The Role of PCA 3 as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) Treated with Docetaxel.

Aim: To investigate potential fluctuations in prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA 3) scores in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients treated with docetaxel and investigate the assay as a potential prognostic factor.

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study. Inclusion criteria included patients on hormonal treatment who were recently diagnosed with CRPC.

Chemotherapy with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and docetaxel in the treatment for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a multicenter phase II study of the Hellenic Oncology Research Group (HORG).

Purpose: To assess the antitumor activity and toxicity of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and docetaxel (GCD) regimen in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer.

Patient And Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve patients, aged ≤70 years with measurable or evaluable disease and a performance status (PS) of 0-2 were treated with sequential cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) (d1), gemcitabine 1,100 mg/m(2) (d1 and d14), and docetaxel 80 mg/m(2) (d14) every 28 days.

Results: Sixty patients with an ECOG PS of 0-2 were enroled.

An alternative minimally invasive technique for large prostates (>80 mL): transvesical prostatectomy through a 3-cm incision.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and the simplicity of a modified open transvesical prostatectomy for large prostates (>80 mL).

Methods: A total of 165 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated with transvesical prostatectomy through a 3-cm incision. Prostate size was 85-144 cm(3) (mean 101 cm(3)).

Comprehensive management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract represents only 5% of all urothelial cancers. The 5-year cancer-specific survival in the United States is roughly 75% with grade and stage being the most powerful predictors of survival. Nephroureterectomy with excision of the ipsilateral ureteral orifice and bladder cuff en bloc remains the gold standard treatment of the upper urinary tract urothelial cancers, while endoscopic and laparoscopic approaches are rapidly evolving as reasonable alternatives of care depending on grade and stage of disease.

Combination of docetaxel, estramustine phosphate, and zoledronic acid in androgen-independent metastatic prostate cancer: efficacy, safety, and clinical benefit assessment.

Objectives: Docetaxel is an effective agent for the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC). Its combination with estramustine phosphate (EMP) has shown promising results in AIPC but the toxicity remains considerable. In an effort to minimize toxicity, we designed an every-2-week docetaxel administration regimen with a 3-day low-dose EMP regimen.

A phase II randomized study of topical intrarectal administration of amifostine for the prevention of acute radiation-induced rectal toxicity.

Purpose: To investigate the cytoprotective effect of intrarectal amifostine administration on acute radiation-induced rectal toxicity.

Patients And Methods: 67 patients with T1b-2 N0 M0 prostate cancer were randomized to receive amifostine intrarectally (group A, n = 33) or not (group B, n = 34) before irradiation. Therapy was delivered using a four-field technique with three-dimensional conformal planning.

Colonoscopy effects on serum prostate specific antigen levels.

Introduction: To evaluate the colonoscopy effects on serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and PSA ratio.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty men were studied (median age 68 years, range 32-89). All of them had their serum PSA (total and free) measured 24 hours prior to colonoscopy and also 24 hours, 7 and 30 days after procedure.

Impact on cytoprotective efficacy of intermediate interval between amifostine administration and radiotherapy: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the cytoprotective impact of the interval between amifostine administration and radiotherapy (RT).

Methods And Materials: In a nonrandomized study, we reviewed the records of 177 patients with tumors localized in the pelvis (prostate, bladder, or gynecologic cancer), upper abdomen (pancreas, stomach, kidney), thorax (lung and breast cancer), head and neck (nasopharynx), soft tissue (sarcomas), and central nervous system. The patient records were stratified according to whether the patients had undergone RT either 25-40 min (Group 1, 96 subjects) or 10-15 min (Group 2, 81 subjects) after i.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for kidney stones reduces blood pressure: use of 24-hour ambulatory monitoring for study of blood-pressure changes induced by SWL.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) on blood pressure with the use of 24-hour ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring (ABPM).

Patients And Methods: We studied three groups of patients. Group I consisted of 60 patients with kidney stones treated with SWL.

Vesicourethral anastomotic strictures after radical retropubic prostatectomy: the experience of a single institution.

Objective: Stricture of the vesicourethral anastomosis remains a well-documented complication after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 294 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. Possible correlations between anastomotic stricture formation, tumor stage, positive surgical margins, number of anastomotic sutures, bladder neck preservation, urine leakage, previous prostate surgery and/or intraoperative blood loss were examined.

Solitary neurofibroma of kidney: clinical, histological and chromosomal appearance.

We present an unusual case of solitary renal mass that histological examination following nephrectomy confirms that it was a neurofibroma. Neoplasmatic markers though, were found elevated and chromosomal analysis revealed a Karyotype similar to the one found in adenocarcinomas of the kidney.

Rupture of an aortic anastomotic aneurysm into a ureter.

A case of rupture of a false aneurysm of the distal aorta into the left ureter is reported. The patient presented with purulent hydronephrosis and hematuria. A left aorto-femoral graft had been inserted 3 years earlier, which became infected and was then removed.

DNA flow-cytometric, histological and hormonal analysis of sertoli cell only syndrome (SECOS).

Sertoli cell only syndrome (SECOS) was identified on histology in 21 cases (16,28%) among 129 testicular biopsies performed in our department for azoospermia over the last 5 years. In these patients history, clinical features, hormonal levels, and histological findings were analyzed. In addition DNA flow-cytometric analysis was performed and showed an almost complete absence of haploid cells.

Intramasseteric metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.

In this case report, we present a solitary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma inside the masseter muscle. To our knowledge, it is the very first case ever encountered.