Fred Saad¹, Antonio Finelli², George Dranitsaris³, Larry Goldenberg⁴, Scott Bagnell⁵, Martin Gleave⁴, Neil Fleshner²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, Suppl.3, pp. 16-24, 2006

Abstract Background: The wait times for prostate cancer surgery in Canada have increased over the past 2 decades. Prolonged wait times have a negative impact on patient quality of life but the effect on long-term cancer control is undefined. We conducted a systematic literature review to examine the best available evidence addressing the following key questions:
• What is the reported time interval for prostate cancer patients from the decision to operate until the day of cancer surgery?
• Are there recommendations/guidelines in the urological cancer literature and, if so, how do the Canadian times compare?
• Is… More >

Neil Fleshner¹, George Dranitsaris², Antonio Finelli¹, John Tsihlias¹, David Bell³, Martin Gleave⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, Suppl.3, pp. 3-13, 2006

Abstract Background: The wait times for urological cancer surgeries in Canada have increased over the past 2 decades. This is of concern to patients, physicians and other key stakeholders because there is evidence that delaying surgery beyond a recommended threshold could have a negative impact on clinical outcomes. To address these trends, a Canadian surgical wait times (SWAT) initiative has been undertaken to develop a consensus document and make recommendations on appropriate wait times. As a first step, the SWAT steering committee determined that current wait times estimates were required for the four key disease sites: prostate,… More >

D. Lewinshtein, M. McCormack, F. Peloquin, M. Poljicak, P. Karakiewicz, F. Saad

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 2988-2989, 2006

Abstract Rectourethral fistula is a rare, but documented complication of rectal cancer. To our knowledge this is the first report of a recto- cavernosal fistula after chemo-radiotherapy for cancer of the rectum. More >

Daniel Taussky¹, Juanita Crook¹, Abdullah Al Ghamdi², Neil Fleshner², Michael A. S. Jewett²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 2978-2983, 2006

Abstract Penile cancer is a rare malignancy affecting only 1 per 100,000 men in North America and Western Europe. Although the majority of men present with clinically negative inguinal lymph nodes, node positivity is associated with a ven; poor prognosis. Both the management of positive nodes, and the management of clinically negative nodes in intermediate- and high-risk patients remain controversial. Experience with penile cancer is often limited as even tertiary referral cancer centers may see only one or two such patients per year. The literature, which consists mainly of retrospective studies of patients treated over several More >

Hanna Bialkowska-Hobrzanska, David K. Driman, Robert Fletcher, Vimla Harry, Hassan Razvi

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 2967-2974, 2006

Abstract Background: The variable clinical behavior displayed by prostate cancer (PCa) warrants investigation of potential PCa-specific biomarkers that could identify more aggressive tumor types and therefore provide prognostic value. Upregulation of expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), Survivin, DD3 and PCGEM1 mRNAs in PCa lesions has recently been described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of detection of overexpression of these biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of PCa.
Material and methods: Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) prostatectomy tissue from 26 patients with PCa (Gleason score 3-9, mean 7) and 14 patients with… More >

Kavitha Passaperuma¹, Robert Ash², Varugar Venkatesan², George Rodrigues², Eric Winquist³

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 3009-3015, 2006

Abstract Objective: Consolidative radiotherapy has improved local control in other tumors with high local recurrence rates but has not been well studied in urothelial cancer. We hypothesized that pelvic chemoradiotherapy (PCRT) given after systemic chemotherapy for metastatic bladder cancer (MTCC) might alter the pattern of disease recurrence, and reduce the complications and morbidity of intrapelvic disease relapse. A 74% locoregional relapse rate has been observed in MTCC patients with intrapelvic nodal disease after response to chemotherapy. To explore this hypothesis further, we performed a retrospective analysis and report the efficacy, toxicity and pattern of failure with this… More >

Kevin C. Zorn, Philippe E. Spiess, Phillip L. Ross, Yosh Taguchi, Armen G. Aprikian

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 3164-3168, 2006

Abstract Purpose: The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and The American Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) general objectives mandate that all residents be competent to independently perform select surgical procedures. Unfortunately, no objective standardized measures presently exist for surgical training assessment. Operative logs have been implemented to quantify the number of cases the resident has been exposed to, however, these do not assess their degree of involvement or aptitude. An analysis of what exactly a resident performs, and how well, per case may assist in measuring their training progress. Herein, we… More >

Pauline T. Truong¹, Eric Berthelet¹, Junella C. Lee¹, Ross Petersen¹, Jan T. W. Lim¹, Catherine A. Gaul², Howard Pai¹, Paul Blood¹, Charles M. Ludgate¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 3139-3146, 2006

Abstract Objective: To prospectively evaluate the prevalence and severity of fatigue and its impact on quality of life (QOL) during and after radical external beam radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer.
Method and materials: Twenty-eight men with prostate cancer undergoing RT over 6-8 consecutive weeks were prospectively accrued. The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), a validated fatigue assessment tool, was administered at five time points: baseline (week 1), middle of RT (week 3-4), end of RT (last week of RT), and follow-up (median 6.5 weeks after RT). The BFI contained nine questions, each using 0-10 ratings to quantify fatigue severity… More >

Pierre I. Karakiewicz¹, Serge Benayoun^1,2, Daniel J. Lewinshtein^1,2, Felix K.-H. Chun¹, Khaled Shahrour², Paul Perrotte²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 3189-3194, 2006

Abstract Objective: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has shown promise in large scale studies. We assessed recurrencefree survival in patients treated with intravesical BCG/ Interferon (IFN) for non-muscle invasive, BCG refractory, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder at our local institution. Methods: Cancer control data were gathered for patients enrolled in a BCG/Interferon protocol at the University of Montreal. The main inclusion criteria consisted of pathologically proven evidence of intravesical BCG failure, and of complete transurethral resection of latest post BCG recurrence. Induction consisted of eight intravesical BCG/Interferon instillations. Select patients were treated with BCG/Interferon maintenance… More >

Scott Berry¹, Tricia Waldron², Eric Winquist³, Himu Lukka⁴, on behalf of the Cancer Care Ontario Program in Evidence-based Care’s Genitourinary Cancer Disease Site Group⁵

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 3180-3188, 2006

Abstract Purpose: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to assess the benefits of bisphosphonate therapy in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).
Methods: The literature was searched to identify RCTs or meta-analyses comparing treatment with bisphosphonates to placebo or no treatment.
Results: Ten trials that studied clodronate (five trials, 404 patients), pamidronate (two trials, 350 patients), alendronate (one trial, 49 patients), etidronate (one trial, 51 patients), and zoledronic acid (one trial, 643 patients) in men with HRPC and bone metastases met the eligibility criteria. Pain response was the most frequently reported primary outcome (eight… More >