[Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer : Clinical data, new treatment options and therapy monitoring]. / Metastasiertes kastrationsresistentes Prostatakarzinom : Aktuelle Daten, neue Therapieoptionen und strukturiertes Therapiemonitoring.

Therapies currently available in Germany for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) include docetaxel, cabazitaxel, abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide and radium-223, all of which offer a potential survival benefit that adds up in their sequential application to a significant overall survival benefit. However, the optimal sequencing of these agents is still unclear. In the absence of evidence, treatment selection is based on the particular situation and on comorbid conditions of each individual patient. Furthermore, predictive markers to facilitate the selection of patients for a specific therapy or sequence of therapies remain an unmet need. However, with the recently discovered androgen receptor splice variant V7, which mediates (cross)resistance to or between abiraterone and enzalutamide, the first such marker has been identified. It is critical to monitor the response to treatments at prespecified intervals in order to optimize treatment sequencing so that the patient does not miss a valuable therapeutic window to receive alternative treatment that may prolong his life along with good symptom control and preservation of quality of life.

[Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: position paper for structured therapy monitoring]. / Metastasiertes kastrationsresistentes Prostatakarzinom: Positionspapier für ein strukturiertes Therapiemonitoring.

This position paper is intended to help to structure and to standardize therapy monitoring in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). With the treatment options available today, patients with metastatic disease can often maintain good quality of life and stable disease for several years. It is crucial that once a therapy becomes insufficiently effective that it be replaced in a timely manner by a new treatment option. From a prognostic point of view, it is important that patients receive as many as possible and in the ideal case all currently available treatment options.

[Value of intermittent androgen deprivation in the context of the current data situation]. / Stellenwert der intermittierenden Androgendeprivation im Kontext der aktuellen Datenlage.

Androgen deprivation therapy is an integral part of the treatment of advanced and progressive prostate cancer. Various prospective randomised trials have investigated whether or not temporary suspension of androgen deprivation might delay the emergence of castration resistant prostate cancer and concomitantly improve quality of life. Until now, no phase III trial has been able to prove that intermittent androgen deprivation might delay the development of castration resistant tumours. Data from previous trials, except for one study, did at least not show adverse effects on survival. Data on quality of life are inconsistent, showing a trend towards improved quality of life with IAD. German as well as European guidelines reflect IAD as an established constituent of day-to-day medical practice. This review is intended to provide a code of practice for an individualised treatment as based on recently published studies.

[Interdisciplinary recommendations concerning the therapy for hormone-refractory prostatic carcinoma]. / Interdisziplinäre Therapieempfehlungen zur Behandlung des hormonrefraktären Prostatakarzinoms.

Therapy with Docetaxel for hormone-refractory prostatic carcinoma has for the first time led to an increase in the survival time. Docetaxel has become established as a standard therapy for his indication. Since hormone-refractory prostatic carcinoma is not uniformly defined and is thus for prognosis not a homogeneous entity, the prospects at the start of chemotherapy are uncertain. In the summer of 2005 these questions were addressed in an interdisciplinary consensus conference. It was agreed that the 3-week scheme with 75 mg/m (2) as standard and the indication for symptomatic patients were above question. Opinions differed with regard to the use of chemotherapy in asymptomatic patients. In addition, recommendations for the performance and monitoring of the therapy were formulated.

[Study participation in urological specialty practices]. / Studienteilnahme in der urologischen Facharztpraxis.

In the past, participation of practicing urologists in clinical trials has been very rare. The reasons for this have been influenced in different ways over the last 10 years, so that the situation has now changed. In this paper, the current motivation for the participation of practicing urologists in research studies is discussed. Moreover, we discuss the ways in which the Association of Urological Oncology (AUO) of the German Cancer Association promotes the participation of colleagues in AUO studies and how the AUO meets the needs of urologists in practice.

[European Association of Urology guidelines on urinary and male genital tract infections]. / Synoptische Leitlinie der sexuell übertragbaren Erkrankungen (STD) mit Primärsymptomen im männlichen Genitale (S1). Leitinien der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Urologie.

Today, the classical bacteria that cause venereal diseases, e.g. gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid and inguinal granuloma, only account for a small proportion of all known sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Other bacteria and viruses as well as yeasts, protozoa and epizoa must also be regarded as causative organisms of STD. Taken together, all sexually transmitted infections comprise more than 30 relevant STD pathogens. However, not all pathogens that can be sexually transmitted manifest diseases in the genitals and not all infections of the genitals are exclusively sexually transmitted. Concise information and tables summarising the diagnostic and therapeutic management of STDs in the field of urology allow a synoptic overview, and are in agreement with the recent international guidelines of other specialist areas. Special considerations (i.e. HIV infection, pregnancy, infants, allergy) and recommended regimens are presented.