Maximal testosterone suppression in prostate cancer--free vs total testosterone.

Testosterone remains a key target in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The relationship of free testosterone to prostate cancer treatment and outcomes remains largely unexplored. A consensus of prostate cancer experts was convened in 2013 to review current knowledge surrounding relationship of total and free testosterone to prostate cancer, discuss the free hormone hypothesis, and highlight future avenues for therapeutics.

Evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms related to uncomplicated benign prostatic hyperplasia in Italy: updated summary from AURO.it.

Background: The first Italian national guidelines were developed by the Italian Association of Urologists and published in 2007. Since then, a number of new drugs or classes of drugs have emerged for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), new data have emerged on medical therapy (monotherapies and combination therapies), new surgical techniques have come into practice, and our understanding of disease pathogenesis has increased. Consequently, a new update of the guidelines has become necessary.

Should we follow-up serum testosterone in patients with advanced prostate cancer?

Agonistic analogs of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormones are indicated for the palliative treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. While the prognostic role of prostate-specific antigen in patients submitted to androgen-deprivation therapy has been extensively investigated in these patients, there is no consensus about the utility of serum testosterone measurements during follow-up and about their possible prognostic value. Recent reports have shown that testosterone levels might be directly related to survival and risk of death.

Anti-androgen therapy suspension following prolonged clinical and biochemical response: outcomes in a series of elderly patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Aims And Background: To describe the outcomes following the suspension of androgen-suppression therapy in a series of elderly patients in an advanced stage of prostate cancer and in prolonged clinical and biochemical response.

Material And Methods: Of 371 consecutive patients with advanced prostate cancer and treated with androgen-suppression therapy, 44 older patients were defined as in stable response on the basis of the following: absence of noteworthy dysuria, normal prostate findings on digital rectal examination, and prostate-specific antigen values lower than 0.50 ng/ml.

Testosterone levels in patients with metastatic prostate cancer treated with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone therapy: prognostic significance?

Objective: To determine if the testosterone level achieved with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is directly related to survival and risk of death in men with metastatic prostate cancer, as agonistic analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormones (LHRH) are indicated for palliative treatment of these patients, but there is no consensus about the utility of serum testosterone measurements during the follow-up, and their possible prognostic value.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 129 consecutive patients with a histological diagnosis of metastatic bony-only prostate cancer and previously untreated with ADT. They were treated with 3 months of goserelin.

Quality of life evaluation by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire in patients treated with hormonal treatment in Italy. A QuABIOS group study.

Objectives: An observational study was planned by the QuABIOS group, to survey the hormonal treatment administered to prostate cancer patients in Italy within a time window of 12 months. We report here a prospective quality of life (QOL) evaluation over time and by hormonal treatment modalities.

Methods: Patients with diagnosis of prostate cancer and treated with hormonal therapy were eligible for this study.

Evidence-based guidelines for the management of lower urinary tract symptoms related to uncomplicated benign prostatic hyperplasia in Italy: updated summary.

Background And Scope: Despite the high prevalence and huge socio-economic impact of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Italy, no national guidelines have been produced so far. This is a summary of the first Italian guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to uncomplicated BPH, prepared by a multidisciplinary panel under the auspices of the Italian Association of Urologists and introduced in Italy in 2003. An update compiled by the authors is also included.