Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Actas Urol Esp 2020 May 27. Epub 2020 May 27.

Politécnico de Coimbra, ESTeSC, DCBL, Coimbra, Portugal; CNC.IBILI Consortium / Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Biophysics Institute, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; European Association for Professions in Biomedical Sciences. Electronic address:

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the fourth most common cancer in the world and treatment is currently based on surgical removal and/or radiotherapy and/or hormone therapy. In the last few years' immunotherapy has become an important cancer treatment option. While the principles of immunotherapy evolved, only sipuleucel-T was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which lead to further studies with other agents, starting a new era in immuno-oncology. Read More

JCO Precis Oncol 2020 21;4:370-381. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.

Purpose: In prostate cancer, inactivating mutations lead to gene fusion-induced neoantigens and possibly sensitivity to immunotherapy. We aimed to clinically, pathologically, and molecularly characterize -aberrant prostate cancers.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study to identify patients with advanced prostate cancer who harbored somatic loss-of-function mutations. Read More

PLoS One 2020 26;15(5):e0233260. Epub 2020 May 26.

Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America.

Background: While response rates to anti-PD1 therapy are low in unselected metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients, those with inactivating mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes (i.e. MMR deficiency; MMRd) or microsatellite instability (MSI) are thought likely to respond favorably. Read More

J Nucl Med 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.

With the largest high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) cohort to date undergoing Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT primary staging, we aimed to 1) characterize the metastatic spread of PCa in relation to tumor Ga-PSMA-uptake and the D'Amico classification, and 2) compare Ga-PSMA PET/CT findings with radical prostatectomy (RP) with pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) histopathology. A total of 691 consecutive newly diagnosed, biopsy-proven, treatment-naïve, D'Amico high-risk PCa patients primary staged by Ga-PSMA PET/CT were included. PSMA maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) and metastatic findings were compared to PSA level, International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) grade, and clinical stage as traditional risk stratification parameters. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2020 May 17;12(5). Epub 2020 May 17.

Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA.

Although ~40% of screen-detected prostate cancers (PCa) are indolent, advanced-stage PCa is a lethal disease with 5-year survival rates around 29%. Identification of biomarkers for early detection of aggressive disease is a key challenge. Starting with 52 candidate biomarkers, selected from existing PCa genomics datasets and known PCa driver genes, we used targeted mass spectrometry to quantify proteins that significantly differed in primary tumors from PCa patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) across three study outcomes: (i) metastasis ≥1-year post-RP, (ii) biochemical recurrence ≥1-year post-RP, and (iii) no progression after ≥10 years post-RP. Read More

World J Urol 2020 May 18. Epub 2020 May 18.

Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, Division of Urology, University of Montreal Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Purpose: To test the effect of perioperative chemotherapy (CHT) on overall mortality (OM) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCC UB).

Methods: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database (1988-2016), we identified 1,018 SCC UB patients (664 TNM, 197 TanyNM and 156 TN or M), who underwent radical cystectomy with or without perioperative chemotherapy administration. Inverse probability of treatment-weighting (IPTW), Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox-regression models (CRMs) were used. Read More

Transl Oncol 2020 May 13;13(7):100789. Epub 2020 May 13.

Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DIMI), School of Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Academic Unit of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy. Electronic address:

Periostin (POSTN) is an extracellular matrix protein associated with tumor progression and shorter survival in prostate cancer (PCa). Here, we performed an integrative analysis of POSTN's role in patients with PCa. Clinical and POSTN data from large-scale datasets were analyzed. Read More

Eur Urol 2020 May 3. Epub 2020 May 3.

Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Augusta University-Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA; Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta, GA, USA. Electronic address:

Context: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is leading to delays in the treatment of many urologic cancers.

Objective: To provide a contemporary picture of the risks from delayed treatment for urologic cancers to assist with triage.

Evidence Acquisition: A collaborative review using literature published as of April 2, 2020. Read More

Prostate Cancer 2020 27;2020:8517130. Epub 2020 Jan 27.

Department of Pathology, Makerere College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men globally. A few studies that have been done in Uganda on survival of patients with prostate cancer indicate that, the overall survival of patients with prostate cancer in Uganda is poor. The aim of this study was to determine the 3-year overall survival rate of a cohort of patients with prostate cancer residing in Kyadondo County who were diagnosed from 2012 to 2014. Read More

J Urol 2020 May 12:101097JU0000000000001131. Epub 2020 May 12.

Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, Division of Urology, University of Montreal Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Background: Our objective was to investigate the effect of race and age on the distribution of prostate cancer (PCa) metastases.

Methods: Patients with metastatic PCa were abstracted from the National Inpatient Sample database (2008-2015).

Results: Of 6,963 patients with metastatic PCa, 3,881 (72. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2020 May 7;12(5). Epub 2020 May 7.

Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia.

Background: While critical insights have been gained from evaluating the genomic landscape of metastatic prostate cancer, utilizing this information to inform personalized treatment is in its infancy. We performed a retrospective pilot study to assess the current impact of precision medicine for locally advanced and metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma and evaluate how genomic data could be harnessed to individualize treatment.

Methods: Deep whole genome-sequencing was performed on 16 tumour-blood pairs from 13 prostate cancer patients; whole genome optical mapping was performed in a subset of 9 patients to further identify large structural variants. Read More

Oncoimmunology 2020 23;9(1):1738798. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis shows durable responses in a subset of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC). However, PD-L1 expression in tumor biopsies does not necessarily correlate with response to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Thus, a reliable predictive biomarker is urgently needed. Read More

EJNMMI Res 2020 May 7;10(1):45. Epub 2020 May 7.

Pharmaceutical Radiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.

Background: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) SPECT imaging in prostate cancer (PCa) could be a valuable alternative in regions where access to PSMA-PET imaging is restricted. [Tc]Tc-PSMA-I&S is a new Tc-labeled PSMA-targeting SPECT agent, initially developed for radio-guided surgery. We report on the diagnostic use of [Tc]Tc-PSMA-I&S-SPECT/CT in PCa. Read More

Cancer Discov 2020 May 6. Epub 2020 May 6.

Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

To study genetic factors influencing the progression and therapeutic responses of advanced prostate cancer, we developed a fast and flexible system that introduces genetic alterations relevant to human disease directly into the prostate glands of mice using tissue electroporation. These electroporation-based genetically engineered mouse models (EPO-GEMMs) recapitulate features of traditional germline models and, by modeling genetic factors linked to late stage human disease, can produce tumors that are metastatic and castration resistant. A subset of tumors with p53 alterations acquired spontaneous WNT pathway alterations, which are also associated with metastatic prostate cancer in humans. Read More

BMC Cancer 2020 May 6;20(1):387. Epub 2020 May 6.

Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.

Background: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) has been implicated in the survival and proliferation of prostate cancer cells.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our patients with advanced disease on adjuvant hormonal therapy after prostatectomy. Time to castration resistance stage was documented. Read More

Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2020 May 4. Epub 2020 May 4.

Oncology and Supportive Care Department, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, France.

Background: A great number of DNA-damage repair (DDR) pathways have been recognized to be frequently dysregulated in advanced stages of prostate cancer. DNA-repair defects in prostate cancer represents a clinically relevant disease subset. Tumors whose ability to repair double-strand DNA breaks by homologous recombination is compromised, are highly sensitive to blockade of the repair of DNA single-strand breaks via the inhibition of the enzyme poly(ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP). Read More

World J Urol 2020 May 2. Epub 2020 May 2.

Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Purpose: To investigate the performance of pre-surgery CT and multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) to identify lymph node (LN) metastases in the Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MUSIC). Abdominopelvic CT and mpMRI are commonly used for intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) staging.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the MUSIC registry identified patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RP) between 3/2012 and 7/2018. Read More

Nat Rev Urol 2020 May 1. Epub 2020 May 1.

CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK.

Radiotherapy in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard treatment option for men with localized and locally advanced prostate cancer. However, emerging clinical evidence suggests that radiotherapy can be incorporated into multimodality therapy regimens beyond ADT, in combinations that include chemotherapy, radiosensitizing agents, immunotherapy and surgery for the treatment of men with localized and locally advanced prostate cancer, and those with oligometastatic disease, in whom the low metastatic burden in particular might be treatable with these combinations. This multimodal approach is increasingly recognized as offering considerable clinical benefit, such as increased antitumour effects and improved survival. Read More

Clin Genitourin Cancer 2020 Mar 7. Epub 2020 Mar 7.

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

Background: Cabozantinib is active in advanced prostate cancer with improvement on bone scans in men on phase II trials. This trial evaluated the efficacy and changes in bone lesions in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treated with cabozantinib.

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients with mCRPC involving bone underwent biopsy of a bone lesion followed by cabozantinib starting at 60 mg daily and continuing until progression or intolerable toxicity. Read More

Nucl Med Commun 2020 Apr 10. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Singapore General Hospital.

Objective: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers are aggressive tumors with poor prognosis. Prostate-specific membrane antigen-targeted radionuclide therapy is a potential treatment for these patients. Here, we report our initial experience in Singapore. Read More

Urol Oncol 2020 Apr 10. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Molecular Urooncology, Department of Urology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Urology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Defects in DNA damage repair genes characterize a subset of men with prostate cancer and provide an attractive opportunity for precision oncology approaches. The prevalence of such perturbations in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve patients with a high risk for lethal disease outcome, however, has not been sufficiently explored.

Patients And Methods: Prostate cancer specimens from 67 men with newly diagnosed early onset, localized high-risk/locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer were included in this prospective pilot study. Read More

Mol Carcinog 2020 Mar 31. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer for men in the U.S. but does not impede patient survival until the disease is metastatic. Read More

J Cancer 2020 5;11(11):3264-3273. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Urology, Peking University, National Urological Cancer Center of China, Beijing, China.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the seventh most diagnosed cancer and the tenth leading cause of cancer mortality in China. Unlike the USA, both incidence and mortality continue to increase. In China, PCa is often diagnosed at a locally advanced or metastatic stage, resulting in a high mortality-to-incidence ratio. Read More

Diagnostics (Basel) 2020 Mar 28;10(4). Epub 2020 Mar 28.

Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Early detection of prostate cancer (PC) is paramount as localized disease is generally curable, while metastatic PC is generally incurable. There is a need for improved, minimally invasive biomarkers as current diagnostic tools are inaccurate, leading to extensive overtreatment while still missing some clinically significant cancers. Consequently, we profiled the expression levels of 92 selected microRNAs by RT-qPCR in plasma samples from 753 patients, representing multiple stages of PC and non-cancer controls. Read More

Cureus 2020 Feb 22;12(2):e7074. Epub 2020 Feb 22.

Pathology, G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, Jackson, USA.

Small cell carcinoma of the prostate (SCCP) is a rare malignancy that is considered a lethal entity of prostate cancer. Once it is diagnosed, patients characteristically experience an aggressive clinical course with poor overall survival rates, which unfortunately still holds even with modern treatments. In this report, we discuss the case of a 63-year-old African American male who initially presented to the hospital with an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 9. Read More

Mol Cancer Ther 2020 Mar 27. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Hematology/Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Center.

Prostate cancer (PC) patients with tumors harboring defects in DNA-repair genes (DRD) generally do not respond well to AR-directed therapy. Furthermore, canonical pathways evolve during disease progression and may impact treatment with existing therapies. Due to the limited treatment options after failure of hormonal and taxane therapy, and the tumor heterogeneity induced by DRD, we sought to characterize the alterations in primary and metastatic PC. Read More

ESMO Open 2020 Mar;5(2)

Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.

Bone health impairment is a frequent detrimental consequence of the high bone tropism of prostate cancer (PCa) cells. It is further worsened by administration of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), the current standard of care in the management of advanced PCa, through a rapid and dramatic increase in bone turnover and body mass changes. As a result, patients may experience substantial pain and poor quality of life (QoL) and have an increased risk of death. Read More

Curr Opin Oncol 2020 May;32(3):210-215

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Summarize recent advances in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

Recent Findings: Recent randomized data suggest a survival advantage to early use of novel androgen receptor inhibitors in combination with androgen deprivation therapy both in the setting of hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer and nonmetastatic castration-resistant disease. While ongoing analyses examine optimal sequencing of existing agents for treatment of advanced prostate cancer, additional research focuses on expanding treatment options through development of novel genomically targeted therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and immune therapy combinations. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Mar 24;13(3). Epub 2020 Mar 24.

Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital Health Service District, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.

Penile metastases from prostate cancer (PC) are rarely reported in the literature. Most commonly diagnosed due to presentation with malignant priapism and other urinary symptoms or from findings on clinical examination, prognosis has been reported to be poor. The authors outline a case of penile metastasis from advanced PC. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 Mar 19;21(6). Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality among men in the developed world. Conventional anti-PCa therapies are not effective for patients with advanced and/or metastatic disease. In most cases, cancer therapies fail due to an incomplete depletion of tumor cells, resulting in tumor relapse. Read More

Radiographics 2020 May-Jun;40(3):709-726. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

From the Department of Radiology (T.T., M.Y., A.K.) and Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology (A.H.B.), Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Ariz; Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan (T.T., R.I., S.K.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (A.T.F.).

Relapsing level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after initial curative-intent local therapy for organ-confined prostate cancer is often the first sign of recurrence. However, PSA level recurrence does not enable accurate differentiation of locally recurrent tumor from metastatic disease or a combination of both. Metastatic prostate cancer most frequently involves bones and lymph nodes, followed by other organs such as the liver, lung, pleura, adrenal gland, ureter, peritoneum, penis, testis, and meninges. Read More

Theranostics 2020 3;10(7):2888-2896. Epub 2020 Feb 3.

Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Auger radiopharmaceutical therapy is a promising strategy for micrometastatic disease given high linear energy transfer and short range in tissues, potentially limiting normal tissue toxicities. We previously demonstrated anti-tumor efficacy of a small-molecule Auger electron emitter targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), 2-[3-[1-carboxy-5-(4-[I]iodo-benzoylamino)-pentyl]-ureido]-pentanedioic acid), or I-DCIBzL, in a mouse xenograft model. Here, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy, long-term toxicity, and biodistribution of I-DCIBzL in a micrometastatic model of prostate cancer (PC). Read More

Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2020 Mar;40:1-10

Yorkshire Cancer Research Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Since 1944, when Huggins and Hodges demonstrated the effectiveness of bilateral orchiectomy for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the first-line treatment for men with advanced PCa. The proportion of PCa cases that are metastatic at diagnosis ranges globally, from 5%-20% in countries with widespread screening practices to upward of 30%-60% where screening is minimal. In the United States alone, there will be an estimated 191,000 new cases of PCa diagnosed in the year 2020, of which approximately 20% will be metastatic. Read More

Curr Opin Oncol 2020 May;32(3):216-222

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Purpose Of Review: The present article highlights the most common DNA repair gene mutations, using specific examples of individual genes or gene classes, and reviews the epidemiology and treatment implications for each one [with particular emphasis on poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibition and PD-1 blockade].

Recent Findings: Genetic and genomic testing have an increasingly important role in the oncology clinic. For patients with prostate cancer, germline genetic testing is now recommended for all men with high-risk and metastatic disease, and somatic multigene tumor testing is recommended for men with metastatic castration-resistant disease. Read More

BMC Palliat Care 2020 Mar 12;19(1):31. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Unité Mobile de Soins Palliatifs, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP Centre, Paris, France.

Background: Palliative care (PC) referral is recommended early in the course of advanced cancer. This study aims to describe, in an integrated onco-palliative care program (IOPC), patient's profile when first referred to this program, timing of this referral and its impact on the trajectory of care at end-of-life.

Methods: The IOPC combined the weekly onco-palliative meeting (OPM) dedicated to patients with incurable cancer, and/or the clinical evaluation by the PC team. Read More

J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2020 03;18(3):329-354

National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

This selection from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Bladder Cancer focuses on the clinical presentation and workup of suspected bladder cancer, treatment of non-muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer, and treatment of metastatic urothelial bladder cancer because important updates have recently been made to these sections. Some important updates include recommendations for optimal treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the event of a bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) shortage and details about biomarker testing for advanced or metastatic disease. The systemic therapy recommendations for second-line or subsequent therapies have also been revised. Read More

Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020 Jun 29;69(6):1113-1130. Epub 2020 Feb 29.

Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Med Center, Omaha, NE, 68192, USA.

Bone metastatic prostate cancer (BM-PCa) significantly reduces overall patient survival and is currently incurable. Current standard immunotherapy showed promising results for PCa patients with metastatic, but less advanced, disease (i.e. Read More

Actas Urol Esp 2020 Apr 26;44(3):156-163. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Departamento de Urología, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España.

Background: The effect of primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) has not been well documented. The objective of the present study was to analyze the outcome of tumors treated with ADT as primary therapy in the Spanish Prostate Cancer Registry (19.4% of the series). Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020 03;106(4):693-702

School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Purpose: To clarify the relative effects of duration of androgen suppression (AS) and radiation dose escalation (RDE) on distant progression (DP) in men with locally advanced prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: Participants with locally advanced prostate cancer in the TROG 03.04 RADAR trial were randomized to 6 or 18 months AS ± 18 months zoledronic acid (Z). Read More

Nat Rev Urol 2020 03 21;17(3):177-188. Epub 2020 Feb 21.

Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

The practice of radical prostatectomy for treating prostate cancer has evolved remarkably since its general introduction around 1900. Initially described using a perineal approach, the procedure was later popularized using a retropubic one, after it was first described as such in 1948. The open surgical method has now largely been abandoned in favour of the minimally invasive robot-assisted method, which was first described in 2000. Read More

Comput Biol Med 2020 Feb 15;117:103619. Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China. Electronic address:

Metastatic bone disease (MBD) is a common complication of advanced cancer and recent research suggests that Endo180 expression is dysregulated through the TGFβ-TGFβR-SMAD2/3 signalling pathway during the invasion of tumour cells in the development of MBD. We here provide a model for the dysregulation of the Endo180 network to demonstrate its vital contribution to bone destruction as well as tumour cell growth. The model consisted of a set of ordinary differential equations and reconstructed variations in the bone cells, resultant bone volume, and biochemical factors involved in the TGFβ-TGFβR-SMAD2/3 signalling pathway over time. Read More

JCO Oncol Pract 2020 Feb 21;16(2):e201-e210. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Purpose: As novel hormonal therapies, such as abiraterone and enzalutamide, move into earlier stages of treatment of advanced prostate cancer, there are significant cost implications. We used the ASCO Value Framework (AVF) and European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (MCBS) to quantify and compare the incremental clinical benefit and costs of these agents in the metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) settings.

Methods: We searched PubMed for randomized phase III trials of abiraterone and enzalutamide in mCRPC and mCSPC. Read More

Int J Cancer 2020 May 27;146(10):2845-2854. Epub 2020 Feb 27.

Department of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Keck School of Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCC), California, Los Angeles.

Transcriptomic profiling of metastatic cancer can illuminate mechanisms of progression and lead to new therapies, but standard biopsy is invasive and reflects only a single metastatic site. In contrast, circulating tumor cell (CTC) profiling is noninvasive and repeatable, reflecting the dynamic and systemic nature of advanced disease. To date, transcriptomic profiling of CTCs has not delivered on its full potential, because white blood cells (WBCs) vastly outnumber CTCs. Read More

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2020 Jun 16;92(6):495-502. Epub 2020 Feb 16.

Department of Endocrinology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.

Objectives: Denosumab is often used in men with advanced prostate cancer to prevent skeletal-related events, but can be associated with severe hypocalcaemia. Our objective was to review the pathophysiology, identify risk factors and provide recommendations for prevention and management of denosumab-associated hypocalcaemia.

Design: We reviewed the literature regarding denosumab-associated severe hypocalcaemia, defined as necessitating hospitalization for intravenous calcium treatment, in the context of prostate cancer. Read More

Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020 Apr 4;69(4):641-651. Epub 2020 Feb 4.

The Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, 600 North Wolfe Street, Blalock Building 1153, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.

Prostate cancer is a candidate for immunotherapy because cancer cells express tissue-specific proteins that can be therapeutic targets. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors and active immunization have performed poorly in clinical trials. We developed a novel virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine composed of bovine papillomavirus L1 protein engineered to display surface docking sites. Read More

Anticancer Res 2020 Feb;40(2):709-718

Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Background/aim: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. In contrast to localized disease, metastatic PCa leads to increased mortality. Kisspeptin (KISS1) functions as a metastasis suppressor in various cancers. Read More

G Chir 2019 Nov-Dec;40(6):481-496

Fournier's gangrene is a rare and potentially lethal condition. Previously described as an idiopathic process, this necrotising fasciitis is secondary to infection and in 95% of cases the cause arises from ano-rectum (30-50%), uro-genitalia (20-40%) or genital skin (20%). Cancer could lead to a Fournier's gangrene thanks a Romacompromised host immunity condition. Read More

Eur Urol 2020 Apr 27;77(4):508-547. Epub 2020 Jan 27.

University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Background: Innovations in treatments, imaging, and molecular characterisation in advanced prostate cancer have improved outcomes, but there are still many aspects of management that lack high-level evidence to inform clinical practice. The Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) 2019 addressed some of these topics to supplement guidelines that are based on level 1 evidence.

Objective: To present the results from the APCCC 2019. Read More

Cancer 2020 Apr 27;126(8):1683-1690. Epub 2020 Jan 27.

Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California.

Background: African American (AA) men in the general US population are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer (PC) compared with non-Hispanic white (NHW) men. The authors hypothesized that receiving care through the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, an equal-access medical system, would attenuate this disparity.

Methods: A longitudinal, centralized database of >20 million veterans was used to assemble a cohort of 60,035 men (18,201 AA men [30. Read More

Cancer J 2020 Jan/Feb;26(1):53-57

Clinically node-positive prostate cancer is often found at the time of diagnosis by cross-sectional imaging and remains poorly understood. Advanced imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging nanoparticles or positron emission tomography-based molecular imaging stand to rapidly change the field and hopefully will bring better diagnostic clarity. This will allow for prospective clinical trials using radiographic, clinical, or molecular parameters to establish who may benefit from both localized and systemic treatment intensification and who may avoid overtreatment. Read More