http://www.tucc.com Clinical advancements in the field of urology are featured in the news media every day. This RSS feed provides patients and physicians with the most up-to-date information on recent urologic advancements around the world. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:01:28 GMT http://www.tucc.com/Radiation-Therapy-for-Prostate-Cancer-.30.402.html When considering radiation therapy for prostate cancer, our technology has never been better. Today, radiation oncologists combine sophisticated treatment planning in the form of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with the precision targeting of image guided radiation therapy (IGRT). IMRT allows us to safely deliver higher radiation doses to the prostate while optimally sparing surrounding normal tissue––namely the bladder and rectum. This “dose escalation” has been reported in randomized trials to improve cancer control with minimal potential risk. Daily IGRT involves initial placement of three gold markers called fiducials into the prostate. An image is then obtained prior to each treatment utilizing a cone beam CT scan, which ensures a reproducible “target” throughout the treatment course. Generally, outcomes for patients electing to pursue radiation therapy for prostate cancer as the primary treatment are comparable to surgery or radical prostatectomy. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/Fetal-Radiation-Exposure-Induces-Testicular-Cancer-in-Genetically-Susceptible-Mice.29.401.html  The prevalence of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT), a common solid tissue malignancy in young men, has been annually increasing at an alarming rate of 3%. Since the majority of testicular cancers are derived from germ cells at the stage of transformation of primordial germ cell (PGC) into gonocytes, the increase has been attributed to maternal/fetal exposures to environmental factors. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/FDA-Approves-Gen-Probes-PROGENSA-PCA3-Assay-First-Urine-Based-Molecular-Test-to-Help-Determine-Need-for-Repeat-Prostate-Biopsies.29.400.html  -- Test May Help Reduce Unnecessary Repeat Prostate Biopsies -- Gen-Probe announced today the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its PROGENSA® PCA3 (Prostate Cancer gene 3) assay, the first molecular test to help determine the need for repeat prostate biopsies in men who have had a previous negative biopsy. To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53530-gen-probe-progensa-pca3-prostate-cancer-psa Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/Spicy-curry-component-curcumin-thought-to-slow-prostate-tumor-growth.29.399.html Data supports use of curcumin in combination with androgen deprivation therapy to reduce castrate-resistant prostate cancer cell and tumor growth Curcumin, an active component of the Indian curry spice turmeric, may help slow down tumor growth in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a study from researchers at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center suggests. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/TUCC-Opens-Enrollment-for-Bladder-and-Prostate-Cancer-Immunotherapy-Clinical-Trials-.30.398.html TUCC is currently enrolling patients in three different immunotherapy focused clinical trials. In this interview with Denver's KOA Radio, Lawrence Karsh, M.D., director of the TUCC Clinical Research Department, explains each trial and the enrollment process at the center. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/Clinical-Data-on-OGX-427-Provide-Ongoing-Evidence-of-Hsp27-as-a-Potential-Therapeutic-Target-in-Advanced-Prostate-Cancer.29.397.html OncoGenex Announces Plans to Initiate a Phase 2 Study of OGX-427 in Combination with Zytiga® (abiraterone) in Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OGXI) announced today preliminary results from a Phase 2 prostate cancer study with its investigational compound OGX-427, which is designed to inhibit the production of Hsp27. Hsp27 is a cell-survival protein expressed in many types of cancers including prostate, bladder, breast and non-small cell lung cancer. Overexpression of Hsp27 is thought to be an important factor leading to the development of treatment resistance and is associated with negative clinical outcomes in patients with various tumor types. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/New-study-shows-benefits-of-novel-PSA-velocity-risk-count-testing-for-prostate-cancer.29.396.html A new screening method for prostate cancer A new study by NYU Langone Medical Center and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine shows novel PSA velocity (PSAV) risk count testing may provide a more effective way for physicians to screen men for clinically significant prostate cancer. The new study, published online by the British Journal of Urology International on February 1, 2012, shows the benefits of tracking a man's PSA levels over time to help doctors more accurately assess his risk of life-threatening prostate cancer.   Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/Gaining-on-Prostate-Cancer---Drug-Firms-Advance-Rapidly-After-Long-Drought-but-Treatments-Are-Pricey.29.394.html Drug companies have scored a string of recent successes against advanced prostate cancer, ending a long drought during which there seemed to be few weapons to combat the disease. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/UCSF-discovery-sheds-light-on-how-robust-exercise-may-lower-the-risk-of-prostate-cancer-progression.29.395.html  Vigorous exercise linked to gene activity in prostate Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have identified nearly 200 genes in the healthy prostate tissue of men with low-grade prostate cancer that may help explain how physical activity improves survival from the disease. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/Exercise-can-improve-health-quality-of-life-for-cancer-survivors-.29.393.html Exercise has been touted as a good way to help prevent certain diseases and conditions, but can it be useful after the fact? Yes, says a study, which suggests that a fitness regimen can enhance the health of patients following treatment. The paper analyzed 34 studies that looked at the effect of exercise on patients who had breast cancer, as well as other types of cancer, such as prostate and lung. The various studies included aerobic, resistance and strength workouts, the average length was 13 weeks and the average number of people in each trial was 93. Most of the control groups consisted of people who were sedentary or told to do no exercise. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/TUCC-Serves-as-Research-Site-for-Urothelial-Cancer-Clinical-Trial-.30.392.html Urothelial Cancer patients are now enrolling into a Phase 2 trial for DN24-02, Dendreon Corporation’s investigational active cellular immunotherapy being evaluated for the treatment of HER2 positive cancer. The multicenter trial called Neu-ACT (NEU Active Cellular immunoTherapy) is expected to enroll approximately 180 patients to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DN24-02 as adjuvant therapy in patients with high risk HER2 positive invasive urothelial carcinoma, including bladder cancer, following surgical resection. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/Prostate-cancer-growth-slowed-by-commonly-used-drug.29.391.html A drug that is commonly used to treat men with enlarged prostates may also delay the growth of prostate cancer, according to a new study. The drug, dutasteride, works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, the male sex hormone implicated in the development of prostate cancer. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/UNC-scientists-collaborate-to-find-first-major-genetic-mutation-associated-with-hereditary-prostate-cancer-risk.29.390.html After a 20-year quest to find a genetic driver for prostate cancer that strikes men at younger ages and runs in families, researchers have identified a rare, inherited mutation linked to a significantly higher risk of the disease. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/A-population-based-study-on-the-association-between-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-erectile-dysfunction.29.388.html Increased mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients can be partly attributed to an accompanying increase in cardiovascular risk. On account of the increased cardiovascular risks and chronic inflammation, patients with RA may be more likely to contract other conditions with shared risk factors, such as erectile dysfunction (ED). However, although previous studies have reported sexual dysfunction among RA patients,1,–,4 no study has explored the possible association between ED and RA to date. This study set out to investigate this putative association by using a population-based dataset and case–control design.                             Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com http://www.tucc.com/Prevalence-and-correlates-of-erectile-dysfunction-in-men-on-chronic-haemodialysis-a-multinational-cross-sectional-study.29.389.html Factors associated with erectile dysfunction in men on haemodialysis are incompletely identified due to suboptimal existing studies. We determined the prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction and identified combinations of clinical characteristics associated with a higher risk of erectile dysfunction using recursive partitioning and amalgamation (REPCAM) analysis Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.tucc.com