THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK

The three reports in today’s news cover:

• A future perspective on treatments for localized disease
• Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy in Europe
• Long-term follow-up on urinary toxicities following brachytherapy

Ahmed et al. have reveiwed available information of the current and potential future roles of cryotherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and photodynamic therapy in whole gland and focal therapy of localized prostate cancer. They describe these modalities as offering a “potential for a middle ground between active surveillance and radical therapy.”

Robot-assisted laproscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is not spreading across Euirope at the same pace as it has become commonplace in the USA. Drouin et al. offer a perspective on why there is less enthusiasm for this technique in Europe.

Keyes et al. have reported on the frequency of acute and late urinary toxicity, associated predictive factors, and resolution of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) in 712 consecutive prostate brachytherapy patients treated between 1998 and 2003 (median follow-up, 57 months). They conclude that most urinary symptoms resolved within 12 months after prostate brachytherapy, and significant long-term urinary toxicity was very low. They also note that refinements in patient selection and greater technical experience in prostate brachytherapy were associated with less urinary toxicity.

Filed under: Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Treatment | Tagged: brachytherapy, HIFU, RALP, cryoablation, phoptodynamic therapy, Europe, urinary toxicity