In a nutshell The present review evaluated the efficacy, safety and complications of salvage radical prostatectomy in patients with locally recurrent prostate cancer, and sought for the ideal candidates for this procedure. Some background Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common type of cancer in men. Treatment options for PCa which is confined to...
Read MoreThis article presents the novel concept of treating prostate cancer with radioactive gold nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are extremely small engineered structures that can be used to deliver treatments to otherwise inaccessible areas of the body. Radiation therapy for prostate cancer is currently given using many techniques, each of them having...
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In a nutshell This article evaluated whether the interval to biochemical failure (IBF) can be used as a prediction factor for prostate cancer mortality. The IBF was found to be the best current predictor of prostate cancer mortality in patients previously treated with radiation therapy. Some background Biochemical failure is defined...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The present article reviews new and prospective treatments for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Sipuleucel-T, Cabazitaxel, Denosumab and Abiraterone are novel therapies approved in the last few years for CRPC, while several other therapeutic agents such as MDV3100, Alpharadin and...
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This article summarizes recent findings regarding cognitive problems and decline in patients previously treated with chemotherapy. It gives a comprehensive overview of results from neuropsychological, imaging and animal studies. It also proposes investigating post-chemotherapy mental decline in the context of the normal aging process. In long...
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The present clinical trial evaluated the safety of an immune-based therapy (termed ‘combined immunotherapy’) as an alternative to chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic (spread with distant metastases) prostate cancer non-responsive to hormonal treatment, or ‘castration-resistant prostate cancer’ (mCRPC). The trial aimed...
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In a nutshell This paper evaluated the use of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to treat recurrent prostate cancers that are confined to the prostate gland (T1 and T2) and that have previously been treated with External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT). HIFU treatment has led to minimal PSA levels, and negative biopsies in about 58% of the...
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In a nutshell Tamoxifen treatment is given to many breast cancer patients after surgery to prevent recurrences and improve survival. It is usually given for a maximum of 5 years. This study determined that longer treatments offer further survival benefit. Some background Tamoxifen is a drug used against breast cancers which produce...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study evaluated if strategies to prevent cancer recurrence are associated with prolonged survival 15 years after treatment. Their main findings were that postoperative radiation managed to prevent cancer recurrence and was associated with higher rates of long-term survival. Some background Early breast cancer is often treated...
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This review article describes clinical evidence of the benefits and risks of a treatment combined of a short course of hormonal therapy (termed ‘androgen deprivation therapy’, ADT) and radiation given in escalated doses. Patients involved were those with localized prostate cancer but higher Gleason score or prostate-specific antigen (PSA)...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This article reviewed the possible complications that can occur after radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Some background Radiation therapy (RT) is usually given as part of prostate cancer management. RT improves the prognosis of prostate cancer by limiting the rate of recurrence (return of cancer). In early stages, RT can even...
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In a nutshell The present study compared the risks of urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control) and sexual dysfunction following two techniques of radical prostatectomy (complete surgical removal of the prostate gland): traditional open procedure versus robotic-minimally invasive surgery. Main findings: the risks tested were comparably...
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