Serum biomarkers for diagnosis and characterization of prostate cancer. / Biomarcadores plasmáticos en el diagnóstico y caracterización del cáncer de próstata.

PSA is the most widely used diagnosticand prognostic biomarker in prostate cancer (PCa).However, its lack of specificity has generated the needto search for new complementary markers. In thisscenario, blood plasma constitutes one of the sourcesof search for new markers, which have been tried tobe combined with PSA and other clinical variables inorder to develop tests that increase their diagnosticspecificity.This narrative review of the literature provides anoverview of commercially available plasma biomarkers and tests for use in different clinical settingsfor PCa. The most studied markers to help select theappropriate patients for initial and / or repeat biopsyhave been: PHI, 4K, STHLM3. These markers havebeen oriented towards the diagnosis of the so-calledclinically signifi cant PCa, trying to validate and calibratetheir algorithms in different populations. Giventhe development and evolution in the diagnosis of PCa,there is still a lack of evidence of the impact of magneticresonance imaging (MRI) when used in combinationwith these new markers, as well as its possiblerole in the screening of the disease and not only in theearly diagnosis process. Furthermore, there are only asmall number of studies that have directly comparedthese tests with each other and with PSA, so there isnot enough evidence to know which test has the bestproperties in each clinical scenario. In order to clarifythe true diagnostic role of these new biomarkers, newprospective, comparative studies in different populationsare absolutely necessary to evaluate their clinicalutility in combination with MRI and fusion biopsy.

El PSA es el biomarcador diagnóstico ypronóstico más ampliamente utilizado en cáncer deprostata (CaP). Sin embargo, su falta de especificidadha generado la necesidad de buscar nuevos marcadorescomplementarios. En este escenario, el plasmasanguíneo constituye una de las fuentes de búsquedade nuevos marcadores, los cuales han tratado decombinarse con el PSA y otras variables clínicas conel objeto de desarrollar tests que aumentaran su especificidaddiagnóstica.En esta revisión narrativa de la literatura se proporcionauna descripción general de los biomarcadoresplasmáticos y tests disponibles comercialmentepara ser utilizados en diferentes contextos clínicosdel CaP. Los test más estudiados para ayudar a seleccionarlos pacientes adecuados para la biopsia inicialy / o repetida han sido: PHI, 4K, STHLM3. Estos testse han orientado hacia el diagnóstico del denominadoCaP clínicamente significativo, intentando validary calibrar sus algoritmos en diferentes poblaciones.Dado el desarrollo y evolución en el diagnóstico deCaP, aún existe una falta de evidencia del impacto de la resonancia magnética (RM) al ser empleada encombinación con estos nuevos marcadores, así comosu posible papel en el screening de la enfermedad yno solo en el proceso de diagnóstico precoz. Además,solo se dispone de una pequeña cantidad de estudiosque hayan comparado directamente estos test entreellos y con el PSA, de modo que no existe evidenciasuficiente para saber qué test tiene mejores propiedadesen cada escenario clínico. En el escenarioactual, para poder aclarar el verdadero papel diagnósticode estos nuevos biomarcadores, son absolutamentenecesarios nuevos estudios prospectivos,comparativos y en diferentes poblaciones, que evalúensu utilidad clínica en combinación con la RM yla biopsia fusión.

Biomarcadores plasmáticos en el diagnóstico y caracterización del cáncer de próstata / Serum biomarkers for diagnosis and characterization of prostate cáncer

El PSA es el biomarcador diagnóstico y pronóstico más ampliamente utilizado en cáncer deprostata (CaP). Sin embargo, su falta de especificidadha generado la necesidad de buscar nuevos marcadores complementarios. En este escenario, el plasmasanguíneo constituye una de las fuentes de búsqueda de nuevos marcadores, los cuales han tratado decombinarse con el PSA y otras variables clínicas conel objeto de desarrollar tests que aumentaran su especificidad diagnóstica.En esta revisión narrativa de la literatura se proporciona una descripción general de los biomarcadores plasmáticos y tests disponibles comercialmentepara ser utilizados en diferentes contextos clínicosdel CaP. Los test más estudiados para ayudar a seleccionar los pacientes adecuados para la biopsia inicialy / o repetida han sido: PHI, 4K, STHLM3. Estos testse han orientado hacia el diagnóstico del denominado CaP clínicamente significativo, intentando validary calibrar sus algoritmos en diferentes poblaciones.Dado el desarrollo y evolución en el diagnóstico deCaP, aún existe una falta de evidencia del impacto de la resonancia magnética (RM) al ser empleada encombinación con estos nuevos marcadores, así comosu posible papel en el screening de la enfermedad yno solo en el proceso de diagnóstico precoz. Además,solo se dispone de una pequeña cantidad de estudiosque hayan comparado directamente estos test entreellos y con el PSA, de modo que no existe evidenciasuficiente para saber qué test tiene mejores propiedades en cada escenario clínico. En el escenarioactual, para poder aclarar el verdadero papel diagnóstico de estos nuevos biomarcadores, son absolutamente necesarios nuevos estudios prospectivos,comparativos y en diferentes poblaciones, que evalúen su utilidad clínica en combinación con la RM yla biopsia fusión. (AU)

PSA is the most widely used diagnosticand prognostic biomarker in prostate cancer (PCa).However, its lack of specificity has generated the needto search for new complementary markers. In thisscenario, blood plasma constitutes one of the sourcesof search for new markers, which have been tried tobe combined with PSA and other clinical variables inorder to develop tests that increase their diagnosticspecificity.This narrative review of the literature provides anoverview of commercially available plasma biomarkers and tests for use in different clinical settingsfor PCa. The most studied markers to help select theappropriate patients for initial and / or repeat biopsyhave been: PHI, 4K, STHLM3. These markers havebeen oriented towards the diagnosis of the so-calledclinically signifi cant PCa, trying to validate and calibrate their algorithms in different populations. Giventhe development and evolution in the diagnosis of PCa,there is still a lack of evidence of the impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) when used in combination with these new markers, as well as its possiblerole in the screening of the disease and not only in theearly diagnosis process. Furthermore, there are only asmall number of studies that have directly comparedthese tests with each other and with PSA, so there isnot enough evidence to know which test has the bestproperties in each clinical scenario. In order to clarifythe true diagnostic role of these new biomarkers, newprospective, comparative studies in different populations are absolutely necessary to evaluate their clinicalutility in combination with MRI and fusion biopsy. (AU)

Does Adding Standard Systematic Biopsy to Targeted Prostate Biopsy in PI-RADS 3 to 5 Lesions Enhance the Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer? Should All Patients with PI-RADS 3 Undergo Targeted Biopsy?

INTRODUCTION: Our aim was to assess the value of adding standard biopsy to targeted biopsy in cases of suspicious multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) and also to evaluate when a biopsy of a PI-RADS 3 lesion could be avoided. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients who underwent targeted biopsy plus standard systematic biopsy between 2016-2019 was performed. All the 1.5 T magnetic resonance images were evaluated according to PI-RADSv.2. An analysis focusing on the clinical scenario, lesion location, and PI-RADS score was performed. RESULTS: A total of 483 biopsies were evaluated. The mean age was 65 years, with a PSA density of 0.12 ng/mL/cc. One-hundred and two mp-MRIs were categorized as PI-RADS-3. Standard biopsy was most helpful in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in patients in the active surveillance (AS) cohort (increasing the detection rate 12.2%), and in peripheral lesions (6.5%). Adding standard biopsy showed no increase in the detection rate for csPCa in patients with PI-RADS-5 lesions. Considering targeted biopsy in patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions, a higher detection rate was shown in biopsy-naïve patients versus AS and in patients with a previous negative biopsy (p = 0.002). Furthermore, in these patients, the highest rate of csPCa detection was in anterior lesions [42.9% (p = 0.067)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that standard biopsy could be safely omitted in patients with anterior lesions and in those with PI-RADS-5 lesions. Targeted biopsy for PI-RADS-3 lesions would be less effective in peripheral lesions with a previous negative biopsy.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for distal ureteral calculi: improved efficacy using low frequency.

OBJECTIVES: To compare low versus high frequency for lithotripsy in the management of distal ureteral calculi. METHODS: A total of 154 patients with radio-opaque calculi (0.5-1 cm diameter) in the distal ureter were randomized to be given either lithotripsy at 80 or 60 pulses per min (high frequency or low frequency groups, respectively). The number of waves and sessions received, and time to total resolution were measured. A Dornier Compact Delta lithotripter was used. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were assigned to the high frequency group and 78 to the low frequency group. Four patients were excluded from the study because of intolerance of the procedure. The size was slightly lower in low frequency group, whereby an analysis of covariance was carried out to eliminate the size factor, with the limit established as 0.7 cm. The low frequency group received 2980 ± 1211 waves, and the high frequency group received 5752 ± 3121 (P<0.001). The success rate was higher in the low frequency group (100%) than in the high frequency group (92.9%; P=0.02). If adjusted to the size of the calculus with a threshold of 0.7 cm, there was a difference, although it was not statistically significant. The time to elimination of the fragments was higher in the high frequency group (17.68 days) than in the low frequency group (7.15 days; P<0.001). The number of sessions necessary for resolution was higher in the high frequency group (1.56) than in the low frequency group (1.14; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lithotripsy at 60 pulses provides better outcomes than lithotripsy at 80 pulses for the treatment of distal ureteral calculi.

¿A qué nivel se produce la fragmentación del ADN en pacientes infértiles con varicocele? / Analysis of the site of DNA fragmentation in infertile men with varicocele

Objetivo: Establecer a qué nivel se produce la fragmentación del ácido desoxirribonucleico (FADN), intratesticular o en la vía seminal, en varones infértiles con varicocele. Material y métodos: Análisis preliminar sobre 15 sujetos en estudio por infertilidad de un año de evolución con varicocele como causa más probable de su alteración. Realizamos FADN en semen previo a la varicocelectomía quirúrgica. Durante la intervención, se obtuvo una muestra testicular mediante biopsia (TESE), para la medición de FADN en espermatozoides intratesticulares, con el objetivo de establecer sus valores y si había diferencias respecto al semen. Resultados: Quince pacientes fueron intervenidos de varicocele izquierdo. En el seminograma, la alteración más frecuente fue la oligoastenozoospermia. Presentaron ADN fragmentado en semen 9 pacientes con una media de 47,8% (rango 38,8-59,2%), y en 6 fueron normales (media 27,4%; rango 12,7-35,3%). La FADN en testículo presentó valores más elevados que en el semen, estando alterados en 14 de los 15 pacientes (media 62,3%, rango 39,0-83,3%). Conclusiones: La FADN parece tener un papel importante en la fisiopatología actual del varicocele y aumenta en el semen de varones infértiles con esta alteración. Derivado de nuestros resultados, podríamos deducir que el mecanismo más importante de fragmentación se situaría a nivel intratesticular, en contra de lo que actualmente se postula. Confirmar esta hipótesis con mayor número de casos supondría un avance significativo en el conocimiento y aplicaciones clínicas en cuanto a esta patología (AU)

Objective: To establish the site at which intratesticular or seminal DNA fragmentation (DNAF) occurs in infertile men with varicocele. Material and Methods: A preliminary analysis was performed in a 1-year study of 15 patients in whom the suspected cause of infertility was varicocele. Analysis of DNAF was performed in semen prior to surgical varicocelectomy. To measure DNAF in intratesticular sperm, testicular samples were obtained by biopsy during the intervention. Results: Fifteen patients had left varicocele surgery. The most frequent abnormality observed in the semen was oligoasthenozoospermia. Nine patients had DNAF (average: 47.8%, range: 38.8-59.2%), and six were normal (average; 27.4%, range: 12.7-35.3%). DNAF levels were higher in testicular tissue samples than in semen (average: 62.3%, range: 39.0-83.3%). Only one of these patient samples did not reveal DNAF. Conclusions: DNAF seems to be related to the physiopathology of varicocele and is present at higher levels in the semen of infertile men with this alteration. In view of these results, we deduce that DNA fragmentation will primarily occur in the testes, which is contrary to current understanding. Testing this hypothesis in studies that include more patients would allow important advances to be made in the knowledge and treatment of this alteration (AU)