Search

Abstract Background To compare the periodical incidence rates of genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in patients who underwent prostate low-dose-rate brachytherapy between the monotherapy group (seed implantation alone) and the boost group (in combination with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)). Methods A total of 218 patients with a median follow-up of 42.5 months were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups by treatment modality, namely, the monotherapy group (155 patients) and the boost group (63 patients). The periodical incidence rates of GU and GI toxicity were separately evaluated and compared between the monotherapy group and the boost group using the National Cancer Institute - Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0. To elucidate an independent factor among clinical and postdosimetric parameters to predict grade 2 or higher GU and GI toxicity in the acute and late phases, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out. Results Of all patients, 78.0% showed acute GU toxicity, and 7.8% showed acute GI toxicity, while 63.8% showed late GU toxicity, and 21.1% showed late GI toxicity. The incidence rates of late GU and GI toxicity were significantly higher in the boost group. Multivariate analysis showed that the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) before seed implantation was a significant parameter to predict acute GU toxicity, while there were no significant predictive parameters for acute GI toxicity. On the other hand, combination with EBRT was a significant predictive parameter for late GU toxicity, and rectal volume (mL) receiving 100% of the prescribed dose (R100) was a significant predictive parameter for late GI toxicity. Conclusions The boost group showed higher incidence rates of both GU and GI toxicity. Higher IPSS before seed implantation, combination with EBRT and a higher R100 were significant predictors for acute GU, late GU and late GI toxicity.

Abstract Background To clarify the significant clinicopathological and postdosimetric parameters to predict PSA bounce in patients who underwent low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR-brachytherapy) for prostate cancer. Methods We studied 200 consecutive patients who received LDR-brachytherapy between July 2004 and November 2008. Of them, 137 patients did not receive neoadjuvant or adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy. One hundred and forty-two patients were treated with LDR-brachytherapy alone, and 58 were treated with LDR-brachytherapy in combination with external beam radiation therapy. The cut-off value of PSA bounce was 0.1 ng/mL. The incidence, time, height, and duration of PSA bounce were investigated. Clinicopathological and postdosimetric parameters were evaluated to elucidate independent factors to predict PSA bounce in hormone-naïve patients who underwent LDR-brachytherapy alone. Results Fifty patients (25%) showed PSA bounce and 10 patients (5%) showed PSA failure. The median time, height, and duration of PSA bounce were 17 months, 0.29 ng/mL, and 7.0 months, respectively. In 103 hormone-naïve patients treated with LDR-brachytherapy alone, and univariate Cox proportional regression hazard model indicated that age and minimal percentage of the dose received by 30% and 90% of the urethra were independent predictors of PSA bounce. With a multivariate Cox proportional regression hazard model, minimal percentage of the dose received by 90% of the urethra was the most significant parameter of PSA bounce. Conclusions Minimal percentage of the dose received by 90% of the urethra was the most significant predictor of PSA bounce in hormone-naïve patients treated with LDR-brachytherapy alone.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of two different Nara Urological Research and Treatment Group (NURTG) nomograms allocating 6–12 biopsy cores based on age and prostate volume. Materials and methods: From April 2006 to July 2014, a total of 1,605 patients who underwent initial prostate biopsy were enrolled. Based on a nomogram taking the patient's age and prostate volume into consideration, 6–12 biopsy cores were allocated. Two types of nomogram were used, for the former group (before March 2009) and latter group (March 2009 onward). Cancer detection rates in all patients and those with prostate-specific antigen values in the gray zone (4.0–10 ng/mL) were compared. Predictive parameters for detection of prostate cancer in gray-zone patients were also investigated. Results: The cancer detection rates in all patients and those in the gray zone were 48% and 38% in the former group and 54% and 41% in the latter group, respectively. The cancer detection rate in all patients was significantly higher in the latter group compared with the former group, but detection in gray-zone patients did not show a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.011 and P=0.37, respectively). Multivariate analysis indicated that age, digital rectal examination, prostate volume, transrectal ultrasonography findings, and volume/biopsy ratio were significant predictive parameters in gray-zone patients. The clinically insignificant cancer detection rate was significantly lower in the latter group compared with the former group (P=0.0008). Conclusion: The latter nomogram provided more acceptable detection rates of clinically significant and insignificant cancer than the former one, and we consider that an initial maximum 12-core transrectal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy may be sufficient for prostate cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the trends in risk classification and primary therapy of Japanese prostate cancer patients who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2012.Methods: A total of 7768 patients who were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer at Nara Medical University and its 23 affiliated hospitals between 2004 and 2012 were enrolled. The trends in risk classification and primary therapy in 2004-2006 (prior period), 2007-2009 (middle period), and 2010-2012 (latter period) were compared.Results: The proportion of high-risk and worse patients significantly decreased in the latter period compared to the prior period (p < 0.001), while that of intermediate-risk patients significantly increased over the years (p < 0.001). The proportion of primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) was 50% in the prior period, 40% in the middle period, and 30% in the latter period, respectively. The proportions of radiation therapy and active surveillance significantly increased. The proportion of radical prostatectomy remained similar over these periods (30%). The primary therapy was significantly different between the three periods (p < 0.001).Conclusions: High-risk patients significantly decreased in the latter period. The use of PADT also significantly decreased, while radiation therapy and active surveillance significantly increased over these periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare the PSA value at the last follow-up of patients who underwent prostate low-dose rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) with that of patients who underwent intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).Methods: A total of 610 prostate cancer patients (cT1c-3bN0M0) were enrolled, and 445 of them underwent LDR-BT, while 165 received IMRT (74-76 Gy). The median follow-up period of these two groups was 75 months (LDR-BT) and 78 months (IMRT), respectively. We also evaluated the biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free rate using two definitions (Phoenix definition and PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/mL).Results: The percentage of patients who achieved PSA < 0.2 ng/mL at the last follow-up was 77.5% in the LDR-BT group and 49.7% in the IMRT group (p < 0.001). Among patients with a normal testosterone level at the last follow-up, the percentage of those who achieved PSA < 0.2 ng/mL at the last follow-up was 79.2% in the LDR-BT group and 32.1% in the IMRT group (p < 0.001). The 5-year BCR-free rate by the Phoenix definition in the IMRT and LDR-BT groups was 89.5 and 95.0% (p < 0.001), respectively. On the other hand, the 5-year BCR-free rate using the definition of PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/mL was 59.1 and 80.1% in the IMRT and LDR-BT groups, respectively (p < 0.001).Conclusions: The PSA value at the last follow-up of LDR-BT was significantly lower than that of IMRT, and this result was particularly marked in patients with a normal testosterone level at the last follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We evaluated the cancer detection rate of prostate cancer using transperineal template-guided saturation biopsy aimed at sampling one core for each milliliter of prostate volume for patients requiring repeated prostate biopsies.Methods: In total, 103 consecutive patients with repeated prostate biopsies were enrolled in this retrospective study. The number of biopsy cores was defined by prostate volume. In principle, one biopsy core covered 1 mL of prostate volume. We used a prostate brachytherapy template with a 5-mm grid and adopted a transperineal needle biopsy.Results: The median age, prostate-specific antigen level, and prostate volume were 69 (range, 37-83) years, 9.2 (range, 1.9-107) ng/mL, and 34.7 (range, 18-76.7) mL, respectively. The median number of biopsy cores was 37 (range, 18-75 cores). Fifty-three patients (51.5%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Gleason score was 6, 7, and 8-10 in 24.5, 64.2 and 11.3% patients, respectively. Forty-two patients (79.2%) were diagnosed with clinically significant PCa. Acute urinary retention was detected in 2 patients (1.9%).Conclusions: Transperineal template-guided saturation biopsy with one core per milliliter of prostate volume helped achieve a high cancer detection rate and high significant cancer detection rate with acceptable biopsy-associated adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To elucidate the optimal number of prostate biopsy cores using a nomogram allocating 6-12 biopsy cores, the number generally used in daily practice, based on age and prostate volume (PV). Methods: We enrolled 936 patients who received an initial prostate biopsy from April 2006 to January 2009. A number of 6-12 biopsy cores was allocated based on age and PV Nara Urological Research and Treatment Group (NURTG) nomogram. To elucidate the predictive parameters of cancer detection in patients with a prostate specific antigen (PSA) value in the gray zone, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were carried out. Results: The total cancer detection rate and the cancer detection rate in the PSA gray zone (4.1-10.0 ng/mL) were 48.0 and 37.6 %, respectively. The cancer detection rates in the gray zone stratified by patient age of ≤59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and ≥80 years were 28.4, 35.0, 26.9, 37.9, 45.7, and 54.8 %, respectively. The significant predictive parameters of cancer detection in the gray zone were age, volume biopsy ratio (VBR: PV divided by number of biopsy cores), PSA density (PSAD), digital rectal examination findings, and transrectal ultrasound findings in univariate analyses. Finally, age, VBR, and PSAD were independent parameters to predict cancer detection in the gray zone. The adverse event profile was acceptable. Conclusions: Our present study revealed that the cancer detection rate using the NURTG nomogram allocating 6-12 biopsy cores, the number generally used in daily practice, based on age and PV, could provide similar efficacy as previous studies involving more biopsy cores. In older patients the number of biopsy cores could be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To evaluate the effect of two different alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonists on lower urinary tract symptoms in patients who underwent LDR-brachytherapy. Methods A total of 141 patients who had been clinically diagnosed with localized prostate cancer and underwent LDR-brachytherapy between were enrolled. Patients were randomized and allocated to two groups (silodosin 8 mg vs. naftopidil 75 mg). The primary endpoint was a change in the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) at 3 months after seed implantation. Secondary endpoints included the recovery rate of IPSS at 12 months after seed implantation, the change in IPSS and overactive bladder symptom score, uroflowmetric parameters, and frequency volume chart (FVC). To determine independent variables that can predict IPSS recovery, logistic regression analysis was carried out. Results The mean change in the IPSS at 3 months after seed implantation in both groups was ⊿10.6 (naftopidil) and ⊿10.4 (silodosin), respectively. There was not a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.728). An increase in urinary frequency and a decrease in total urinated volume and mean voided volume were observed in FVC for 12 months after seed implantation. Multivariate analysis revealed that the urethral dose (UD30) was an independent predictive parameter of IPSS recovery. Patients with UD30 < 200Gy showed a higher recovery rate of IPSS at 12 months after seed implantation. Conclusion There was no significant difference of serial change in IPSS between silodosin and naftopidil during the first year after seed implantation. A lower dose on the urethra was an independent predictor of IPSS recovery at 12 months after seed implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the trends of risk classification and primary therapy in Japanese patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2004-2006 and 2007-2009.Methods: A total of 4752 patients who were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer at Nara Medical University and its 23 affiliated hospitals between 2004 and 2009 were enrolled. The differences in risk classification and primary therapy were compared in patients who were newly diagnosed between 2004-2006 (prior period) and 2007-2009 (latter period).Results: The proportion of patients with a high or greater risk significantly decreased in the latter period compared to the prior period (p < 0.001). The proportion of primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) was 50% in the prior period, and 40% in the latter period. On the other hand, the proportion of radiation therapy was 14% in the prior period, but 24% in the latter period. The proportion of radical prostatectomy was the same in the two periods (30%). The primary therapy was significantly different between the two periods (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Higher risk patients significantly decreased in the latter period compared to the prior period. The use of PADT also significantly decreased in the latter period. However, there were still higher risk patients in Japan, and the use of PADT was still common in patients with localized prostate cancer or locally advanced prostate cancer in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]