Targeted-cryosurgical ablation of the prostate with androgen deprivation therapy:quality of life in high-risk prostate cancer patients

Aim： To present preliminary results on health-related quality of life （QoL）, prostate-associated symptoms and therapeutic effects of targeted-cryosurgical ablation of the prostate （TCSAP） with androgen deprivation therapy （ADT） in high-risk prostate cancer （PCa） patients. Methods： Thirty-four men with high-risk PCa features underwent TCSAP, and ADT was added to improve the treatment outcomes. High-risk parameters were defined as either prostate-specific antigen （PSA） ≥ 10ng/mL, or Gleason score 〉 8, or both. The Genito-Urinary Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 （EORTC QLQ-C30） with prostate-cancer-specific module （QLQ-PR25） was used for evaluating morbidities and PSA levels were recorded every 3 months. PSA failure was defined as the inability to reach a nadir of 0.4 ng/mL or less. Results： Although it was not statistically significant, the global health status scores increased after TCSAP with ADT. The scores for five functional scales also became higher after treatment. The most prominent symptom after treatment was sexual dysfunction, followed by treatment-related and irritative voiding symptoms. Conclusion： TCSAP with ADT appears to be minimally invasive with high QoL except for sexual dysfunction. Long-term follow-up of PSA data and survival is necessary before any conclusions can be made on the efficacy of this promising new therapeutic modality in the treatment of PCa.

Minimally invasive surgical therapies(MISTs)for lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS):promise or panacea?

The increasing importance of treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS),while avoiding side effects and maintaining sexual function,has allowed for the development of minimally invasive surgical therapies(MiSTs).Recently,the European Association of Urology guidelines reported a paradigm shift from the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)to the management of nonneurogenic male LUTS.The aim of the present review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the most commonly used MisTs:ablative techniques such as aquablation,prostatic artery embolization,water vapor energy,and transperineal prostate laser ablation,and nonablative techniques such as prostatic urethral lift and temporarily implanted nitinol device(iTIND).MiSTs are becoming a new promise,even if clinical trials with longer follow-up are still lacking.Most of them are still under investigation and,to date,only a few options have been given as a recommendation for use.They cannot be considered as standard of care and are not suitable for all patients.Advantages and disadvantages should be underlined,without forgetting our objective:treatment of LUTS and re-treatment avoidance.