Small cell (neuroendocrine) carcinoma of the prostate: etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic implications--a retrospective study of 30 patients from the rare cancer network.

Within the framework of the Rare Cancer Network Study, we examined 30 patients suffering from small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer, either in an early/localized or an advanced/metastatic stage. Patients were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy, with or without pelvic radiotherapy. Two patients with early disease achieved complete remission for a duration of 19 and 22 months.

The influence of age and comorbidity on receiving radiotherapy as part of primary treatment for cancer in South Netherlands, 1995 to 2002.

Background: The objective of this study was to study the influence of age and comorbidity on receiving radiotherapy (RT) in primary treatment of cancer.

Methods: In a population-based setting, the authors calculated the proportion of irradiated patients within 6 months after they received a diagnosis of lung, rectal, breast, or prostate cancer or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 33,369 patients) according to age and comorbidity between 1995 and 2002. Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for age, comorbidity, gender, and stage.