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Gregory S Merrick

Publications and source records attributed to Gregory S Merrick.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Influence of body mass index on biochemical outcome after permanent prostate brachytherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the 8-year biochemical outcome after permanent prostate brachytherapy with or without the addition of supplemental external beam radiotherapy and/or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). METHODS: From April 1995 through February 2001, 686 consecutive patients underwent brachytherapy using either palladium-103 or iodine-125 for clinical Stage T1b-T3aNxM0 (2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer) prostate cancer. No patient underwent seminal vesicle biopsy or pathologic lymph node staging. The median follow-up was 59.5 months. The evaluated BMI subgroups were less than 25, 25.0 to 29.9, 30.0 to 34.9, and 35 or more kg/m2. Biochemical progression-free survival was defined by a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 0.4 ng/mL or less after a nadir. The clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters evaluated for biochemical progression-free survival included BMI, patient age, clinical T stage, Gleason score, preimplant PSA level, risk group, percentage of positive biopsies, isotope, use of supplemental external beam radiotherapy, use of ADT, prostate volume, planning volume, percentage of target volume receiving 100%, 150%, and 200% of the prescribed dose, minimal percentage of dose covering 90% of the target volume, tobacco use, and the presence of hypertension and diabetes. RESULTS: For the entire group, the actuarial 8-year biochemical progression-free survival rate was 95.8%, 95.6%, 94.1%, and 100% for patients in BMI categories less than 25, 25.0 to 29.9, 30.0 to 34.9, and 35 or more kg/m2, respectively. In hormone-naive and hormone-manipulated patients free of biochemical progression, the median post-treatment PSA level was less than 0.1 ng/mL. When integrated across risk groups and ADT use, BMI had no statistically significant impact on biochemical progression-free survival. At last follow-up, 5 patients (0.7%) had died of metastatic prostate cancer. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, pretreatment PSA level, Gleason score, clinical stage, percentage of positive biopsies, ADT use, and tobacco status, but not BMI, were statistically significant predictors of 8-year biochemical progression-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate brachytherapy results in a high probability of 8-year biochemical progression-free survival for low, intermediate, and high-risk patients. When integrated across risk groups and hormonal status, BMI had no statistically significant influence on biochemical progression-free survival.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Prognostic significance of perineural invasion on biochemical progression-free survival after prostate brachytherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of perineural invasion (PNI) in the biopsy specimen on biochemical progression-free survival in hormone-naive patients with prostate cancer undergoing brachytherapy. METHODS: A total of 512 consecutive hormone-naive patients (173 low risk, 212 intermediate risk, and 127 high risk) underwent brachytherapy for clinical Stage T1b-T2cNxM0 (2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system) prostate cancer. No patient underwent seminal vesicle or pathologic lymph node staging. All patients had undergone brachytherapy at least 3 years before analysis. The median follow-up was 5.3 years. Biochemical progression-free survival was defined by a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cutpoint of 0.4 ng/mL or less after nadir and by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology consensus definition. PNI was defined as carcinoma tracking along, or around, a nerve within the perineural space. RESULTS: PNI was documented in 133 patients (26.0%). For both biochemical progression-free definitions, 94.0% and 94.9% of patients with and without PNI, respectively, remained free of biochemical progression. The median time to failure in patients with and without PNI was 17.2 and 17.9 months, respectively. For the biochemically disease-free cohort, the median posttreatment PSA level was less than 0.1 ng/mL. On univariate Cox regression analysis, the pretreatment PSA level, percentage of positive biopsies, prostate volume, and Gleason score predicted for biochemical outcome. PNI did not approach statistical significance (P = 0.671). On multivariate analysis, only pretreatment PSA (P < 0.001) and the percentage of positive biopsies (P < 0.001) maintained statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: In hormone-naive brachytherapy patients implanted with generous periprostatic treatment margins, the presence of PNI in the biopsy specimen did not adversely affect 8-year biochemical progression-free survival.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Selecting patients with pretreatment postvoid residual urine volume less than 100 mL may favorably influence brachytherapy-related urinary morbidity.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between pretreatment postvoid residual urine (PVR) less than 100 mL and brachytherapy-related urinary morbidity. METHODS: A total of 204 patients with a pretreatment PVR measurement underwent permanent prostate brachytherapy with urethral-sparing techniques (100% to 140% minimal peripheral dose) for clinical Stage T1b-T2c (2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system) prostate cancer. The median follow-up was 11.7 months. Evaluation of urinary morbidity consisted of the time to International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) resolution, length of catheter dependency, and the need for postimplant surgical intervention. IPSS resolution was defined as a return to within 1 point of the score at baseline. In all patients, an alpha-blocker was initiated before implantation and continued at least until the IPSS returned to baseline. Statistically significant predictors of urinary morbidity were determined using Cox regression analysis of multiple clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters. RESULTS: For the entire cohort, the mean time to IPSS resolution was 2.5 months. The urinary catheter was removed on the day of implantation in 171 patients (83.8%), with no patient remaining catheter dependent for more than 3 days. To date, no patient has required postimplant surgical intervention. On multivariate analysis, pretreatment PVR predicted for clinically irrelevant differences in IPSS resolution and did not influence catheter dependency. CONCLUSIONS: The selection of patients with a pretreatment PVR of less than 100 mL was associated with rapid IPSS resolution, the absence of prolonged (more than 3 days) catheter dependency, and the elimination of postbrachytherapy surgical intervention for bladder outlet obstruction.

Brachytherapy↗
PubMed2005

Statins, especially atorvastatin, may favorably influence clinical presentation and biochemical progression-free survival after brachytherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a preliminary investigation on statin use and its impact on clinical presentation and biochemical progression-free survival after brachytherapy. METHODS: A total of 512 consecutive patients were treated with permanent brachytherapy for clinical Stage T1c-T3aNxM0 prostate cancer at least 3 years before analysis. Biochemical progression-free survival was defined by a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 0.4 ng/mL or less after nadir. The median follow-up was 5.3 years. The clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters evaluated included use of any and specific statins, age, body mass index, PSA level, Gleason score, percentage of positive biopsies, perineural invasion, prostate volume, planning volume, dosimetric quality, supplemental external beam radiotherapy, tobacco use, hypertension, and diabetes. RESULTS: The actuarial 8-year biochemical progression-free survival rate for the entire group was 94.6%. On forward conditional Cox regression analysis, the pretreatment PSA level and percentage of positive biopsies were statistically significant predictors of biochemical outcome. However, a significantly lower pretreatment PSA level, percentage of positive biopsy cores, and PSA density and earlier clinical stage were found in the statin group. Almost every clinical presentation parameter comparison at least favored statin users. When stratified by any or specific statin use, 97.0% of patients taking statins compared with 94.3% not taking statins and 97.8% of patients taking atorvastatin compared with 94.7% taking other statins were free of biochemical progression. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this brachytherapy investigation with the longest reported follow-up period to date suggest that statins, especially atorvastatin, may improve most clinical presentations with a nonsignificant improvement in 8-year biochemical progression-free survival.

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PubMed2005

Brachytherapy-related dysuria.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and temporal resolution of dysuria after permanent prostate brachytherapy, and to identify predictors of brachytherapy-related dysuria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 130 patients with no history of transurethral resection of the prostate before treatment, who had brachytherapy on one of two prospective randomized trials, with explicitly planned and executed urethral-sparing techniques (100-150% minimum peripheral dose) using either 103Pd or 125I for clinical T1c-T2c prostate cancer. The median follow-up was 22.6 months. An alpha-blocker was initiated either prophylactically 2 weeks before implantation and continued at least until the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) returned to normal, or withheld until the onset of significant brachytherapy-related urinary morbidity. Dysuria was evaluated on a 0-10 scale, before brachytherapy and then at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months afterward, with a median of four dysuria questionnaires per patient. Clinical, treatment and dosimetric variables evaluated included alpha-blocker, age, IPSS before and the maximum after treatment, prostate volume on ultrasonography, hormonal status, supplemental radiotherapy, isotope, urethral dose, V(100/200), D90, and time to obtaining a normal IPSS. RESULTS: The maximum incidence of dysuria was 85% at 1 month after brachytherapy, with subsequent resolution over time. The use of prophylactic tamsulosin resulted in a statistically lower dysuria severity score (difference of 2.7 vs 4.2, P < 0.005) at 1 month, with no discernible differences at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. Patients with dysuria had a statistically higher IPSS. The dysuria resolved faster in patients implanted with 103Pd but was unaffected by the use of supplemental radiotherapy and/or androgen deprivation therapy. In multivariate analysis, prophylactic alpha-blockers resulted in statistically lower maximum dysuria scores, while the maximum IPSS after implantation and isotope type (but only at 6 months) were the best predictors of the resolution of dysuria. CONCLUSIONS: Dysuria is common after brachytherapy but is typically mild. Prophylactic alpha-blockers gave significantly lower maximum dysuria scores but did not affect the time to the resolution of dysuria. The maximum IPSS after the implant was the best predictor of the resolution of dysuria.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Factors affecting patient selection for prostate brachytherapy: what nurses should know.

Prostate brachytherapy is a proven treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer; however, many clinicians have multiple misconceptions regarding patient selection criteria. Although most patients are candidates for the procedure, contraindications do exist. This article examines criteria for patient selection and the need for adjuvant therapies, proposes management philosophies, and discusses the impact of each on treatment decisions. Nurses' role in the decision-making process and how they can facilitate patients and families in making informed choices also are discussed. Clinical studies seek to further define patient selection criteria and examine optimal choices for adjuvant treatment and isotope preference. Expanding the knowledge base of nurses helps enhance patient care.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Nursing considerations in brachytherapy-related erectile dysfunction.

Following definitive local treatment for early-stage prostate cancer, preservation of erectile function has been assumed to be most likely following brachytherapy. However, recent studies have demonstrated that brachytherapy-related erectile dysfunction (ED) is more common than initially reported. The exacerbation of brachytherapy-related ED is closely related to several clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters including pre-implant erectile function and radiation dose to the proximal penis. The majority of patients with brachytherapy-induced ED respond favorably to oral erectogenic agents.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

Androgen deprivation-induced changes in prostate anatomy predict urinary morbidity after permanent interstitial brachytherapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cytoreductive consequences of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy on International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) normalization, catheter dependency, and the need for surgical intervention secondary to bladder outlet obstruction after permanent interstitial brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 116 patients (median follow-up, 30 months) with preandrogen and postandrogen deprivation therapy ultrasound studies and no history of preimplant transurethral resection of the prostate were evaluated. Androgen deprivation-induced changes in prostate volume, transition zone (TZ) volume, and urethral location were correlated with IPSS resolution, catheter dependency, and the need for postimplant surgical intervention. Prostate gland and TZ dimensions and volumes were measured by prolate ellipsoid calculation from the static ultrasound images. The urethral location was determined by identification of a urinary catheter. Additional clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters evaluated included patient age, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen, Gleason score, clinical T stage, preimplant IPSS, pre- and postandrogen deprivation ultrasound studies, treatment planning volume, supplemental external beam RT, isotope, total implant activity, Day 0 maximal dose received by 90% of the prostate gland, Day 0 percentage of prostate volume receiving 100%, 150%, and 200% of the prescribed minimal peripheral dose, and urethral dose. RESULTS: For hormonally manipulated patients, the prostate volume at implantation did not have a statistical influence on the percentage of patients returning to IPSS baseline, the time for IPSS normalization, the incidence of catheter dependency, the catheter-dependency time, or the need for postimplant surgical intervention. However, when compared with the hormone-naive cohort, hormonally manipulated patients were more likely to undergo postimplant surgical intervention (5.2% vs. 0.3%, p = 0.001). Greater androgen deprivation-induced reductions in prostate and TZ volumes, along with movement of the urethra closer to the posterior border of the prostate gland, resulted in a decreased incidence of postimplant urinary morbidity. Using Cox regression analysis, the time to IPSS resolution was best predicted by the percentage of TZ volume reduction. Stepwise linear regression analysis demonstrated that the catheter-dependency time was best predicted by the prehormonal therapy prostate volume, posthormonal therapy TZ volume, and the change in the urethral position; prolonged catheter dependency by the percentage of TZ volume reduction, prehormonal therapy TZ index, and the change in the urethral position; and the need for postimplant surgical intervention by the posthormonal therapy TZ index and the change in the urethral location. CONCLUSION: After neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy for volume reduction, some brachytherapy-related urinary morbidity parameters are highly related to the preandrogen deprivation prostate volume, variants in the TZ volume, and changes in the urethral location.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2004

Effect of cigarette smoking on biochemical outcome after permanent prostate brachytherapy.

PURPOSE: Recent studies have suggested that cigarette smoking may be associated with an increased risk of death from prostate cancer. In this study, we evaluated the effect of cigarette smoking on the presentation and biochemical outcome after permanent prostate brachytherapy for prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 582 patients underwent brachytherapy with generous periprostatic margins using either (103)Pd or (125)I with or without supplemental external beam radiotherapy between April 1995 and September 2000. Of the 582 patients, 178 (30.6%) had never smoked, 306 (52.6%) were former smokers, and 98 (16.8%) were current smokers. The median patient age was 67.9 years, and the median follow-up was 54.5 months. No patient was lost to follow-up. No patient underwent routine seminal vesicle biopsy or pathologic lymph node staging. The clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters evaluated included tobacco status, age, clinical stage, Gleason score, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, risk group, percentage of positive biopsies, ultrasound volume, isotope used, planning volume, hormonal status, use of external beam radiotherapy, and postimplant dosimetry (percentage of target volume receiving 100%, 150%, and 200% of the prescribed dose and percentage of prescribed dose covering 90% of the target volume). Biochemical outcome was determined using the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology consensus definition. RESULTS: No differences in the clinical, treatment, or dosimetric parameters were identified, except that current smokers were statistically younger than those who had never smoked or former smokers (65.9 vs. 67.8 vs. 68.3 years, respectively, p = 0.016). Specifically, no relationship was discerned between tobacco history and risk group, supplemental external beam radiotherapy, choice of isotope, or use of hormonal therapy. The overall biochemical freedom from progression survival rate at 7 years was 96.2%, 95.6%, and 91.6% for patients who had never smoked, former smokers, and current smokers, respectively (p = 0.126). When stratified by risk group and hormonal status, tobacco consumption did not predict outcome, although a trend for poorer biochemical progression-free survival was noted in current smokers. The median prostate-specific antigen level for hormone-naive and hormonally manipulated disease-free patients was <0.1 ng/mL. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, Gleason score, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, risk group, and hormonal status were predictors of biochemical outcome. CONCLUSION: In this prostate brachytherapy cohort, tobacco consumption did not predict for risk group stratification or treatment approach. Although no statistically significant difference was found in biochemical progression-free survival, a trend for poorer biochemical outcome was demonstrated in current smokers.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Effect of transurethral resection on urinary quality of life after permanent prostate brachytherapy.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of transurethral resection on urinary function after permanent prostate brachytherapy using a validated, patient-administered, quality-of-life (QOL) instrument. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-seven consecutive brachytherapy patients with clinical T1b-T2b (1997 American Joint Commission on Cancer) prostate cancer and a history of either preimplant or postimplant transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) were evaluated. Of the 27 patients, 1 continued to be catheter dependent and was excluded from analysis. Of the remaining 26 patients, each was mailed the urinary function component of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index (EPIC) and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Twenty-six surveys (100%) were returned. The mean and median follow-up was 44.8 and 39.8 months, respectively. The clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters evaluated included age, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, Gleason score, stage, risk group, prostate volume, presence of diabetes and hypertension, tobacco consumption, number of TURPs, number of grams resected, ultrasound planning volume, hormonal status, supplemental external beam radiotherapy, isotope, follow-up (in months), minimal dose received by 90% of the prostate gland, percentage of prostate volume receiving 100%, 150%, and 200% of the prescribed minimal peripheral dose, and the average and maximal urethral dose. Because baseline IPSSs, but not EPIC scores, were available, a cross-sectional survey was performed in which 51 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients yet to receive any therapeutic intervention and 195 non-TURP brachytherapy patients served as controls. RESULTS: For all evaluated parameters, superior urinary scores were noted in the preimplant TURP group, with intermediate scores in the postimplant TURP patients and poor urinary QOL scores in the pre- and postimplant TURP patients. With time, the EPIC scores improved in the pre- and postimplant TURP cohorts. In multivariate linear regression analysis of the EPIC urinary summary score, the number of TURPs and supplemental external beam radiotherapy were the strongest predictors for diminished QOL. CONCLUSION: TURP results in diminished urinary QOL after brachytherapy. However, patients who underwent preimplant TURP had urinary QOL approaching that of non-TURP brachytherapy patients. Significant urinary dysfunction was noted in approximately one-half of patients who underwent postimplant TURP (especially pre- and postimplant TURP). Because most patients with brachytherapy-related urinary obstruction will eventually spontaneously void, TURP should be approached with extreme caution and only after substantial time has transpired.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Influence of hormonal therapy on late rectal function after permanent prostate brachytherapy with or without supplemental external beam radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Recent clinical studies have reported a relationship between the use of hormonal therapy and degradation in rectal function after external beam radiotherapy. Using a patient-administered quality-of-life instrument, we evaluated the effect of hormonal therapy on late rectal function after permanent prostate brachytherapy with or without supplemental external beam radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 189 patients were mailed the Rectal Function Assessment Score (R-FAS), which consists of nine questions (score range 0-27, with higher scores indicative of poorer bowel function). Of the 189 surveys sent out, 187 (98.4%) were returned. Of the 187 patients, 149 (79.7%) were hormone naive, and 38 (20.3%) had received hormonal manipulation (median duration 4 months, range 3-36). The median follow-up for the entire group was 66.3 months. The effect of hormonal therapy on bowel function was evaluated by comparing the R-FAS scores across time, by each of the individual nine questions, and by means of a summary question evaluating the patient's perception of overall bowel function. The two groups were also evaluated in terms of clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters, including follow-up, age, Gleason score, clinical stage, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, number of pretreatment bowel movements/d, prostate volume, and rectal dosimetry. RESULTS: The two groups were well matched in all clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters, except the patients receiving hormonal therapy had a statistically shorter follow-up (63.9 vs. 69.4 months, p <0.001) and higher pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level (12.0 vs. 9.8 ng/mL, p = 0.024). The R-FAS scores for the hormone-naive and hormonally manipulated patients were comparable (3.76 vs. 4.55, p = 0.083). In terms of the nine individual R-FAS questions, no statistically significant difference was reported for any question when stratified by hormonal status, including rectal bleeding (p = 0.735). Only 12% and 13% of hormone-naive and hormonally manipulated patients, respectively, reported bowel function to be worse after implantation. With time, a trend for improvement in the R-FAS was noted in both cohorts. CONCLUSION: After permanent prostate brachytherapy, no statistically significant difference in bowel habits was discerned when stratified by hormonal status. In addition, only 12% of brachytherapy patients reported deterioration in bowel function after implantation.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

The effect of hormonal manipulation on urinary function following permanent prostate brachytherapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of hormonal manipulation on catheter dependency, the resolution of urinary symptomatology, and the need for postbrachytherapy transurethral/transincisional resection (TURP/TUIP). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Seven hundred sixteen consecutive patients (median follow-up, 29 months) underwent brachytherapy for clinical T1b-T3a (1997 AJCC) prostate cancer from January 1998 through August 2002. Of the evaluated cohort, 400 patients were hormone naïve, 227 received short-course cytoreductive (< or = 6 months) hormonal therapy, and 89 received extended (>6 months) hormonal therapy. An alpha-blocker was initiated prior to implantation and continued at least until the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) returned to baseline levels. Evaluated parameters included age, T-stage, preimplant I-PSS, ultrasound volume, treatment planning volume, hormonal status, supplemental external beam radiation therapy (XRT), isotope, urethral dose, total implant activity, D90, and V100/150/200. Catheter dependency and the incidence of TURP/TUIP were also evaluated. RESULTS: Six hundred fifty three patients (91.2%) had the urinary catheter permanently removed on day 0 with 15 patients (2.1%) requiring a catheter beyond 4 days. The I-PSS returned to within 1 point of the antecedent value at a median of 4 months. Sixteen patients (2.2%) underwent postimplant TURP/TUIP. A Cox regression indicated that preimplant I-PSS, supplemental XRT, planning target volume, hormonal therapy, and number of seeds were the strongest predictors for I-PSS resolution. Using all available data, the strongest predictors for I-PSS at 18 months following brachytherapy included variants of I-PSS, isotope, and days of catheter dependency. The maximum I-PSS, planning target volume, and XRT best predicted for prolonged (#10878;4 days) catheter dependency. The need for postimplant TURP/TUIP was most closely associated with days of catheter dependency and the maximum increase in I-PSS. However, when only data available prior to implantation was entered into the model, hormonal therapy predicted for postsurgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective evaluation, hormonal manipulation did not statistically impact short-term or prolonged urinary catheter dependency or I-PSS at 18 months, but did influence time to I-PSS normalization and the need for postbrachytherapy surgical intervention.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Temporal effect of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy on PSA kinetics following permanent prostate brachytherapy with or without supplemental external beam radiation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy on PSA kinetics following brachytherapy with or without supplemental external beam radiation therapy (XRT), to evaluate the magnitude and duration of the peak PSA, and to compare potential differences in PSA response curves between biochemically disease-free and failed patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 1995 through August 2000, 179 consecutive patients with clinical T1b-T3a NxM0 (2002 AJCC) prostate cancer received neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (median, 4 months) prior to brachytherapy using (103)Pd or (125)I with or without supplemental XRT. The median follow-up was 56 months. Following brachytherapy, PSA determinations were obtained at 3 months and then every 6 months thereafter. A median and mean of 9 and 9.5 PSA determinations, respectively, were obtained per patient. Biochemical disease-free survival was defined by the ASTRO and Houston definitions with both definitions used to determine the rate of overestimation of early biochemical failure secondary to testosterone recovery. RESULTS: Although a trend for higher baseline and peak PSA was noted in (125)I monotherapy patients, the difference between the 4 groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.088). Changes in PSA over time, however, were statistically significant (p = 0.042). For all 4 groups, the peak PSA occurred approximately 15-21 months following brachytherapy. For biochemically disease-free patients, the median PSA increase above nadir was 0.1 ng/mL, and the median number of consecutive rises in PSA was 1. Using the ASTRO and Houston definitions, only 2.3% and 0.6% of patients would have been inadvertently scored as failures. CONCLUSIONS: In brachytherapy patients receiving 3-6 months of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy, the median PSA increase above nadir was 0.1 ng/mL. The ASTRO and Houston definitions of biochemical failure inadvertently scored only 2.3% and 0.6% of patients as failures.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Epididymitis after transrectal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy of prostate gland.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence, predisposing factors, and time-course of epididymitis after transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) needle biopsy of the prostate gland. METHODS: A total of 739 consecutive patients underwent TRUS-guided biopsy of the prostate gland from January 2000 through December 2002 using a systematic approach, 18-gauge needles, and antibiotic prophylaxis. A median of 9 biopsies was obtained per patient (range 4 to 16). All cases of epididymitis occurring within 6 months of biopsy were attributed to the TRUS procedure. The parameters evaluated for epididymitis included patient age, prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen density, number of biopsies obtained, and number of biopsies positive for malignancy. RESULTS: Five patients (0.7%) developed biopsy-related epididymitis with a median onset of 85 days (range 13 to 143) after biopsy. Patients developing epididymitis were statistically older, with a trend for a greater number of prostate biopsies (P = 0.071 on linear regression analysis). Only 1 patient developed epididymitis within 3 weeks of biopsy. All cases of epididymitis responded to therapeutic antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Epididymitis after TRUS-guided biopsy is a relatively uncommon event, with an incidence of approximately 1% and an onset of weeks to months after the procedure. Patients who developed epididymitis were statistically older, with a trend for a greater number of prostate biopsies taken.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Permanent interstitial brachytherapy in younger patients with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate biochemical progression-free survival in hormone-naive men 62 years of age or younger with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer who underwent brachytherapy with or without supplemental external beam radiotherapy. METHODS: From April 1995 through December 2000, 119 hormone-naive patients 62 years of age or younger underwent permanent interstitial brachytherapy for clinical T1b-T2cNxM0 (2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer) prostate cancer. No patient underwent seminal vesicle biopsy or pathologic lymph node staging. The median follow-up was 5.4 years. Biochemical progression-free survival was defined by either a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 0.4 ng/mL or less after a nadir or by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology consensus definition. No patient was lost to follow-up. The clinical, treatment, and dosimetric parameters evaluated for biochemical progression-free survival included age, clinical T stage, Gleason score, pretreatment PSA level, risk group, percentage of positive biopsies, isotope, supplemental external beam radiotherapy, prostate volume, brachytherapy planning volume, percentage of the target volume receiving 100%, 150%, and 200% of the prescribed dose, minimal percentage of the prescribed dose covering 90% of the target volume, and tobacco status. RESULTS: For the entire group, the actuarial 7-year biochemical progression-free survival rate was 96.1% and 98.3% for a PSA cutpoint of 0.4 ng/mL or less and for the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology consensus definition, respectively. Using a PSA biochemical control definition of 0.4 ng/mL or less, 93.1%, 100%, and 95.2% of the low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk hormone-naive patients were free of biochemical progression. The median post-treatment PSA level for the biochemically disease-free group was less than 0.1 ng/mL. In multivariate analysis, only the pretreatment PSA level predicted the biochemical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Hormone-naive patients 62 years of age or younger have a high probability of 7-year biochemical progression-free survival after permanent interstitial brachytherapy with or without supplemental external beam radiotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Permanent interstitial brachytherapy for clinically organ-confined high-grade prostate cancer with a pretreatment PSA < 20 ng/mL.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of biopsy Gleason score 8 and 9 histology on biochemical outcome following a permanent prostate brachytherapy approach that includes multiple periprostatic seeds and supplemental external beam radiation. Forty-six consecutive T1c-T2b (1997 AJCC) patients with Gleason score 8 and 9 prostate cancer who were either hormone naive (33 patients) or received cytoreductive (< or =6 months) hormonal therapy (13 patients) underwent brachytherapy from June 1995 to November 2000. The median patient age was 69.7 years, with a median pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of 7.7 ng/mL. The median follow-up was 58 months (range 27-93 months). Forty-five of the patients were implanted with Pd-103 and 44 received supplemental external beam radiation therapy (45 Gy). Biochemical success was defined by either a PSA < or = 0.4 ng/mL after a nadir or by the ASTRO consensus definition. The actuarial 7-year biochemical disease-free survival was 84.8% using either a PSA < or = 0.4 ng/mL or the ASTRO consensus definition. The median postimplant PSA was less than 0.1 ng/mL for both the hormone naive and hormonally manipulated patients. The utilization of hormonal therapy for 6 months or less duration resulted in a statistically nonsignificant improvement in biochemical outcome (92.3% versus 81.8%, P = 0.393). When stratified by pretreatment PSA, 87.9% of patients with a pretreatment PSA < or = 10 ng/mL and 76.9% with a pretreatment PSA > 10 ng/mL (P = 0.377) remained biochemically free of disease. In multivariate analysis, none of the clinical, treatment, or dosimetric parameters predicted for outcome. Following a permanent prostate brachytherapy approach that used multiple periprostatic seeds, the majority of patients with clinically organ-confined Gleason score 8 and 9 prostate cancer remain biochemically free of disease with identical outcomes for both biochemical definitions of success.

Aged↗