PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Prostatitis”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Detection of prostate cancer in males with prostatism.

The present study was designed to compare the prostate cancer detection rate, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of digital rectal examination (DRE) and serum prostatic specific antigen (PSA) in a consecutive cohort of males presenting to a single institution with clinically significant prostatism. The study population was comprised of 224 consecutive males with clinically significant prostatism referred to the Prostate Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin between June 1990 and December 1991. Subjects were considered to have clinically significant prostatism if they elected to pursue medical or surgical therapy following exclusion of carcinoma of the prostate. The initial examination consisted of a Boyarsky symptom score assessment, DRE, uroflowmetry, postvoid residual determination, serum PSA level, and transrectal prostatic ultrasonography. Subjects with an abnormality on DRE or serum PSA > 4 ng/dl were advised to undergo transrectal prostatic biopsy. Of the 224 subjects, 40 (17.9%) had an abnormal DRE and 57 (25.4%) had an elevated serum PSA > 4 ng/dl. The overall detection rate of prostate cancer in the study population was 6.7%. The prostate cancer detection rates for PSA alone and DRE alone were 5.8% and 5.3%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values of PSA alone were 86.7%, 80.9%, and 25.0% and of DRE alone 80.0%, 86.3%, and 30.0%, respectively. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for the entire study population in order to compare the screening measures serum PSA and PSA density. The area under the curves was 0.88 for both tests, indicating that these screening tests for prostate cancer were not significantly different. The present study demonstrated that males with clinically significant prostatism represent a high risk cohort for detecting prostate cancer. DRE and PSA are equally effective measures for detecting prostate cancer. PSA density does not offer any advantage over serum PSA in screening for prostate cancer, except in the subset of patients with a normal DRE and serum PSA levels between 4.0 and 9.9 ng/dl.

Adult↗

Relationship between serum prostate specific antigen and the pattern of inflammation in both benign and malignant prostatic disease in Middle Eastern men.

To determine the effect of prostatitis on serum prostate specific antigen in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in Middle Eastern men, H&E-stained sections of all consecutive prostate specimens were reviewed for diagnosis (malignant or benign) and pattern of inflammation. Inflammation was categorized into acute, active chronic and chronic inactive and graded semi-quantitatively according to previously published criteria. Results were correlated with serum PSA obtained from patients' records. Of 513 prostate specimens reviewed; 435 (84.8%) were benign and 78 (15.2%) were malignant. Chronic inactive prostatitis was present in 259 (204 benign, 55 malignant) and active chronic prostatitis in 221 (204 benign, 17 malignant). Acute prostatitis alone was not observed and prostatitis was absent in 33 (27 benign, 6 malignant). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of inactive chronic prostatitis between benign and malignant specimens (p < 0.071), but active chronic prostatitis was more prevalent in benign specimens (p < 0.001). Increasing serum PSA was observed for increasing grades of both inactive and active chronic prostatitis in both benign and malignant disease. Prostate cancer showed higher serum PSA levels than benign, at different cut-off points (4 ng/ml = p < 0.0001; 8 ng/ml = p < 0.0001; 12 ng/ml = p < 0.0001). However, significant numbers of patients with benign prostate biopsies presented with PSA above 12 ng/ml (82/260 = 32%). We conclude that active chronic prostatitis is common in Middle Eastern men with benign prostatic disease and a significant number of these present with very high PSA levels, some over 300 ng/ml.

Acute Disease↗

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and PSA density: racial differences in men without prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Many physicians now use serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to screen for prostate cancer in asymptomatic men. Whether or not a prostate biopsy should also be performed depends on an accurate definition of what constitutes a normal PSA value. Until recently, studies conducted to establish normal serum PSA values have involved study populations that have included few African-American men. PURPOSE: We sought to compare serum PSA levels and PSA density (i.e., serum PSA level/prostate volume ratio) in African-American and white men without histologic evidence of prostate cancer. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 826 consecutive men who underwent one or more prostate biopsies at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Shreveport, LA, from January 1993 through December 1995. In this retrospective review, we recorded patient's age, race, serum PSA level, digital rectal examination result, ultrasound-determined prostate volume, indications for biopsy, and biopsy results. Data from a total of 752 consecutive men who were either white or African-American and whose indication for biopsy included a serum PSA of greater than 4.0 ng/mL and/or an abnormal digital rectal examination were analyzed. To examine possible differences in serum PSA level, PSA density, prostate volume, and patient age, the two-sided Student's t test was employed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to determine if serum PSA levels were associated with the patient's age, race, or prostate volume in men without prostate cancer. RESULTS: Of the 752 men included in this analysis, 254 had histologic evidence of prostate cancer and 498 did not. Of the 498 men without prostate cancer, 367 (74%) men were white and 131 (26%) were black. There were no racial differences in age or calculated prostate volume. Serum PSA levels and calculated PSA density, however, were significantly (both P < .0001) higher in African-American men that in white men. A multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that race and prostate volume were independent variables associated with serum PSA level. For African-American and white men, serum PSA values of greater than 4 ng/mL were associated with prostate cancer with sensitivities of 89.5% and 81.9%, respectively, and specificities of 38.2% and 52.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among biopsied men without histologic evidence of prostate cancer, African-Americans have a significantly higher PSA level and PSA density than similarly aged white men. IMPLICATIONS: Published criteria for normal PSA level and density have been derived primarily from white men and may not be directly applicable to other populations. Race-specific data are needed to fully optimize PSA as a tumor marker in racial populations that are at high risk for prostate cancer death.

Adult↗

[The specific expression profile of homeobox gene NKX3.1 mRNA and protein in prostate tissues and its relationship with primary prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To determine expressions of NKX3.1 mRNA and protein in prostatic tissues and to investigate the relation between homeobox gene NKX3.1 and prostatic carcinoma. METHODS: 76 prostatic tissues (32 cancer, 12 normal prostate and 32 benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues) and 96 non-prostatic tissues were analyzed for the detection of expressions of NKX3.1 mRNA and protein by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: In 76 prostatic tissues, NKX3.1 mRNA was detected in 75 specimens (98.7%), whereas in 96 non-prostatic specimens, NKX3.1 mRNA was negatively expressed in the tissues of bladder, kidney, liver, intestine, fat and skin, except for two expressed in testis and one in mammary gland. The expression ratio of NKX3.1 protein in the epithelia cells of prostate was 100%, but in testis mammary gland was 16.7%, in bladder and intestine was 8.3%, and in kidney, liver, fat and skin was 0% (P < 0.01). The total strong positive ratio of NKX3.1 protein in the epithelia cell of prostate was 94.7%, 5.3% in the stroma cell of prostate (P < 0.01), and 13.6% in benignant prostate cell, 40.6% in prostate cancer (P < 0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that NKX3.1 is not only the prostate-specific homeobox gene, but is the epithelia-cell-specific gene of prostate. It may play an important role in the development of prostatic carcinoma.

Adult↗

Prostate specific antigen density of the transition zone: a new effective parameter for prostate cancer prediction.

PURPOSE: Use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) density to enhance the predictive value of detecting prostate cancer at intermediate PSA levels has been limited due to contradictory results in large scale studies. Most PSA leakage from the benign prostate into the serum comes from the transition zone. Therefore, in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer with a serum PSA of less than 10 ng/ml. we studied and compared the values of PSA density of the total prostate and the transition zone. We examined the ability of PSA density of the transition zone to enhance prostate cancer detection in patients with intermediate PSA levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The volumes of the entire prostate and of the transition zone were determined by transrectal ultrasound. PSA density for both regions was calculated in 88 patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer (radical prostatectomy), and 74 with BPH and histologically proved benign disease. RESULTS: Average total prostate PSA density plus or minus standard deviation was 0.12 +/- 0.07 and 0.22 +/- 0.12 ng./ml./cc in patients with BPH and prostate cancer, respectively, while average PSA density of the transition zone was 0.21 +/- 0.13 and 1.02 +/- 0.70 ng./ml./cc, respectively (p < 0.0001). If a total prostate PSA density of 0.15 had been chosen, the cancer would have been missed in 34% of the patients compared to 10% if a cutoff value of 0.35 for PSA density of the transition zone had been chosen (p < 0.001). Overall, in patients with a PSA of 0.25 to 10.0 ng./ml. the sensitivity and specificity of PSA density of the transition zone for predicting prostate cancer at a 0.35 cutoff value were 90 and 93%, respectively, compared to 94 and 89%, respectively, for those with a PSA of 4 to 10 ng./ml. CONCLUSIONS: In our study PSA density of the transition zone was much more accurate in predicting prostate cancer than was total prostate PSA density for PSA levels of less than 10 ng./ml. With respect to the high sensitivity and specificity, if confirmed in large prospective studies, including patients seen for early diagnosis, PSA density of the transition zone could become a routine tool for urologists in the prediction of prostate cancer in men with a PSA of 4 to 10 ng./ml.

Aged↗

Biochemical profiles of prostatic fluid from normal and diseased prostate glands.

The attempt to identify changes in the biochemical composition of prostatic fluid that might accompany and characterize disease states in the prostate was stimulated by two assumptions based on observations. First, the composition of prostatic fluid was judged to be likely to reflect the metabolic status of at least the epithelial cells accurately. Secondly, the metabolic changes preceding or associated with the development of carcinoma in the prostate seemed likely to be diffuse rather than limited to the histologically abnormal prostatic cells. As a consequence of these assumptions, prostatic fluid obtained from the urethra by digital massage of the prostate was evaluated microscopically and subjected to numerous analytical procedures. Differences in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes, complement C3, and transferrin concentrations in the prostatic fluid of men with histologically identified carcinoma (Ca) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have been observed. The ratio of LDH-5/ LDH-1 was found to have a mean value of 5.94 +/- 0.25(S.E.) in 98 determinations on 83 patients with Ca, and 1.84 +/- 0.14 in 212 determinations on 142 patients with BPH with 10 or less white blood cells per high power field (WBC/hpf) on microscopic examination of the prostatic fluid. Fluid from 52 patients with BPH with greater than 10 WBC/hpf (84 determinations) had a mean ratio of 5.85 +/- 0.88 and from 286 patients with greater than 10 WBC/hpf without an established histologic diagnosis (460 determinations) of 3.12 +/- 0.21. Two hundred twenty-two men under 45 years of age (255 determinations) judged to have a normal prostate clinically had a mean ratio of 0.67 +/- 0.05. The mean transferrin concentration in 44 patients (51 determinations) with Ca was 47.03 +/- 3.76mg/100 ml, in 59 patients with BPH (90 determinations) was 12.97 +/- 1.20, in 23 patients with BPH with > 10 WBC/hpf in the prostatic fluid (38 determinations) was 14.93 +/- 2.19, in 87 patients with > 10 WBC/hpf (92 determinations) was 13.42 +/- 1.41, and in 33 patients less than 45 years of age with clinically normal prostates (33 determinations) was 7.45 +/- 1.08. The mean complement C3 concentration in 46 patients with Ca (57 determinations) was 17.48 +/- 1.60, in 58 patients with BPH (85 determinations) was 3.83 +/- 0.55, in 24 patients with BPH with > 10 WBC/hpf (39 determinations) was 5.87 +/- 0.68, in 93 patients with > 10 WBC/hpf (98 determinations) was 4.47 +/- 0.53, and in 34 patients less than 45 years of age (34 determinations) was 2.06 +/- 0.43. The mean ratio of LDH-5/LDH-1 was significantly greater for Ca than BPH with 10 or less WBC/hpf in the prostatic fluid. The mean concentrations of transferrin and complement C3 were significantly greater in Ca than in all other groups studied. No obvious relationship between stage of disease and these findings was observed. These observations support the suggestion that determination of prostatic fluid composition assists in identifying men with a high risk of cancer of the prostate.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Glutathione and glutathione S-transferase in benign and malignant prostate cell lines and prostate tissues.

Metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma is unresponsive to alkylator chemotherapy with virtually no prolonged remissions. Glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) have been reported to play a role in tumor resistance to alkylator therapy; however, there are no baseline studies that have investigated and compared GSH and GST in human prostate cell lines and tissues. Thus, we determined the GSH content and GST activity in benign prostate, in primary and metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma tissues, in immortal adenocarcinoma cell lines, and in primary cell cultures derived from both benign prostate and primary prostatic carcinoma tissue. The GSH content was higher in the immortal cell lines than in the fresh tissues and primary cultures. Conversely, the GST activity was significantly higher in the tissues and primary cultures than in the cell lines. The GSH content and GST activity of the primary cultured prostatic cells were similar to those of the prostate tissues. The differences between the immortal prostate cancer cell lines and prostate tissue are of sufficient magnitude to suggest that in vitro results with cell lines may not extrapolate to prostate cancer in vivo. The GSH content and GST activity in a prostate specific antigen-secreting human prostate tumor xenograft, LuCaP23, maintained in nude mice were similar to those of human prostate tissue and primary cultures. Both the xenograft and primary cultures from patients with prostate cancer may be more appropriate models than established cell lines for investigating techniques to increase the effectiveness of alkylators in prostate cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Online ultrasound image guidance for radiotherapy of prostate cancer: impact of image acquisition on prostate displacement.

AIM: Numerous studies reported the use of ultrasound image-guidance system to assess and correct patient setup during radiotherapy for prostate cancer. We conducted a study to demonstrate and quantify prostate displacement resulting from pressure of the probe on the abdomen during transabdominal ultrasound image acquisition for prostate localization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers were asked to undergo one imaging procedure. The procedure was performed in a condition that simulates the localization of prostate during online ultrasound guidance. A 3D ultrasound machine was used. The procedure started with the placement of the probe on the abdomen above the pubis symphysis. The probe was tilted in a caudal and posterior direction until the prostate and seminal vesicle were visualized. The probe was then fixed with a rigid arm, which maintained the probe in a static position during image acquisition. The probe was then moved, in a short time, stepwise toward the prostate, acquiring images at each step. The prostate and seminal vesicles were identified and selected in all planes. The first 3D volume was used as reference 1, to which all other scans were matched using a gray value matching algorithm. RESULTS: Prostate motion was quantified as a 3D translation relative to the patient coordinate system. The resulting translations represented the amount of prostate movement as a function of probe displacement. Between 7 and 11 images were obtained per volunteer, with a maximal probe displacement ranging between 3 and 6 cm. Prostate displacement was measured in all volunteers for all the probe steps and in all directions. The largest displacements occurred in the posterior direction in all volunteers. The absolute prostate motion was less than 5 mm in 100% of the volunteers after 1 cm of probe displacement, in 80% after 1.5 cm, in 40% after 2 cm, in 10% after 2.5 cm, and 0% after 3 cm. To achieved a good-quality ultrasound images, the probe requires an average displacement of 1.2 cm, and this results in an average prostate displacement of 3.1 mm. No correlations were observed between prostate motion and prostate-probe distance or bladder size. CONCLUSION: Probe pressure during ultrasound image acquisition causes prostate displacement, which is correlated to the amount of probe displacement from initial contact. The induced uncertainty associated with this process needs to be carefully evaluated to determine a safe margin to be employed during online ultrasound image-guided radiotherapy of the prostate.

Adult↗

Prediagnosis prostate specific antigen velocity is associated with risk of prostate cancer progression following brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: Prostate specific antigen velocity 2.0 ng/ml per year or greater in the year before prostate cancer diagnosis is associated with cancer specific survival following radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy. We evaluated the relationship between prediagnosis prostate specific antigen velocity and cancer progression following primary radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the records of 24,893 men from a community based prostate cancer screening study and identified 237 with clinically localized prostate cancer who elected primary radiation therapy. Our final cohort consisted of 130 men, including 83 treated with external beam radiation and 47 treated with brachytherapy. Patient specific variables at diagnosis were analyzed for their value in predicting biochemical progression using American Society for Therapeutic and Radiation Oncology criteria. RESULTS: Mean followup +/- SD was 64 +/- 35 months. Prostate specific antigen at diagnosis, family history of prostate cancer and prediagnosis prostate specific antigen velocity 2.0 ng/ml per year or greater were associated with cancer progression following brachytherapy or external beam radiation. Of men with prostate specific antigen velocity 2.0 ng/ml per year or greater 38% had cancer progression compared to 12% with prostate specific antigen velocity less than 2.0 ng/ml per year (OR 4.3, p = 0.003). The 6-year progression-free survival estimate was 57% in men with prostate specific antigen velocity 2.0 ng/ml per year or greater and 82% in men with prostate specific antigen velocity less than 2.0 ng/ml per year (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis absolute prostate specific antigen at diagnosis and prostate specific antigen velocity 2.0 ng/ml per year or greater were independently associated with cancer progression in men treated with external beam radiation therapy or brachytherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Men with a prediagnosis prostate specific antigen velocity of 2.0 ng/ml per year or greater are at increased risk for cancer progression following brachytherapy or external beam radiation compared to men with a prostate specific antigen velocity of less than 2.0 ng/ml per year.

Adult↗

Prostate specific antigen expression does not necessarily correlate with prostate cancer cell growth.

PURPOSE: The antiproliferative effects of pharmacological agents used for androgen ablative therapy in prostate cancer, including goserelin, bicalutamide and cyproterone acetate (Fluka Chemie, Buchs, Switzerland), were tested in vitro. It was determined whether they affected prostate specific antigen mRNA and protein expression independent of growth inhibition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Goserelin, bicalutamide (AstraZeneca, Zug, Switzerland) and cyproterone acetate were added to prostate specific antigen expressing, androgen dependent LNCaP and androgen independent C4-2 cell line (Urocor, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) cultures. Proliferation was determined by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assay (Roche, Mannheim, Germany). Prostate specific antigen mRNA expression was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Secreted prostate specific antigen protein levels were quantified by microparticle enzyme-immunoassay. RESULTS: Goserelin inhibited cell growth and prostate specific antigen protein secretion in LNCaP and C4-2 cells. Prostate specific antigen mRNA expression was not decreased. Bicalutamide did not affect cell growth or prostate specific antigen mRNA expression in LNCaP or C4-2 cells, although it significantly decreased prostate specific antigen protein secretion in LNCaP and to a lesser extent in C4-2 cells. Cyproterone acetate decreased the growth of C4-2 but not of LNCaP cells. It did not affect prostate specific antigen mRNA or protein expression in either cell line. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate specific antigen expression does not necessarily correlate with cell growth. Without a substantial effect on cell growth bicalutamide lowers prostate specific antigen synthesis, whereas cyproterone acetate decreases cell growth with no effect on prostate specific antigen secretion. Prostate specific antigen expression may be influenced by growth inhibition but also by altered mRNA and protein levels depending on the agent, its concentration and the cell line evaluated. For interpreting clinical trials prostate specific antigen is not necessarily a surrogate end point marker for a treatment effect on prostate cancer cell growth.

Androgen Antagonists↗

Morphometric analysis and clinical followup of isolated prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in needle biopsy of the prostate.

PURPOSE: We evaluate the significance of grade and extent of isolated prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in prostate needle biopsies as a predictor of cancer on repeat biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed our experience with 58 men 50 years or older who had isolated prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia on initial prostate needle biopsy during a prostate specific antigen (PSA) based screening trial for prostate cancer. All 58 men underwent repeat biopsy to follow the initial findings of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. We assessed the relationship of patient age, digital rectal examination, serum PSA concentration, PSA density, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia grade, number of foci of neoplasia and linear extent of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in the initial biopsy specimen to the finding of cancer on the repeat biopsy. We also compared the cancer detection rate in the 58 men with and 427 without prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in the same screening trial. RESULTS: Of 21 men with low grade and 37 with high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia 4 (19%) and 19 (51%), respectively, had cancer on repeat biopsy (p < 0.02), compared to 82 of 427 (19%) without cancer or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia on the initial biopsy. High grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia was a significant predictor of malignancy on repeat biopsy (p < 0.05). The number of foci of neoplasia and the linear extent of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia on initial biopsy were not predictive of cancer on repeat biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the presence of high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia is a strong predictor of prostate cancer in men with elevated serum PSA concentrations and they should be followed with repeat biopsy.

Aged↗

Comparative light and electron microscopic study of the human, dog and rat prostate. An approach to an experimental model for human benign prostatic hyperplasia (light and electron microscopic analysis)--a review.

Stereology was shown in several studies to be a relevant method to study the quantitative amount of tissue and cell compartments of normal and pathological altered prostatic tissue. A morphological comparison of the rat (ventral lobe), dog and human prostate was performed by quantitative morphology. In comparing the light microscopic analysis of the rat ventral prostatic lobe with that of the dog prostate, the volumetric amount of the glandular cells in the dog prostate is two times greater than in the rat (ventral prostatic lobe). In the normal human prostate the volumetric amount of the glandular part was calculated to be 55% of the outer part, respectively 45% in the inner part of the prostate. Regarding the stromal tissue, there is no difference between the dog and the normal human prostate, but a striking difference compared to the rat ventral prostatic lobe, where stromal development seems to be sparse (25%). The quantitative measurements of spontaneous dog and human prostate hyperplasia show that the dog hyperplasia is primarily a glandular disease whereas human benign prostatic hyperplasia reflects more stromal activation. As shown by the electron microscopic measurements in the normal human and dog prostate, there is a similar great volumetric amount of secretory granules. In comparing the data of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, in the rat there is a higher amount than in the normal human and dog prostate. Conversely, the amount of secretory granules is higher in the dog and human prostate than in the rat (ventral prostatic lobe).

Animals↗

Effect of dutasteride on the detection of prostate cancer in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the rate of prostate cancer detection in three large randomized placebo-controlled benign prostatic hyperplasia trials of dutasteride. Dutasteride, which lowers serum dihydrotestosterone more than 93% by inhibiting type 1 and type 2 5-alpha-reductase, is effective in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, its effect on the development of prostate cancer is unknown. METHODS: A total of 4325 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia but without a history, or evidence, of prostate cancer, and a serum prostate-specific antigen level of 1.5 to 10 ng/mL, were randomized to 0.5 mg/day dutasteride or placebo for 24 months. The prostate cancer detection rates for subjects were determined by non-protocol-mandated biopsies, either during the double-blind phase of the study or during the first 3 months of the open-label extension. A follow-up questionnaire was administered to a subset of consenting subjects to ascertain the number, outcomes, and reasons for the prostate biopsies. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of prostate cancer as an adverse event was significantly lower in the dutasteride versus placebo group at 24 months (1.1% versus 1.9%, P = 0.025) and 27 months (1.2% versus 2.5%, P = 0.002). There were no differences in the diagnosis rates of prostate cancer during the first 15 months, after which time the detection rate of prostate cancer increased in the placebo group and remained low in the dutasteride group. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate cancer detection was significantly lower in subjects randomized to dutasteride compared with the placebo group. These results have prompted the initiation of the Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) study, which was designed and powered to test the hypothesis that treatment with dutasteride decreases the incidence and progression of prostate cancer.

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors↗

Modeling of the pH- and the temperature-dependent deviations of the free to total PSA (prostate specific antigen) ratios for clinical predictability of prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia.

Both the free and total PSA had been reported to be pH- and temperature-labile. We have introduced two submodels to describe the decay of PSAs. The overall pH-dependent decay model (OPDDM) describes the ratio of free to true scientific total PSA including both the immunoreactive and the nonimmunoreactive. We elucidated four pH-dependent formation constants for the free PSA with hydronium ion [H(+)], the PSA-ACT (alpha 1-antichymotrypsin), the PSA-API (alpha 1-protease inhibitor), and the nonimmunoreactive PSA-AMG (alpha 1-macroglobulin) complexes, respectively, to model the stability of the free to total PSA ratios. Model simulation indicated a highly pH-sensitive behavior of the free to total PSA ratios. While the temperature dependent decay model (TDDM) indicated that kinetically, free PSA revealed the most rapid decay rates due to its low activation energy, total PSA was shown to be relatively more thermally stable. The decay of all PSA species could be more accelerated at temperatures higher than -4 degrees C, while it is kept below -70 degrees C throughout. It is thus recommended to use the preparation fresh (better within 8 h) after venipuncture. And it is advisable that all the results are advised to perform corrections for each determination by calculating back to the data at the original physiological pH prior to clinical diagnostic interpretation.

Humans↗