Satoru Iwase, Tadashi Murakami, Yuichiro Saito, Keiichi Nakagawa

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 312-316, 2004

Abstract Changes in blood cytokines of 28, consenting, terminally ill cancer patients were studied to determine a relationship between cachexia and changes in cytokine levels. Levels of PTHrP and five types of cytokines considered to be associated with cachexia, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IFNγ and LIF, were measured during routine blood examination and were compared with clinical findings. With the exception of TNF-α, which was detected in one patient, only IL-6 was detected in all 28 patients recruited in this study. Ten patients showed a sharp elevation of IL-6 just before death, following a 40-day period in… More >

A. Hazem Ismail, Waleed Altaweel, Simone Chevalier, Wassim Kassouf, Armen G. Aprikian

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 2146-2150, 2004

Abstract Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) figure among the most potent angiogenic factors identified. Local as well as serum VEGF-A over-expression has been correlated with metastasis in prostate cancer. However, little is known on VEGF-A expression in prostate cancer metastases themselves. Our objective was to assess VEGF-A expression in relation with angiogenesis in prostate cancer lymph node metastases.
Methods: Fifty-four lymph node metastatic specimens obtained from 32 patients were included in this study. All nodes were of prostate cancer origin as confirmed by positive PSA staining. Immunohistochemistry was performed to identify VEGF-A expressing cancer cells. Consecutive sections… More >

Uzair B. Chaudhary¹, David L. Milling¹, Nabil K. Bissada²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 2136-2138, 2004

Abstract Hypercalcemia associated with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is rarely encountered. We report a case of TCC of bladder with documented production of parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP). Our patient had a rapidly progressive course and died 2 months after radical cystectomy. Literature suggests that these patients present with advanced stage and carry a poor prognosis. The histopathologic features, treatment and prognosis associated with this rare paraneoplastic syndrome are reviewed. More >

Ian Poon¹, Melania Pintilie², Mark Potvin³, Tom McGowan⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 2125-2132, 2004

Abstract Purpose: Prostate cancer represents a large part of the workload for radiation oncology departments in Canada. Recent evidence suggests that conformal external beam radiotherapy improves results. The planning and treatment process for conformal patients requires a greater amount of resources that are in short supply in Ontario. An understanding of these differences is important to provide an accurate estimate of future radiation needs of the province. These differences can be quantified in a cost model that portrays the direct costs of delivering external beam radiotherapy in Ontario. With a developed cost model, a prospective direct cost… More >

R. Choo¹, V. Do¹, L. Sugar², L. Klotz², E. Bahk¹, E. Hong¹, C. Danjoux¹, G. Morton¹, G. DeBoer¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 2118-2124, 2004

Abstract Objective: To examine the change of histologic grade of untreated, low to intermediate grade, clinically localized prostate cancer over time on repeat prostate biopsy.
Methods and materials: In a prospective single-arm cohort study, patients were managed with observation alone unless they met pre-defined criteria of disease progression (PSA, clinical or histologic progression). Sixty-seven (54%) of a total of 123 eligible patients underwent follow-up prostate biopsy. Median time to the follow-up biopsy was 22 months (range: 7-60).
Results: On the follow-up biopsy, Gleason score was unchanged in 20 patients (30%), upgraded in 19 (28%), and downgraded in 27 (40%).… More >

Shabbir M. H. Alibhai¹, Laurence H. Klotz²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 2110-2117, 2004

Abstract Introduction: Most treatment studies of localized prostate cancer are observational in nature. The recent publication of a large randomized trial of radical prostatectomy (RP) versus watchful waiting (WW) has focused increased attention on the treatment of localized prostate cancer. We reviewed all published randomized trials that compared different primary treatment modalities for localized prostate cancer.
Materials and methods: We performed a comprehensive Medline search from 1966 to March 2003 to identify all English-language randomized trials of RP, external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT), brachytherapy, watchful waiting, and primary androgen-deprivation therapy in localized prostate cancer.
Results: Nine publications dealing with four separate… More >

Mark A. Lomaga¹, Charles Hayter²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 2205-2206, 2004

Abstract We report a case of a 73 year-old male diagnosed with T1 N0 M0 prostate cancer, Gleason score 7, undergoing a course of radical radiotherapy using 7600 cGY delivered in 38 fractions. Several hours after receiving his 27th fraction, he reported experiencing a painful penile erection lasting more than 6 hours. A history and several investigations were conducted to determine the etiology of this adverse event. Although several possible etiologies were considered, the two most likely possibilities were direct prostate-irradiation and/or his use of alfuzosin, a novel alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist. A literature search revealed one More >

Ed Tse, Russell Knaus

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 2172-2185, 2004

Abstract Purpose: Since Guillonneau and Vallancien reintroduced transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in 1998, several other medical institutions in Europe have published their series and confirmed that laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) is a feasible and reproducible approach to the management of clinically localized prostate cancer; however, there have been few reports from North American medical institutions. We now report the results of our first 200 consecutive cases of LRP in a Canadian Medical Institution.
Materials and method: From February 2000 until April 2003, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy was performed on 200 out of 205 surgical candidates for radical prostatectomy. There… More >

Ross E. Gray¹, Laurence H. Klotz²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 2285-2289, 2004

Abstract It has been extremely difficult for men with prostate cancer to obtain reasonable estimates of the likelihood of remaining potent after first line therapy, partly because of differences in defining potency. If, as in more recent studies, the definition requires that men are usually (not just occasionally) able to get and sustain an erection, then the picture is not encouraging. Additional strategies are needed to help men sustain sexual activity. In this paper we draw on the experiences of a rather remarkable prostate cancer patient to help consider the possibilities for a different kind of… More >

Tony Choon Seng Woo, Richard Choo, Sarat Chander

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.11, No.5, pp. 2390-2392, 2004

Abstract Breast and prostate cancer occurring concurrently is a rare occurrence. However, the recent literature has reported that there is an increased incidence of male breast cancer in prostate cancer patients. The authors describe the case of a man who presented with breast cancer, which was preceded by prostate cancer. There are some common features in terms of the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of these two tumors which are discussed. More >