ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine if there are any differences in the zonal distribution and tumor volumes of familial and sporadic prostate cancers (PC) in men undergoing radical prostatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 839 patients underwent a radical prostatectomy in the absence of prior neoadjuvant therapy between 1987 and 1996. Telephone interviews were conducted to obtain an updated family history. A positive family history was defined as the diagnosis of PC in at least one first degree relative. Prostatectomy specimens were examined to determine the number of tumor foci, zonal origin of the dominant tumor focus, tumor volume of the largest cancer focus, total tumor volume, Gleason score and stage, and the surgical margin status. Results were stratified according to family history and ethnicity. RESULTS: We successfully contacted 437 patients (52 percent). Prostatectomy specimens from 55 patients were excluded from review due to a history of prior transurethral resection of the prostate (n = 26) or uncertain pathological stage (n = 29). Of the remaining 382 patients, 76 (20 percent) reported having a first-degree relative with PC. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the pathologic variables between the two groups of patients with or without a family history of PC. CONCLUSIONS: Familial and sporadic PC share similar characteristics. No histopathological differences account for the increased positive predictive value of PC screening tests among patients with a family history of PC.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Prostatectomy/methods , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Tumor Burden , Age Factors , Family Characteristics , Logistic Models , Neoplasm Staging , Prostatic Neoplasms/ethnology , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Socioeconomic Factors , United StatesABSTRACT
En virtud de la importancia considerar la autonomía de la persona cuando se realiza una investigación en genética humana, el presente trabajo se realizó teniendo como objetivo la confección de un instrumento que permitiera el consentimiento informado de potenciales donantes de muestras de material biológico para un estudio poblacional de identificación. Una planilla de consentimiento informado fue confeccionada por el grupo que llevó a cabo la investigación genético-poblacional y sometida a discusión y aprobación por un Comité de Bioética. El resultado puede ser aplicado en investigaciones donde el objeto de estudio es el material genético humano y no la persona, pudiendo servir como base para otros protocolos aplicables a estudios de diagnóstico molecular de enfermedades genéticas.