PSA kinetics following primary focal cryotherapy (hemiablation) in organ-confined prostate cancer patients.

PURPOSE: We aim to evaluate prostate-specific antigen (PSA) trends in post-primary focal cryotherapy (PFC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective study of PFC patients from 2010 to 2015. Patients with at least one post-PFC PSA were included in the study. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was determined using the Phoenix criteria. PSA bounce was also assessed. We analyzed rates of change of PSA over time of post-PFC between BCR and no BCR groups. PSA-derived variables were analyzed as potential predictors of BCR. RESULTS: A total of 104 PFC patients were included in our analysis. Median (range) age and follow-up time were 66 (48-82) years and 19 (6.3-38.6) months, respectively. Four (3.8%) patients experienced PSA bounce. The median percent drop in first post-PFC PSA of 80.0% was not associated with BCR (p = 0.256) and may indicate elimination of the index lesion. The rate of increase of PSA in BCR patients was significantly higher compared to patients who did not recur (median PSA velocity (PSAV): 0.15 vs 0.04 ng/ml/month, p = 0.001). Similar to PSAV (HR 9.570, 95% CI 3.725-24.592, p < 0.0001), PSA nadir ≥ 2 ng/ml [HR (hazard ratio) 1.251, 95% CI 1.100-1.422, p = 0.001] was independently associated with BCR. CONCLUSION: A significant drop in post-PFC PSA may indicate elimination of the index lesion. Patients who are likely to recur biochemically have a significantly higher PSAV compared to those who do not recur. Nadir PSA of less than 2 ng/ml may be considered the new normal PSA in focal cryotherapy (hemiablation) follow-up.

Imaging Characteristics of Prostate Cancer Patients Who Discontinued Active Surveillance on 3-T Multiparametric Prostate MRI.

OBJECTIVE: Early-stage prostate cancer may be followed with active surveillance to avoid overtreatment. Our institution's active surveillance regimen uses annual MRI in place of serial biopsies, and biopsies are performed only when clinically necessary. The objective of our study was to report the multiparametric MRI characteristics of prostate cancer patients who discontinued active surveillance at our institution after repeat imaging revealed possible evidence of tumor upgrading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Department of Urology at Winthrop University Hospital prospectively maintains a database of prostate cancer patients who are monitored with active surveillance. At the time of this study, there were 200 prostate cancer patients being monitored with active surveillance. Of those patients, 114 patients had an initial multiparametric MRI study that was performed before active surveillance started and at least one follow-up multiparametric MRI study that was performed after active surveillance began. The MRI findings were evaluated and correlated with pathology results, if available. RESULTS: Fourteen patients discontinued active surveillance because changes on follow-up MRI suggested progression of cancer. Follow-up MRI showed an enlarged or more prominent lesion compared with the appearance on a previous MRI in three (21.4%) patients, a new lesion or lesions suspicious for cancer in two (14.3%) patients, and findings suspicious for or confirming extracapsular extension in nine (64.3%) patients. Seven of the 14 (50.0%) patients had a biopsy after follow-up multiparametric MRI, and biopsy results led to tumor upgrading in six of the 14 (42.9%) patients. The duration of active surveillance ranged from 4 to 110 months. All patients received definitive treatment. CONCLUSION: The small number of patients with follow-up multiparametric MRI findings showing worsening disease supports the role of MRI in patients with early-stage prostate cancer. Multiparametric MRI is useful in monitoring patients on active surveillance and may identify patients with clinically significant cancer amenable to definitive treatment.

Salvage focal cryosurgery may delay use of androgen deprivation therapy in cryotherapy and radiation recurrent prostate cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Salvage treatment options for recurrent unilateral prostate cancer (PCa) after primary radiation are limited and associated with severe complications and poor quality of life measures. Salvage focal cryotherapy (SFC) has shown success in biochemical recurrence (BCR) free survival. We aim to determine if SFC can delay use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in recurrent PCa with low morbidity. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent SFC at our institution from 2007 to 2015 was performed. Patients with <2 follow-up prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values, metastatic disease, and a history of radical prostatectomy were excluded. Age at treatment, prior treatment history, PSA nadir, complications, BCR status (nadir +2 ng/ml), and follow-up data were obtained/analysed. ADT was commenced if patient experienced BCR and had a PSA doubling time <6 months or positive confirmatory biopsy or positive imaging. Cox regression and survival analysis were used to assess confounding and time to BCR respectively. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients were included and followed for a median of 26.6 (8.0-99.0) months. Thirty-one (47.7%) patients did not experience BCR. An even higher number of patients (52/65, 80.0%) are yet to receive ADT. Of those who experienced BCR [median time to BCR, 17.1 [interquartile range (IQR):11.4-23.3] months], 22/34 (64.7%) are currently carefully monitored without ADT. Survival analysis showed a biochemical recurrence-free survival of 48.1 at 1- and 3-year follow up. No patient died/experienced major complications. CONCLUSIONS: SFC may be used to delay the use of ADT. Further assessment of our findings with high-powered studies and longer follow-up is required.

Emerging minimally invasive procedures for focal treatment of organ-confined prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy amongst American men. However, the majority of prostate cancer diagnoses are of low risk, organ-confined disease. Many men elect to undergo definitive treatment, but may benefit from focal therapy to maintain continence and potency. This review reports the mechanism of action and outcomes of emerging focal therapies for prostate cancer. We report the mechanism of action of focal cryotherapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, focal laser ablation, and irreversible electroporation. In addition, we reviewed the largest studies available reporting rates of urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, biochemical recurrence-free survival (ASTRO), and post-operative adverse events for each procedure. Each treatment modality stated has a unique mechanism in the ablation of cancerous cells. Genito-urinary symptoms following these studies report incontinence and erectile dysfunction rates ranging from 0-15% and 0-53%, respectively. Biochemical disease-free survival was reported using the ASTRO definition. Some treatment modalities lack the necessary follow-up to determine effectiveness in cancer control. No focal therapy studies reported serious adverse events. These minimally invasive procedures are feasible in a clinical setting and show promising functional and disease control results with short to medium-term follow-up. However, each treatment requires additional robust prospective studies as well as its own unique domain to determine biochemical recurrence free survival to properly determine their role in treatment of organ-confined prostate cancer.

3-T multiparametric MRI characteristics of prostate cancer patients suspicious for biochemical recurrence after primary focal cryosurgery (hemiablation).

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to report on multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) characteristics of post-primary focal cryosurgery (PFC) patients suspected of biochemical recurrence (BCR) by the Phoenix criteria. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients at our institution who had undergone PFC. Prostate-specific antigen nadir was determined using 2 or more post-PFC values. Suspicion of BCR was determined using the Phoenix criteria (nadir + 2 ng/ml). At the discretion of the physician, pre-and post-PFC 3-T mpMRIs were obtained and in a few cases biopsies were performed. RESULTS: Ninety (58.4%) of 154 consecutive patients who underwent PFC were included in our analysis and had a median (range) age and prostate volume of 66.5 (48-82) years and 40.5 (16-175) ml, respectively. Of those suspected of BCR (37/90, 41.1%), with a median time to BCR of 19.9 (7.0-38.5) months, 27 patients (73.0%) underwent a post-PFC mpMRI. Twenty-two (81.5%) of these mpMRIs were found with 24 suspicious lesions. A considerable number (9/24, 37.5%) of these lesions were located in the central gland of the prostate. Seven of 24 lesions exhibited adverse mpMRI characteristic; 4 (16.7%) had capsular contact, 2 (8.2%) showed frank extracapsular extension, and 1 (4.2%) showed seminal vesicle invasion. Five (45.5%) of 11 patients with positive post-PFC mpMRIs were positive on biopsy (4/5, 80% were clinically significant prostate cancer). CONCLUSION: Post-PFC mpMRI, at Phoenix suspicion of BCR, may help identify a significant number of patients failing post-PFC.

Gross Findings of Widespread Visceral Metastasis of Prostatic Adenocarcinoma With Neuroendocrine Features: A Case Report.

Although prostate cancer is common in the western world and is associated with favorable overall survival, neuroendocrine prostate cancer is difficult to detect and is known to aggressively metastasize throughout the body. This subset of disease thus has a poor prognosis, and early detection and treatment of neuroendocrine prostate cancer may increase overall survival. We present a case of a now deceased 63 year old male with extensive epicardial, respiratory, hepato-bilary, adrenal, genitourinary, and osseous tissue metastasis.

Active Holistic Surveillance: The Nutritional Aspect of Delayed Intervention in Prostate Cancer.

Purpose. Active surveillance is an emergent strategy for management of indolent prostate cancer. Our institution's watchful waiting protocol, Active Holistic Surveillance (AHS), implements close monitoring for disease progression along with various chemopreventive agents and attempts to reduce unnecessary biopsies. Our objective is to report on the treatment rates of men on our AHS protocol as well as determine reasons for progression. Materials/Methods. Low risk and low-intermediate risk patients were enrolled in AHS at Winthrop University Hospital between February 2002 and August 2015. Our IRB-approved study analyzed survival rate, discontinuation rates, and definitive treatments for patients in our AHS cohort. Results. 235 patients met inclusion criteria. Median age and follow-up for the cohort were 66 (44-88) years and 42 (3-166) months, respectively. The overall survival for the cohort was 99.6% and the disease specific survival was 100%. A total of 27 (11.5%) patients discontinued AHS. Conclusion. The incorporation of chemopreventive agents in our AHS protocol has allowed patients to prolong definitive treatment for many years. Longer follow-up and additional studies are necessary to further validate the effectiveness of AHS.