Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Baert

Publications and source records attributed to L Baert.

257 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Transurethral hyperthermia for benign prostatic hyperplasia: long term results.

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the only recognized treatment in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Transurethral hyperthermia (TUHT) was used as an alternative treatment in patient who refused TURP. From 1987 to 1988, 21 BPH patients with moderate to severe symptoms and signs of prostatism were treated with TUHT in a phase I trial. Mean pre-treatment subjective and objective values were: total symptom score (TSS) 13.5, obstructive symptom score (OSS) 6.5, irritative symptom score (TSS) 7.0, peak flow rate (PFR) 11.6 cc/sec, post-voiding residual volume (PRV) 187 cc, and prostate volume (PV) 93 cc. TUHT was given for a total of 177 sessions (mean 8.4), each of 60 min duration at a steady state. Temperature was recorded continuously on the urethral surface, in all treatments. It ranged from Tmin 40.3 degrees C to Tmax = 49.2 degrees C and Tmean = 44.1 degrees C. The mean minimum temperature of > or = 42 degrees C was obtained in 98% of the TUHT sessions. Treatments were given on an outpatient basis without sedation or anaesthesia. Treatment tolerance was excellent with minor acute toxicity common (71% of patients), of no clinical importance and with no late complications. Of the 21 patients treated, 17 (81%) had an objective and 15 (71%) a subjective improvement recorded at 6 months post-treatment. This statistically highly significant improvement included: 61% decrease in TSS; 66% decrease in OSS; 55% decrease in ISS; 42% increase in PFR; 55% decrease in PRV; and 21% decrease in PV. Of the 17 patients with objective improvement, nine have maintained their response to TUHT for a minimum period of over six years, two relapsed at 11 and 40 months, respectively, and six patients died of cardiovascular causes maintaining their response to death. This study has demonstrated TUHT treatment efficacy with no major or clinically important toxicity in BPH patients. A relative weakness of this report is a lack of verification of objective study parameters in the patients at seven years post-treatment. Prospective randomized trials are needed to define the role of TUHT in the management of BPH patients.

Aged↗

Serum tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA): monoclonal or polyclonal radio-immunometric assay for the follow-up of bladder cancer.

Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) is a serological tumor marker, measuring cytokeratin 8, 18 and 19, used in the follow-up of non squamous epithelium- and derived neoplasms. It has been demonstrated that TPA is reliable in the monitoring of the efficacy of a curative or palliative treatment of bladder cancer. Recently, a monoclonal antibody-based assay for TPA (TPA-M) has been developed, which seems to be equivalent to the polyclonal-based assay. The aim of the study was to assess the superiority of the monoclonal to the polyclonal test in patients with bladder carcinoma. The value of tissue polypeptide antigen was therefore measured both with TPA and TPA-M IRMA. A correlation coefficient of 0.96 was obtained. Precision testing showed a lower overall variability of TPA-M. Since both tests correlate well and TPA-M testing is more precise, faster and easy to perform, we conclude a superiority of TPA-M and advise the monoclonal test as best suited for clinical use in the follow-up of bladder cancer patients with poorly differentiated superficial, locally advanced or systemic disease after curative or palliative therapy.

Antibodies↗

Mitomycin C for metastatic prostate cancer: final analysis of a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Almost all patients that undergo hormonal manipulation for metastatic prostate cancer will ultimately progress because of hormone resistance. Therefore we assessed the effect of early addition of intravenous Mitomycin C to orchiectomy in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 178 patients with histologically proven and previously untreated metastatic prostate cancer were included in a prospective, randomized multicenter trial. Randomization was done centrally between orchiectomy alone and orchiectomy with Mitomycin C. 148 patients were evaluable. RESULTS: At the final analysis 139 patients have deceased. The remaining 9 patients are still alive, but all present progression. There was no statistically significant difference in the real time to progression, or in the estimated cancer related and overall survival between both groups. Mean time to progression was 29 months in group 1 (orchiectomy alone), and 26 months in group 2 (orchiectomy and Mitomycin C) (p = 0.64). Mean time to cancer related death was 32 months and mean overall survival was 31 months in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mitomycin C has no beneficial effect when used in conjunction to orchiectomy in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer.

Aged↗

Serum tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) as tumor marker for bladder cancer.

Tissue polypeptide antigen is a differentiation and proliferation marker of non-squamous epithelium and derived neoplasms. No reliable tumor markers are available for bladder cancer. The value of tissue polypeptide antigen was therefore prospectively investigated. The serum tissue polypeptide antigen samples were obtained from 144 newly diagnosed transitional cell carcinoma patients and from 92 patients that were followed after treatment. The normal cut off value was defined at 95 units per liter. Nearly all TaT1 patients had normal TPA values, and 80% of the muscle invasive cancers had normal TPA levels. In those patients where TPA was elevated before treatment its monitoring proved to be a reliable predictor of tumor progression. Tissue polypeptide antigen is a useful marker not for the early detection of bladder cancer but for the monitoring of the efficacy of a treatment.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗