A tribute to the life and accomplishments of Birdwell Finlayson.

PURPOSE: Birdwell Finlayson was a talented researcher and clinician whose pioneering work in the field of urolithiasis led him to worldwide prominence in urology. We researched his life and accomplishments to provide a historical account of his career. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The archives of the Department of Urology and the University of Florida Health Science Center Library were searched for publications, photographs and other records relating to Doctor Finlayson. Additionally, we interviewed many of his friends and colleagues for more information. RESULTS: Birdwell Finlayson was born in Pocatello Bannock, Idaho. He completed a urology residency and obtained a Ph.D. in biophysics at the University of Chicago. In 1967 he joined the faculty at the University of Florida. His interest in understanding the fundamentals of stone formation led to the discovery that crystal retention at a site of nephron injury was essential for stone formation. This fixed particle hypothesis continues to serve to as the foundation for urolithiasis research today. His computer model EQUIL is the gold standard for calculating urinary supersaturation with respect to kidney stone formation. Finlayson was 1 of the 6 original coinvestigators for shock wave lithotripsy in the United States. He is also remembered for his wit and his love of aeronautics, as he was a flight instructor and stunt pilot. Finlayson died unexpectedly of idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy on July 22, 1988. CONCLUSIONS: Birdwell Finlayson was an internationally renowned surgeon and stone disease expert whose research continues to serve as the basis of urolithiasis research at the University of Florida and worldwide.

Innovations and challenges in renal cell carcinoma: summary statement from the Second Cambridge Conference.

Innovations and Challenges in Renal Cancer, chaired by Michael B. Atkins, was held April 28 to 29, 2006 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The conference brought together leading experts in the fields of cancer research, medical oncology, urology, immunology, radiology, and immunotherapy, with the goal of advancing the field of renal cancer treatment by critiquing new data from ongoing clinical trials and stimulating communication among those involved in basic and clinical research. The conference proceedings published in this educational supplement to Clinical Cancer Research are intended to provide timely information and recommendations on important aspects of renal cancer genetics and biology and advances in prognostic classification and treatment.

Radical perineal prostatectomy: a model for evaluating local response of prostate therapy.

To establish a model for preoperative counseling and postoperative outcome in patients who choose radical perineal prostatectomy for the clinically localized prostatic malignancy, the following postulates have been identified: (1) the use of preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason Sum at the time of biopsy can be used to segregate the outcome among patients with Gleason Sum 2 through 6, 7, and 8 through 10. (2) Postoperative PSA levels are excellent surrogate endpoints for defining disease control. (3) The biology of the primary malignancy defines the interval of death after recurrence. A total of 1242 men with the median age of 65.2 years who had Stage cT 1-2 NOMO disease underwent radical perineal prostatectomy. The final pathologic specimen was characterized with regard to disease extent and Gleason Sum. Patients were followed at 2 weeks, 2 months, and then at 6-month intervals for biochemical, physical, and radiographic evidence of disease recurrence. Outcome was evaluated by determining time to biochemical failure (PSA 0.5 ng/ml or greater) or cancer associated death (death with a detectable PSA independent of treatment). Median time to non-cancer death was 19.3 years. Median cancer-associated death endpoints were not reached by patients with organ confined disease. Results were 17.7 years for specimen confined disease and 12.7 years for margin positive disease. At 5 years, 8, 35, and 65% of patients with organ confined, specimen confined, or margin positive disease, respectively, had PSA failure. This served as an excellent surrogate endpoint, preceding cancer associated death by 5-12 years, depending on the biological aggressiveness predicted by Gleason Sum. When segregated by Gleason Sum 2 through 6, 7 or 8 through 10 at the time of biopsy, there was a distinct differentiation in survival among these Gleason Sum classifications according to the PSA at the time of biopsy. This study confirms our postulates and provides guidelines for preparing different therapies among institutions. It also emphasizes that enthusiasm for new treatments may be based on insufficient follow-up. PSA is an excellent surrogate endpoint and it is valuable in segregating patients prior to therapeutic selection and predicting outcome.