Navigating Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Contemporary Perspectives and Future Trajectories in the Canadian Context.

This article equips Canadian urologists with the latest advancements in focal therapy (FT) principles and outcomes while providing an overview of its current landscape in Canada, including challenges and future directions. We conducted a nonsystematic review of the literature on FT in urology and prostate cancer (PCa), focusing on Canadian-led studies. Articles were identified using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar and selected based on relevance and originality.

The use of focal therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer in Canada: Where are we, how did we get here, and where are we going?

Introduction: Focal therapy is an emerging treatment for localized prostate cancer. The objectives of this review were to: 1) review how focal therapies are regulated and approved; 2) summarize the scope and quality of the literature regarding safety, efficacy, and side-effects; and 3) outline ongoing clinical trials of focal therapy in Canada.

Methods: Using the PRISMA framework for scoping reviews, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane from 2021-2024, complementing Hopstaken et al's search up functional and oncologic outcomes.

Development and Validation of a Mixed-Reality Simulator for Reducing Biopsy Core Deviation During Simulated Freehand Systematic Prostate Biopsy.

Introduction: We describe the development and validation of a mixed-reality prostate biopsy (PBx) simulator with built-in guidance aids and real-time 3-dimensional visualization.

Methods: We evaluated our simulator during one-on-one training sessions with urology residents and attendings from 2018 to 2022. Participants performed freehand, side-fire, double-sextant transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic prostate biopsy (sPBx).

Replacing surveillance cystoscopy with urinary biomarkers in followup of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Patients' and urologic oncologists' perspectives.

Introduction: Urinary biomarkers are being developed to detect bladder cancer recurrence/progression in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We conducted a questionnaire-based study to determine what diagnostic accuracy and cost would such test(s) need for both patients and urologic oncologists to comfortably forgo surveillance cystoscopy in favour of these tests.

Methods: Surveys were administered to NMIBC patients at followup cystoscopy visit and to physician members of the Society of Urologic Oncology.

Testosterone Responders to Continuous Androgen Deprivation Therapy Show Considerable Variations in Testosterone Levels on Followup: Implications for Clinical Practice.

Purpose: We determined whether men on continuous androgen deprivation therapy who achieve testosterone less than 0.7 nmol/l demonstrate subsequent testosterone elevations during followup and whether such events predict worse oncologic outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated a random, retrospective sample of 514 patients with prostate cancer treated with continuous androgen deprivation therapy in whom serum testosterone was less than 0.

Development and external validation of a biopsy-derived nomogram to predict risk of ipsilateral extraprostatic extension.

Objectives: To develop and externally validate a nomogram that predicts risk of side-specific extraprostatic extension (EPE) at time of surgery, using commonly available preoperative markers.

Materials And Methods: A consecutive sample of 753 men treated by radical prostatectomy (RP) at the University Health Network, Toronto, between 2009 and 2015, was used to develop the nomogram. The validation cohort consisted of 311 men treated by RP at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, between 1992 and 2014.

Citrate, malate and alkali content in commonly consumed diet sodas: implications for nephrolithiasis treatment.

Purpose: Citrate is a known inhibitor of calcium stone formation. Dietary citrate and alkali intake may have an effect on citraturia. Increasing alkali intake also increases urine pH, which can help prevent uric acid stones.