A population-based study examining the influence of a specialized rapid-access cancer clinic on initial treatment choice in localized prostate cancer.

Introduction: Treatment decisions in localized prostate cancer are complicated by the available choices. A rapid-access cancer clinic (RAC) has been unique to Calgary, AB, since 2007. This RAC offers multidisciplinary prostate cancer education by a urologist, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist.

Intermittent versus continuous androgen deprivation in prostate cancer.

Background: Castration resistance occurs in most patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer who are receiving androgen-deprivation therapy. Replacing androgens before progression of the disease is hypothesized to prolong androgen dependence.

Methods: Men with newly diagnosed, metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, a performance status of 0 to 2, and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 5 ng per milliliter or higher received a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue and an antiandrogen agent for 7 months.

Furthering the prostate cancer screening debate (prostate cancer specific mortality and associated risks).

Screening for prostate cancer remains a contentious issue. As with other cancer screening programs, a key feature of the debate is verification of cancer-specific mortality reductions. Unfortunately the present evidence, two systematic reviews and six randomized controlled trials, have reported conflicting results.

A randomized trial of external beam radiotherapy versus cryoablation in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Background: Localized prostate cancer can be treated several different ways, but head-to-head comparisons of treatments are infrequent. The authors of this report conducted a randomized, unblinded, noninferiority trial to compare cryoablation with external beam radiotherapy in these patients.

Methods: From December 1997 through February 2003, 244 men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer were assigned randomly to receive either cryoablation or radiotherapy (122 men in each arm).

A randomized trial of external beam radiotherapy versus cryoablation in patients with localized prostate cancer: quality of life outcomes.

Background: A recent randomized trial to compare external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to cryoablation for localized disease showed cryoablation to be noninferior to external beam EBRT in disease progression and overall and disease-specific survival. We report on the quality of life (QOL) outcomes for this trial.

Methods: From December 1997 through February 2003, 244 men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer were randomly assigned to cryoablation or EBRT (median dose 68 Gy).

Prostate-specific antigen progression predicts overall survival in patients with metastatic prostate cancer: data from Southwest Oncology Group Trials 9346 (Intergroup Study 0162) and 9916.

Purpose: Prostate-specific antigen progression (PSA-P) is an indicator of progression in hormone-sensitive (HS) and castration-resistant (CR) prostate cancer (PC). We evaluated different definitions of PSA-P as predictors of overall survival (OS).

Patients And Methods: A total of 1,078 patients with HSPC who were on hormones (Southwest Oncology Group [SWOG] trial 9346 [S9346]) and 597 patients with CRPC who were treated with chemotherapy (SWOG trial 9916 [S9916]) were eligible for this analysis.

Salvage prostate cryoablation: initial results from the cryo on-line data registry.

Purpose: We report contemporary outcomes of salvage cryoablation at a large number of centers which have participated in the COLD (Cryo On-Line Data) Registry.

Materials And Methods: A secure online database was developed to collect data for patients undergoing prostate cryoablation. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed with biochemical failure defined using the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, and the Phoenix definitions.

Whole gland primary prostate cryoablation: initial results from the cryo on-line data registry.

Purpose: We report the largest data set to date to our knowledge regarding outcomes for primary whole gland prostate cryoablation.

Materials And Methods: The COLD (Cryo On-Line Data) Registry consists of case report forms obtaining pretreatment and posttreatment information for patients undergoing whole gland prostate cryoablation. A total of 1,198 patients were stratified into low, intermediate and high risk groups.

Quality of life 2 years after salvage cryosurgery for the treatment of local recurrence of prostate cancer after radiotherapy.

Purpose: Previous research has raised concerns that although salvage cryosurgery may be an effective treatment to prevent the progression of prostate cancer after radiotherapy failure, the quality of life cost many be so severe as to prevent its acceptance as a viable treatment. The present study's purpose was to further the understanding of the quality of life outcomes of salvage cryosurgery.

Materials And Methods: A total of 46 men with locally recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy were recruited to participate in a prospective Phase II clinical trial using salvage cryosurgery.

Salvage cryosurgery-how I do it.

Prostate cryosurgery has advanced over the last decade, and is now recognized as a treatment option for patients who have failed radiotherapy. Appropriate patient selection is imperative for successful salvage. Because the treatment is a local therapy, the recurrent cancer must be confined to the prostate and its immediate area, and up to half of patients who undergo salvage cryotherapy may eventually fail treatment because of occult synchronous metastases.

Prostate cancer: gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging at 3 weeks compared with needle biopsy at 6 months after cryoablation.

Purpose: To determine if nonenhancing tissue on gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images obtained 3 weeks after cryoablation of the prostate helps reliably and accurately predict nonviable cryoablated tissue at 6-month biopsy.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-four consecutive patients with prostate cancer who underwent cryoablation were followed up prospectively. Fifty-one underwent gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging at 3 weeks (three had gadolinium allergy); 49, biopsy at 6 months (three refused and two had other primary malignancies); and all, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests at 6 weeks, 3 months, and every 3 months thereafter.

The evolution and state of modern technology for prostate cryosurgery.

Cryosurgery is the in situ ablation of a target tissue by application of extreme cold temperature. The ability of cryosurgery to ablate tissue is unquestioned. It is the controlled application of a cryoinjury in a manner to minimize morbidity that is problematic.

Quality of life and sexuality of men with prostate cancer 3 years after cryosurgery.

The current study was designed to describe the long-term life quality and sexuality of men enrolled in a phase 2 clinical trial of cryosurgery for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. A total of 75 men were administered the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Prostate (FACT-P) before treatment and after treatment at 6 weeks, and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Additionally, these men completed a Sexuality Follow-Up Questionnaire (SFQ) 3 years after cryosurgery.

Pilot study to determine safety and short-term outcome of percutaneous cryoablation in the treatment of localized prostate cancer (stages T1C-T3C NO MO).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of cryoablation in localized prostate cancer in our hands. Early end points are biopsy at 5 months and PSA at 12 months follow-up. METHODS: Percutaneous transperineal cryoablation was performed on 30 patients.