[Low dose rate brachytherapy in low and middle risk prostate cancer: Results and impact on quality of life with 5 year follow up.] / Braquiterapia de baja tasa en cáncer de próstata de riesgo bajo e intermedio: resultados e impacto en la calidad de vida con un seguimiento de 5 años.

Low dose rate brachytherapy (LDR-Br) with radioactive isotopes is a curative treatment and has shown to be comparable for the management of localized prostate cancer (PCa) to more conventional treatments such as radical prostatectomy or external beam radiotherapy, but with fewer side effects. The aim of this study is to show the global, specific and biochemical recurrence-free survival in 193 patients undergoing low dose rate Brachytherapy with permanent implants with iodine 125 and analyze the quality of life impact. 193 patients with localized PCa were consecutively treated over a period of 10 years (2005-2015). All of them were followed up on levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and 68 of them completed a quality of life survey. The average age was 62.8 years and the average PSA was 6.4 ng/dl at the time of Br. 29.5% of patients were classified as intermediate risk, with a Gleason score sum of 7 and/or a PSA between 10 and 20 ng/dl. Mean follow-up was 64.2 months; overall, specific and biochemical recurrence-free survival were 92.8%, 99.0% and 90.2% respectively. The most significant changes in the quality of life recorded were urinary incontinence, urinary and bowel irritative symptoms, in the first 6 months after brachytherapy. Sexual function shows significant changes but all with favorable response using phosphodiesterase inhibitors. This series of patients with PCa shows similar biochemical free survival rates BFSR in low risk patients to external beam radiotherapy and radical prostatectomy, but better BFSR in intermediate risk patients. The impact in the quality of life was significant in urinary incontinence, urinary irritate symptoms, and sexual function, but they were transitory with the exception of sexual function.

Braquiterapia de baja tasa en cáncer de próstata de riesgo bajo e intermedio: resultados e impacto en la calidad de vida con un seguimiento de 5 años / Low dose rate brachytherapy in low and middle risk prostate cancer: Results and impact on quality of life with 5 year follow up

La braquiterapia LDR (low-doserate brachytherapy) (Br LDR) con isotopos radioactivos es un tratamiento curativo para el cáncer de próstata (CaP) localizado con resultados similares a tratamientos más convencionales como la prostatectomía radical o radioterapia externa, pero con menos efectos colaterales de acuerdo a lo publicado en algunas series. El objetivo de este trabajo es comunicar la sobrevida global, específica y libre de recidiva bioquímica en 193 pacientes que padecen de CaP localizado sometidos a Br de baja tasa de dosis con implantes permanentes de yodo 125. Como objetivo secundario analizar el impacto en la calidad de vida. El análisis se realizó en pacientes que padecen CaP localizado y que fueron tratados en un período de 10 años (2005-2015). A todos se les efectuó un seguimiento con niveles de antígeno prostático específico (PSA) y a 68 pacientes se les aplicó encuesta de calidad de vida. El promedio de edad fue de 62,8 años y el PSA promedio al momento del implante fue de 6,4 ng/dl. El 29,5% de los pacientes era de riesgo intermedio, con un puntaje Gleason 7 y/o un PSA entre 10 y 20 ng/dl. La media de seguimiento fue de 64,2 meses y la supervivencia global, específica y tasa libre de recidiva bioquímica (TLRB) fue de 92,8%, 99,0% y 90,2% respectivamente. Los cambios más significativos en la calidad de vida fueron en cuanto a incontinencia urinaria, síntomas de llenado/vaciado vesical e intestinales durante los primeros 6 meses desde la braquiterapia. En la función sexual se observaron cambios negativos significativos pero con respuesta favorable a distintas dosis de inhibidores de la fosfodiesterasa. Nuestra serie muestra TSLRB similares a los obtenidos en pacientes de bajo riesgo tratados con radioterapia externa o prostatectomía radical pero mejores TSLRP en pacientes de riesgo intermedio. El impacto en la calidad de vida fue significativo en los ítems de incontinencia de orina síntomas de llenado/vaciado vesical y función sexual, estos son transitorios a excepción de la función sexual (AU)

Low dose rate brachytherapy (LDR-Br) with radioactive isotopes is a curative treatment and has shown to be comparable for the management of localized prostate cancer (PCa) to more conventional treatments such as radical prostatectomy or external beam radiotherapy, but with fewer side effects. The aim of this study is to show the global, specific and biochemical recurrence-free survival in 193 patients undergoing low dose rate Brachytherapy with permanent implants with iodine 125 and analyze the quality of life impact. 193 patients with localized PCa were consecutively treated over a period of 10 years (2005-2015). All of them were followed up on levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and 68 of them completed a quality of life survey. The average age was 62.8 years and the average PSA was 6.4 ng/dl at the time of Br. 29.5% of patients were classified as intermediate risk, with a Gleason score sum of 7 and/or a PSA between 10 and 20 ng/dl. Mean follow-up was 64.2 months; overall, specific and biochemical recurrence-free survival were 92.8%, 99.0% and 90.2% respectively. The most significant changes in the quality of life recorded were urinary incontinence, urinary and bowel irritative symptoms, in the first 6 months after brachytherapy. Sexual function shows significant changes but all with favorable response using phosphodiesterase inhibitors. This series of patients with PCa shows similar biochemical free survival rates BFSR in low risk patients to external beam radiotherapy and radical prostatectomy, but better BFSR in intermediate risk patients. The impact in the quality of life was significant in urinary incontinence, urinary irritate symptoms, and sexual function, but they were transitory with the exception of sexual function (AU)

[Quality of life in patients with prostate cancer: validation of an instrument for clinical practice]. / Calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer de próstata: la validación de un instrumento para la práctica clínica.

OBJECTIVES: Currently there are instruments to evaluate the different features of the impact on quality of life in those patients with prostate cancer undergoing any type of treatment, but most of them have 50 or more questions and they are difficult to apply in clinical practice. An English validation of a shortened version of the EPIC (Expanded Prostate Cancer Composite), the most used instrument to measure the quality of life in patients with prostate cancer, has been published recently. This version called EPIC-CP (Expanded Prostate Cancer Composite-Clinical Practice) consists of 16 questions arranged in a page, for easy and rapid clinical application. The objective of this work is to validate a Spanish version of the EPIC-CP. METHOD: An inversa-directa Spanish translation of the original version was performed. The EPIC-CP and EQ5D questionnaires were applied to 46 patients eligible to be subjected to different treatments - open prostatectomy (OP), Robotic Prostatectomy (RP), brachytherapy (Br) or conformational radiotherapy (CR) - and 82 patients already treated (9 OP, 13 RP, 7 Br, 4 CR). For reliability evaluation, the Cronbach's alpha was used to test the internal consistency for each domain of the EPIC-CP. Treated and untreated patients' scores were compared with the Wilcoxon range sum test to assess the sensitivity to change. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha was elevated in all the EPIC-CP domains (near or greater than 0.7), indicating a high internal consistency. There was no significant difference in age and educational level between treated and untreated patients. We found significant differences between treated and untreated patients in the total EPIC CP score, in the domains of urinary incontinence, bowel function, sexual function and hormonal function. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the EPIC-CP is reliable and valid, so it is a useful tool to measure the quality of life in patients with prostate cancer, as well as the impact of different treatments.

Calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer de próstata: Validación de un instrumento para la práctica clínica / Quality of life in patients with prostate cancer: validation of an instrument for clinical practice

OBJETIVO: Actualmente existen instrumentos para evaluar los distintos aspectos en el impacto sobre la calidad de vida en aquellos pacientes portadores de cáncer de próstata que son sometidos a algún tipo de tratamiento, pero la mayoría son de 50 o más preguntas y de difícil aplicación en la práctica clínica. Recientemente se ha publicado la validación en inglés de una versión acortada del instrumento más utilizado para medir la calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer de próstata: EPIC (Expanded Prostate Cancer Composite). Esta versión denominada EPIC-CP (Expanded Prostata Cancer Composite-Clinical Practice) consiste en 16 preguntas dispuestas en una página, de fácil y rápida aplicación clínica. El objetivo primario de este trabajo fue desarrollar y validar el cuestionario EPIC-CP en español como instrumento de evaluación de calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer de próstata (CaP). Un objetivo secundario fue la observación de las diferencias de los aspectos que impactan en la calidad de vida entre los pacientes tratados y los candidatos a tratamiento. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una traducción inversa-directa al español de la versión original de la encuesta. Se aplicaron 128 cuestionarios de calidad de vida EPIC-CP y EQ5D (cuestionario de salud del EuroQuol Group Association) a 46 (40%) pacientes candidatos a ser sometidos a diferentes tratamientos - Prostatectomía abierta (PA), Prostatectomía robótica (PR), Braquiterapia (Br) o Radioterapia Conformacional (RC)- y a 82 (64%) pacientes ya tratados (9 PA, 13 PR, 7 Br y 4 RC). Para evaluar la confiabilidad se evaluó la consistencia interna a través del Coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach para cada categoría de la EPIC-CP. Para valorar la sensibilidad al cambio se compararon las puntuaciones en pacientes tratados y no tratados con el test de Suma de Rangos de Wilcoxon. RESULTADOS: En todos los dominios de la EPIC-CP, se obtuvo un consistencia interna elevada (alfa de Cronbach 0,66-0,9). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la edad ni en el nivel educacional entre pacientes tratados y no tratados. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en la puntuación total de la EPIC CP entre pacientes tratados y no tratados en los dominios incontinencia urinaria (p = 0,0002), función intestinal (p = 0,04), sexual (p < 0,0001) y función hormonal (p = 0,002). CONCLUSIÓN: La versión en del EPIC-CP es confiable y válida, por lo que resulta una herramienta útil para medir la calidad de vida en pacientes con CaP, así como el impacto de distintos tratamientos en ella

OBJECTIVES: Currently there are instruments to evaluate the different features of the impact on quality of life in those patients with prostate cancer undergoing any type of treatment, but most of them have 50 or more questions and they are difficult to apply in clinical practice. An English validation of a shortened version of the EPIC (Expanded Prostate Cancer Composite), the most used instrument to measure the quality of life in patients with prostate cancer, has been published recently. This version called EPIC-CP (Expanded Prostate Cancer Composite-Clinical Practice) consists of 16 questions arranged in a page, for easy and rapid clinical application. The objective of this work is to validate a Spanish version of the EPIC-CP. METHOD: An inversa-directa Spanish translation of the original version was performed. The EPIC-CP and EQ5D questionnaires were applied to 46 patients eligible to be subjected to different treatments - open prostatectomy (OP), Robotic Prostatectomy (RP), brachytherapy (Br) or conformational radiotherapy (CR) - and 82 patients already treated (9 OP, 13 RP, 7 Br, 4 CR). For reliability evaluation, the Cronbach's alpha was used to test the internal consistency for each domain of the EPIC-CP. Treated and untreated patients' scores were compared with the Wilcoxon range sum test to assess the sensitivity to change. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha was elevated in all the EPIC-CP domains (near or greater than 0.7), indicating a high internal consistency. There was no significant difference in age and educational level between treated and untreated patients. We found significant differences between treated and untreated patients in the total EPIC CP score, in the domains of urinary incontinence, bowel function, sexual function and hormonal function. CONCLUSIÓN: The Spanish version of the EPIC-CP is reliable and valid, so it is a useful tool to measure the quality of life in patients with prostate cancer, as well as the impact of different treatments

Long-acting testosterone injections for treatment of testosterone deficiency after brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and biochemical effects of long-acting testosterone undecanoate injections in men with prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy, as the use of testosterone therapy (TTh) in men with prostate cancer is highly controversial, with limited published safety data, particularly after brachytherapy treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 20 men treated with brachytherapy for prostate cancer received TTh for symptoms of testosterone deficiency from February 2005 to August 2013. Symptoms of testosterone deficiency included low libido, erectile dysfunction, and fatigue. The mode of TTh was long-acting testosterone undecanoate injections in all cases. Sexual function was assessed by Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire. Serum PSA and testosterone concentrations were recorded monthly for 3 months, then every 3 months for the first year, every 6 months for the second year, and annually then after. RESULTS: The mean (range) age was 62 (49-74) years and the mean (range) serum PSA level at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis was 6.2 (2-11.5) ng/mL. The Gleason score was 2 + 3 in one patient, 3 + 3 in 15 patients, 3 + 4 in three patients and 4 + 4 in one patient. In all, 15 men were stage T1c and five were T2a. The mean (range) baseline total testosterone concentration was 343 (200-592) ng/dL, and 6.9 (2.1-9.7) ng/dL for free testosterone. The mean SHIM scores improved with treatment from 16.1 at baseline to 22.1 with TTh (P = 0.002). There was a decrease in mean PSA level from baseline of 0.7 ng/mL before initiation of TTh to 0.1 ng/mL at last follow-up (P < 0.001), with a median (range) follow-up of 31 (12-48) months. There were no cases of prostate cancer progression or recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: With a median of 31-months follow-up, long-acting testosterone injections in men with prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy produced significant clinical benefits. There were no cases of rising serum PSA, prostate cancer progression or recurrence.

[Nephron-sparing surgery for the treatment of small renal tumors. The role of radiofrequency]. / Cirugía conservadora de riñón para tumores renales pequeños, papel de la radiofrecuencia.

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopically assisted radiofrequency is a minimally invasive nephron-sparing treatment option for renal tumors, mainly in patients with high comorbidity. We present the short-term results of our series patients treated with this novel technique. METHODS: Renal lesions smaller than 4 cm, suspicious of malignancy or metastasis on CT scan or MRI are candidates for radiofrequency. Under laparoscopic vision the tumor is identified, and percutaneous biopsy is performed. Depending on the size of the tumor, a number of punctures with the radiofrequency needle are performed with the aim to achieve tumor necrosis during at least one cycle of radiofrequency. Follow-up is performed with MRI in the first postoperative day and then after CT scan or MRI at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. The persistent absence of contrast or vascular necrosis of the lesion is considered a satisfactory ablation without recurrence. RESULTS: 12 patients, two with metastasis and ten with primary lesions (mean age 60.8 years), with one or more lesions suspicious of malignancy underwent radiofrequency. Mean ASA was 2.4. 15 tumors were treated, with a mean diameter of 2.8 cm. An average of 2.5 punctures was performed with the radiofrequency needle. Biopsy results showed: one case of thyroid cancer metastasis, one case of melanoma metastasis, and 10 cases of renal cell carcinoma. Mean hospital stay was 25.8 hours. There were not short-term complications. Follow-up time was 8.8 months. Today there is no evidence of recurrence in imaging tests. CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency is effective eradicating small renal lesions, both primary and metastatic; it is especially useful in patients with high comorbidity. Despite the number of patients with adequate follow-up is not enough, the technology is promising. The approach under laparoscopic vision contributes to an effective biopsy, avoiding dissemination and enabling a more precise radiofrequency by direct vision control of tumor necrosis.

Cirugía conservadora de riñón para tumores renales pequeños, rol de la radiofrecuencia / Neprhon-sparing surgery for the treatment of small renal tumors. The role of radiofrequency

OBJETIVO: La radiofrecuencia con asistencia laparoscópica es una opción de tratamiento minimamente invasivo para la conservación de parénquima renal, especialmente en pacientes con comorbilidad aumentada. Se presentan los resultados a corto plazo de los pacientes tratados por esta novedosa técnica.MÉTODOS: Las lesiones renales menores de 4 cm., sospechosas de malignidad o de metástasis a la TC o RNM son candidatas para radiofrecuencia. Bajo visión laparoscópica el tumor es identificado, realizándose una biopsia por punción percutánea. Según tamaño del tumor, se realiza un determinado número de punciones con aguja de radiofrecuencia, con el fin de lograr la necrosis del tumor durante al menos 1 ciclo de radiofrecuencia. El seguimiento es realizado con RNM en el día post operatorio 1 y luego con TC o RNM al mes, 3, 6 y 12 meses. La ausencia persistente de contraste o la necrosis vascular de la lesión es considerada una ablación satisfactoria sin recurrencia.RESULTADOS: Doce pacientes, 2 por enfermedad metastásica y 10 por lesiones primarias (edad promedio 60.8 años), con una o más lesiones sospechosas de malignidad fueron tratadas con radiofrecuencia. El ASA promedio fue de 2,4. El número de tumores tratados fue de 15 con un diámetro de 2,8 cm. Se utilizaron un promedio de 2,5 punciones con aguja de radiofrecuencia. Los resultados de la biopsia fueron metástasis de 1° tiroídeo: 1 paciente, metástasis de melanoma: 1 paciente y cáncer de células renales en 10 pacientes. La estadía hospitalaria promedio fue de 25.8 horas. No existieron complicaciones a corto plazo. Tiempo de seguimiento 8.8 meses. Hasta hoy no hay evidencias de recidiva en los controles imagenológicos(AU)

CONCLUSIONES: La radiofrecuencia es efectiva en erradicar lesiones renales pequeñas, tanto primarias como metastásicas, siendo especialmente útil en pacientes con comorbilidad aumentada. A pesar de que no hay una cantidad suficiente de pacientes con seguimiento adecuado, esta tecnología es prometedora. El abordaje bajo visión laparoscópica contribuye a una biopsia efectiva, evitando diseminación y permite una radiofrecuencia más certera al constatar bajo visión directa la necrosis del tumor(AU)

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopically assisted radiofrequency is a minimally invasive nephron-sparing treatment option for renal tumors, mainly in patients with high comorbidity. We present the short-term results of our series patients treated with this novel technique.METHODS: Renal lesions smaller than 4 cm, suspicious of malignancy or metastasis on CT scan or MRI are candidates for radiofrequency. Under laparoscopic vision the tumor is identified, and percutaneous biopsy is performed. Depending on the size of the tumor, a number of punctures with the radiofrequency needle are performed with the aim to achieve tumor necrosis during at least one cycle of radiofrequency. Follow-up is performed with MRI in the first postoperative day and then after CT scan or MRI at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. The persistent absence of contrast or vascular necrosis of the lesion is considered a satisfactory ablation without recurrence.RESULTS: 12 patients, two with metastasis and ten with primary lesions (mean age 60.8 years), with one or more lesions suspicious of malignancy underwent radiofrequency. Mean ASA was 2.4. 15 tumors were treated, with a mean diameter of 2.8 cm. An average of 2.5 punctures was performed with the radiofrequency needle. Biopsy results showed: one case of thyroid cancer metastasis, one case of melanoma metastasis, and 10 cases of renal cell carcinoma. Mean hospital stay was 25.8 hours. There were not short-term complications. Follow-up time was 8.8 months. Today there is no evidence of recurrence in imaging tests.çCONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency is effective eradicating small renal lesions, both primary and metastatic; it is especially useful in patients with high comorbidity. Despite the number of patients with adequate follow-up is not enough, the technology is promising. The approach under laparoscopic vision contributes to an effective biopsy, avoiding dissemination and enabling a more precise radiofrequency by direct vision control of tumor necrosis(AU)