Performance of a single assay for both type III and type VI TMPRSS2:ERG fusions in noninvasive prediction of prostate biopsy outcome.

Background: TMPRSS2:ERG fusions are promising prostate cancer biomarkers. Because they can occur in multiple forms in a single cancer specimen, we developed a quantitative PCR test that detects both type III and type VI TMPRSS2:ERG fusions. The assay is quantified from a standard curve determined with a plasmid-cloned type III TMPRSS2:ERG fusion target.

The impact of prostate gland weight in robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: We determined whether prostate weight has an impact on the pathological and operative outcomes of robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the records of 1,847 consecutive patients who underwent robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at our institution. Variables were compared across quartile distributions of prostate size as defined by weight, including group 1-less than 30 gm, group 2-30 to 49.