Secretions from seminal vesicles lack characteristic markers for prostasomes.

Background: Prostasomes are suggested to be produced in the prostate gland. Although biochemical studies support this, some immunohistochemical findings indicate that also the seminal vesicles could be a source of prostasomes. Therefore, we have compared the secretion of the vesicles with that of the prostate using biochemical and ultrastructural techniques.

Experiences of randomization: interviews with patients and clinicians in the SPCG-IV trial.

Objective: Recruitment of both patients and clinicians to randomized trials is difficult. Low participation carries the risk of terminating studies early and making them invalid owing to insufficient statistical power. This study investigated patients' and clinicians' experiences of randomization with the aim of facilitating trial participation in the future.

Prognostic markers under watchful waiting and radical prostatectomy.

A suitable setting to analyze factors that determine prognosis or treatment response in prostate cancer is an unbiased comparison of radical prostatectomy and watchful waiting as in the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group Trial number 4. In our previous presentation of 10-year results, we studied Gleason score, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) at diagnosis, and age at diagnosis as modifiers of the effect of radical prostatectomy on survival. Because overall prognostic information obtained by these parameters or by tumor stage was not provided in our publication, we now present these data in the two study arms separately.

Prediction of the volume of large prostate cancers by multiple core biopsies.

Objective: To evaluate whether large-volume prostate cancers can be predicted by means of multiple needle biopsies.

Material And Methods: In 115 men, 8-14 (mean 10) biopsies were taken, including eight from standardized positions (apex, mid-medial, mid-lateral and base). Biopsies were reviewed, the length of the cancer measured and the percentage cancer length calculated.

Radical prostatectomy versus watchful waiting in early prostate cancer.

Background: In 2002, we reported the initial results of a trial comparing radical prostatectomy with watchful waiting in the management of early prostate cancer. After three more years of follow-up, we report estimated 10-year results.

Methods: From October 1989 through February 1999, 695 men with early prostate cancer (mean age, 64.

Prostasomes are secreted from poorly differentiated cells of prostate cancer metastases.

Background: Prostasomes are small (40-500 nm), granule-like bodies, found in normal epithelial cells of the prostate and secreted into the prostate duct system. Also poorly differentiated prostate cancer cells are producing prostasomes, since we could isolate and purify prostasomes from vertebral metastases with biochemical methods. To find out whether these prostasomes are secreted into extracellular sites of the metastases, we used electron microscopy.

A systematic overview of radiation therapy effects in prostate cancer.

A systematic review of radiation therapy trials in prostate cancer has been performed according to principles adopted by the Swedish Council of Technology Assessment in Health Care (SBU). This synthesis of the literature is based on data from one meta-analysis, 30 randomized trials, many dealing with hormonal therapy, 55 prospective trials, and 210 retrospective studies. Totally the studies included 152,614 patients.

Ultrastructure of the secretion of prostasomes from benign and malignant epithelial cells in the prostate.

Background: Prostate epithelial cells are producing, among other things, a fluid secretion containing small bodies, the prostasomes. The mechanism of synthesis of the prostasomes is not known in details, neither is it known whether the mode of prostasome production changes at a neoplastic transformation of the prostate cells. Due to the small size of the prostasomes, we have used electron microscopy for evaluating the production and distribution of prostasomes in benign and neoplastic cells of the prostate.

Quality of life after radical prostatectomy or watchful waiting.

Background: We evaluated symptoms and self-assessments of quality of life in men with localized prostate cancer who participated in a randomized comparison between radical prostatectomy and watchful waiting.

Methods: Between 1989 and 1999, a group of Swedish urologists randomly assigned men with localized prostate cancer to radical prostatectomy or watchful waiting. In this follow-up study, we obtained information from 326 of 376 eligible men (87 percent) concerning certain symptoms, symptom-induced distress, well-being, and the subjective assessment of quality of life by means of a mailed questionnaire.

A randomized trial comparing radical prostatectomy with watchful waiting in early prostate cancer.

Background: Radical prostatectomy is widely used in the treatment of early prostate cancer. The possible survival benefit of this treatment, however, is unclear. We conducted a randomized trial to address this question.