The role of PSA kinetics in men with a negative MRI-targeted prostate biopsy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate rebiopsy rates and clinicopathologic outcomes in patients after a negative MRI-guided biopsy to better inform the management of these patients. METHODS: Patients were included with a clinical suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa) referred for fusion biopsy for a PI-RADS v2.1 lesion ≥ 3 on multiparametric MRI and a negative MRI fusion biopsy. Biopsies included targeted and systematic cores. Patients with a prior cancer diagnosis were excluded. Both baseline and follow-up clinicopathological data, and long-term PSA values were examined in these patients. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon rank-sum test and one-way tests. RESULTS: Of 685 total patients, 188 (27%) had a negative fusion biopsy. Of these 88 (47%), 74 (39%), and 26 (14%) had PI-RADS 3, 4, 5 lesions, respectively. Complete follow-up was available for 182/188 patients (97%), with a median of 24 months (interquartile range: 12-38). Post-biopsy PSA levels decreased the first and the second year (-0.24; and -0.84 ng/ml/yrs respectively). In follow-up, 44 patients had an MRI (24%) and 20 had a biopsy (10%). A positive PSA velocity was the only predictive variable for repeat MRI in univariate analysis. On repeat MRI, 9 (27%) patients had disappearance of the initial lesion, 21 (48%) had a lower PIRADS score and 14 (32%) higher. Only 12/182 (6.6%) were found to have PCa during follow-up, of those 7 (3.8%) were clinically significant. CONCLUSION: For patients with nonmalignant biopsy findings after an initial mpMRI showing a suspicious PI-RADS lesion, the majority of patients will have their PSAs return to baseline over time. To support this, repeat MRI frequently demonstrated a disappearance or downgrading of PIRADS lesions. These data support monitoring patients with this clinical scenario.

Pharmacogenetic approach for a better drug treatment in children.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review of the literature aiming to identify original studies that have evaluated the effect of genes on the response to medications used to treat psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. RESULTS: We included 35 original studies on the pharmacogenetics of childhood psychiatric disorders. Thirty-three studies addressed the association between genes particularly dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) and dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) and response to medication for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Only two studies investigated atomoxetine as the pharmacological intervention, and the other 31 studies investigated methylphenidate (MPH). One study assessed children with depression and anxiety disorders and another assessed children with autism; in both of them selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the pharmacological intervention. CONCLUSION: The existing literature on the pharmacogenetics of ADHD suggests that response to MPH is influenced by several different polymorphisms, each one exerting a small effect. Genome-wide association studies and multi-center collaborative projects are likely to overcome the barriers for the development of the field, mainly if a priori conceptual hypothesis and rigorous methodological strategies are followed. Future investigations should evaluate, besides improvement of symptoms, emergence of clinically relevant side effects. The lessons we have learned from the progress of the pharmacogenetics of ADHD can be relevant for developing pharmacogenetic studies in other child and adolescent psychiatric disorders.