ranges of 4.1–10.0 ng/mL had increased cancer detection rates of 24% compared to sextant biopsy. Enhanced cancer detection by the deep apical biopsy was also evident in patients with a prostatic volume >40 cm3 (by 36.4%) and PSA 2.1–4.0 ng/mL (by 13.3%). Conclusions: Using a computer simulation-based biopsy scheme with deep apical sampling cores enhanced the detection of prostate cancer in palpably benign glands, especially in men with PSA ranges of 4.1–10.0 ng/mL or a gland volume of >40 cm3. Our approach with fewer sampling cores may have been more cost-effective than other extensive biopsy schemes, but further studies with larger samples are warranted.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive technique used in achieve coagulation necrosis. We evaluated biochemical disease-free survival rates, predictors of clinical outcome and morbidity in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with HIFU. Methods: A total of 181 consecutive patients underwent HIFU with the use of Sonablate (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, IN, USA). Biochemical recurrence was defined according to the criteria recommended by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Consensus Panel. The median age and pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level were 70 years (range 44–88) and 9.76 ng/mL (range 3.39–89.60). A total of 95 patients (52%) were treated with neoadjuvant hormones. The median follow-up period for all patients was 18.0 months (range 4–68). Results: The biochemical disease-free survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years in all patients were 84%, 80% and 78%, respectively. The biochemical disease-free survival rates at 3 years for patients with pretreatment PSA less than 10 ng/mL, 10.01–20.0 ng/mL and more than 20.0 ng/mL were 94%, 75% and 35%, respectively (P

We report a case of dissemination of prostate cancer after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate in an 80-year-old patient. The patient presented at hospital because of nocturia. Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy was carried out because of high serum prostate-specific antigen (3.55 ng/mL), but it showed no malignancies. Benign prostate hyperplasia was diagnosed, and he was started on an α1-blocker. Although the urinary symptom improved with silodosin, acute urinary retention occurred 3 years after therapy began. Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for relief of bladder outlet obstruction enabled discharge of urine. Pathological examination of the resected tissue found adenocarcinoma with a high Gleason score, 4 + 5. Serum alkaline phosphatase increased rapidly after holmium laser enucleation, and bone scintigraphy confirmed multiple bone metastases. Prostate cancer, T1bN0M1b, was diagnosed.

A 58-year-old man who had undergone left adrenalectomy 2 years previously for adrenocortical carcinoma was diagnosed to have a left suprarenal solid mass. Thoracoscopic transdiaphragmatic excision of the tumor was conducted under the diagnosis of isolated local recurrence of adrenal carcinoma. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The patient subsequently received three courses of adjuvant chemotherapy. There have been no signs of tumor recurrence during 3 years follow up after surgery. This approach provides a minimally invasive alternative to an open thoracoabdominal procedure after prior open surgery.