Volume 9, Number 2Review ArticlesThe Impact of Definitions of Failure on the Interpretation of Biochemical Recurrence Following Treatment of Clinically Localized Prostate CancerDiagnostic UpdateAlan W PartinMatthew E NielsenWidespread early detection with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has radically transformed the clinical management of prostate cancer. PSA has become valuable in the monitoring and risk stratification of recurrent disease following local therapy. In many ways, biochemical recurrence–free survival, or PSA outcome, has become a surrogate measure of treatment efficacy following primary local therapy. Given the inherent differences in PSA kinetics following these treatment approaches, the definition of biochemical success or failure is not uniform among therapies. An appreciation of the inherent strengths, limitations, and biases of the standard definitions of failure can provide a more meaningful context within which to interpret the reported outcomes of different treatment modalities. [Rev Urol. 2007;9(2):57-62]Prostate-specific antigenRadiotherapyHormonal therapyProstate cancer recurrenceBiochemical failureBrachytherapy
Volume 15, Number 3Review ArticlesBladder Cancer After Radiotherapy for Prostate CancerSystematic ReviewFrancesca SurianoEmanuela AltobelliFederico SergiMaurizio BuscariniExternal beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is frequently used in the management of prostate cancer (PCa) as definitive, postoperative, or salvage local treatment. Although EBRT plays a central role in the management of PCa, complications remain a troubling by-product. Several studies have demonstrated an association between radiotherapy and elevated risk of acute and late toxicities. A secondary malignancy induced by initial therapy represents one of the most serious complications related to definitive cancer treatment. The radiation-related secondary primary malignancy risk increases with increasing survival time. Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is the most frequent secondary primary malignancy occurring after radiotherapy and is described as more aggressive; it may be diagnosed later because some radiation oncologists believe that the hematuria that occurs after prostate EBRT is normal. Some patients treated for localized PCa will subsequently develop invasive bladder cancer requiring surgical intervention. Patients with PCa treated with EBRT should be monitored closely for the presence of bladder cancer. [Rev Urol. 2013;15(3):108-112 doi: 10.3909/riu0577] © 2013 MedReviews®, LLCProstate cancerBladder cancerRadiotherapyExternal beam radiotherapy