Use of the Prostate Health Index and Density in 3 Outpatient Centers to Avoid Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies.

Objectives: We investigated the diagnostic efficacy of the prostate health index (PHI) and PHI density (PHID) to avoid unnecessary prostate biopsies in 3 urological practices.

Methods: In 122 patients, total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), free PSA (f-PSA), the quotient from total PSA and f-PSA (f-PSA%), and [-2]pro-PSA were measured in the serum; PHI, PHID, and PSA density (PSAD) were calculated prior to prostate biopsy. Tissue sampling via transrectal biopsy was indicated in case of suspicious PSA (progression and/or elevation of PSA) and/or suspicious digital rectal examination.

TP53 gene mutations as an independent marker for urinary bladder cancer progression.

This study evaluates the influence of the TP53 genetic status on tumour recurrence and progression with a highly effective electrophoretic technique. DNA from tissue of 75 non-invasive urinary bladder cancers was PCR amplified in the TP53 exons 5-8 and run on horizontal polyacrylamide gels under defined temperature conditions to yield specific gel shifts. Kaplan-Meier and Cox-Regression analysis were performed with tumour progression.

Valproic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, is an antagonist for oncolytic adenoviral gene therapy.

Oncolytic adenoviruses preferentially replicate in and lyse tumor cells. However, their application to cancer gene therapy has been complicated by the low levels of coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) expressed in many solid tumors. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) significantly up-regulate CAR expression in tumor cells and have additional antineoplastic activities.

Clinical value of vesical leukoplakia and evaluation of the neoplastic risk by mutation analyses of the tumor suppressor gene TP53.

Aim: Leukoplakia has been found to be precancerous in organs covered with squamous epithelium. The present study was conducted to determine whether leukoplakia described in the female bladder is also a premalignant lesion.

Methods: Between 1973 and 1996, 77 female patients were diagnosed with vesical leukoplakia by cystoscopy and cytology and were followed-up until 2004 (mean follow-up time: 8.

Valproic acid inhibits invasiveness in bladder cancer but not in prostate cancer cells.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) represent a promising new class of antineoplastic agents that affect proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in both solid and hematologic malignancies. In addition, HDACIs can alter the expression of at least one cellular adhesion molecule, the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor, in bladder cancer. Because HDACIs can increase expression of a known cellular adhesion molecule, we hypothesized that migration and/or invasion may also be affected.

Identification and validation of suitable endogenous reference genes for gene expression studies of human bladder cancer.

Purpose: Housekeeping genes as endogenous references are generally used for the relative quantification of target genes in gene profiling studies. To date that issue has not been sufficiently investigated in bladder cancer. From a panel of 9 potential candidates we selected the most stable housekeeping genes for gene normalization in bladder cancer tissue.

Long-term benefit of 5-aminolevulinic acid fluorescence assisted transurethral resection of superficial bladder cancer: 5-year results of a prospective randomized study.

Purpose: As shown in various studies 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) induces fluorescence of malignant and dysplastic bladder tissue and increases tumor detection rates by about 20%. However, data on the long-term benefits are sparse. Thus, the 5-year outcome data of a prospective randomized trial comparing patients who initially underwent bladder tumor resection (TUR) under standard white light or with ALA induced fluorescence were evaluated.

Phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced transitional cell cancer.

Objective: We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of a first-line combination chemotherapy using weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with metastatic transitional cell cancer (TCC).

Patients And Methods: Thirty-three patients with advanced measurable TCC of the urothelium were entered onto this trial. Patients were treated once weekly with a combination therapy of paclitaxel (100mg/m(2)) and carboplatin (AUC 2, according to the Calvert formula).

Histone deacetylase inhibitors upregulate expression of the coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR) preferentially in bladder cancer cells.

Studies on bladder cancer cell lines have shown that low adenoviral (Ad) infectivity is associated with low-level coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR) expression. Recently, we and others demonstrated a tumor stage- and grade-dependent downregulation of CAR expression in a large series of clinical bladder cancer specimens. Here, we demonstrate adenoviral gene transfer can be markedly enhanced in bladder cancer cells by upregulation of CAR through the use of certain differentiating agents, including the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI) trichostatin A and sodium phenylbutyrate.

Integrin alpha(v) and coxsackie adenovirus receptor expression in clinical bladder cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the expression of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) and alpha(v) integrins in clinical specimens of bladder cancer to determine the susceptibility to adenoviral gene therapy. Efficient adenovirus-based gene therapy requires binding of the virus to CAR and involves the alpha(v) integrins. Studies on bladder cancer cell lines have shown that low adenoviral transduction rates were associated with low-level expression of CAR.