Molecular markers and their prognostic impact in patients with advanced prostate cancer undergoing intermittent androgen suppression.

Objective: Tumour features were evaluated during intermittent androgen suppression (IAS), and their prognostic impact on the first off-treatment time was analysed.

Patients And Methods: Twenty patients with advanced prostate cancer underwent three consecutive prostate biopsies during the first cycle, namely at the beginning of androgen deprivation, 8 months after continuous therapy and at the time of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression above 20 ng/ml. Biopsy specimens were immunohistochemically processed and analysed for the apoptotic index (AI), Ki-67, p53 and Bcl-2 to investigate eventual changes over time.

Does extended lymphadenectomy increase the morbidity of radical cystectomy?

Objective: To report the events during and after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion for bladder cancer, in terms of major and minor complications, comparing a minimal with an extended lymphadenectomy, as more lymph nodes obtained during radical cystectomy may improve staging and thus the outcome.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed 92 consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy from March 1998 to February 2002; 46 had a minimal (group A) and 46 an extended lymphadenectomy (group B). Cases were selected according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, only including those graded 2 or 3.

Sacral distribution of prostatic lymph nodes visualized on spiral computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction.

Objective: To evaluate the involvement of sacral lymph nodes in prostatic lymphatic drainage, using contemporary radiological imaging techniques.

Patients And Methods: The study included six patients (mean age 61.8 years, range 51-75) with suspected prostate cancer.

Lymphatic drainage of prostatic transition and peripheral zones visualized on a three-dimensional workstation.

Objectives: To determine whether the prostate has lymphatic/lymph node drainage that is not sampled by conventional lymphadenectomy and whether the transition and peripheral zones of the prostate have a different lymphatic drainage, because up to one quarter of lymph-node-negative patients who undergo radical prostatectomy will develop distant metastases.

Methods: Ten patients (mean age 62.3 years, range 50 to 76) scheduled for transrectal ultrasound-guided sextant biopsy because of an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen level of 4 to 10 ng/mL and a normal digital rectal examination were included in this study.

Twelve prostate biopsies detect significant cancer volumes (> 0.5 mL).

Objectives: To compare, in a retrospective study, pathological specimens of prostate cancer detected in additional areas of a 12-core biopsy with tumours detected using traditional sextant biopsy.

Patients And Methods: The study included 27 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer. Prostatectomy specimens of cancers detected using standard sextant biopsies were compared with those detected using six additional core biopsies.