Prostate Cancer-Related News, Articles and Reports

3D Ultrasound Pioneer Transforming Cancer Imaging Around the World

Diagnosis and treatment of prostate and other cancers increasingly require precision, real-time imaging. Prostate biopsies, for example, have long been done using 2D ultrasound imaging, a method generally known to have shortcomings in accurately defining tumour location and extent. See article at the link below to learn how the breakthrough work of Professor Aaron Fenster in 3D ultrasound imaging is being used in cancer clinics around the world for prostate biopsies and for screening and treatment of breast, liver and cervical cancers.

UK PSA TRANSFORM Screening Trial Expanded to Include Black Men

United Kingdom health authorities recently took the consequential step of expanding the scope of their landmark national TRANSFORM PSA screening trial, to include all black men aged 45-74. The TRANSFORM trial previously focussed only on UK men with a family history of prostate cancer or with the genetic BRCA2 risk factor. The trial now will provide essential information regarding PSA screening benefits for a segment of the male population that’s at almost twice the risk for developing prostate cancer. See the pertinent article at the following link –

https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/news/transform-study-extends-prostate-cancer-screening-to-black-men-in-the-uk

An Alternative to Traditional ADT

The use of transdermal estradiol patches for men with metastatic prostate cancer may provide relief from some side effects of standard androgen deprivation medications, particularly hot flashes, fatigue and bone density loss, while still achieving adequate androgen suppression and at a much-reduced cost. Here are two links related to this topic.

https://dailynews.ascopubs.org/do/transdermal-estrogen-may-offer-another-option-adt-men-metastatic-prostate-cancer

https://estradiolinitiative.org/

Improving the Accuracy of Prostate Biopsies

Researchers at Carleton University are exploring a way to combine tomographic imaging with standard biopsy sampling i.e., by needle, to improve the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis. This technology could be applied to the diagnosis and even treatment of other cancers.

Their groundbreaking work to date is described at this link – https://share.google/sxw76B1ExEBo8vOAL.

Simplified PSA screening guidelines

We include here prostate cancer guidelines published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), a not-for-profit alliance of 34 leading US cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. These easily-understood, comprehensive guidelines may be accessed at https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/prostate-screening-patient.pdf.

Please note: These privately-prepared guidelines do not replace or supersede US national guidelines revised in 2018 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (see https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/prostate-cancer-screening); rather, they are the interpretation by select US private cancer care providers of best medical practices concerning the detection and management of prostate cancer. Parallel Canadian national prostate cancer screening guidelines, last reviewed in 2014, may be accessed at: https://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/published-guidelines/prostate-cancer/.

Vitamin D Deficiency as a Prostate Cancer Risk Factor

A recent article in the online health newsletter Prevention (https://www.prevention.com/health/g71078417/side-effects-of-vitamin-d-deficiency/) indicated that vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for prostate cancer. This was based on the report of a University of California study which concluded that Vitamin D deficiency is common in prostate cancer patients, especially racial minorities and those with advanced disease, despite residing in an area with high sun exposure. The report may be accessed at: https://www.wjgnet.com/2218-4333/full/v16/i6/108113.htm.

U Ottawa Medical Students’ Report on Prostate Cancer and PSA screening in Canada

The PCSO Board of Directors recently commissioned two University of Ottawa medical students to prepare a presentation on prostate cancer and recommendations for prostate cancer screening in Canada. The resulting document may be accessed at this link.