Treatment of intermediate-risk prostate cancer with active surveillance in the routine care-Long-term outcomes of a prospective noninterventional study (HAROW).

Background: We report here the long-term outcomes of patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa) treated with active surveillance (AS) in a daily routine setting.

Material And Methods: HAROW (2008-2013) was a noninterventional, health service research study investigating the management of localized PCa in a community setting. A substantial proportion of the study centers were office-based urologists.

Distinct distribution patterns of exercise-induced natural killer cell mobilization into the circulation and tumor tissue of patients with prostate cancer.

The mobilization and activation of natural killer (NK) cells have been proposed as key mechanisms promoting anti-oncogenic effects of physical exercise. Although mouse models have proven that physical exercise recruits NK cells to tumor tissue and inhibits tumor growth, this preclinical finding has not been transferred to the clinical setting yet. In this first-in-human study, we found that physical exercise mobilizes and redistributes NK cells, especially those with a cytotoxic phenotype, in line with preclinical models.

Treatment Failure in Vertebral Osteomyelitis: Is it All About Staphylococcus aureus ?

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The aim was to compare the influence of 2 common vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) causing pathogens on treatment failure within the first year of diagnosis.

Summary Of Background Data: VO is mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus (SA), while enterococci and streptococci (ENST) are also responsible for a significant proportion of VO, particularly in elderly patients.

EBV induced loss of sperm quality.

Objective: To analyze the presence of Epstein-Barr-virus (EBV) in sperm samples from patients diagnosed with some impairment of the fertility parameters evaluated using seminogram and to observe if there is any difference with the normozoospermic samples. We hypothesize that an EBV infection is responsible for the upregulation of the miRNA 199-3p, which binds to the 3'UTR of endothelin-1 (ET-1). ET-1 is a key factor to produce Vimentin (Vim3), and therefore, it influences the expression of Vim3.

Perioperative Outcomes of Transurethral Resection, Open Prostatectomy, and Laser Therapy in the Surgical Treatment of Benign Prostatic Obstruction: A "Real-World" Data Analysis from the URO-Cert Prostate Centers.

Introduction: The aim of the study is to compare length of hospital stay, transfusion rates, and re-intervention rates during hospitalization for transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P), open prostatectomy (OP), and laser therapy (LT) for surgical treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO).

Methods: URO-Cert is an organization, in which clinical data of prostatic diseases from 2 university, 19 public, and 3 private hospitals and 270 office-based urologists are collected in order to document treatment quality. Data on diagnostics, therapy, and course of disease are recorded web based.

Non-invasive urine markers for the differentiation between RCCs and oncocytoma.

Background: Recently, our group showed that Vim3 is overexpressed in tissue samples of renal oncocytomas and Mxi-2 in clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC). The mechanism leading to the truncation of both proteins is known and involves with two miRs, both detectable in urine. Since the analysis of miRs is time-consuming, our aim was to identify the truncated proteins in urine instead.

[Active surveillance-much safety, little recruitment : Is it possible to extend the indication for "intermediate-risk" prostate cancer?].

Background: In contrast to North America or Sweden, active surveillance (AS) has not yet become established in our country for suitable prostate carcinomas (PCa). The strict entry criteria specified by the guideline are not likely to improve the acceptance in the near future. In early detection, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing leads to high numbers of overtreatment.

Stage and Grade Migration in Prostate Cancer Treated With Radical Prostatectomy in a Large German Multicenter Cohort.

Introduction: Overdiagnosis and overtherapy in prostate cancer (PCa) treatment should be avoided, which has led to an awareness of the need to decrease treatment in cases of low-risk PCa with radical prostatectomy (RP). Simultaneously, prostate-specific antigen testing has become less popular in the last few years, which has resulted in higher cancer grade and stage at diagnosis. We evaluated stage and grade migration in the disease of patients treated with RP in a large German cohort.

Active Surveillance for Incidental (cT1a/b) Prostate Cancer: Long-Term Outcomes of the Prospective Noninterventional HAROW Study.

Introduction: Optimal treatment for incidental prostate cancer (IPC) after surgical treatment for benign prostate obstruction is still debatable. We report on long-term outcomes of IPC patients managed with active surveillance (AS) in a German multicenter study.

Methods: HAROW (2008-2013) was designed as a noninterventional, prospective, health-service research study for patients with localized prostate cancer (≤cT2), including patients with IPC (cT1a/b).

Effect of a Single Bout of Aerobic Exercise on Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites and Inflammatory Markers in Prostate Cancer Patients-A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

The kynurenine (KYN) pathway gains growing research interest concerning the genesis, progression and therapy of solid tumors. Previous studies showed exercise-induced effects on metabolite levels along the KYN pathway. Modulations of the KYN pathway might be involved in the positive impact of exercise on prostate cancer progression and mortality.

Long-term outcomes of active surveillance for clinically localized prostate cancer in a community-based setting: results from a prospective non-interventional study.

Purpose: To report on long-term outcomes of patients treated with active surveillance (AS) for localized prostate cancer (PCa) in the daily routine setting.

Methods: HAROW (2008-2013) was a non-interventional, health service research study about the management of localized PCa in the community setting, with 86% of the study centers being office-based urologists. A follow-up examination of all patients who opted for AS as primary treatment was carried out.

[Noninvasive treatment of organ-confined prostate cancer in elderly patients-results of the HAROW study].

Background: Noninvasive treatment options such as active surveillance (AS), watchful waiting (WW), and hormone deprivation therapy (HT) are particularly important in elderly patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa).

Objectives: We examine the use of these noninvasive treatment options in the everyday care in a cohort of patients ≥70 years old.

Materials And Methods: In the HAROW study, the treatment of localized PCa under everyday conditions is investigated.

Vimentin 3 Allows Differentiation between Normozoospermia and Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.

Vimentin is a structural protein predominantly located in the head of sperms. The function and localization of the previously identified truncated version, Vimentin 3 (Vim3), are still unknown. To investigate whether the expression of Vim3 can be used as a reliable marker for the differentiation of sperm quality, we analyzed ejaculates from patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) syndrome and normozoospermia.

Prostate-specific health-related quality of life and patient-physician communication - A 3.5-year follow-up.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine associations between prostate-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and aspects of patient-physician communication in localized prostate cancer treatment.

Methods: Data of patients with localized prostate cancer were collected at 6-month intervals over a 3.5-year period within a prospective, observational study (HAROW).

Low-dose computed tomography of urolithiasis in obese patients: a feasibility study to evaluate image reconstruction algorithms.

Retrospective evaluation and comparison of image quality generated by low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) from obese patients with urolithiasis using alternative reconstruction algorithms. Twenty-five obese patients (body mass index [BMI]>25 kg/m) underwent LDCT scans for suspected urolithiasis. The scans were recompiled using filtered-back projection (FBP), statistical iterative reconstruction (iDose) and iterative model-based reconstruction (IMR).

Efficacy of the Oestrogen Antagonist Tamoxifen on Sperm Parameters in Patients with Idiopathic Oligoathenoteratozoospermia.

Background: The oestrogen antagonist tamoxifen has been suggested as an empiric treatment option for treating idiopathic oligoathenoteratozoospermia (iOAT).

Objectives: To analyse the use of tamoxifen in iOAT.

Method: Fifty-seven men receiving tamoxifen for iOAT were recruited from 2016 to 2017 in a retrospective, single-centre setting.

Predictive value of the UICC and AJCC 8th edition tumor-nodes-metastasis (TNM) classification for patients treated with radical prostatectomy.

Background: According to the 8-edition of the tumor-nodes-metastasis-classification localized prostate cancer (PCa) can be divided into two categories (cT1,cT2), two stages (SI,SII), and, by incorporating prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) and WHO-grade (Gleason-Score), into prognostic stage groups (PSG I,IIA,IIB,IIC,III). We examined the predictive value of these systems for an organ-confined disease (pT≤2), favorable WHO-grade ≤2 (Gleason-score ≤7a), and biochemical-free-survival (BFS) after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods: Data were collected in a prospective, non-interventional, multicenter health-service-research study for the treatment of localized PCa (HAROW) with 687 patients receiving RP.

MicroRNAs as Urinary Biomarker for Oncocytoma.

The identification of benign renal oncocytoma, its differentiation from malignant renal tumors, and their eosinophilic variants are a continuous challenge, influencing preoperative planning and being an unnecessary stress factor for patients. Regressive changes enhance the diagnostic dilemma, making evaluations by frozen sections or by immunohistology (on biopsies) unreliable. MicroRNAs (miRs) have been proposed as novel biomarkers to differentiate renal tumor subtypes.

Health-related quality of life in active surveillance and radical prostatectomy for low-risk prostate cancer: a prospective observational study (HAROW - Hormonal therapy, Active Surveillance, Radiation, Operation, Watchful Waiting).

Objectives: To compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between patients with localised prostate cancer in an active surveillance (AS) group and a radical prostatectomy (RP) group, as evidence shows that both groups have similar oncological outcomes. Thus, comparative findings on the patients' HRQOL are becoming even more important to allow for informed treatment decision-making.

Patients And Methods: The Hormonal therapy, Active Surveillance, Radiation, Operation, Watchful Waiting (HAROW) study is a prospective, observational study designed to collect data for different treatment options for newly diagnosed patients with localised prostate cancer under real-life conditions.

Utilization of Active Surveillance and Watchful Waiting for localized prostate cancer in the daily practice.

Purpose: To analyze the utilization of Active Surveillance (AS) and Watchful Waiting (WW) in the daily routine setting, since both are non-invasive treatment options for localized prostate cancer (PCa), which are used in a curative (AS) or palliative (WW) setting. Since differentiation of both strategies is not always clear, patients were compared with respect to the inclusion criteria, frequency of follow-up examinations (Prostate Specific Antigen = PSA tests, rebiopsies), and initiation of a deferred treatment.

Methods: HAROW is a non-interventional, health-service research study on the management of localized PCa in the community setting.

How to Perform Image-guided Prostate Biopsy: In-bore and Fusion Approaches.

The integration of magnetic resonance imaging into urologic routine may be highly beneficial and change our standards for prostate cancer treatment.

Risk stratification: a tool to predict the course of active surveillance for localized prostate cancer?

Objective: To investigate a cohort of patients undergoing active surveillance (AS) for localized prostate cancer (PCa) with regard to possible differences in discontinuation rates, subsequent therapies, reasons for intervention and pathological findings after deferred surgery after patient stratification into very-low-risk, low-risk and intermediate-/high-risk PCa groups.

Patients And Methods: The HAROW study was a non-interventional, observational, outcomes research study on the management of localized PCa in the community setting. A total of 468 patients were prospectively enrolled in the HAROW study, with a mean follow-up of 28.

The Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer in Everyday Practice in Germany.

Background: Prostate cancer is now often diagnosed in the localized, welldifferentiated stage. In the HAROW study, we investigated the care situation with respect to the various treatment options for localized prostate cancer in everyday clinical practice in Germany.

Methods: Study physicians for this prospective, multicenter observational study were recruited through the Federation of German Urologists.

Patients' perceptions of mortality risk for localized prostate cancer vary markedly depending on their treatment strategy.

Treatment choice for localized prostate cancer (PCa) is a controversial issue, and mortality risk is probably the most decisive factor in this regard. The study aimed to compare prostate-cancer-specific mortality risk estimates for different treatment options assigned by patients managed with active surveillance (AS), radical prostatectomy (RP) and patients who had discontinued AS (DAS). Patients initially managed with AS or RP (N = 370) were matched according to length of therapy.