Efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab vs sunitinib in the East Asian subset of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma from the CLEAR trial.

In the CLEAR trial, lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab met study endpoints of superiority vs sunitinib in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. We report the efficacy and safety results of the East Asian subset (ie, patients in Japan and the Republic of Korea) from the CLEAR trial. Of 1069 patients randomly assigned to receive either lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab, lenvatinib plus everolimus or sunitinib, 213 (20.0%) were from East Asia. Baseline characteristics of patients in the East Asian subset were generally comparable with those of the global trial population. In the East Asian subset, progression-free survival was considerably longer with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab vs sunitinib (median 22.1 vs 11.1 months; HR 0.38; 95% CI: 0.23-0.62). The HR for overall survival comparing lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab vs sunitinib was 0.71; 95% CI: 0.30-1.71. The objective response rate was higher with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab vs sunitinib (65.3% vs 49.2%; odds ratio 2.14; 95% CI: 1.07-4.28). Dose reductions due to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) commonly associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors occurred more frequently than in the global population. Hand-foot syndrome was the most frequent any-grade TEAE with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab (66.7%) and sunitinib (57.8%), a higher incidence compared to the global population (28.7% and 37.4%, respectively). The most common grade 3 to 5 TEAEs were hypertension with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab (20%) and decreased platelet count with sunitinib (21.9%). Efficacy and safety for patients in the East Asian subset were generally similar to those of the global population, except as noted.

Continuous enzalutamide after progression of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with docetaxel (PRESIDE): an international, randomised, phase 3b study.

BACKGROUND: Although androgen deprivation therapy is typically given long-term for men with metastatic prostate cancer, second-generation hormone therapies are generally discontinued before the subsequent line of treatment. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of continuing enzalutamide after progression in controlling metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treated with docetaxel and prednisolone. METHODS: PRESIDE was a two-period, multinational, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3b study done at 123 sites in Europe (in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK). Patients were eligible for period 1 (P1) of the study if they had histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma without neuroendocrine differentiation or small-cell features, serum testosterone concentrations of 1·73 nmol/L or less, and had progressed during androgen deprivation therapy with a luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist or antagonist or after bilateral orchiectomy. In P1, patients received open-label enzalutamide 160 mg per day orally. At week 13, patients were assessed for either radiographic or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression (25% or more increase and 2 ng/mL or more above nadir). Patients who showed any decline in PSA at week 13 and subsequently progressed (radiographic progression, PSA progression, or both) were screened and enrolled in period 2 (P2), during which eligible patients were treated with up to ten cycles of intravenous docetaxel 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks and oral prednisolone 10 mg/day, and randomly assigned (1:1) to oral enzalutamide 160 mg/day or oral placebo. Patients were stratified by type of disease progression. The block size was four and the overall number of blocks was 400. Patients, investigators, and study organisers were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival analysed in all patients in P2. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02288247, and is no longer recruiting. FINDINGS: Between Dec 1, 2014, and Feb 15, 2016, 816 patients were screened for P1 of the study. 688 patients were enrolled in P1 and 687 received open-label enzalutamide. In P2, 271 patients were randomly assigned at 73 sites to receive enzalutamide (n=136) or placebo (n=135). The data cutoff for analysis was April 30, 2020. Median progression-free survival with enzalutamide was 9·5 months (95% CI 8·3-10·9) versus 8·3 months (6·3-8·7) with placebo (hazard ratio 0·72 [95% CI 0·53-0·96]; p=0·027). The most common grade 3 treatment-emergent adverse events were neutropenia (17 [13%] of 136 patients in the enzalutamide group vs 12 [9%] of 135 patients in the placebo group) and asthenia (ten [7%] vs six [4%]). The most common grade 4 treatment-emergent adverse event in P2 was neutropenia (23 [17%] of 136 patients in the enzalutamide group vs 28 [21%] of 135 patients in the placebo group). Serious treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 67 (49%) of 136 patients in the enzalutamide group and 52 (39%) of 135 patients in the placebo group. Two (15%) of 13 deaths in the enzalutamide group (caused by septic shock and haematuria) and one (14%) of seven deaths in the placebo group (caused by actue kidney injury) were associated with docetaxel. INTERPRETATION: PRESIDE met its primary endpoint and showed that continuing enzalutamide with docetaxel plus androgen deprivation therapy delayed time to progression compared with docetaxel plus androgen deprivation therapy alone, supporting the hypothesis that enzalutamide maintenance could control persistent androgen-dependent clones in men with mCRPC who progress after treatment with enzalutamide alone. FUNDING: Astellas Pharma and Pfizer.

Primary Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma of the Renal Pelvis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Lymphomas account for approximately 5% of nonurothelial tumors of the urinary tract and develop in the bladder in 90% of cases. The most common lymphomas histologic type of this location is extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma). MALT lymphoma of the upper urinary tract is casuistically rare. The current study describes a case of a 74-year-old female patient with MALT lymphoma of the renal pelvis with metastases to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes who underwent radical surgical treatment with subsequent follow-up.

Accounting for B-cell Behavior and Sampling Bias Predicts Anti-PD-L1 Response in Bladder Cancer.

Cancer immunotherapy is predominantly based on T cell-centric approaches. At the same time, the adaptive immune response in the tumor environment also includes clonally produced immunoglobulins and clonal effector/memory B cells that participate in antigen-specific decisions through their interactions with T cells. Here, we investigated the role of infiltrating B cells in bladder cancer via patient dataset analysis of intratumoral immunoglobulin repertoires. We showed that the IgG1/IgA ratio is a prognostic indicator for several subtypes of bladder cancer and for the whole IMVigor210 anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy study cohort. A high IgG1/IgA ratio associated with the prominence of a cytotoxic gene signature, T-cell receptor signaling, and IL21-mediated signaling. Immunoglobulin repertoire analysis indicated that effector B-cell function, rather than clonally produced antibodies, was involved in antitumor responses. From the T-cell side, we normalized a cytotoxic signature against the extent of immune cell infiltration to neutralize the artificial sampling-based variability in immune gene expression. Resulting metrics reflected proportion of cytotoxic cells among tumor-infiltrating immune cells and improved prediction of anti-PD-L1 responses. At the same time, the IgG1/IgA ratio remained an independent prognostic factor. Integration of the B-cell, natural killer cell, and T-cell signatures allowed for the most accurate prediction of anti-PD-L1 therapy responses. On the basis of these findings, we developed a predictor called PRedIctive MolecUlar Signature (PRIMUS), which outperformed PD-L1 expression scores and known gene signatures. Overall, PRIMUS allows for reliable identification of responders among patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma, including the subcohort with the low-infiltrated "desert" tumor phenotype.

Comprehensive Molecular Genetic Diagnostics of Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome in a Russian Patient with Renal Cancer and Lung Cysts: A Case Report.

We report a case of Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome (BHDS), a rare hereditary syndrome, the main visible sign of which is the development of multiple skin fibrofolliculomas. In our case, there was a manifestation of BHDS consisting in the absence of fibrofolliculomas and presence of other characteristic features of this syndrome: lung cysts and renal cancer. The 26-year-old woman was admitted to a clinic for diagnosis and treatment of a neoplasm of the left kidney and had a history of renal cell cancer (RCC) of the right kidney and spontaneous pneumothorax. Multiple tumors of the left kidney and lung cysts were observed upon clinical and laboratory testing. Tumors of the left kidney were resected and diagnosed by a pathologist as chromophobe RCC. Sequencing of FLCN exons 4-14 from blood DNA revealed the heterozygous germline nonsense mutation c.1429C>T (p.R477*), confirming the diagnosis of BHDS. Several somatic variants were detected by tumor DNA sequencing using the Comprehensive Cancer Panel and Ion S5 platform. Medical-genetic counseling was conducted, and follow-up management was outlined. To our knowledge, this case report is the first comprehensive clinical and genetic examination of a patient with BHDS in Russia. The p.R477* mutation has been described by other authors in patients with fibrofolliculomas and lung cysts, but not in those with RCC, while RCC was the first manifestation of BHDS in our case. The case report may help geneticists, oncologists, and other specialists to better understand the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of BHDS in various populations.

Complication rate after cystectomy following pelvic radiotherapy: an international, multicenter, retrospective series of 682 cases.

PURPOSE: Conflicting evidence exists on the complication rates after cystectomy following previous radiation (pRTC) with only a few available series. We aim to assess the complication rate of pRTC for abdominal-pelvic malignancies. METHODS: Patients treated with radical cystectomy following any previous history of RT and with available information on complications for a minimum of 1 year were included. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between the variable parameters and the risk of any complication. RESULTS: 682 patients underwent pRTC after a previous RT (80.5% EBRT) for prostate, bladder (BC), gynecological or other cancers in 49.1%, 27.4%, 9.8% and 12.9%, respectively. Overall, 512 (75.1%) had at least one post-surgical complication, classified as Clavien ≥ 3 in 29.6% and Clavien V in 2.9%. At least one surgical complication occurred in 350 (51.3%), including bowel leakage in 6.2% and ureteric stricture in 9.4%. A medical complication was observed in 359 (52.6%) patients, with UTI/pyelonephritis being the most common (19%), followed by renal failure (12%). The majority of patients (86%) received an incontinent urinary diversion. In multivariable analysis adjusted for age, gender and type of RT, patients treated with RT for bladder cancer had a 1.7 times increased relative risk of experiencing any complication after RC compared to those with RT for prostate cancer (p = 0.023). The type of diversion (continent vs non-continent) did not influence the risk of complications. CONCLUSION: pRTC carries a high rate of major complications that dramatically exceeds the rates reported in RT-naïve RCs.

Case of Hereditary Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Type I in a Patient With a Germline MET Mutation in Russia.

Hereditary papillary renal carcinoma (HPRC) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by the development of multiple papillary type I renal cell carcinomas. This hereditary kidney cancer form is caused by activating mutations in MET. Descriptions of patients with HPRC are scarce in the world literature, and no cases have been described in open sources in Russia. Here, we describe a 28-year-old female Russian patient with 7 and 10 primary papillary renal cell carcinomas in the left and right kidneys, respectively. The patient did not have a family history of any of the known hereditary cancer syndromes. A comprehensive medical examination was performed in 2016 including computed tomography and pathomorphological analysis. The observed tumors were resected in a two-step surgical treatment. In February 2019, no sign of disease progression was detected in follow-up medical examination. Molecular genetic analysis revealed the germline heterozygous missense variant in MET: c.3328G>A (p.V1110I; CM990852). We have discussed the biological effects of the detected mutation and the utility of DNA diagnostics for treating patients with HPRC.

What Is the Negative Predictive Value of Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Excluding Prostate Cancer at Biopsy? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis from the European Association of Urology Prostate Cancer Guidelines Panel.

CONTEXT: It remains unclear whether patients with a suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa) and negative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) can safely obviate prostate biopsy. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature assessing the negative predictive value (NPV) of mpMRI in patients with a suspicion of PCa. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases were searched up to February 2016. Studies reporting prebiopsy mpMRI results using transrectal or transperineal biopsy as a reference standard were included. We further selected for meta-analysis studies with at least 10-core biopsies as the reference standard, mpMRI comprising at least T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging, positive mpMRI defined as a Prostate Imaging Reporting Data System/Likert score of ≥3/5 or ≥4/5, and results reported at patient level for the detection of overall PCa or clinically significant PCa (csPCa) defined as Gleason ≥7 cancer. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of 48 studies (9613 patients) were eligible for inclusion. At patient level, the median prevalence was 50.4% (interquartile range [IQR], 36.4-57.7%) for overall cancer and 32.9% (IQR, 28.1-37.2%) for csPCa. The median mpMRI NPV was 82.4% (IQR, 69.0-92.4%) for overall cancer and 88.1% (IQR, 85.7-92.3) for csPCa. NPV significantly decreased when cancer prevalence increased, for overall cancer (r=-0.64, p<0.0001) and csPCa (r=-0.75, p=0.032). Eight studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Seven reported results for overall PCa. When the overall PCa prevalence increased from 30% to 60%, the combined NPV estimates decreased from 88% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 77-99%) to 67% (95% CI, 56-79%) for a cut-off score of 3/5. Only one study selected for meta-analysis reported results for Gleason ≥7 cancers, with a positive biopsy rate of 29.3%. The corresponding NPV for a cut-off score of ≥3/5 was 87.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The NPV of mpMRI varied greatly depending on study design, cancer prevalence, and definitions of positive mpMRI and csPCa. As cancer prevalence was highly variable among series, risk stratification of patients should be the initial step before considering prebiopsy mpMRI and defining those in whom biopsy may be omitted when the mpMRI is negative. PATIENT SUMMARY: This systematic review examined if multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can be used to reliably predict the absence of prostate cancer in patients suspected of having prostate cancer, thereby avoiding a prostate biopsy. The results suggest that whilst it is a promising tool, it is not accurate enough to replace prostate biopsy in such patients, mainly because its accuracy is variable and influenced by the prostate cancer risk. However, its performance can be enhanced if there were more accurate ways of determining the risk of having prostate cancer. When such tools are available, it should be possible to use an MRI scan to avoid biopsy in patients at a low risk of prostate cancer.

The Benefits and Harms of Different Extents of Lymph Node Dissection During Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: There is controversy regarding the therapeutic role of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer (PCa). OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the relevant literature assessing the relative benefits and harms of PLND for oncological and non-oncological outcomes in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for PCa. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to December 2015. Comparative studies evaluating no PLND, limited, standard, and (super)-extended PLND that reported oncological and non-oncological outcomes were included. Risk-of-bias and confounding assessments were performed. A narrative synthesis was undertaken. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Overall, 66 studies recruiting a total of 275,269 patients were included (44 full-text articles and 22 conference abstracts). Oncological outcomes were addressed by 29 studies, one of which was a randomized clinical trial (RCT). Non-oncological outcomes were addressed by 43 studies, three of which were RCTs. There were high risks of bias and confounding in most studies. Conflicting results emerged when comparing biochemical and clinical recurrence, while no significant differences were observed among groups for survival. Conversely, the majority of studies showed that the more extensive the PLND, the greater the adverse outcomes in terms of operating time, blood loss, length of stay, and postoperative complications. No significant differences were observed in terms of urinary continence and erectile function recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Although representing the most accurate staging procedure, PLND and its extension are associated with worse intraoperative and perioperative outcomes, whereas a direct therapeutic effect is still not evident from the current literature. The current poor quality of evidence indicates the need for robust and adequately powered clinical trials. PATIENT SUMMARY: Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, this article summarizes the benefits and harms of removing lymph nodes during surgery to remove the prostate because of PCa. Although the quality of the data from the studies was poor, the review suggests that lymph node removal may not have any direct benefit on cancer outcomes and may instead result in more complications. Nevertheless, the procedure remains justified because it enables accurate assessment of cancer spread.

EAU-ESTRO-SIOG Guidelines on Prostate Cancer. Part 1: Screening, Diagnosis, and Local Treatment with Curative Intent.

OBJECTIVE: To present a summary of the 2016 version of the European Association of Urology (EAU) - European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO) - International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) Guidelines on screening, diagnosis, and local treatment with curative intent of clinically localised prostate cancer (PCa). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The working panel performed a literature review of the new data (2013-2015). The guidelines were updated and the levels of evidence and/or grades of recommendation were added based on a systematic review of the evidence. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: BRCA2 mutations have been added as risk factors for early and aggressive disease. In addition to the Gleason score, the five-tier 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology grading system should now be provided. Systematic screening is still not recommended. Instead, an individual risk-adapted strategy following a detailed discussion and taking into account the patient's wishes and life expectancy must be considered. An early prostate-specific antigen test, the use of a risk calculator, or one of the promising biomarker tools are being investigated and might be able to limit the overdetection of insignificant PCa. Breaking the link between diagnosis and treatment may lower the overtreatment risk. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging using standardised reporting cannot replace systematic biopsy, but robustly nested within the diagnostic work-up, it has a key role in local staging. Active surveillance always needs to be discussed with very low-risk patients. The place of surgery in high-risk disease and the role of lymph node dissection have been clarified, as well as the management of node-positive patients. Radiation therapy using dose-escalated intensity-modulated technology is a key treatment modality with recent improvement in the outcome based on increased doses as well as combination with hormonal treatment. Moderate hypofractionation is safe and effective, but longer-term data are still lacking. Brachytherapy represents an effective way to increase the delivered dose. Focal therapy remains experimental while cryosurgery and HIFU are still lacking long-term convincing results. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge in the field of diagnosis, staging, and treatment of localised PCa is evolving rapidly. The 2016 EAU-ESTRO-SIOG Guidelines on PCa summarise the most recent findings and advice for the use in clinical practice. These are the first PCa guidelines endorsed by the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology and reflect the multidisciplinary nature of PCa management. A full version is available from the EAU office and online (http://uroweb.org/guideline/prostate-cancer/). PATIENT SUMMARY: The 2016 EAU-STRO-IOG Prostate Cancer (PCa) Guidelines present updated information on the diagnosis, and treatment of clinically localised prostate cancer. In Northern and Western Europe, the number of men diagnosed with PCa has been on the rise. This may be due to an increase in opportunistic screening, but other factors may also be involved (eg, diet, sexual behaviour, low exposure to ultraviolet radiation). We propose that men who are potential candidates for screening should be engaged in a discussion with their clinician (also involving their families and caregivers) so that an informed decision may be made as part of an individualised risk-adapted approach.

Docetaxel and dasatinib or placebo in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (READY): a randomised, double-blind phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Src kinase-mediated interactions between prostate cancer cells and osteoclasts might promote bone metastasis. Dasatinib inhibits tyrosine kinases, including Src kinases. Data suggests that dasatinib kinase inhibition leads to antitumour activity, affects osteoclasts, and has synergy with docetaxel, a first-line chemotherapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. We assessed whether dasatinib plus docetaxel in chemotherapy-naive men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer led to greater efficacy than with docetaxel alone. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 study, we enrolled men of 18 years or older with chemotherapy-naive, metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer, and adequate organ function from 186 centres across 25 countries. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) via an interactive voice response system to receive docetaxel (75 mg/m(2) intravenously every 3 weeks, plus oral prednisone 5 mg twice daily), plus either dasatinib (100 mg orally once daily) or placebo until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Randomisation was stratified by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0-1 vs 2), bisphosphonate use (yes vs no), and urinary N-telopeptide (uNTx) value (<60 µmol/mol creatinine vs ≥60 µmol/mol creatinine). All patients, investigators, and personnel involved in study conduct and data analyses were blinded to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was overall survival, analysed by intention to treat. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00744497. FINDINGS: Between Oct 30, 2008, and April 11, 2011, 1522 eligible patients were randomly assigned to treatment; 762 patients were assigned to dasatinib and 760 to placebo. At final analysis, median follow-up was 19·0 months (IQR 11·2-25·1) and 914 patients had died. Median overall survival was 21·5 months (95% CI 20·3-22·8) in the dasatinib group and 21·2 months (20·0-23·4) in the placebo group (stratified hazard ratio [HR] 0·99, 95·5% CI 0·87-1·13; p=0·90). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events included diarrhoea (58 [8%] patients in the dasatinib group vs 27 [4%] patients in the placebo group), fatigue (62 [8%] vs 42 [6%]), and asthenia (40 [5%] vs 23 [3%]); grade 3-4 pleural effusions were uncommon (ten [1%] vs three [<1%]). INTERPRETATION: The addition of dasatinib to docetaxel did not improve overall survival for chemotherapy-naive men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. This study does not support the combination of dasatinib and docetaxel in this population of patients. FUNDING: Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Reversal of epigenetic silencing of AP-2alpha results in increased zinc uptake in DU-145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

Zinc accumulation is lost during prostate carcinogenesis. Recent studies reveal a strong association between prostate cancer progression and the downregulation of the zinc uptake transporters hZip1 and hZip3. The aim of this work was to assess the involvement of epigenetic processes in the disruption of zinc uptake homeostasis in prostate adenocarcinoma. In this report, we demonstrate an increase in hZip1 and hZip3 zinc transporters' expression and zinc uptake by the prostate cancer cells DU-145 and LNCaP in response to 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. This effect is due to demethylation of the promoter region of the activator protein (AP)-2alpha protein, which is crucial for hZip1 and hZip3 genes expression. Loss of AP-2alpha expression in DU-145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cells is due to hypermethylation of its promoter region. Similarly, we found higher AP-2alpha promoter methylation levels in clinical samples of early-stage prostate adenocarcinoma when compared with adjacent non-malignant prostate tissue. Taken together, our findings provide a better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms that are involved in the loss of AP-2alpha protein in prostate cancer cells which lead to decreased cellular zinc uptake-a sine qua non of prostate cancer development.

[EAU guidelines on prostate cancer]. / Guía de la EAU para el cáncer de próstata.

OBJECTIVES: To present a summary of the 2007 version of the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: A literature review of the new data emerging from 2004 to 2007 was performed by the working panel. The guidelines have been updated, and the level of evidence/grade of recommendation was added to the text based on a systematic review of the literature, which included a search of online databases and bibliographic reviews. RESULTS: A full version is available at the EAU Office or at www.uroweb.org. Systemic prostate biopsy under ultrasound guidance is the preferred diagnostic method. Active treatment is mostly recommended for patients with localized disease and a long life expectancy, with radical prostatectomy being shown to be superior to watchful waiting in a prospective randomized trial. Nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy represents the approach of choice in organ-confined disease; neoadjuvant androgen deprivation demonstrates no improvement of outcome variables. Radiation therapy should be performed with at least 72 and 78 Gy in low-risk and intermediate- to high-risk PCa, respectively. Monotherapeutic androgen deprivation is the standard of care in metastatic PCa; intermittent androgen deprivation might be an alternative treatment option for selected patients. Follow-up is largely based on prostate-specific antigen and a disease-specific history with imaging only indicated when symptoms occur. Cytotoxic therapy with docetaxel has emerged as the reference treatment for metastatic hormone-refractory PCa. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge in the field of PCa is rapidly changing. These EAU guidelines on PCa summarize the most recent findings and put them into clinical practice.

The epidemiology of bladder cancer in Russia.

This study assessed the epidemiology of bladder cancer in Russia. The available publications in Russian were analysed, as well as information from the database of N. N. Blokhin Cancer Research Center, accumulating non-uniform data from different cities and regions of Russia. In 2006 there were 68 129 patients with bladder cancer in Russia, accounting for 2.8% of all cancer cases, with unknown proportions of males and females. In the same year 11 973 new bladder cancer cases were diagnosed, with morphological confirmation in 82.3% of cases. From 1999 to 2004 the incidence of bladder carcinoma increased by 5.3% in males and by 12.5% in females. In 2006 57.4% of patients with newly diagnosed disease were staged as T1 and T2, 26.8% as T3 and 11.4% as T4 bladder cancer cases. The mortality rate of patients with bladder carcinoma increased by 10.9% in males from 1999 to 2004 and did not change in females. In conclusion, over the past 10 years both the prevalence and incidence of bladder carcinoma have increased in Russia. There was a trend towards detecting less advanced cases of the disease, and stages T3 and T4 are diagnosed less frequently today than in 1996. As a result the mortality rate of bladder cancer patients within the first year from diagnosis has decreased, although the overall mortality rate in males has risen.

EAU guidelines on prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To present a summary of the 2007 version of the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: A literature review of the new data emerging from 2004 to 2007 was performed by the working panel. The guidelines have been updated, and the level of evidence/grade of recommendation was added to the text based on a systematic review of the literature, which included a search of online databases and bibliographic reviews. RESULTS: A full version is available at the EAU Office or at www.uroweb.org. Systemic prostate biopsy under ultrasound guidance is the preferred diagnostic method. Active treatment is mostly recommended for patients with localized disease and a long life expectancy, with radical prostatectomy being shown to be superior to watchful waiting in a prospective randomized trial. Nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy represents the approach of choice in organ-confined disease; neoadjuvant androgen deprivation demonstrates no improvement of outcome variables. Radiation therapy should be performed with at least 72 and 78 Gy in low-risk and intermediate- to high-risk PCa, respectively. Monotherapeutic androgen deprivation is the standard of care in metastatic PCa; intermittent androgen deprivation might be an alternative treatment option for selected patients. Follow-up is largely based on prostate-specific antigen and a disease-specific history with imaging only indicated when symptoms occur. Cytotoxic therapy with docetaxel has emerged as the reference treatment for metastatic hormone-refractory PCa. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge in the field of PCa is rapidly changing. These EAU guidelines on PCa summarize the most recent findings and put them into clinical practice.

Screening of prostate cancer. Is it needed? Russian experience.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence rate of prostate cancer (PC) in Russia has increased from 9.3 to 16.5 per 100000 person-years making it the 4th commonest form of cancer in men. In spite of lack of evidence to justify the wide spread incorporation of PSA screening it continues to gain popularity. We present the results of the screening study, which was initiated at Blokhin Cancer Center in 1996. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1129 healthy volunteers, 40-80 years old were recruited into the screening arm. Participants underwent 3 screening tests including total PSA measurement, digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). 6-10 core biopsies were performed in patients with suspicious findings on DRE or TRUS and patients with PSA greater than 4 ng/ml. The control arm included 943 patients who were referred to our center between 1996 and 2001. RESULTS: Five yearly rounds of screening were performed with an overall cancer detection rate of 5.7% (64). 54 cancers were detected in the first round, 6 in the second, 3 in the third, 1 in the fourth and none in the fifth round. In patients with PSA between 4 and 10 ng/ml the sensitivity of total PSA was 92% with specificity 63%. The majority of patients with high grade PC (21 of 22) had PSA above 4 ng/ml. The sensitivity of DRE reached 54%, with a specificity 94% and PPV 24.7%. The sensitivity of TRUS was 65% with a specificity 92%, and PPV 22.4%. In the control arm prostate cancer was diagnosed in 489 (52%) of 943 patients with 79% having either locally advanced or metastatic disease. On the contrary, 80% of men in screening arm had clinically localized disease. 41% (22) of screened patients had high grade disease compared to 57% (538) in the control arm. Over 50% of screen detected patients were treated with radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy compared to only 25% in clinically diagnosed group. The overall 8-year survival of patients in the screening arm treated with definite therapy (radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy) was better than in patients treated conservatively, 66% versus 43% (p = 0.047). However, when adjusted to the stage the difference in survival was lost, 74% versus 56% (p = 0.2). CONCLUSION: Screening of PC enables detection of the disease at an earlier, localized stage. The increased detection of cases with organ-confined PC is hoped to result in a decreased number of cancer-specific deaths.