THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK

In addition to the reports on the early stages of the RALP learning curve and quality of life outcomes post-brachtherapy, there are a large number of additional reports in today’s news:

The Allium Group (an Israel-based medical device company) has announced the award of a CE mark for its large caliber, removable posterior urethral stent (the Allium Bladder-neck Stent). This stent provides a novel potential solution for patients who develop a stenosis at the bladder neck after removal of the prostate or the bladder. It is a super-elastic structure that can be inserted into the posterior urethra of patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy (for prostate cancer) or radical cystoprostatectomy (for bladder cancer).

Thurairaja et al. have reviewed current thinking about the indications, extent, and benefits of pelvic lymph node dissection (PNLD) for patients with prostate cancer (and bladder cancer). They conclude that, for patients with prostate cancer patients, a well-defined patient selection strategy should be employed.

Lepor has written an introductory review on the use of vascular targeted photodynamic therapy, together with a summary of early data from clinical use.

Gauthier et al. have studied the dosimetric impact and theoretical clinical benefits of so-called “fiducial markers” in the treatment of prostate cancer patients with dose-escalated external beam radiation (i.e., high-dose radiation) that necesitates high accuracy of the radiation beam to avoid the risk of serious adverse reactions.

Algeta ASA has announced that, later this year, the company will start to enroll US patients into the ALSYMPCA (ALpharadin in SYMptomatic Prostate CAncer) Phase III clinical trial evaluating Alpharadin (radium-223) as a systemic radiotherapeutic treatment for treatment of bone metastases in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Algeta began enrolling patients in this trial in June 2008; total trial enrollment is projected to be  approximately 750 HRPC patients with bone metastases.

Kim et al. have reported that arginine deiminase may have potential as a novel therapy for prostate cancer, based on early laboratory data.

Mirna Therapeutics and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Science Park Research Center will collaborate in investigating the potential of microRNAs in human prostate cancer.

Champions Biotechnology, Inc. has agreed to collaborate with Gradalis Inc. and the Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center to initaite development of personalized “vaccines” for cancer patients. This technology will necessitate individualized bioengineering of material from each patient’s tumor to treat that patient’s specific cancer because the “vaccine” immunotherapy is developed from the patient’s own tumor. The media release from Champions Biotechnology does not specifically state that “vaccines” will be developed for prostate cancer.

Filed under: Diagnosis, Drugs in development, Management, Treatment | Tagged: Alpharadin, arginine deiminase, bladder neck stent, fiducial marker, high-dose external beam radiation, microRNA, pelvic lymph node dissection, PNLD, radium-223, vaccine therapy |