Salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for locally recurrent prostate cancer after failed radiation therapy: Multi-institutional analysis of 418 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To report the oncological outcome of salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound (S-HIFU) for locally recurrent prostate cancer after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) from a multicentre database. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study comprises patients from nine centres with local recurrent disease after EBRT treated with S-HIFU from 1995 to 2009. The biochemical failure-free survival (bFFS) rate was based on the 'Phoenix' definition (PSA nadir + 2 ng/mL). Secondary endpoints included progression to metastasis and cancer-specific death. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed examining overall (OS), cancer-specific (CSS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS). Adverse events and quality of life status are reported. RESULTS: In all, 418 patients with a mean (SD) follow-up of 3.5 (2.5) years were included. The mean (SD) age was 68.6 (5.8) years and the PSA level before S-HIFU was 6.8 (7.8) ng/mL. The median PSA nadir after S-HIFU was 0.19 ng/mL. The OS, CSS and MFS rates at 7 years were 72%, 82% and 81%, respectively. At 5 years the bFFS rate was 58%, 51% and 36% for pre-EBRT low-, intermediate- and high-risk patients, respectively. The 5-year bFFS rate was 67%, 42% and 22% for pre-S-HIFU PSA level ≤4, 4-10 and ≥10 ng/mL, respectively. Complication rates decreased after the introduction of specific post-RT parameters: incontinence (grade II or III) from 32% to 19% (P = 0.002); bladder outlet obstruction or stenosis from 30% to 15% (P = 0.003); recto-urethral fistula decreased from 9% to 0.6% (P < 0.001). Study limitations include being a retrospective analysis from a registry with no control group. CONCLUSION: S-HIFU for locally recurrent prostate cancer after failed EBRT is associated with 7-year CSS and MFS rates of >80% at a price of significant morbidity. S-HIFU should be initiated early following EBRT failure.

Correlation of prostate-specific antigen nadir and biochemical failure after high-intensity focused ultrasound of localized prostate cancer based on the Stuttgart failure criteria - analysis from the @-Registry.

OBJECTIVE: •To determine if the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadir after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can be used as a predictor of the biochemical disease-free survival rate (DFSR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: •Patient data were derived from the multicentre-based @-Registry, the largest registry to report outcomes in patients with localized prostate cancer after Ablatherm® HIFU. •PSA level was measured at 3-month intervals. Patients were stratified into four PSA nadir groups: group 1, ≤0.2 ng/mL; group 2, 0.21-0.5 ng/mL; group 3, 0.51-1 ng/mL; and group 4, >1 ng/mL. •Biochemical treatment failure was defined according to the Stuttgart definition (PSA nadir + 1.2 ng/mL) and the Phoenix definition (PSA nadir + 2 ng/mL). •Biopsy was performed at 3-6 months post-HIFU or if a PSA level was recorded that was considered clinically relevant. RESULTS: •The present study included 804 patients. Biochemical treatment success rates at 5 years according to the Stuttgart definition for the four PSA nadir sub-groups were as follows: 84, 64, 40 and 30% for groups 1-4, respectively. •The equivalent 5-year biochemical success rates using the Phoenix definition were 94, 74, 66 and 47%, respectively. •Significantly more patients had a negative biopsy in the lowest PSA nadir group than in the other sub-groups (91.6 vs 73.1%; P < 0.001). •The present study is limited by its retrospective nature and variations in clinical practice across participating centres. CONCLUSION: •This multicentre analysis confirms that PSA nadir after HIFU predicts biochemical DFSR in a statistically significant manner.

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for prostate cancer: current clinical status, outcomes and future perspectives.

Two devices are currently available for the treatment of prostate cancer with HIFU: Sonablate® and Ablatherm®. The outcomes achieved for primary-care patient are very promissing with mid- and long-term progression-free survival rates around 70%, negative postoperative prostate biopsies almost 85%, and an excellent morbidity profile. Moreover, HIFU has a considerable potential for local recurrence after radiation failure. Recently, some early experiences on focal therapy suggest that HIFU could be an excellent option for highly selected patient.

High-intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer: comparative definitions of biochemical failure.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the specificity and sensitivity of different definitions of biochemical failure in patients treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for prostate cancer, to identify the most accurate predictor of clinical failure after HIFU. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutively treated patients who underwent HIFU between October 1997 and July 2006 at two centres (Lyon, France; and Regensburg, Germany) were prospectively maintained within a central database and retrospectively reviewed for this study. Clinical failure was defined as a positive prostate biopsy after treatment, radiographic evidence of lymphatic or bony metastatic disease, or salvage treatment for prostate cancer (surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy or second HIFU). The serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values after HIFU were assessed as a biochemical surrogate of a therapeutic success or failure. PSA threshold values, 'PSA nadir plus', PSA velocity, PSA doubling time and the American Society or Therapeutic Radiotherapy and Oncology and Phoenix definition of biochemical failure were all considered. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of each biochemical definition for predicting clinical failure were determined. RESULTS: The data from 285 patients (stage

The evolution of ureteroscopy: a modern single-institution series.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a modern ureteroscopy series, including the use of new technological advances, operative procedures, and potential complications, at a single institution and to compare our current experience with our prior published series and the current literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1000 consecutive ureteroscopies performed in 961 patients from December 1999 to February 2003 at our institution. RESULTS: Semirigid and flexible ureteroscopes were used in 60.3% and 37.0% of the cases, respectively. In 2.6% of cases, a combination of both rigid and flexible ureteroscopes was required. The most common indications for ureteroscopy were as follows: stone, 57.9%; diagnostic, 20.6%; and urothelial carcinoma, 12.6%. Of the stones treated, 31.8% were proximal or middle and 59.1% distal. The overall, proximal, and distal stone-free rates were 91.7%, 87.3%, and 94.2%, respectively. Average operative time was 81 minutes (range, 5-280 minutes). Average follow-up was 2.36 months (range, 1-24 months). The overall complication rate was 1.9% (18/961), including a 0.2% (2/961) incidence of ureteral strictures. CONCLUSION: Current practice trends have shifted to an increased use of flexible ureteroscopes and more frequent ureteroscopic treatment of proximal calculi. Our single treatment stone-free rates are competitive with quoted shock wave lithotripsy success. In addition, there has been a decrease in ureteroscopic-associated complications in our series, with no ureteral avulsions. The improvements in treatment success and decrease in complications may be secondary to advances in ureteroscopic technology.

First analysis of the long-term results with transrectal HIFU in patients with localised prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy for patients with localised prostate cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients included in this multicentre analysis had T1-T2 NxM0 prostate cancer, a PSA<15 ng/ml, and a Gleason score (GS) < or = 7, and were treated with prototypes or first-generation Ablatherm HIFU devices between October 1997 and August 2001. The Phoenix definition of biochemical failure was used (PSA nadir+2). Treatment failure was defined as: biochemical failure or positive biopsy. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients with a mean (SD) age 69.1 yr (6.6) were included. Mean (SD) follow-up was 6.4 yr (1.1). Control prostate biopsies were negative in 86.4% of patients. Median PSA nadir of 0.16 ng/ml (range, 0.0-9.1) was achieved at a mean (SD) of 4.9 mo (5.2). A PSA nadir < or = 0.5 ng/ml was recorded in 68.4% of patients. The actuarial biochemical failure-free survival rates (SR) at 5 and 7 yr were 77% and 69%, respectively. The actuarial disease-free SR at 5 and 7 yr were 66% and 59%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the effective long-term cancer control achieved with HIFU in patients with low- or intermediate-risk localised prostate cancer.