Issues

Renewing Intimacy: Advances in Treating Erectile Dysfunction Postprostatectomy

Expert Commentary

Herbert LeporAndrew R McCulloughJason D Engel

Erectile dysfunction following prostatectomy is almost universal. Herbert Lepor, MD, Professor and Martin Spatz Chairperson of Urology and Professor of Pharmacology at New York University School of Medicine and cofounder of Reviews in Urology; Andrew McCullough, MD, Director of the Sexual Health and Male Fertility and Microsurgery Programs at New York University School of Medicine; and Jason D. Engel, MD, Vice Chairman of Urology and Director of Urologic Robotic Surgery at George Washington University Hospital, discuss treatment options for erectile dysfunction postprostatectomy. [Rev Urol. 2008;10(4):245-253]

Prostate Cancer Specificity of PCA3 Gene Testing: Examples from Clinical Practice

Diagnostic Update

David G BostwickLeonard S Marks

A specific marker for early prostate cancer would fill an important void. In initial evaluations of the prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) gene vis-à-vis serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, the gene offers great promise. At the cellular level, PCA3 specificity for cancer is nearly perfect because of the gross overexpression of the gene by cancer cells. As a clinical test for early prostate cancer, heightened specificity is also seen in urine containing prostate cells from men with the disease. PCA3 gene testing holds valuable potential in PSA quandary situations: (1) men with elevated PSA levels but no cancer on initial biopsy; (2) men found to have cancer despite normal levels of PSA; (3) men with PSA elevations associated with varying degrees of prostatitis; and (4) men undergoing active surveillance for presumed microfocal disease. [Rev Urol. 2008;10(3):175-181]

John P. Stein, MD, FACS 1962-2008

In Memoriam

Penile Rehabilitation Postprostatectomy: Is There a Role for MUSE?

Expert Commentary

Herbert LeporAndrew R McCullough

[Rev Urol. 2008;10(1):1-5]

Estrogenic Side Effects of Androgen Deprivation Therapy

Treatment Update

Michael S CooksonJames A EasthamTheresa A GuiseMichael G OefeleinMatthew R SmithCelestia Higano

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is part of standard therapy for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer and is frequently used in men with a rising prostate-specific antigen following radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. In some men, ADT may be administered for years or even decades. The intended therapeutic effect of ADT is testosterone deficiency. Because estrogen is a normal metabolite of testosterone, ADT also results in estrogen deficiency. ADT has a variety of adverse effects, many of which are primarily related to estrogen deficiency. Bone mineral density may decrease by 4% to 13% per year in men receiving ADT. The fracture rate for patients on ADT averages 5% to 8% per year of therapy. Hot flashes, gynecomastia, and breast tenderness are common side effects associated with ADT. In the clinic, minimum baseline testing should include weight measurement, blood pressure reading, and fasting lipid panel and serum glucose tests. Currently, there are no large outcome trials in men on ADT testing the available therapies for adverse effects. No therapies are specifically approved for treatment of adverse effects in men on ADT. Although some therapies can be used for a single indication (based upon small studies), there is currently no agent to treat the multiple estrogenic side effects of ADT. [Rev Urol. 2007;9(4):163-180]

Prostate Biopsy: Current Status and Limitations

Diagnostic Update

Joseph C Presti

The technique of prostate biopsy has evolved over the past 10 years to improve our ability to detect prostate cancer. Extended biopsy schemes can be performed in the office under local anesthesia and are well tolerated. In addition to detection, the role of extended biopsy schemes in refining tumor grading and risk assessment has become better defined. This review discusses the evolution of prostate biopsy techniques from the sextant scheme to the extended scheme and demonstrates the latter's utility in clinical decision making. [Rev Urol. 2007;9(3):93-98]

Understanding the Natural Biology of Kidney Cancer: Implications for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Treatment Update

Arie S BelldegrunAllan J PantuckTobias KlatteMark D Kleid

During the past several decades, there has been a significant increase in the understanding of the biology, clinical behavior, and prognostic factors of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Such progress has led to greater sophistication in the diagnosis and classification of RCC. Here, we review recent advances in our knowledge of the biologic characteristics of RCC that have resulted in notable achievements in staging, prognosis, patient selection, and treatment. [Rev Urol. 2007;9(2):47-56]

Challenging the Current Treatment Paradigm of Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer

Introduction

Herbert Lepor

New Directions in the Management of Advanced Prostate Cancer

Introduction

Herbert Lepor

Recent Progress in the Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer With Intermittent Dose-Intense Calcitriol (DN-101)

Treatment Update

Michael K Brawer

Docetaxel is becoming standard therapy for androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC), and investigational agents are being added to docetaxel to assess potential additive effects and synergy. Although one of these agents, calcitriol, has repeatedly demonstrated antiproliferative properties against cancer of the prostate, breast, colon, and lung, the antineoplastic activity of calcitriol requires superphysiologic levels. Unfortunately, chronic exposure to superphysiologic levels of calcitriol causes hypercalcemia and resulting toxicity. Therefore, a host of analogues of calcitriol have been investigated for antineoplastic function, including intermittent dose-intense calcitriol, or DN-101. Because of encouraging results from phase II studies of DN-101 combined with docetaxel, the ASCENT (AIPC Study of Calcitriol Enhancement of Taxotere) phase II trial investigated docetaxel plus DN-101 versus docetaxel plus placebo in 250 men with metastatic AIPC and an abnormal baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Although the ASCENT trial did not achieve its primary endpoint for increased PSA response, there was a significant trend in PSA response rate in the DN-101 arm. DN-101 in combination with docetaxel seems to improve overall survival and, interestingly, has a favorable safety profile compared with docetaxel alone. The DN-101/docetaxel combination is currently being studied in a much larger international trial, ASCENT-2. [Rev Urol. 2007;9(1):1-8]