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Biomedical subjects

Claus G Roehrborn

Publications and source records attributed to Claus G Roehrborn.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A shifted paradigm for the further understanding, evaluation, and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men: focus on the bladder.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent among older men and have a negative impact on health-related quality of life. Frequent comorbidity with potential prostatic disease adds complexity to the management of male LUTS. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiological conditions that underlie male LUTS, and examine the relationship between symptoms and urodynamic findings. The contribution of bladder dysfunction to male LUTS, with a particular emphasis on overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, is explored. We also consider pharmacotherapeutic options for male LUTS. Pharmacotherapies that target the prostate (alpha1-receptor antagonists and 5alpha-reductase inhibitors) often fail to alleviate OAB symptoms, and may not be the most appropriate therapy for men with storage LUTS. Multiple studies have suggested that antimuscarinic therapy alone or in combination with alpha1-receptor antagonists improve OAB symptoms in men with and without bladder outlet obstruction. Although these agents may represent appropriate first-line therapies for men with OAB symptoms, the therapeutic potential of antimuscarinics alone or in combination with alpha1-receptor antagonists in this population should be evaluated in large-scale, well-designed clinical trials.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Relationship among serum testosterone, sexual function, and response to treatment in men receiving dutasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

CONTEXT: Although benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an androgen-dependent disorder, little is known regarding the influence of serum testosterone levels on sexual or prostate function or clinical response to dutasteride. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to explore these relationships in a large cohort of men treated with dutasteride for BPH. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS, AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Among 4254 men with BPH participating in 2-yr placebo-controlled dutasteride trials, 27% had a pretreatment serum testosterone less than 300 ng/dl. These 1162 men were divided into seven groups based on their serum testosterone level (<150, 150-174, 175-199, 200-224, 225-249, 250-274, and 275-299 ng/dl) and compared with men with normal baseline serum testosterone (BST; > or = 300 ng/dl). Questionnaires were used to assess sexual function, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and prostate volume to assess androgenic stimulation of the prostate and the American Urological Association Symptom Index to assess clinical responses. RESULTS: Although lower BST was associated with increased sexual dysfunction, this increase was not seen until BST was less than 225 ng/dl. There was no decrease in baseline PSA and prostate volume at low BST levels. Dutasteride was effective at decreasing PSA and prostate volume and improving BPH symptoms at all BST levels. CONCLUSIONS: In men with BPH, the frequency of sexual dysfunction increases at serum testosterone concentrations less than 225 ng/dl. However, PSA and prostate volume were similar at all testosterone levels, explaining why BPH can occur in men that would otherwise be considered hypogonadal. The fact that dutasteride is also effective in men with normal and low testosterone levels suggests that the high levels of 5alpha-reductase and dihydrotestosterone in the prostate allow the development and progression of prostatic hyperplasia, even at low circulating testosterone levels.

Aged↗

Variability in the performance of nuclear matrix protein 22 for the detection of bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: We assessed variability in the diagnostic performance of NMP22 for detecting recurrence and progression in patients with Ta, T1, and/or CIS transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in a large international cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NMP22 voided urine levels were measured in 2,871 patients who underwent office cystoscopy for monitoring previous stage Ta, T1 and/or CIS transitional cell carcinoma at 12 participating institutions. RESULTS: Patient characteristics varied considerably among institutions. Overall 1,045 patients (36.4%) had recurrent transitional cell carcinoma (range across institutions 13.6% to 54.3%). Median NMP22 was 5.5 U/ml (range across institutions 2.5 to 18.8). Of the patients 33.5% had grade III tumors (range across institutions 20.6% to 54.0%) and 22.4% had muscle invasive tumors (range across institutions 3.2% to 38.2%). Area under the ROC curve for bladder TCC detection was 0.735 (95% CI 0.715 to 0.755, range across institutions 0.676 to 0.889). The manufacturer recommended cutoff of 10 U/ml detected 57% of cases with a 19% false-positive rate. AUC for grade III and stage T2 or greater disease was 0.806 (95% CI 0.780 to 831) and 0.864 (95% CI 0.839 to 0.890), respectively. For each NMP22 cutoff NMP22 had higher sensitivity for detecting grade III and stage T2 or greater bladder transitional cell carcinoma than for detecting any cancer. No optimal cutoffs for detecting any or aggressive bladder transitional cell carcinoma could be derived based on NMP22 values. CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial degree of heterogeneity in the diagnostic performance of NMP22 applied to populations from different institutions. There is no clearly defined NMP22 cutoff but there is a continuum of risk for recurrence and progression.

Adult↗

The interpretation of serum prostate specific antigen in men receiving 5alpha-reductase inhibitors: a review and clinical recommendations.

PURPOSE: We reviewed the effects of 5alpha-reductase inhibitors on prostate specific antigen and clarified the adjustments that should be made to compensate for these effects to ensure that the usefulness of prostate specific antigen for detecting prostate cancer is maintained. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed articles published in the scientific literature with relevance to the effects of 5alpha-reductase inhibitors on the usefulness of prostate specific antigen for detecting prostate cancer. RESULTS: A total serum prostate specific antigen of 4.0 ng/ml has traditionally been used as the threshold for triggering prostate biopsy. However, clinical trials of finasteride and dutasteride have shown that 5alpha-reductase inhibitors decrease serum prostate specific antigen in patients with and without prostate cancer. To compensate, the doubling rule has been applied in clinical trials and clinical practice. However, doubling serum prostate specific antigen may overestimate actual prostate specific antigen in some patients receiving 5alpha-reductase inhibitors for up to 6 to 9 months, accurately estimate prostate specific antigen from 1 to 3 years and underestimate it thereafter. An increase in prostate specific antigen of 0.3 ng/ml from nadir as a trigger for biopsy maintains 71% sensitivity for prostate cancer in men receiving dutasteride with 60% specificity, similar to the 4.0 ng/ml prostate specific antigen cutoff using placebo. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that a prostate specific antigen increase from nadir of 0.3 ng/ml or greater could represent an alternative to the doubling rule for monitoring prostate specific antigen in patients on 5alpha-reductase inhibitors. The prostate specific antigen increase from nadir appears to be a more accurate cancer indicator than a doubled value in some patients.

Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase↗

Prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia disease.

PURPOSE: We reviewed the evidence that benign prostatic hyperplasia is a progressive condition and men at risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia disease can be identified, treated and protected to a meaningful extent regardless of symptom status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MEDLINE database was searched in 4 areas of interest relating to benign prostatic hyperplasia, including 1) progression of clinical manifestations with age, especially in regard to baseline symptom status, 2) the incidence of complications due to disease progression, 3) the use of predictive factors that may help identify men at risk for disease progression and 4) the prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia disease with medical therapy. RESULTS: Tissue changes in the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) are inevitable consequences of aging. However, benign prostatic hyperplasia disease, which we define as a life altering urinary condition requiring medical intervention, is predictable and preventable. Benign prostatic hyperplasia disease progression is associated with increasing prostate volume, decreasing urinary flow, symptomatic deterioration often to the point of major life-style interference and serious complications, eg acute urinary retention and the need for surgery. The risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia disease progression was found to be directly related to prostate volume and its surrogate marker, serum prostate specific antigen, after prostate cancer is excluded. Other factors, eg baseline symptoms and the flow rate, were found to be less relevant compared with prostate specific antigen greater than 1.5 ng/ml for predicting benign prostatic hyperplasia disease morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Men at risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia disease can be identified using prostate specific antigen greater than 1.5 ng/ml as a surrogate marker of prostate volume. In men at risk with prostate specific antigen greater than 1.5 ng/ml 5alpha-reductase inhibitors have potential value for benign prostatic hyperplasia disease prevention regardless of symptom status.

Adult↗

Development of nomogram to predict acute urinary retention or surgical intervention, with or without dutasteride therapy, in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a prediction model, or nomogram, that would predict the probability that a man with benign prostatic hyperplasia would experience acute urinary retention (AUR) or require surgical intervention (SI) within 2 years, with or without dutasteride therapy. METHODS: We modeled 4294 men treated in the Phase III dutasteride benign prostatic hyperplasia trials. These men were characterized at baseline by a number of parameters, including the American Urological Association Symptom Index, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index questionnaire, prior use of selective alpha1-blockers, prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen level, and maximal flow rate. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to relate these baseline variables to their future probability of AUR/SI within 2 years. The nomogram was internally validated with bootstrapping to assess its discrimination and calibration. Discrimination was quantified as the concordance index. RESULTS: The nomogram appeared to be accurately calibrated and discriminating (concordance index 0.71, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We constructed a nomogram for predicting the probability that a man would experience AUR or require SI within 2 years of benign prostatic hyperplasia diagnosis. At 24 months of follow-up, 7.4% of placebo patients and 3.7% of dutasteride patients had experienced AUR and/or SI, representing a 50% relative risk reduction and a 3.7% absolute risk reduction. For the greatest risk patient randomized to the Phase III dutasteride trial, the nomogram predicted a maximal risk of 27%, significantly greater than the median risk of the placebo-treated patients.

Acute Disease↗

Tolterodine extended release improves overactive bladder symptoms in men with overactive bladder and nocturia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nighttime dosing with tolterodine extended release (TER) in men with overactive bladder (OAB) and nocturia. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of data from two 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of nighttime (<4 hours before bedtime) TER (4 mg daily) dosing. Men with a mean micturition frequency of eight or more times in 24 hours, including a mean of 2.5 or more nocturia episodes/night, were included. For each micturition, patients used 7-day diaries to record urinary urgency on a 5-point urgency rating scale (1, none; 2, mild; 3, moderate; 4, severe; 5, urgency urinary incontinence). Micturitions were analyzed post hoc by urgency rating categories: total (1 to 5), non-OAB (1 to 2), OAB (3 to 5), and severe OAB (4 to 5). Adverse events were recorded throughout the study. RESULTS: A total of 745 men (mean age 64 years) were randomized to placebo (n = 374) or TER (n = 371). Of the 745 men, 73% reported no incontinence episodes in a 7-day diary at baseline. At week 12, the weekly values for nighttime severe OAB micturitions and 24-hour and daytime total, OAB, and severe OAB micturitions were significantly reduced in the TER group versus the placebo group. The TER-treated men also reported a significant reduction in the mean urgency rating versus placebo. Adverse events associated with TER were low and comparable to those in the placebo group, with the exception of dry mouth (11% versus 4%). Withdrawals because of adverse events were infrequent (3% TER, 4% placebo). Five men were withdrawn for symptoms suggestive of urinary retention (3 TER, 2 placebo). CONCLUSIONS: Nighttime TER dosing reduced urgency-related micturitions and was well tolerated in men with OAB and nocturia.

Benzhydryl Compounds↗

Combination therapy with doxazosin and finasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and a baseline total prostate volume of 25 ml or greater.

PURPOSE: We examined data from the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms trial to determine the relationship between baseline TPV and the effect of medical therapy in men with LUTS secondary to BPH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 3,047 patients with LUTS were randomized to placebo, 4 to 8 mg doxazosin, 5 mg finasteride or the combination of doxazosin and finasteride. Average treatment duration was 4.5 years The primary outcome was time to overall clinical progression of BPH, defined as a confirmed 4 point or greater increase in AUA SS, acute urinary retention, incontinence, renal insufficiency or recurrent urinary tract infection. Secondary outcomes were the need for invasive therapy for BPH, and changes in AUA SS and the maximum urinary flow rate with time. TPV was measured by transrectal ultrasound at baseline and study end. RESULTS: In patients with a small prostate (baseline TPV less than 25 ml) combination therapy was no better than doxazosin alone for decreasing the risk of clinical progression of BPH and need for invasive therapy as well as improving AUA SS and the maximum urinary flow rate. However, in patients with moderate size (25 to less than 40 ml) or enlarged (40 ml or greater) glands combination therapy led to a clinical benefit in these outcomes that was superior to that of doxazosin or finasteride. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with doxazosin and finasteride led to a greater decrease in the risk of clinical progression of BPH than either drug alone in patients with LUTS with a baseline TPV of 25 ml or greater.

Aged↗

Baseline factors as predictors of clinical progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia in men treated with placebo.

PURPOSE: We analyzed data from the placebo arm of the MTOPS trial to determine clinical predictors of BPH progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 3,047 patients with LUTS were randomized to either placebo, doxazosin (4 to 8 mg), finasteride (5 mg), or a combination of doxazosin and finasteride. Average length of followup was 4.5 years. The primary outcome was time to overall clinical progression of BPH, defined as either a confirmed 4-point or greater increase in AUA SS, acute urinary retention, incontinence, renal insufficiency, or recurrent urinary tract infection. We analyzed BPH progression event data from the 737 men who were randomized to placebo. RESULTS: The rate of overall clinical progression of BPH events in the placebo group was 4.5 per 100 person-years, for a cumulative incidence (among men who had at least 4 years of followup data) of 17%. The risk of BPH progression was significantly greater in patients on placebo with a baseline TPV of 31 ml or greater vs less than 31 ml (p <0.0001), a baseline PSA of 1.6 ng/dl or greater vs PSA less than 1.6 ng/dl (p = 0.0009), a baseline Qmax of less than 10.6 ml per second vs 10.6 ml per second or greater (p = 0.011), a baseline PVR of 39 ml or greater vs less than 39 ml (p = 0.0008) and baseline age 62 years or older vs younger than 62 years (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Among men in the placebo arm, baseline TPV, PSA, Qmax, PVR and age were important predictors of the risk of clinical progression of BPH.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Clinical usefulness of serum prostate specific antigen for the detection of prostate cancer is preserved in men receiving the dual 5alpha-reductase inhibitor dutasteride.

PURPOSE: We determined whether the decrease in serum PSA seen with 5alpha-reductase inhibitors affects the clinical usefulness of PSA for prostate cancer screening using data from 2 dutasteride benign prostatic hyperplasia studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2,802 men 50 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia, no history of prostate cancer, PSA 1.5 to 10 ng/ml, prostate volume 30 cc or greater, an American Urological Association symptom score of 12 or greater and peak urinary flow rate 15 ml per second or less were randomized to 0.5 mg dutasteride daily or matching placebo for 24 months. Increases in PSA from baseline and the maximum increase from nadir to month 24 were compared between the groups and analyzed by prostate cancer status, as determined by PSA driven biopsy and an advised cutoff of more than 4 ng/ml after doubling to correct for dutasteride treatment with sensitivity and specificity calculated for each. RESULTS: In placebo treated men without prostate cancer there was an 8.3% median increase in PSA at month 24 compared with -59.5% in those who received dutasteride, using doubled values to correct for dutasteride treatment. In those with prostate cancer these changes were 23.8% and -37.2%, respectively. Using the upper PSA limit of 4 ng/ml sensitivity for prostate cancer in men receiving dutasteride vs placebo was 0.737 vs 0.804, while specificity was 0.671 vs 0.578. Using a PSA increase from nadir of 0.8 ng/ml the sensitivity of dutasteride was 0.548 and its specificity was 0.795. CONCLUSIONS: A doubling factor is effective for maintaining the sensitivity and specificity of PSA for prostate cancer detection in men on dutasteride. Increases in serum PSA in men receiving dutasteride should be considered suspicious and serial PSA measurements should be used to evaluate changes from nadir.

Aged↗

Dioxin exposure and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Dioxins decrease prostate weight, reduce androgen responsiveness, and inhibit prostate morphogenesis in rats. We assessed the association of dioxins and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in participants in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 1999-2000. METHODS: Forty-two participants were classified as having BPH and 99 were classified as controls. Dioxin exposure was expressed as dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQ). Age, body mass index, waist circumference, race/ethnicity, smoking, physical activity, and education were assessed as potential confounders. RESULTS: After age adjustment, men without BPH had 20.9% higher TEQs (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.4-38.7%) as compared with men with BPH. On weighted, multivariate, logistic regression analyses, men with higher dioxin levels had lower odds of having BPH (odds ratio = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.08-0.62). CONCLUSIONS: Dioxin exposure in the general population may be associated with decreased odds of BPH. Our study findings need to be confirmed.

Aged↗

Efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine extended-release in men with overactive bladder and urgency urinary incontinence.

UNLABELLED: A group of authors from the USA evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine extended-release on objective and subjective endpoints in men with an overactive bladder. They found that it significantly reduced incontinent episodes and improved patient perception of treatment benefit in men with an overactive bladder OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine extended-release (ER) on objective and subjective endpoints in men with overactive bladder (OAB) and urgency urinary incontinence (UI). PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a post hoc analysis of data collected from men with OAB enrolled in a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of tolterodine ER (4 mg once daily; tolterodine ER registration trial) and included men with urinary frequency (> or =8 micturitions/24 h) and urgency UI (> or =5 episodes/week). UI episodes were assessed using 7-day bladder diaries. Patient perception of treatment benefit was evaluated after 12 weeks. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded throughout the study. RESULTS: In all, 163 men with OAB (placebo, 86; tolterodine ER, 77; mean age 65 years) were evaluated. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were similar for the two treatment groups. Compared with placebo, tolterodine ER significantly reduced weekly UI episodes (median % change, -71% vs - 40%, P < 0.05; mean numeric change, - 11.9 vs -5.9, P = 0.02). Men receiving tolterodine ER had fewer micturitions/24 h, but this was not a significant difference from placebo (median % change, -12% vs - 4%, P = 0.22). Significantly more men treated with tolterodine-ER (63%) than placebo-treated men (46%) reported a benefit of treatment after 12 weeks (P = 0.04). The most commonly reported AEs associated with tolterodine-ER vs placebo were dry mouth (16% vs 7%), constipation (4% vs 9%), dyspepsia (4% vs 1%), dizziness (5% vs 1%), and somnolence (3% vs 1%). One of the men receiving tolterodine ER had symptoms suggestive of urinary retention that led to his withdrawal from the study. None of the men had acute urinary retention requiring catheterization. CONCLUSION: In men with OAB and urgency UI, tolterodine ER was well tolerated and significantly reduced episodes of urgency UI, and improved patient perception of treatment benefit.

Adolescent↗

Definition of at-risk patients: baseline variables.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) represents a significant burden in ageing men due to frequently associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which may impair their quality of life. Some men will have progressive disease, mainly characterized by symptom deterioration of > or = 4 points on the International Prostate Symptom Score, but also by the occurrence of acute urinary retention (AUR) and BPH-related surgery. Identifying those at risk of unfavourable outcomes is important to optimize their management. Community-based longitudinal studies provide excellent data on the natural history of BPH. Baseline variables such as age, severe LUTS, low peak flow rate, high postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), enlarged prostate and high serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, have been identified as risk factors for AUR and BPH-related surgery in such studies. Placebo arms of controlled studies have more limited value for assessing the natural history, due to strong selection criteria which generate a regression to the mean artefact and narrow the applicability to the general population. Nevertheless, in these controlled studies, baseline serum PSA level and to a lesser extent prostate size consistently predicted the risk of AUR and BPH-related surgery. Conversely, quantitative variables such as baseline symptom severity and peak flow rate behaved paradoxically, probably as a consequence of strict inclusion criteria, resulting regression to the mean, and 'ceiling' effects. Results from the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms study and the Alfuzosin Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Study also suggest that using the PVR in clinical practice needs to be reconsidered as a predictor of BPH progression. Further research is needed to clarify the role of chronic inflammation in the process of BPH progression.

Age Factors↗

Alfuzosin 10 mg once daily prevents overall clinical progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia but not acute urinary retention: results of a 2-year placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of alfuzosin 10 mg once daily administered for 2 years on progression events in men with lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 1522 men at risk of having progression events from LUTS/BPH were randomized to receive alfuzosin 10 mg once daily (759) or placebo (763) for 2 years. Endpoints assessed were the occurrence of a first episode of acute urinary retention (AUR; primary) and the need for BPH-related surgery. Post hoc analyses included a deterioration in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of > or = 4 points and overall clinical progression of BPH (occurrence of AUR and/or surgery and/or symptom deterioration). RESULTS: Over 2 years, symptom deterioration was the most common progression event (14.3%), followed by BPH-related surgery (5.8%) and AUR (2.0%). Alfuzosin did not reduce the risk of AUR (alfuzosin 2.1% vs placebo 1.8%, P = 0.82) but tended to reduce the risk of surgery (5.1% vs 6.5%, P = 0.18); the reduction in risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval with alfuzosin was 22 (-18 to 48)%; and significantly reduced the risk of symptom deterioration (11.7% vs 16.8%; P = 0.0013); the RR was 30 (10-46)%. The overall clinical progression of BPH was significantly lower with alfuzosin than with placebo (16.3% vs 22.1%, P < 0.001); RR 26 (9-40)%. Alfuzosin also significantly improved the IPSS (P = 0.017), quality of life (P < 0.001) and peak flow rate (P = 0.001) compared with placebo. Baseline levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) predicted both AUR and BPH-related surgery events, while the baseline postvoid residual urine volume predicted symptom deterioration. The incidence of adverse events with alfuzosin was comparable to that with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Alfuzosin 10 mg once daily prevents the overall clinical progression of BPH, defined by the occurrence of a deterioration in IPSS of > or = 4 points and/or AUR and/or BPH-related surgery, but does not reduce the primary occurrence of AUR. Alfuzosin significantly improves LUTS and quality of life over 2 years, and is well tolerated.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Significant upgrading affects a third of men diagnosed with prostate cancer: predictive nomogram and internal validation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the rate of significant upgrading from biopsy to radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens in a contemporary cohort, and to develop a prognostic model capable of predicting the probability of significant upgrading, as previous reports indicate that up to 43% of men with low-grade prostate cancer at biopsy will be diagnosed with high-grade cancer at RP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study cohort comprised 4789 men (median age 63 years, range 39-82) treated with RP, with available clinical stage, prostate-specific antigen levels, biopsy and RP Gleason sum values. These variables were used as predictors in multivariate logistic regression models (LRMs) addressing the rate of significant Gleason sum upgrading, defined as a Gleason sum increase either from < or = 6 to > or = 7 or from 7 to > or = 8 between the biopsy and RP specimens. Regression coefficients were used to develop and validate (200 bootstrap re-samples) a nomogram predicting significant biopsy Gleason sum upgrading. RESULTS: Significant biopsy Gleason sum upgrading was recorded in 1349 (28.2%) patients. In multivariate LRMs, all predictors were highly significant (all P < 0.001). The bootstrap-corrected accuracy of the nomogram predicting the probability of significant Gleason sum upgrading between biopsy and RP specimens was 75.7%. CONCLUSION: Our nomogram might prove highly useful when the possibility of a more aggressive Gleason variant could change the treatment options.

Adult↗

The cost of prostate cancer chemoprevention: a decision analysis model.

BACKGROUND: The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial found reduced prostate cancer prevalence for men treated with finasteride. The public health cost of wide-scale chemoprevention is unclear. We developed a model to help clarify the cost effectiveness of public use of prostate cancer-preventive agents. METHODS: A Markov decision analysis model was designed to determine the lifetime prostate health-related costs, beginning at the age of 50 years, for men treated with finasteride compared with placebo. Model assumptions were based on data from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial, a literature review of survival and progression rates for patients treated with radical prostatectomy, and costs associated with prostate cancer disease states. RESULTS: Chemoprevention with finasteride resulted in a gain of 8.7 [corrected] life years per 1,000 men at a cost of $1.107 million [corrected] per life year saved (LYS). However, if finasteride is assumed to not increase the incidence of high-grade tumors, it renders a gain of 16.9 [corrected] life years per 1,000 men at a cost of $578,400 [corrected] per LYS; finasteride must cost $160 per year [corrected] to reach $100,000 [corrected] per LYS. When applied to a population at higher risk (lifetime prevalence >or=40%) [corrected]for developing prostate cancer, the cost of finasteride must be reduced from its current cost ($62/month) to <$15/month [corrected]for the cost effectiveness to fall below $50,000 [corrected] per LYS. CONCLUSIONS: Given the natural history of treated prostate cancer, implementation of chemoprevention would require an inexpensive medication with substantial cancer risk reduction to be cost effective. Targeting populations at higher risk for developing prostate cancer, however, allows for considerable flexibility in the medication cost to make prostate cancer chemoprevention a more attainable goal.

Aged↗