Impact of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors on Disease Characteristics in Patients with Localized Prostate Cancer Treated with Radical Prostatectomy: A European Association of Urology Young Academic Urologists Prostate Cancer Working Group Multi-institutional Study.

Background And Objective: Collagen biosynthesis is intricately involved in the development and progression of solid tumors. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) impede TGF-β-mediated collagen synthesis in tumors by hindering activation of the angiotensin receptor. Our aim was to investigate a potential association between RASi use and the aggressiveness of prostate cancer (PCa).

Validation of diagnostic nomograms based on CE-MS urinary biomarkers to detect clinically significant prostate cancer.

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Thus, one major issue in PCa research is to accurately distinguish between indolent and clinically significant (csPCa) to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment. In this study, we aim to validate the usefulness of diagnostic nomograms (DN) to detect csPCa, based on previously published urinary biomarkers.

Implications of Standardized Uptake Values of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in PET-CT on Prognosis, Tumor Characteristics and Mitochondrial DNA Heteroplasmy.

Under aerobic conditions, some cancers switch to glycolysis to cover their energy requirements. Taking advantage of this process, functional imaging techniques such as PET-CT can be used to detect and assess tumorous tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate standardized uptake values and mitochondrial DNA mutations in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Development and validation of a novel multivariate risk score to guide biopsy decision for the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer.

Objectives: Selecting patients suspected of having prostate cancer (PCa) for a prostate biopsy remains a challenge. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based testing is hampered by its low specificity that often leads to negative biopsy results or detection of clinically insignificant cancers, especially in the 2-10 ng/mL range. The objective was to evaluate a novel diagnostic test called Proclarix incorporating thrombospondin-1 and cathepsin D alongside total and free PSA as well as age for predicting clinically significant PCa.

Organ-sparing surgery of penile cancer: higher rate of local recurrence yet no impact on overall survival.

Purpose: To report on the oncological outcome of organ-sparing surgery (OSS) compared to (total or partial) penectomy regarding recurrence patterns and survival in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients with penile SCC and eligible follow-up data of at least 2 years at our institution. Patients with tumors staged ≥ pT1G2 underwent invasive lymph node (LN) staging by dynamic sentinel-node biopsy or modified inguinal lymphadenectomy.

Robo 4 - the double-edged sword in prostate cancer: impact on cancer cell aggressiveness and tumor vasculature.

The magic roundabout receptor 4 (Robo 4) is a tumor endothelial marker expressed in the vascular network of various tumor entities. However, the role of Robo 4 in prostate cancer (PCa), the second common cause of cancer death among men in -developed countries, has not been described yet. Thus, the present study investigates for the first time the impact of Robo 4 in PCa both in the clinical setting and .

Antidiabetic drugs influence molecular mechanisms in prostate cancer.

Background: We investigated the role of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the molecular mechanisms of antidiabetic drugs in prostate cancer (PCa).

Patients And Methods: 167 patients with both DM and PCa underwent radical prostatectomy (RPE). We divided our patient collective into "metformin" users, "insulin" users, "other antidiabetic drug" users and those with "no antidiabetic drug/diet only" (control group) and analyzed differences in PCa aggressiveness and laboratory parameters among treatment groups.

Predictive and prognostic role of serum neopterin and tryptophan breakdown in prostate cancer.

The γ-interferon-induced enzymes indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and GTP-cyclohydrolase are key players in tumor immune escape mechanisms. We quantified serum levels of neopterin and tryptophan breakdown (tryptophan, kynurenine, and kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio) in addition to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PCa) patients (n = 100) before radical prostatectomy (RP) as well as at time of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RP (n = 50) in comparison to healthy men (n = 49). Effects of biomarkers on the risk of PCa diagnosis on transrectal biopsy, worse histopathological characteristics of the RP specimens, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) after BCR were investigated.

Is Eotaxin-1 a serum and urinary biomarker for prostate cancer detection and recurrence?

Introduction And Objectives: Eotaxin-1 (CCL11) is a protein expressed in various tissues influencing immunoregulatory processes by acting as selective eosinophil chemo-attractant. In prostate cancer (PCa), the expression and functional role of CCL11 have not been intensively investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic or prognostic potential of Eotaxin-1 in PCa patients.

High risk of under-grading and -staging in prostate cancer patients eligible for active surveillance.

Background: Active surveillance (AS) is increasingly offered to patients with low risk prostate cancer. The present study was conducted to evaluate the risk of tumor under-grading and -staging for AS eligibility. Moreover, we analyzed possible biomarkers for predicting more unfavorable final tumor histology.

Gender-related fetal development of the internal urethral sphincter.

Objective: To investigate the fetal development of the internal urethral sphincter and the gender-related morphologic differences of the bladder outlet.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-seven (14 female, 23 male) fetal bladder neck specimens (mean gestational age, 19.4 weeks) with the smooth muscle complex of the internal sphincter were investigated histologically.

The maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is upregulated in high-grade prostate cancer.

Loss of cell cycle control is a prerequisite for cancer onset and progression. In prostate cancer, increased activity of cell cycle genes has been associated with prognostic parameters such as biochemical relapse and survival. The identification of novel oncogenic and druggable targets in patient subgroups with poor prognosis may help to develop targeted therapy approaches.

Value of enhanced transrectal ultrasound targeted biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis: a retrospective data analysis.

Objective: To evaluate enhanced transrectal ultrasound (E-TRUS) techniques including real-time sonoelastography (RTE) and contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound (CE-TRUS) for prostate cancer (PCa) detection in men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serum levels.

Methods: A total of 133 men with elevated PSA serum levels (≥1.25 ng/mL) showed PCa suspicious lesions on E-TRUS.

Contrast-enhanced colour Doppler-targeted prostate biopsy: correlation of a subjective blood-flow rating scale with the histopathological outcome of the biopsy.

Objective: To correlate a subjective blood-flow rating scale from contrast-enhanced colour Doppler (CECD) transrectal ultrasonography-targeted prostate biopsy with the histopathological outcome of the biopsy.

Patients And Methods: In all, 760 men with a serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of ≥ 1.25 ng/mL and a free-to-total PSA ratio of < 18% were included.

Genetic variation of genes involved in dihydrotestosterone metabolism and the risk of prostate cancer.

Purpose: Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an important factor in prostate cancer (PCA) genesis and disease progression. Given PCA's strong genetic component, we evaluated the possibility that variation in genes involved in DHT metabolism influence PCA risk.

Experimental Design: We investigated copy number variants (CNV) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).

Differential expression of apoptotic genes PDIA3 and MAP3K5 distinguishes between low- and high-risk prostate cancer.

Background: Despite recent progress in the identification of genetic and molecular alterations in prostate cancer, markers associated with tumor progression are scarce. Therefore precise diagnosis of patients and prognosis of the disease remain difficult. This study investigated novel molecular markers discriminating between low and highly aggressive types of prostate cancer.

Contrast-enhanced colour Doppler-targeted vs a 10-core systematic repeat biopsy strategy in patients with previous high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

Objective: To compare the results of contrast-enhanced colour Doppler (CECD)-targeted prostate biopsy with a systematic 10-core grey-scale biopsy scheme in patients initially diagnosed with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), as although HGPIN is thought to be a precursor to invasive adenocarcinoma, its diagnosis is no longer considered an indication for repeat prostate biopsy and patients should be followed by prostate-specific antigen levels and a digital rectal examination.

Patients And Methods: In all, 104 patients (aged 45-78 years) diagnosed with HGPIN on initial prostate needle biopsy were referred for a repeat biopsy within 6 months. Two independent examiners evaluated each patient; one used CECD-targeted biopsy (up to five cores) into hypervascular regions in the peripheral zone only, and subsequently the second took a systematic 10-core grey-scale biopsy.

Routine scrotal ultrasonography during the follow-up of patients with testicular cancer leads to earlier detection of asynchronous tumours and a high rate of organ preservation.

Objective: To compare outcomes of patients with asynchronous tumours detected before and after the introduction of scrotal ultrasonography (SUS) during routine follow-up examinations.

Patients And Methods: Since January 2001 SUS was also used during the follow-up of patients with testicular cancer. A series of 16 consecutive patients with asynchronous bilateral testicular tumours diagnosed while still complying with routine follow up investigations were identified and divided into two groups; group A was diagnosed by palpation only, before 2001, and group B was diagnosed after 2000.

Association of lower urinary tract symptoms and chronic ischaemia of the lower urinary tract in elderly women and men: assessment using colour Doppler ultrasonography.

Objectives: To investigate, using transrectal colour Doppler ultrasonography, (TRCDUS) whether perfusion of the bladder and prostate is reduced in elderly patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), common in later life, as experimental data suggest that chronic ischaemia has a key role in the development of LUTS.

Patients, Subjects And Methods: In 32 elderly patients with LUTS (12 women, mean age 82.3 years, group 1; and 20 men, 79.

Clinical and pathological features of screen vs non-screen-detected prostate cancers: is there a difference?

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and pathological characteristics of screen vs non-screen-detected prostate cancers, to determine if there is a difference in the same prostate-specific antigen (PSA) range.

Patients And Methods: In all, 997 patients who had had a radical prostatectomy were evaluated; 806 were Tyrolean screening volunteers, and 191 were from outside Tyrol, representing the 'referred prostate cancer' group. PSA level, age, prostate volume and pathological characteristics were assessed, as was the amount of over- and under-diagnosis.

Pathological features of Gleason score 6 prostate cancers in the low and intermediate range of prostate-specific antigen level: is there a difference?

Objective: To assess the pathological features of Gleason score 6 prostate cancers after radical prostatectomy in the low (<4 ng/mL) and intermediate range of prostate-specific antigen level (4-10 ng/mL), as such prostate cancers are considered to be well differentiated tumours with a low risk for recurrence after therapy.

Patients And Methods: In all, 1354 patients with T1c prostate cancer and PSA levels of <10.0 ng/mL had a radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis of screen- vs non-screen-detected prostate cancers with in men with prostate-specific antigen levels of 2.0-10.0 ng/mL.

Objectives: To evaluate possible over- and under-diagnosis of prostate cancer in a screened vs a referral population in the same range of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

Patients And Methods: In all, 1445 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and with a PSA level of <10 ng/mL were evaluated; 237 were from outside Tyrol (Austria) and represented the unscreened group, and 1208 were Tyrolean screening volunteers. Over-diagnosis was defined as a pathological stage of pT2a and a Gleason score of <7 with no positive surgical margins.