The value of percent free prostate specific antigen, prostate specific antigen density of the whole prostate and of the transition zone in Turkish men.

INTRODUCTION: This study was undertaken to evaluate the value of percent free prostate specific antigen (PSA), PSA density of the whole prostate (PSAD) and of the transition zone (TZPSAD) in reducing unnecessary biopsies in Turkish men with serum PSA levels between 2.5 and 20 ng/mL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 105 patients referred for early prostate cancer detection or lower urinary tract symptoms participated in the study. All patients had serum total PSA level, PSAD, total prostate volume, and rectal examination, 43 patients had serum free PSA level, and 65 patients had TZPSAD. Using transrectal ultrasound, sextant biopsy and two additional transitional zone biopsies were performed. The value of percent PSA, PSAD, and TZPSAD in reducing unnecessary biopsies was evaluated. RESULTS: Prostate carcinoma was detected in 25 of 105 patients (23.8%). Overall, areas under the ROC curves for percent free PSA, PSAD, and TZPSAD were 0.553, 0.595, and 0.550, respectively. In patients with a benign rectal examination, the value of percent free PSA slightly increased. On the other hand, in patients with prostate volume smaller than 50 cc, the value of percent free PSA and TZPSAD was encouraging. Areas under the ROC curves for percent free PSA, and TZPSAD were 0.615 and 0.642 respectively. CONCLUSION: In Turkish men with intermediate serum PSA concentrations, percent free PSA, PSAD, and TZPSAD are poor predictors of biopsy outcome, whereas in the prostate smaller than 50 cc, percent free PSA and TZPSAD provide additional information. This may reflect ethnic differences between this population and those reported in other series.

Terazosin, doxazosin, and prazosin: current clinical experience.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction are common in aging men. Nearly 25% of men >40 years of age have LUTS. Medical therapy with alpha-blockade is the most common method of medical therapy for benign prostatic obstruction. Multiple methods of minimally invasive surgical therapies have been introduced in the last decade. These methods include balloon dilatation, temporary and permanent urethral stents, various laser techniques, microwave thermotherapy, transurethral needle ablation, electrovaporization, and high-intensity focused ultrasound. alpha-Receptor blockers to reduce the sympathetic tone of the prostate are considered as first-line therapy to relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Selective alpha(1)-receptor blockers relax prostatic smooth muscle, relieve bladder outlet obstruction, and enhance urine flow with fewer side effects. In addition, it was determined that treating patients with alpha-blockers increases prostatic apoptosis. Pharmacokinetic activity, mode of action, clinical efficacy, and side effects of the selective alpha(1)-receptor blockers terazosin, doxazosin, and prazosin are reviewed.

Early experience in intermediate-risk penile cancer with sentinel node identification using the gamma probe.

OBJECTIVES: To report the initial experience with sentinel node identification using the gamma probe in patients with intermediate-risk penile cancer (T2NXM0, or T1 with intermediate or high-grade disease) and impalpable groin nodes. METHODS: Technetium-99m-labeled sulfur colloid was injected at the site of primary penile carcinoma 1 hour before surgery. The sentinel lymph nodes were located using the gamma probe and excised through a 3-cm inguinal incision. A full groin dissection was performed only in cases in which frozen section of the node demonstrated metastasis. RESULTS: Nine sentinel nodes were identified by the gamma probe and excised in 5 men. In 3 patients, the sentinel nodes were negative bilaterally. In 2 patients, the sentinel node, although grossly normal, showed a single focus of metastasis by frozen section analysis. In both of these patients, a full groin dissection was carried out and revealed no other nodal metastases. All 5 remained free of recurrence (median follow-up 18 months, range 16 to 23). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with microscopic involvement of a single lymph node only (confirmed by full groin dissection), gamma probe identification was 100% accurate. None of the patients with negative sentinel nodes had a recurrence. Biopsy of the sentinel nodes using the gamma probe can predict the presence or absence of inguinal node metastasis in patients with intermediate-risk penile cancer, sparing many patients the long-term morbidity of a full groin dissection. These initial results suggest further study is warranted.

The use of flutamide as a single antiandrogen treatment for hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of low-dose flutamide (125 mg twice daily) in the treatment of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence after definitive treatment with radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), external-beam radiation therapy (RT), or cryotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this phase II prospective trial, patients who had a PSA recurrence after definitive treatment for prostate cancer were treated with flutamide. Endpoints for assessing treatment efficacy were PSA progression, treatment toxicity and clinical symptoms. Results were stratified into complete response (PSA < 0.2 ng/mL on two consecutive assessments), partial response (PSA decrease of half that at baseline on two consecutive assessments) and progressive disease. Seventeen patients were enrolled in who definitive treatment for primary prostate cancer had failed. RESULTS: Low-dose flutamide was clinically effective (i.e. complete or partial response) in 13 patients. Four had a complete response (mean duration 28 months), nine a partial response (mean duration 19 months), and two progressive disease, but were in the study for a mean of 1 year before progression. Two patients discontinued the study at 3 months, secondary to drug-related toxicity; one had grade 3 toxicity and five grade 1 toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of low-dose flutamide (125 mg) was clinically effective in treating PSA recurrence after definitive treatments for prostate cancer, and was well tolerated. Further investigation in a phase III trial is warranted.