Nature Reviews Urology 9, 233 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.69
Author: Annette Fenner
Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided biopsy is the recommended tool for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, it is associated with a risk of sepsis caused by the transfer of bowel flora into the bloodstream during the biopsy procedure, as well as other complications including hematuria, hematospermia,
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 234 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.60
Author: Sarah Payton
Metastatic bladder cancer is associated with a very poor prognosis—the survival rate at 5 years is less than 10%. New research into how bladder cancer spreads to the lung, reported by Dan Theodorescu and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, might pave the
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 234 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.66
Author: Annette Fenner
Studies investigating the effect of PSA screening on prostate cancer mortality have produced conflicting results and the use of PSA as a screening tool remains controversial. Many clinicians continue to express concern over the effects of overdiagnosing incidental and clinically insignificant cancers, which do not
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 235 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.67
Author: Melanie Clyne
New data published in the Journal of Urology have shown a positive effect of combined therapy with antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) on rat models of BPH.Following on from previous research that identified potential roles for GHRH
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 235 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.70
Author: Melanie Clyne
According to new research published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, zoledronic acid—an osteoclast-targeting bisphosphonate that prevents loss of bone mass—directly inhibits prostate cancer proliferation and motility, without disrupting interactions between the tumor and the vascular wall.Previous preclinical studies have reported anticancer activities
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 236 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.62
A case-control study has found that men who are circumcised before their first sexual intercourse are 15% less likely to develop prostate cancer than men who are not or who were circumcised after first intercourse (95% CI, 0.73–0.99). The data was collected from 1,754 men
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 236 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.63
A multicenter phase III clinical trial of more than 400 patients has found that once-daily 200 mg delayed-release doxycycline (WC2031) is noninferior to twice-daily 100 mg doxycycline (Vibramycin) in treating uncomplicated urogenital chlamydia. Furthermore, WC2031 was better tolerated and demonstrated a similar safety profile to
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 236 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.64
Treatment of diabetic mice with cyanidin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside extracted from mulberry fruit improves erectile function compared with diabetic mice that did not receive the treatment. The corporal tissues of the treated mice showed increased expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 236 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.65
Clear-cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) overexpress the heat shock protein αB-crystallin, which might enhance cell growth and migration, according to a new study that analyzed 50 ccRCC tissue samples. αB-Crystallin expression was also correlated with overall survival of patients with ccRCC. Interestingly, overexpression of αB-crystallin
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 236 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.80
Author: Mina Razzak
A major challenge in treating metastatic prostate cancer is that secondary tumors, and the circulating cells that seed them, are fundamentally different to the primary lesion from which they are thought to originate. In the current era of intense research into personalized therapy, understanding the
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 237 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.71
Author: Mina Razzak
New research published in The Prostate supports the hypothesis that increased Hedgehog ligands produced by epithelial cancer cells activate the Hedgehog pathway in the adjacent stromal microenvironment, which in turn enhances tumor survival and proliferation. Inhibition of the Hedgehog signaling pathway using the small
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 237 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.82
Author: Annette Fenner
Tumor hypoxia is associated with early biochemical relapse after radiotherapy for prostate cancer and with local recurrence, according to a new study from a team in Toronto, Canada.Studies have suggested that hypoxia modulates tumor behavior and treatment response, promoting both aggressiveness and metastasis. “Many
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 238 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.72
Author: Sarah Payton
A team of researchers from Germany, led by Roman Ganzer, has examined the topographical distribution of nerves around the prostate in order to clarify which regions are important for erectile function. “Our intention was to use immunohistochemistry to distinguish proerectile parasympathetic nerves from nonerectile sympathetic
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 238 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.83
Author: Melanie Clyne
New data published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine has provided supportive evidence for associations between sexual dysfunction and psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression. In one study, Burri et al. studied 930 female twins and established a strong association between
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 239 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.81
Author: Annette Fenner
Two studies in the Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology have sought to improve our understanding of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).CP/CPPS is often associated with a severe reduction in quality of life, with patients reporting persistent and relapsing pain, irritative urinary
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 240 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.73
The ergot alkaloids dihydroergotoxine and bromocriptine are erectogenic agents, according to a new preclinical study in rats. By contrast, the alkaloid ergotamine demonstrated detumescent properties in these animals. When injected intrapenially, dihydroergotoxine (at doses of 0.1–1.0 mg/0.1 ml) induced longer erections than a saline solution
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 240 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.74
A multicenter phase III trial of avanafil in 200 Korean men with erectile dysfunction has shown a significant improvement in patient erectile function at doses of 100 or 200 mg. During the 12-week trial, sexual function was assessed using patient questionnaires, including the International Index
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 240 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.75
Adding bevacizumab to standard docetaxel and prednisone therapy does not improve overall survival, despite improving progression-free survival and objective response, according to a randomized phase III clinical trial of 1,050 chemotherapy-naive men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Importantly, treatment-related deaths were significantly more frequent in
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 240 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.76
New research has found that spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with testosterone simultaneously display erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostates and lower urinary tract symptoms—three common problems in ageing men. The discovery should help scientists study the adverse sexual effects of treatments for BPH and lower urinary tract
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 240 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.84
Author: Sarah Payton
LASP-1 (LIM and SH3 domain protein 1) is a focal adhesion protein that has previously been linked to cancers of the colon, ovary and breast. Now, in a study published in Urologic Oncology, a research team led by Peter Ardelt at the University of
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 241 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.78
Authors: Nicklas Pfanzelter & Justin E. Bekelman
A recent survey of radiation oncologists has evaluated barriers to surveillance rather than adjuvant therapy for postorchiectomy management of stage I seminoma. The findings suggest that providers are underestimating the late toxicity of radiation therapy in these patients.
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 242 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.58
Authors: Ramy F. Youssef & Vitaly Margulis
Cross-sectional imaging, endoscopic evaluation and biopsy are the mainstay of preoperative evaluation and staging of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), despite their limitations in accurate prediction of grade, stage and oncologic outcome. Multivariable models incorporating numerous clinical factors, including novel tumor markers will improve our ability to deliver personalized treatment.
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 243 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.59
Authors: Michael V. Williams & Danish Mazhar
In the last 3 years, three major trials involving patients with advanced germ cell testicular tumors have investigated dose-intense alternatives to standard BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin) therapy. All three trials failed to reach their accrual targets and none was able to demonstrate improved results.
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 245 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.79
Author: Bertrand Tombal
The Bone Scan Index (BSI) is a methodology used to quantify bone metastases and monitor changes under treatment. However, BSI is manually calculated and is, therefore, tedious and time-consuming to use, so it is not routinely implemented. A new automated platform to calculate BSI should help to increase its use.
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 247 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.41
Authors: Marcello Cimador, Marco Castagnetti, Ignazio Gattuccio, Marco Pensabene, Maria Sergio & Enrico De Grazia
During adolescence, the risk of developing a varicocele increases. Prevalence is less than 1% in boys aged younger than 10 years, but approaches that of the general adult population (about 15%) during puberty. For adolescent males with varicoceles, surgical risk factors have not yet been
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 258 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.56
Authors: Nir Kleinmann, Nicholas G. Zaorsky, Timothy N. Showalter, Leonard G. Gomella, Costas D. Lallas & Edouard J. Trabulsi
In general, patients with prostate cancer are able to maintain a relatively high quality of life (QOL), commonly reporting improvements in physical, emotional, and social functioning within 1 year of treatment. However, certain subpopulations of patients are susceptible to significant reductions in QOL during the
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 266 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.57
Authors: Ajjai S. Alva, Surena F. Matin, Seth P. Lerner & Arlene O. Siefker-Radtke
Upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) is an aggressive disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) with bladder cuff removal is considered the standard of care for most invasive UTUCs but distant relapses after surgery for locally advanced, high-grade disease are common. Although
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 274 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.14
Authors: Jarosław Czyż, Katarzyna Szpak & Zbigniew Madeja
Prostate cancer is a prevalent disease that is characterized by a presumably long latency period and a moderate propensity to metastasize. Although a range of mechanisms have been implicated in prostate carcinogenesis, the factors determining the initiation of metastasis remain obscure. The synchronized function of
Nature Reviews Urology 9, 283 (2012). doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.33
Authors: Mohammad S. Rahnama'i, Philip E. V. van Kerrebroeck, Stefan G. de Wachter & Gommert A. van Koeveringe
Five primary prostanoids are synthesized by the cyclooxygenase enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2: the prostaglandins PGE2, PGF2α, PGI2, PGD2 and thromboxane A2. High levels of these signaling molecules have been implicated—in both animal models and human studies—in decreased