Lutetium-177-PSMA-I&T as metastases directed therapy in oligometastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer, a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, there is increasing evidence showing a beneficial outcome (e.g. progression free survival; PFS) after metastases-directed therapy (MDT) with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or targeted surgery for oligometastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (oHSPC). However, many patients do not qualify for these treatments due to prior interventions or tumor location. Such oligometastatic patients could benefit from radioligand therapy (RLT) with 177Lu-PSMA; a novel tumor targeting therapy for end-stage metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Especially because RLT could be more effective in low volume disease, such as the oligometastatic status, due to high uptake of radioligands in smaller lesions. To test the hypothesis that 177Lu-PSMA is an effective treatment in oHSPC to prolong PFS and postpone the need for androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), we initiated a multicenter randomized clinical trial. This is globally, the first prospective study using 177Lu-PSMA-I&T in a randomized multicenter setting. METHODS & DESIGN: This study compares 177Lu-PSMA-I&T MDT to the current standard of care (SOC); deferred ADT. Fifty-eight patients with oHSPC (≤5 metastases on PSMA PET) and high PSMA uptake (SUVmax > 15, partial volume corrected) on 18F-PSMA PET after prior surgery and/or EBRT and a PSA doubling time of < 6 months, will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio. The patients randomized to the interventional arm will be eligible for two cycles of 7.4GBq 177Lu-PSMA-I&T at a 6-week interval. After both cycles, patients are monitored every 3 weeks (including adverse events, QoL- and xerostomia questionnaires and laboratory testing) at the outpatient clinic. Twenty-four weeks after cycle two an end of study evaluation is planned together with another 18F-PSMA PET and (whole body) MRI. Patients in the SOC arm are eligible to receive 177Lu-PSMA-I&T after meeting the primary study objective, which is the fraction of patients who show disease progression during the study follow up. A second primary objective is the time to disease progression. Disease progression is defined as a 100% increase in PSA from baseline or clinical progression. DISCUSSION: This is the first prospective randomized clinical study assessing the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of 177Lu-PSMA-I&T for patients with oHSPC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04443062 .

The brave new world of endometrial cancer : Future implications for adjuvant treatment decisions.

PURPOSE: For many decades, endometrial cancer (EC) has been considered as a homogenous tumor entity with good prognosis. The currently valid risk stratification considers clinical and pathological factors. Treatment recommendations differ considerably from country to country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network has shown that ECs should be reclassified into four novel molecular prognostic groups, with the potential of changing adjuvant management of EC patients: ultra-mutated, hyper-mutated, copy-number low, and copy-number high. Clinical examples are shown, and the available literature has been highlighted. The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) guideline for endometrial cancer takes the new classification system into consideration for adjuvant treatment decisions and will be published this year. RESULTS: In the near future, we expect new treatment recommendations that may differ considerably from the clinicopathologically driven recommendations on the basis of our deeper insight and better understanding of molecular markers in endometrial cancer. The PORTEC 4a study is the only recruiting study which randomizes patients to adjuvant or no adjuvant treatment on the basis of the aforementioned new classification system. CONCLUSION: The aim of the new classification is a more personalized adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy decision and better oncologic outcomes or avoidance of overtreatment.

Radiation recall syndrome in a patient with breast cancer, after introduction of everolimus.

The addition of everolimus to exemestane is recommended in patients with HR+ advanced breast cancer with disease recurrence or progression following prior non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors. We report a case of radiation recall syndrome in a breast cancer patient, after introduction of everolimus. A woman with a right breast cancer underwent a mastectomy, then adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormonotherapy. In a phase III trial (UNIRAD protocol), she received everolimus 5 months after radiation therapy. Seven days after introduction, she was suffering from a radiation recall syndrome with exacerbation skin reactions. The exact pathophysiological mechanism of radiation recall syndrome is unknown. The combination of radiation therapy and mTor inhibitor, even sequentially, should be done with caution as several cases have already been reported.

[Mucinous carcinoma of the breast: Clinical, biological and evolutive profile]. / Carcinome mucineux du sein : profil clinique, biologique et évolutif.

PURPOSE: Mucinous carcinoma of the breast accounts for 1 to 4% of all breast cancer. There are two histological subtypes: mixed mucinous carcinoma, where the ductal carcinoma is associated with the colloid component, and pure mucinous carcinoma, with a favorable prognosis, where the mucus surrounds the tumour tissue and constitutes a mechanical barrier limiting cell invasion and making this form less aggressive. Our study aimed to determine retrospectively the main epidemiological, clinical, biological, and therapeutic features, as well as the prognosis of this rare form of breast carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors report 32 cases of mucinous carcinoma of the breast diagnosed in Mohammed-VI centre for cancer treatment in Casablanca. RESULTS: The average tumour size was 4.5cm (0.5-7cm). We found ten positive lymph node dissections, seven of them were of mixed mucinous carcinoma with a tumour size ranging between 4 and 7cm. Mucinous carcinoma was pure in 16 cases, mixed in 14 and a neuroendocrine differentiation was found in two cases. Most tumours were of an intermediate histological grade (n=19) with positive hormonal receptors (68%). After a mean follow-up of 30 months, complete remission was maintained in 92% of evaluable patients. CONCLUSION: Mucinous carcinoma is a rare type of breast cancer, with a favourable prognosis for the pure form.

Enhancing Care of the Survivor of Gynecologic Cancer: Managing the Menopause and Radiation Toxicity.

It is expected that there will be 290,000 cases of gynecologic cancers in 2016. Of these cancers, 60,000 will be endometrial and 22,000 will be ovarian-the two most common gynecologic cancers. Endometrial and ovarian cancers occur in menopausal women with mean ages of 60 and 63, respectively. The majority of endometrial cancers are early stage, and 5-year survival is considered good at upwards of 75%. For ovarian cancer, while survival rates have improved, the 5-year survival rate for the most common stage (stage III) is 40%. Thus, a substantial number of patients with gynecologic cancer are menopausal, and a significant number of patients are survivors, particularly of endometrial cancers. It will be important for survivors of gynecologic cancers to receive care tailored to their needs as women and to mitigate gender-specific side effects of their cancer treatment.

Does Radiotherapy for the Primary Tumor Benefit Prostate Cancer Patients with Distant Metastasis at Initial Diagnosis?

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Treatment of the primary tumor reportedly improves survival in several types of metastatic cancer. We herein evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy for the primary tumor in prostate cancer with metastasis. MATERIALS/METHODS: The study cohort included 140 men with metastatic prostate cancer at initial diagnosis. Metastatic sites were divided into 4 groups as follows: solitary bone, 2-4 bones, ≥5 bones, and visceral organs. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics, and clinical outcomes were compared between patients treated with (prostate radiotherapy [PRT] group) or without radiotherapy to the primary tumor. RESULTS: Patients in PRT group presented with a statistically significantly younger age (p = .02), whereas other characteristics showed no significant difference. Overall survival (OS) and biochemical failure-free survival (BCFFS) were improved in PRT patients (3-year OS: 69% vs. 43%, p = 0.004; 3-year BCFFS: 52% vs. 16%, p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis identified PRT as a significant predictor of both OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.43, p = 0.015). None of the 38 PRT patients experienced severe (grade ≥3) genitourinary or gastrointestinal toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that radiotherapy to the primary tumor was associated with improved OS and BCFFS in metastatic prostate cancer. The results of this study warrant prospective controlled clinical trials of this approach in stage IV prostate cancer patients with limited extent of bone metastasis and good performance status.

The androgen receptor for the radiation oncologist.

Androgen deprivation therapy is widely used in combination with radiotherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. The knowledge of the biology of the androgen axis could help the radiation oncologist to combine both modalities in an efficient way. Moreover, new drugs have recently been approved and their role in combination with radiation needs pre-clinical and clinical studies. This review summarized the main data on the biology of androgen receptor and the potential implications for the physician. Mechanisms of interactions between androgen deprivation therapy and radiotherapy are also presented and discussed.

Radiation dose to rectum in high-dose-rate brachytherapy with a single implant and two fractions for prostate cancer, and its prediction by prostate volume.

We aimed to clarify the differences between the estimated rectal dose (ERD) and the first measured dose (FMD) and second measured dose (SMD) to the rectum during high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy, and to predict FMD from the prostate volume (PV) or the rectal dose-volume parameters (RDVPs). ERD, FMD, and SMD were assessed with a rectal dosimeter during HDR brachytherapy of 18 Gy given in two fractions to 110 patients (48 hormone recipients, 62 hormone-naïve patients) with prostate cancer. The correlations between FMD and PV, and between FMD and RDVP (D 2ml-D 5ml) were investigated. ERD (mean ± SD) was 219 ± 44 cGy, FMD was 255 ± 52 cGy, and SMD was 298 ± 63 cGy, which differed significantly (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficients between ERD and FMD, and between FMD and SMD, were 0.82 and 0.78, respectively. SMD was equivalent to 118 ± 16 % FMD. The measured doses were significantly greater in the hormone recipients than in the hormone-naïve patients (p < 0.001). The increase in FMD correlated with the increases in PV and in RDVPs. The correlation coefficients between PV and FMD in all of the patients, in the hormone recipients, and in the hormone-naïve patients were 0.61, 0.64, and 0.64, respectively, whereas that between RDVPs and FMD was <0.53. In conclusion, the dose to the rectum increased with time and was correlated with the increases in PV and RDVPs. The correlation coefficient between FMD and PV was greater than that between FMD and RDVPs.

Androgen-deprivation therapy and metabolic syndrome in men with prostate cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To examine the trajectory of changes in body composition and metabolic profile in men who receive androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal design with repeated measures. SETTING: Urban medical center in the southwestern United States. SAMPLE: 55 men starting radiation therapy for prostate cancer. METHODS: Changes in the parameters of metabolic syndrome were estimated with ADT (n=31) and non-ADT (n=24) groups by repeated-measures analysis of variance implemented by general linear mixed-effects models. Models included interactions between groups and follow-up time to test differences between the groups. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Body composition and metabolic variables. FINDINGS: The ADT group demonstrated a transient increase in waist circumference at the nine-month time point and significant changes in measures of insulin resistance were noted at the three month point. Values for diastolic and systolic blood pressure, plasma glucose, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides were not altered for either group. Differences in metabolic variables or measures of body composition did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate the development of insulin resistance in men receiving ADT as early as three months after starting ADT. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Addressing survivorship concerns can lead to the development of nursing interventions designed to reduce adverse effects associated with ADT.

Letrozole combined with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog for metastatic male breast cancer.

The role of aromatase inhibitors combined with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog in metastatic male breast cancer patients remains unknown. In this retrospective study we evaluated the activity of letrozole combined with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog as a first- or second-line therapy for metastatic male breast cancer patients. 19 men entered the study. We did not observe any grade 3 or 4 adverse events. 2 patients (10.5 %) had complete response, 7 patients (36.8 %) experienced a partial response, 7 patients (36.8 %) had stable disease lasting ≥ 6 months, and 3 patients (15.8 %) had progressive disease. Overall, the disease control rate was 84.2 %. Median progression-free survival was 12.5 months (95 % CI 8.2-16.9), median overall survival was 35.8 months (95 % CI 24.4-49.2), 1- and 2-year survival rates were 89.5 and 67 %, respectively. Interestingly, 3 out of 4 patients treated with the combination following disease progression while on aromatase inhibitor monotherapy confirmed or improved the best overall response observed in the first-line setting. The combination of letrozole and gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog is effective and safe in hormone-receptor positive, metastatic male breast cancer patients.

[Synchronous bilateral breast cancer in a male]. / Carcinoma mamario bilateral sincrónico en un varón.

BACKGROUND: male breast cancer is a disease with low incidence, which is further reduced when it comes to bilateral synchronous presentation. There are few published cases in recent years. The aim is to establish guidelines for the management of this disorder that is so rare. CLINICAL CASE: a 75-year-old with tumors in both breasts, which were completely resected with removal of palpable nodes. The histopathological study reported ductal carcinoma. The indicated treatment was adjuvant tamoxifen and radiotherapy. The patient is currently in a disease-free period. CONCLUSIONS: this is a rare disease, whose main treatment is surgery, hence the importance of early diagnosis. Most cases require adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy because they are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage.

antecedentes: el cáncer de mama en el hombre es una enfermedad con baja incidencia, que se reduce aún más cuando es bilateral sincrónica. Existen pocas publicaciones en los últimos años. Objetivo: establecer pautas para el tratamiento de este cáncer, aunque sea infrecuente. Caso clínico: paciente masculino de 75 años de edad, con tumores en ambas mamas, que se le resecaron completamente con exéresis de ganglios palpables. El estudio histopatológico informó que se trataba de un carcinoma ductal infiltrante no especificado. Se indicó tratamiento adyuvante con tamoxifeno y radioterapia; en la actualidad está libre de enfermedad. Conclusiones: el carcinoma mamario bilateral sincrónico en el varón es una enfermedad poco frecuente. Su tratamiento principal es la cirugía, de ahí la importancia del diagnóstico temprano. En la mayoría de los casos se requiere quimioterapia y radioterapia adyuvante porque suelen diagnosticarse en un estadio avanzado.

Elderly postmenopausal patients with breast cancer are at increased risk for distant recurrence: a tamoxifen exemestane adjuvant multinational study analysis.

INTRODUCTION: For postmenopausal patients with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, outcome is worse with increasing age at diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of breast cancer recurrence (locoregional and distant), and contralateral breast cancer by age at diagnosis. METHODS: Patients enrolled in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial were included. Primary endpoints were locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and contralateral breast cancer. Age at diagnosis was categorized as younger than 65 years, 65-74 years, and 75 years or older. RESULTS: Overall, 9,766 patients were included, of which 5,349 were younger than 65 years (reference group), 3,060 were 65-74 years, and 1,357 were 75 years or older. With increasing age, a decreased administration of radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery (94%, 92%, and 88%, respectively) and adjuvant chemotherapy (51%, 23%, and 5%, respectively) was observed. Risk of distant recurrence increased with age at diagnosis; multivariable hazard ratio for patients aged 65-74 years was 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.44), hazard ratio for patients aged 75 years or older was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.08-1.79). Risks of locoregional recurrence and contralateral breast cancer were not significantly different across age groups. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with breast cancer were at increased risk for distant recurrence. Other studies have shown that the risk of distant recurrence is mainly affected by adjuvant systemic therapy. All TEAM patients received adjuvant endocrine treatment; however, chemotherapy was administered less often in elderly patients. These findings are suggestive for consideration of chemotherapy in relatively fit elderly breast cancer patients with hormone-sensitive disease.

Preimplant factors affecting prostate D90 after transperineal interstitial prostate brachytherapy with loose (125)I seeds.

The dose received by 90% of the prostate volume (D90) is the key parameter of dosimetric analysis in prostate brachytherapy. The aim of this analysis was to identify preimplant factors affecting prostate D90 after transperineal interstitial prostate brachytherapy with loose (125)I seeds. We reviewed the records of 210 patients who underwent transperineal interstitial prostate brachytherapy with loose (125)I seeds for clinical T1/T2 prostate cancer at our institution. Patients who received supplemental external-beam radiation therapy were excluded. One hundred and nine patients (51.9%) received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT). One month after seed implantation, postimplant computed tomography and dosimetric analysis were performed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify preimplant factors affecting postimplant prostate D90. The postimplant prostate D90 values ranged from 123.3 to 234.1 Gy (mean ± standard error, 177.1 ± 1.4 Gy). Postimplant prostate D90 differed significantly between patients who had and had not undergone NHT (P = 0.001). In addition, simple regression analyses showed positive correlations with the estimated preimplant prostate D90, preimplant prostate volume by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), total radioactivity, number of needles, and number of seeds. On stepwise multiple regression analysis, postimplant prostate D90 showed significant negative correlations with NHT and preimplant prostate volume by TRUS, and a significant positive correlation with total radioactivity. In conclusion, NHT, preimplant prostate volume by TRUS, and total radioactivity are significant preimplant factors affecting postimplant prostate D90 in prostate cancer patients treated with transperineal interstitial prostate brachytherapy with loose (125)I seeds.

Breast cancer among HIV infected individuals from the ONCOVIH study, in France: therapeutic implications.

BACKGROUND: The cross-sectional ONCOVIH study prospectively enrolled HIV-infected adults and children with newly diagnosed malignancies in France in 2006. METHOD: We report the characteristics HIV-infected patients with breast cancer from the ONCOVIH study. Standardised questionnaires included characteristics of HIV infection and malignancy. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier estimates. RESULTS: Overall, 21 patients with breast cancer (two men and 19 women) were included with a median age of 43.8 years, (range: 30.1-65.5). At time of tumour diagnosis, the median CD4 count was 384/mm(3) (range: 180-1039) the median duration of known seropositivity 7.7 years (range: 0-20.3); 14 patients were under combined antiretroviral therapy for a median duration of 5.7 years (range: 1.1-10.6), of whom 11 had a controlled viral load (<500 copies/mL). The median tumour size was 1.8 cm (range: 1.0-7.0). In women, 17 (89.5%) had invasive ductal carcinoma, 17 (89.5%) with HER2 negative receptors, 8 (42.1%) with ER+ expression, and 7 (36.8%) with PR+ expression. A majority of women received chemotherapy (73.7%), surgery (68.4%) and radiotherapy (57.9%). Their one-year survival rate was estimated as 77.8% (95%confidence interval (CI): 58.6-97.0%). CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the risk of breast cancer in infected patients, and the importance of taking into account the different contributing factors for breast cancer in HIV-infected individuals.

Meta-analysis of the association of breast cancer subtype and pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Pathologic complete response (pCR) is a surrogate end-point for prognosis in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer. We aimed to report summary estimates of the proportion of subjects achieving pCR (pCR%) by tumour subtype, and to determine whether subtype was independently associated with pCR, in a study-level meta-analysis. METHODS: We systematically identified NAC studies reporting pCR data according to tumour subtype, using predefined eligibility criteria. Descriptive, qualitative and quantitative data were extracted. Random effects logistic meta-regression examined whether pCR% was associated with subtype, defined using three categories for model 1 [hormone receptor positive (HR+/HER2-), HER2 positive (HER2+), triple negative (ER-/PR-/HER2-)] and 4 categories for model 2 [HER2+ further classified as HER2+/HR+ and HER2+/HR-]. Subtype-specific odds ratios (OR) were calculated and were adjusted for covariates associated with pCR in our data. RESULTS: In model 1, based on 11,695 subjects from 30 eligible studies, overall pooled pCR% was 18.9% (16.6-21.5%), and in model 2 (20 studies, 8095 subjects) pooled pCR% was 18.5% (16.2-21.1%); tumour subtype was associated with pCR% (P<0.0001) in both models. Subtype-specific pCR% (model 2) was: 8.3% (6.7-10.2%) in HR+/HER2- [OR 1/referent], 18.7% (15.0-23.1%) in HER2+/HR+ [OR 2.6], 38.9% (33.2-44.9%) in HER2+/HR- [OR 7.1] and 31.1% (26.5-36.1%) in triple negative [OR 5.0]; pCR% was significantly higher for the HER2+/HR- compared with the triple negative subtype, however pCR% was very similar for these subtypes (and OR=5.0 both subtypes) when studies using HER2-directed therapy with NAC were excluded from the model. Neither sensitivity analysis (excluding unknown subtypes), nor adjustment for associated covariates, substantially altered our findings. INTERPRETATION: This meta-analysis provides evidence of an independent association between breast cancer subtype and pCR; odds of pCR were highest for the triple negative and HER2+/HR- subtypes, with evidence of an influential effect on achieving pCR in the latter subtype through inclusion of HER2-directed therapy with NAC.

Vascular responses to radiotherapy and androgen-deprivation therapy in experimental prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy (RT) and androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) are standard treatments for advanced prostate cancer (PC). Tumor vascularization is recognized as an important physiological feature likely to impact on both RT and ADT response, and this study therefore aimed to characterize the vascular responses to RT and ADT in experimental PC. METHODS: Using mice implanted with CWR22 PC xenografts, vascular responses to RT and ADT by castration were visualized in vivo by DCE MRI, before contrast-enhancement curves were analyzed both semi-quantitatively and by pharmacokinetic modeling. Extracted image parameters were correlated to the results from ex vivo quantitative fluorescent immunohistochemical analysis (qIHC) of tumor vascularization (9 F1), perfusion (Hoechst 33342), and hypoxia (pimonidazole), performed on tissue sections made from tumors excised directly after DCE MRI. RESULTS: Compared to untreated (Ctrl) tumors, an improved and highly functional vascularization was detected in androgen-deprived (AD) tumors, reflected by increases in DCE MRI parameters and by increased number of vessels (VN), vessel density (VD), and vessel area fraction (VF) from qIHC. Although total hypoxic fractions ( HF) did not change, estimated acute hypoxia scores (AHS)--the proportion of hypoxia staining within 50 µm from perfusion staining--were increased in AD tumors compared to in Ctrl tumors. Five to six months after ADT renewed castration-resistant (CR) tumor growth appeared with an even further enhanced tumor vascularization. Compared to the large vascular changes induced by ADT, RT induced minor vascular changes. Correlating DCE MRI and qIHC parameters unveiled the semi-quantitative parameters area under curve (AUC) from initial time-points to strongly correlate with VD and VF, whereas estimation of vessel size (VS) by DCE MRI required pharmacokinetic modeling. HF was not correlated to any DCE MRI parameter, however, AHS may be estimated after pharmacokinetic modeling. Interestingly, such modeling also detected tumor necrosis very strongly. CONCLUSIONS: DCE MRI reliably allows non-invasive assessment of tumors' vascular function. The findings of increased tumor vascularization after ADT encourage further studies into whether these changes are beneficial for combined RT, or if treatment with anti-angiogenic therapy may be a strategy to improve the therapeutic efficacy of ADT in advanced PC.

[Effectiveness of different castration methods in breast cancer patients].

Estrogens play the most important role in breast cancer oncogenesis. There are different methods used to decrease estrogen production and serum concentration: surgery, irradiation and drug-based method. In the current study 500 patients with localized surgically resectable breast cancer (infiltrative-edematous form included) or disseminated breast cancer with indication for ovarial function inhibition. The patients were divided into 3 groups. The first group consisted of 400 patients with prior endoscopic bilateral ovariectomy. The second group included 50 patients with prior ovarian irradiation, the third one included 50 patients after laparotomic ovarian resection. The results obtained show 100% effect of endoscopic ovariectomy resulted in disabled ovarian function, which is more effective, than ovarian irradiation (92%). Besides, the endoscopic method doesn't have negative effects characteristic for irradiation, such as involvement of non-target organs or restoration of hormone production. Endoscopic surgery was characterized by 10-fold decrease in complications rate compared to laparotomic operation (2.2% vs 24%). Besides, endoscopic intervention leads to much shorter inpatient treatment duration and demand for anesthetics and antibiotic treatment making it less costly, than more traditional methods of castration. Therefore, endoscopic ovarian resection is a safe and effective castration method in breast cancer patients.

Brachytherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer: optimal patient selection.

The objective of this review is to present an overview of each modality and delineate how to best select patients who are optimal candidates for these treatment approaches. Prostate brachytherapy as a curative modality for clinically localized prostate cancer has become increasingly utilized over the past decade; 25% of all early cancers are now treated this way in the United States (1). The popularity of this treatment strategy lies in the highly conformal nature of radiation dose, low morbidity, patient convenience, and high efficacy rates. Prostate brachytherapy can be delivered by either a permanent interstitial radioactive seed implantation (low dose rate [LDR]) or a temporary interstitial insertion of iridium-192 (Ir192) afterloading catheters. The objective of both of these techniques is to deliver a high dose of radiation to the prostate gland while exposing normal surrounding tissues to minimal radiation dose. Brachytherapy techniques are ideal to achieve this goal given the close proximity of the radiation source to tumor and sharp fall off of the radiation dose cloud proximate to the source. Brachytherapy provides a powerful means of delivering dose escalation above and beyond that achievable with intensity-modulated external beam radiotherapy alone. Careful selection of appropriate patients for these therapies, however, is critical for optimizing both disease-related outcomes and treatment-related toxicity.

External beam radiation therapy for clinically localized prostate cancer: when and how we optimize with concurrent hormonal deprivation.

Androgen deprivation plays a major role in the treatment of prostate cancer.Preclinical studies have shown that androgen deprivation provides both an independent cytotoxic effect and radiosensitization on prostate tumors. For men with non-metastatic prostate cancer, the addition of androgen deprivation to radiotherapy has been shown to improve survival for intermediate and high risk disease compared to radiation alone.This review discusses the clinical trial data regarding combination of androgen deprivation and radiation and provides recommendations for its use in men undergoing radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.