Pilot study of radiofrequency interstitial tumor ablation (RITA) for the treatment of radio-recurrent prostate cancer.

Background: To prospectively evaluate the feasibility, safety, morbidity, and preliminary efficacy of radiofrequency interstitial tumor ablation (RITA) for the focal treatment of patients with local prostate cancer recurrence.

Methods: Eleven patients with biopsy-proven, hormone-naïve, clinically localized prostate cancer were enrolled in a prospective phase I/II trial. Eight patients had failed prior radiation therapy and three were not candidates for curative primary therapy (median Gleason score 7 and 6, respectively).

Tissue expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 and its receptors: correlation with pathologic features and biochemical progression in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Objectives: To determine whether the abnormal expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and/or its receptors (TGFbeta-RI and TGFbeta-RII) is associated with prostate cancer features and progression; and to investigate the relationship between tissue expression of TGFs and blood levels of TGF-beta1.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for TGF-beta1, TGFbeta-RI, and TGFbeta-RII was carried out on archival specimens from 118 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized disease (median follow-up 57.5 months).