[Medical treatment of metastatic germ cell cancers].

The treatment options in metastatic testicular germ cell cancer are based on prognostic the factor-based staging system from IGCCCG. Since 1987 (!), the optimal chemotherapy regimen has been BEP with a weekly administration of 30 mg of bleomycine, and a 3 or 5-day schedule of 500 mg/m(2) etoposide and 100 mg/m(2) cisplatin. Dose reduction of this regimen or use of carboplatin provide lower efficacy and should be abandoned.

[Evaluation of sexuality and erectile function of candidates for radical prostatectomy].

Objectives: To evaluate sexuality and erectile function of candidates for radical prostatectomy in order to assess the place of nerve-sparing surgery in the preoperative discussion.

Material And Methods: From June 2004 to January 2005, 75 consecutive patients, candidates for radical prostatectomy, were prospectively evaluated. Their erectile function and sexuality were evaluated after announcing the diagnosis.

Diagnostic utility of a p63/alpha-methyl coenzyme A racemase (p504s) cocktail in ambiguous lesions of the prostate upon needle biopsy.

Objective: To investigate the potential utility of a new combined immunostaining technique for diagnosing prostate cancer from histological analysis of needle biopsy specimens.

Materials And Methods: Tissue was immunostained with a combination of antibodies against a basal cell marker (p63), and an enzyme commonly overexpressed in prostate cancer (p504s), on 63 small prostate cancer foci (<1 mm) and 109 cases of ambiguous lesions observed in needle biopsies.

Results: After p63/p504s immunostaining, 93% of the ambiguous lesions (102/109) were classified.

[Value of new prostate cancer markers: alpha methylacyl CoA racemase (P504S) and p63].

The diagnosis of prostate cancer is based on histological examination of prostatic biopsies using histological criteria identified on standard stains. In certain lesions mimicking prostate cancer, the pathologist must perform immunohistochemical studies looking for loss of basal cells and antibodies directed against cytokeratin CK 903 (34bE12) or CK5/6, which sometimes give inconclusive results leading to a diagnosis of suspicious site. The discovery of overexpression of alpha-méthylacyl CoA racemase in prostate cancer using a microarray technique has allowed the development and marketing of an antibody (P504S /AMACR) which, in combination with a new basal cell marker (p63), is a very valuable tool for the pathologist in the management of suspicious sites and cancers less than 1 mm in diameter detected on prostatic biopsies.