Impact of aspirin on clinical outcomes for African American men with prostate cancer undergoing radiation.

Aims And Background: Preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that aspirin (ASA) may exhibit antineoplastic activity. Particularly in prostate cancer, several reports have suggested that ASA plays a role in improved outcomes. Therefore, we studied the role of ASA in a uniquely African American population, which is known to harbor more aggressive and biologically different disease compared to the general population.

Assessment of risk of late rectal bleeding for patients with prostate cancer started on anticoagulation before or after radiation treatment.

Aim: To evaluate the risk of late rectal bleeding and its association with the timing and type of anticoagulation use in patients receiving dose-escalated radiation therapy (RT) (≥ 7,560 cGy) for prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: Between 2003-2010, 465 patients were treated at our Institution with dose-escalated RT and included in this analysis. Patients were placed into the following categories: no anticoagulation use, aspirin during RT, clopidogrel/warfarin during RT, aspirin after completion of RT, clopidogrel/warfarin after completion of RT.

Concordance Between Prostate Needle Biopsy and Surgical Histopathology in a Primarily African-American Population.

Introduction: Prior studies have revealed that the concordance between biopsy and surgical specimens has been improving over time. However, to date, this has not been analyzed in an African American population, for whom data have often shown more aggressive prostate cancer than for other races.

Methods: We analyzed 250 patients who were operated on at the NY Harbor Department of Veterans Affairs for localized prostate cancer between 2003 and 2010.

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in the selection of prostate brachytherapy.

Purpose: To utilize the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database to analyze whether there are racial or socioeconomic disparities associated with the selection of prostate brachytherapy.

Material And Methods: We selected patients who were diagnosed with localized prostate cancer between 2004-2006 and who underwent treatment with radiation. Data regarding race and estimates of socioeconomic status were also obtained by analyzing the average reported cost of living adjusted income in the SEER county from which the patient was treated, and dividing these results into quartiles.