Treatment of patients with newly diagnosed metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) in Belgium: a real world data analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Abiraterone acetate + prednisone (AAP) and docetaxel have proven their efficacy in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) in clinical trials. However, real-world data are scarce. The goal of this study is to evaluate real-world data on the efficacy and safety of these therapies in mHSPC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of 93 patients from 21 different centres were retrospectively reviewed. Primary and secondary endpoints were radiographic and PSA progression-free survival (RPFS - PSA-PFS) and cancer specific and overall survival (CSS - OS), respectively. Adverse events (AEs) were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Differences in oncological outcome and AEs were evaluated between three treatment groups: ADT only (N=26) - ADT + AAP (N=48) - ADT + docetaxel (N=19). Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier statistics. RESULTS: Median RPFS was 13 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9-17) for ADT only, 21 months (95% CI: 19-23) for ADT + AAP and 12 months (95% CI: 11-14) for ADT + docetaxel (p = 0.004). The 1-year PSA-PFS, CSS and OS were 73.5%, 90.7% and 88.7%, respectively, with no significant differences between the three groups. Adverse events of grade 3 or higher were not observed more frequently. CONCLUSION: Retrospective real-world data show a significantly longer RPFS for mHSPC patients treated with ADT + AAP compared to ADT only or ADT + docetaxel at short-term follow-up. This can aid in counselling of mHSPC patients in daily clinical practice.

Partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma can achieve long-term tumor control.

PURPOSE: Partial nephrectomy is becoming more widely accepted as alternative treatment for small renal cell carcinoma. To analyze its value in tumor control and its complication rate a retrospective study was done. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 76 patients underwent kidney sparing surgery, which was required in 25 and in the presence of a normal contralateral kidney in 51. Tumor size varied between 0.9 and 15 cm. Simple enucleation was done in 4 and partial nephrectomy in all other cases. The patients were followed every 3 months during year 1, every 4 months during years 2 and 3, and every 6 months during years 4 and 5 postoperatively. Mean followup is 75 months. RESULTS: Eight patients had postoperative complications, most often hemorrhage. None of the patients had local recurrence, although in 3 systemic disease developed. CONCLUSIONS: Nephron sparing surgery is more challenging than radical nephrectomy and, therefore, can be more complicated. The selection of suitable candidates is the key to success. Many patients can benefit from nephron sparing surgery for small easily resectable renal cell carcinoma even in presence of a normal contralateral kidney. Randomized trials are needed to establish the definitive role of this approach in kidney cancer treatment.

Balloon dilation of the prostate. Critical evaluation.

We describe the results of prostatic balloon dilation in 7 patients with a follow-up of 9 months. Symptom scores dramatically fell in 5 patients (success rate 71%), which is confirmed by a significant improvement in peak flow in 4 of them. Two patients failed to improve and needed a subsequent intervention which revealed a stage A2 prostatic carcinoma in one. During subsequent open prostatectomy, a condition analogous to dilation with the Deisting dilator was seen. We conclude that the indications and results obtained with the balloon dilator are similar to those with the Deisting dilator.