Prostatic Neoplasms: Suzuki K

Tanaka M, Ono Y, Matsuda T, Terachi T, Suzuki K, Baba S, Hara I, Hirao Y, Anonymous00107. · Department of Urology, Fukuoka University Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan. ~u.ac.jp · Int J Urol. · Pubmed #19228223 No free full text.

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Kamidono S, Ohshima S, Hirao Y, Suzuki K, Arai Y, Fujimoto H, Egawa S, Akaza H, Hara I, Hinotsu S, Kakehi Y, Hasegawa T, Anonymous00384. · No affiliation provided · Int J Urol. · Pubmed #18184166 No free full text.

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Nishiyama T, Suzuki K, Yamana K, Tonegawa E, Wako K, Takahashi K. · Division of Urology, Department of Regenerative and Transplant Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Asahimachi 1-757, Niigata 95 1-8510, Japan. · Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. · Pubmed #16445378 No free full text.

Abstract: Androgen-deprivation therapy has remained the critical therapeutic option for patients with advanced prostate cancer for over 60 years. Patients with poorly differentiated prostate cancer have low dihydrotestosterone levels in the prostate. After androgen-deprivation therapy, dihydrotestosterone levels in the prostate remain at approximately 25% of the level measured before therapy. The addition of a nonsteroidal anti-androgen to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog or surgical castration significantly reduces the risk of all causes of death by 8%, which translates into a small, but significant, improvement in the 5-year survival of 2.9% over castration alone. The biologically aggressive prostate cancer cells may have an androgen receptor with heightened sensitivity to low dihydrotestosterone levels from the early stage of androgen-dependent disease. It is necessary to consider the androgen environment and the status of the androgen receptor in the prostate in order to improve the clinical efficacy of androgen-deprivation therapy and the quality of life of patients.

Suzuki K, Ito K. · Department of Urology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #15714975 No free full text.

Abstract: Multiple core prostate biopsy was introduced by Eskew et al in 1995, and many procedures of multiple core biopsy were proposed. These methods showed importance of taking samples from lateral part of peripheral zone, transition zone or apex. Cancer detection rates were dramatically increased in comparison with those detected by traditional systematic sextant biopsy (SSB). Utilization of the template, age-volume adjusted parameter or apical horn biopsy facilitated the efficacy of multiple core biopsy. Furthermore, these techniques could contribute to accurate estimation of pathological findings. Multiple core prostate biopsy would get to be more important in modern prostate specific antigen era when more T1c or more early stage prostate cancer would be detected.

Hatori M, Suzuki K, Yamanaka H. · Department of Urology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #15250328 No free full text.

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Suzuki K, Kobayashi M, Tokue A. · Department of Urology, Sano Kosei General Hospital. · Nippon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi. · Pubmed #14531271 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: There are few clinical investigations on the hot flushes that develop during endocrine therapy for prostate cancer in Japan, although there are many reports in the Western countries. Therefore, we evaluated the incidence of hot flushes and the association between hot flushes and clinical characteristics of prostate cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight prostate cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy (LH-RH analog (group LH-RHA); 22 patients, LH-RHA + non-steroidal antiandrogen (group LH-RHA + NSAA); 20 patients, LH-RHA + steroidal antiandrogen (group LH-RHA + SAA); 8 patients, LH-RHA + estramustine phosphate (group LH-RHA + EP); 1 patient, bilateral orchiectomy (group O); 5 patients, O + non-steroidal antiandrogen (group O + NSAA); 11 patients, and O + steroidal antiandrogen (group O + SAA); 1 patient) were evaluated by a fixed questionnaire. The incidence of the hot flush, the association between hot flushes and the clinical factors, as well as the therapy of hot flushes including SAA and Kampo therapy were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall incidence of hot flushes was 37% (36% in group LH-RHA, 45% in group LH-RHA + NSAA, 13% in group LH-RHA + SAA, 0% in group LH-RHA + EP, 20% in group O, 45% in group O + NSAA, 100% in group O + SAA). No significant association between the hot flushes and the clinical factors of the patients was observed. On the other hand, in 3 of 4 patients treated by SAA, hot flushes improved after 4 weeks. In 2 of 3 patients treated by Kampo, hot flushes improved after 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: Hot flushes are the major side effect of endocrine therapy for Japanese prostate cancer patients. SAA and Kampo are thought to be effective for treatment of hot flushes.

Ohtake N, Nakata S, Fukabori Y, Suzuki K, Yamanaka H. · Department of Urology, Hidaka Hospital. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #12599621 No free full text.

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Kitamura Y, Suzuki K, Saito T, Komatsubara S, Matsuto T. · Department of Urology, Niigata Cancer Center Hospital. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #12599555 No free full text.

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Suzuki K, Nakazato H, Kurokawa K, Yamanaka H. · Department of Urology, Gunma University School of Medicine. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #11022716 No free full text.

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Suzuki T, Suzuki K, Okazaki H. · Department of Urology, Gunma Cancer Center. · Nippon Rinsho. · Pubmed #11022690 No free full text.

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Galvão DA, Nosaka K, Taaffe DR, Spry N, Kristjanson LJ, McGuigan MR, Suzuki K, Yamaya K, Newton RU. · School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia. · Med Sci Sports Exerc. · Pubmed #17146309 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To examine the effect of progressive resistance training on muscle function, functional performance, balance, body composition, and muscle thickness in men receiving androgen deprivation for prostate cancer. METHODS: Ten men aged 59-82 yr on androgen deprivation for localized prostate cancer undertook progressive resistance training for 20 wk at 6- to 12-repetition maximum (RM) for 12 upper- and lower-body exercises in a university exercise rehabilitation clinic. Outcome measures included muscle strength and muscle endurance for the upper and lower body, functional performance (repeated chair rise, usual and fast 6-m walk, 6-m backwards walk, stair climb, and 400-m walk time), and balance by sensory organization test. Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and muscle thickness at four anatomical sites by B-mode ultrasound. Blood samples were assessed for prostate specific antigen (PSA), testosterone, growth hormone (GH), cortisol, and hemoglobin. RESULTS: Muscle strength (chest press, 40.5%; seated row, 41.9%; leg press, 96.3%; P < 0.001) and muscle endurance (chest press, 114.9%; leg press, 167.1%; P < 0.001) increased significantly after training. Significant improvement (P < 0.05) occurred in the 6-m usual walk (14.1%), 6-m backwards walk (22.3%), chair rise (26.8%), stair climbing (10.4%), 400-m walk (7.4%), and balance (7.8%). Muscle thickness increased (P < 0.05) by 15.7% at the quadriceps site. Whole-body lean mass was preserved with no change in fat mass. There were no significant changes in PSA, testosterone, GH, cortisol, or hemoglobin. CONCLUSIONS: Progressive resistance exercise has beneficial effects on muscle strength, functional performance and balance in older men receiving androgen deprivation for prostate cancer and should be considered to preserve body composition and reduce treatment side effects.

Uchida T, Baba S, Irie A, Soh S, Masumori N, Tsukamoto T, Nakatsu H, Fujimoto H, Kakizoe T, Ueda T, Ichikawa T, Ohta N, Kitamura T, Sumitomo M, Hayakawa M, Aoyagi T, Tachibana M, Ikeda R, Suzuki K, Tsuru N, Suzuki K, Ozono S, Fujimoto K, Hirao Y, Monden K, Nasu Y, Kumon H, Nishi K, Ueda S, Koga H, Naitoh S. · The Department of Urology, Tokai University Hachioji Hospital. · Hinyokika Kiyo. · Pubmed #16285617 No free full text.

Abstract: We report a multicenter trial with transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. A total of 72 consecutive patients with stage T1c-2NOM0 prostate cancer were treated using the Sonablate 500TM HIFU device (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, USA). Biochemical recurrence was defined according to the criteria recommended by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Consensus Panel. The median age and prostate specific antigen (PSA) level were 72 years and 8.10 ng/ml, respectively. The median follow-up period for all patients was 14.0 months. Biochemical disease-free survival rates in all patients at 1 and 2 years were 78% and 76%, respectively. Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with stage T1c, T2a and T2b groups at 2 years were 89, 67% and 40% (p = 0.0817). Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with Gleason scores of 2-4, 5-7 and 8-10 at 2 years were 88, 72% and 80% (p = 0.6539). Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with serum PSA of less than 10 ng/ml and 10-20 ng/ml were 75% and 78% (p = 0.6152). No viable tumor cells were noted in 68% of patients by postoperative prostate needle biopsy. Prostatic volume was decreased from 24.2 ml to 14.0 ml at 6 months after HIFU (p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were noted in International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urinary flow rate and quality of life analysis with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy. HIFU therapy appears to be minimally invasive, efficacious and safe for patients with localized prostate cancer with pretreatment PSA levels less than 20 ng/ml.

Uchida T, Baba S, Irie A, Soh S, Masumori N, Tsukamoto T, Nakatsu H, Fujimoto H, Kakizoe T, Ueda T, Ichikawa T, Ohta N, Kitamura T, Sumitomo M, Hayakawa M, Aoyagi T, Tachibana M, Ikeda R, Suzuki K, Tsuru N, Suzuki K, Ozono S, Fujimoto K, Hirao Y, Monden K, Nasu Y, Kumon H, Nishi K, Ueda S, Koga H, Naitoh S. · The Department of Urology, Tokai University Hachioji Hospital. · Hinyokika Kiyo. · Pubmed #16285617 No free full text.

Abstract: We report a multicenter trial with transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. A total of 72 consecutive patients with stage T1c-2NOM0 prostate cancer were treated using the Sonablate 500TM HIFU device (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, USA). Biochemical recurrence was defined according to the criteria recommended by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Consensus Panel. The median age and prostate specific antigen (PSA) level were 72 years and 8.10 ng/ml, respectively. The median follow-up period for all patients was 14.0 months. Biochemical disease-free survival rates in all patients at 1 and 2 years were 78% and 76%, respectively. Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with stage T1c, T2a and T2b groups at 2 years were 89, 67% and 40% (p = 0.0817). Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with Gleason scores of 2-4, 5-7 and 8-10 at 2 years were 88, 72% and 80% (p = 0.6539). Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with serum PSA of less than 10 ng/ml and 10-20 ng/ml were 75% and 78% (p = 0.6152). No viable tumor cells were noted in 68% of patients by postoperative prostate needle biopsy. Prostatic volume was decreased from 24.2 ml to 14.0 ml at 6 months after HIFU (p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were noted in International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urinary flow rate and quality of life analysis with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy. HIFU therapy appears to be minimally invasive, efficacious and safe for patients with localized prostate cancer with pretreatment PSA levels less than 20 ng/ml.

Saito S, Nakashima J, Nakajima Y, Ikeuchi K, Shibayama T, Nagakura K, Naide Y, Hayakawa M, Ogawa Y, Hata M, Nakazono M, Hasegawa S, Oda T, Kimura S, Nakamura S, Matsunaga J, Fujioka T, Tanoguchi H, Aoki S, Yamamoto Y, Izawa A, Kimura S, Suzuki K, Tazaki H, Murai M, Anonymous00164. · No affiliation provided · Nippon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi. · Pubmed #11766367 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND, PURPOSE: Twenty-two institutes have organized Keio University Prostate Cancer Study Group to study clinical efficacy and safety of Leuprolide acetate (Leuplin) for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (clinical stage D1 and D2). Cotreatment of Leuplin and Estramustine phosphate disodium (Estracyt) has been performed to investigate its clinical efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and two cases of advanced prostate cancer were treated either with Leuplin alone (group I), Leuplin and Estracyt (group II) or Estracyt alone (group III). After 12 weeks treatment, clinical effects against subjective symptoms (pain, voiding difficulty, performance status and body weight), serum testosterone level, tumor size and serum PSA level were examined to investigate short-term effect of each treatment. The treatment had been continued for 24 months and the treatment effects including progression free survival and overall survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Clinical efficacy after 12 weeks treatment were examined among 97 cases (group I; 35 cases, group II; 36 cases, group III; 26 cases). The background of those patients in each group was statistically equal. Treatment effects against subjective symptoms and serum testosterone level statistically revealed no significant difference among 3 groups. Treatment effects against primary tumor, bone metastatic lesion, lymphnode metastatic lesion and serum PSA level were investigated and anti-tumor effect was characterized by total efficacy rate (complete remission rate plus partial remission rate) of each treatment group. Treatment efficacy rates for each lesion and PSA demonstrated no statistical difference among 3 treatment groups. Total efficacy rate of group I, II and III were 88.2%, 84.0% and 78.3%, respectively, which statistically revealed no significant difference. Total efficacy rate of each group after completing 24 months treatment was; group I 80.0%, group II 55.6% and group III 83.3%, which statistically showed no significant difference among 3 treatment groups. The median day for progression free survival of group I, II and III were 661, 731 and 517, respectively. The overall survival rate of group I, II and III after completing 24 months treatment were 77.5%, 83.0% and 72.4%, respectively. Both progression free survival rates and overall survival rates revealed no significant difference among 3 groups. Side effects during 24 months treatment were seen in 8.6% of group I, 47.2% of group II and 26.9% of group III, and these occurrence rates were significantly different among the groups (p = 0.0013). CONCLUSION: Although number of the cases had not been able to continue the treatment for their side effects, the statistical characterization demonstrated that cotreatment of Leuplin and Estracyt had no greater treatment effect than monotreatment of each drug.

Nakazato H, Suzuki K, Ito K, Fukabori Y, Kurokawa K, Yamanaka H. · Department of Urology, Gunma University School of Medicine. · Nippon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi. · Pubmed #11235144 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE AND METHODS: We investigated the influence of flutamide on plasma adrenal androgens in advanced prostate cancer patients treated with dietylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES-DP) followed by luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LH-RH agonist). Nine patients were enrolled in this study and they were divided into the following two treatment groups; group A: LHRH agonist mono-therapy (n = 4) and group B: LHRH agonist with flutamide (n = 5). For prevention of flare up, all patients were treated with DES-DP. RESULTS: Two-week DES-DP administration led to reduction of plasma adrenal androgen levels. These levels were kept lower for 16 weeks in group B in contrast with group A in which the levels returned to the pretreatment levels. Basal ACTH levels in group B were significantly lower than those in group A. CONCLUSION: From our observations, we found that flutamide reduced adrenal androgen levels in prostate cancer patients treated with LH-RH agonist. ACTH suppression might be related to this phenomenon.

Suzuki K, Kobayashi Y, Morita T. · Department of Urology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-City, Tochigi, Japan. · Urol Int. · Pubmed #19440016 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is one of the neuroendocrine markers. The serum CGRP levels in untreated prostate cancer (PCa) patients reportedly reflect the tumor volume and aggressiveness. However, the detailed evaluation of the serum CGRP levels in the PCa patients treated with hormonal therapy (HT) has never been reported. We measured the serum CGRP levels in PCa patients receiving HT to elucidate its clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used serum samples from 129 PCa patients. Thirty-six patients had never received any treatment, and 93 had been treated with HT. The serum CGRP was measured by immunoradiometric assay, and we analyzed the correlation between the serum CGRP level and the clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: The serum CGRP levels in the patients with higher clinical stages and histological grades were significantly higher than in those with lower stages and grades. Although in the patients treated with HT, the serum CGRP levels significantly correlated with clinical stage, these levels did not correlate with histological grade and the kind of HT. The highest serum CGRP level was observed in the stage D1 and stage D2 patients, not in the stage D3 patients treated with HT. CONCLUSION: The serum CGRP levels were significantly elevated in the PCa patients with high grade or high stage. However, in PCa patients receiving HT, various clinical factors influence the CGRP levels. Thus, evaluation of the levels should be careful.

Tsukigi M, Suzuki K, Numahata K, Ono K, Sugano O, Hoshi S, Tomita Y. · Department of Urology, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital. · Hinyokika Kiyo. · Pubmed #18788442 No free full text.

Abstract: The low specificity of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is considered to be a problem when PSA measurement alone is performed to detect cancer. Therefore, we examined a method to decrease the number of unnecessary biopsies while maintaining the power of the test by using PSA, PSA free/total ratio (PSAf/t), and digital rectal examination (DRE). The subjects were 232 patients with PSA levels of 4.0 ng/ml or less who underwent biopsy for prostate cancer. An endorectal ultrasound perineal biopsy was conducted, and the average biopsy core number was 21. Cancer was detected in 37 of the 232 subjects. Receiver operating characteristic curves of PSA and PSAf/t were subsequently determined. Although the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.56 for PSA alone, the AUC increased to 0.75 when the factor of positive data in DRE was taken into account. Although the AUC was 0.62 for PSAf/t alone, when the factor of positive data in DRE was added as for PSA, the AUC increased to 0.79. In addition, as a result of examining the combination of PSA, PSAf/t and DRE, the condition of the biopsy for prostate cancer in the cases with PSA of 4.0 ng/ml was determined as follows: PSA should be 3.1 ng/ml or more and PSAf/t 27% or less, or the result of DRE should be positive. Based on these criteria, the sensitivity, specificity and detection rate of cancer increased to 0.919, 0.436 and 23.2%, respectively. We consider that this approach will be useful.

Sekine Y, Furuya Y, Nishii M, Koike H, Matsui H, Suzuki K. · Department of Urology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan. · Biochem Biophys Res Commun. · Pubmed #18489904 No free full text.

Abstract: Recently, statins have been being studied for their proapoptic and antimetastatic effects. However, the exact mechanisms of their anticancer action are still unclear. Dolichyl phosphate is a nonsterol isoprenoid derivative in the mevalonate pathway that affects the expression of the Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R). IGF-1R activation is required for prostate cell proliferation; therefore, IGF-1R inhibitory agents may be of preventive and/or therapeutic value. In this study, the effects of simvastatin on IGF-1R signaling in prostate cancer PC-3 cells were examined. Simvastatin suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis of PC-3, and the expression of IGF-1R was suppressed by simvastatin. Knockdown of IGF-1R by siRNA led to inhibition of proliferation of PC-3. Simvastatin also inhibited IGF-1-induced activation of both ERK and Akt signaling and IGF-1-induced PC-3 cell proliferation. Our results suggest statins are potent inhibitors of the IGF-1/IGF-1R system in prostate cancer cells and may be beneficial in prostate cancer treatment.

Ohi M, Ito K, Yamamoto T, Miyakubo M, Takechi H, Kubota Y, Suzuki K. · Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School, Maebashi, Japan. · Urology. · Pubmed #18455775 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: According to epidemiologic surveys, the number of deaths from prostate cancer in Japanese men increased rapidly from 1970 to 2006. However, it is difficult to know the real incidence of, and mortality due to, prostate cancer because the reliability of death certificates and the cancer registry system in Japan are poor. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels could be one of the most important predictive factors for developing prostate cancer. Therefore, we hypothesized that changes in the baseline PSA distribution in the screening population could reflect trends in the true incidence rate of prostate cancer. METHODS: From 1988 to 2003, 32,274 men, aged 50-79 years, participated in population-based screening for prostate cancer for the first time in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Changes in the baseline PSA distributions, stratified by a 5-year age range and calendar year, were investigated. The relationships between age and log(10) PSA levels were also investigated and stratified by calendar year. RESULTS: The median baseline PSA level was 0.9-1.2 ng/mL and had not recently increased. No specific trends were found in the percentages of participants with a PSA level greater than 2.0, 4.0, or 10.0 ng/mL within the same age range during the 16-year period. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the incidence of, and mortality rates for, prostate cancer demonstrated by epidemiologic research might have been misleading in Japan. Investigational changes in the baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) distribution of the screened populations revealed that the true incidence rate of prostate cancer in Japan might have been almost the same during the past 16 years.

Yamamoto T, Ito K, Miyakubo M, Takechi H, Suzuki K, Akimoto T, Ishikawa H, Nakano T. · Department of Urology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan. · Urology. · Pubmed #18372027 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To propose a "nomogram ranking" that gives an objective assessment of any treatment strategy from various institutions. It is difficult to objectively compare treatment outcomes for patients with prostate cancer among institutions because of the large differences in the clinicopathologic backgrounds and treatment strategies. METHODS: From January 2001 to September 2005, 71 consecutive patients with locally advanced prostate cancer were treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and subsequent high-dose rate brachytherapy combined with long-term hormonal therapy. The 5-year prostate-specific antigen relapse-free survival (PFS) rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis for all patients and also for subdivided patients according to prostate-specific antigen range or Gleason score. Also, the 5-year PFS rates were estimated by Kattan nomogram, assuming that all 71 patients were treated with 72 Gy of EBRT or EBRT plus neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. The estimated PFS rates were ranked in order from worse to better outcomes (nomogram ranking). The 5-year PFS rates estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis assessed the position within the nomogram ranking. RESULTS: The 5-year PFS rate estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis for all 71 patients was 82.4%. The median 5-year PFS rate estimated by Kattan nomogram was 66%, assuming that all patients were treated with EBRT and neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. The actual 5-year PFS rate estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis ranked 56 of 71 patients assumed to be treated with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy and EBRT. Subdivided analyses revealed that our treatment strategy might be advantageous for patients with a Gleason score of 7 or less, regardless of the prostate-specific antigen level. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram ranking might be an objective and reliable assessment method of various treatment strategies for patients with prostate cancer.

Koike H, Nakazato H, Ohtake N, Matsui H, Okugi H, Shibata Y, Nakata S, Yamanaka H, Suzuki K. · Maebashi, 3718511, Japan. · Int Urol Nephrol. · Pubmed #18368507 No free full text.

Abstract: Sulfation is a key pathway in xenobiotic metabolism and chemical defense, and phenol sulfotransferase SULT1A1 plays a central role in this reaction. Genetic polymorphism of the SULT1A1 gene, SULT1A1, was reported to be associated with risks of several cancers; however, one study showed no significant relation between SULT1A1 genotype with prostate cancer risk. The present study was conducted to confirm the association of a G638A polymorphism, Arg213His, in SULT1A1 with familial prostate cancer risk in a Japanese population. A case-control study consisting of 126 cases and 119 controls was performed. In controls, GG, GA, and AA genotypes were observed in 85 (71.4%), 32 (26.9%), and 2 (1.7%), respectively; whereas, GG, GA, and AA genotypes were observed in 94 (74.6%), 32 (25.4%), and 0 cases, respectively. No significant differences were found in genotypic frequencies among cases and controls. Furthermore, stratification of cases according to clinical stages (localized or metastatic), pathological grades (Gleason score <7, or >7), age at diagnosis (<70 years or >70) and the number of affected relatives (2 or >2) did not show any significant differences among categories. These findings suggested that genetic polymorphism of SULT1A1 might not be involved in genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer.

Takechi H, Ito K, Yamamoto T, Miyakubo M, Ohi M, Suzuki K. · Department of Urology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan. · Urology. · Pubmed #18342926 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: It would be of value to compare the features of prostate cancer detected in various screening series around the world. Recently, some studies have demonstrated the value of pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics in predicting the outcome of radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy for men with localized prostate cancer. Therefore, the distribution of PSA velocity (PSAV) or PSA doubling time in screen-detected prostate cancer might be objective parameters to investigate how well each national screening system is working. METHODS: From 1992 to 2004, 957 men with prostate cancer were detected by screening in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Of those, 275 men (29%) detected with consecutive screening tests participated in the present study. The PSAV was calculated by the PSA change between the most recent screening test and cancer diagnosis and also by linear regression analysis. The PSA doubling time was also calculated for 146 men who underwent screening at least three times. RESULTS: The median PSAV was 1.3 ng/mL/yr in those with Stage T1cN0M, 1.1 ng/mL/yr in those with T2N0M0, and 2.1 ng/mL/yr in those with T3N0M0. The percentage of men with a PSAV (linear regression analysis) greater than 2.0 ng/mL/yr was 13%, 12%, and 49% in men with clinical Stage T1cN0M0, T2N0M0, and T3N0M0, respectively. The median PSA doubling time was 57.1, 51.7, and 28.0 months for those with T1cN0M0, T2N0M0, and T3N0M0, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with prostate cancer with aggressive features are still detected in the population-based screening system in Japan. Even in Japan, where PSA screening is perhaps the most widespread among Asian countries, the screening system might be still immature compared with the systems in the United States and Western Europe.

Koike H, Sekine Y, Kamiya M, Nakazato H, Suzuki K. · Department of Urology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maeabshi City, Gunma, Japan. · Urology. · Pubmed #18336887 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of survivin gene expression on the proliferation of prostate cancer (PCa) cells and study the association of suvivin and its spliced isoforms gene expression levels with the pathologic grade of PCa. METHODS: Gene expression of survivin and its spliced isoforms in the LNCaP and PC-3 PCa cell lines was determined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. We knocked down the gene expression of survivin using small interfering RNA and assessed the cell proliferation using the MTS assay. Next, we quantified the gene expression levels of survivin and its isoforms in prostate biopsy samples (PCa, n = 37; benign prostatic hyperplasia, n = 13; PCa after androgen deprivation therapy, n = 12) using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: In PCa cells, survivin and survivin-2alpha and survivin-2B were expressed more than survivin-DeltaEx3. The decrease in survivin gene expression by transfection of siRNA was accompanied by the inhibition of cell proliferation of PCa cells (31% and 25% decreased in LNCaP and PC-3 cells, P <0.01). In the prostate biopsy samples, the survivin expression in PCa was significantly greater than that in BPH or PCa after androgen deprivation therapy (PCa, 1; BPH, 0.16; PCa after androgen deprivation therapy, 0.27; P <0.01). In the PCa samples, the survivin expression level was associated significantly with high-grade cancer (Gleason score 8 or 9; Gleason score 7 versus 8 or 9, 1 versus 2.00, respectively; P <0.05). The survivin-2B/survivin ratio in high-grade cancer was lower than that in low-grade (Gleason score 7) cancer (Gleason score 7 versus 8 or 9, 1 versus 0.69; P <0.10). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that survivin and its spliced isoforms have associations with PCa cell proliferation and aggressive phenotypes.

Li B, Suzuki K, Tsuru N, Ushiyama T, Ozono S. · Department of Urology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan. · Int J Urol. · Pubmed #17956527 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively compared perioperative parameters, as well as the oncological and functional results, for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) carried out via the posterior and anterior approaches in our hospital. METHODS: We recorded pre-, peri-, and postoperative parameters and complications, and evaluated the oncological and functional results to compare the posterior approach (group 1, n = 25) with the anterior approach (group 2, n = 34). RESULTS: There were no significant differences regarding the preoperative characteristics of the two groups. The incidence of major complications, positive surgical margins, and continence at 3 and 6 months postoperatively showed no significant differences between the two groups. Although mean blood loss (including urine) was not significantly different, the mean prostatectomy time was significantly shorter in group 2 (174.21 +/- 57.97 min) than in group 1 (224.76 +/- 66.72 min) (P = 0.003 by Student's t-test). Also, the postoperative recovery period until discharge was 5.94 days in group 2, and was significantly shorter than in group 1 (7.48 days) (P = 0.02 by Student's t-test). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective comparative study shows that the anterior approach yields similar, if not better results than the posterior approach for LRP.

Wako K, Kawasaki T, Yamana K, Suzuki K, Jiang S, Umezu H, Nishiyama T, Takahashi K, Hamakubo T, Kodama T, Naito M. · Division of Urology, Department of Regenerative and Transplant Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan. · J Clin Pathol. · Pubmed #17720776 No free full text.

Abstract: AIMS: The association between the expression of androgen receptor (AR) or androgen-converting enzymes and malignant potential in prostate cancer (PCa) was examined. METHODS: PCa specimens from 44 cases of stage II, 10 cases of stage III, four cases of stage IV and two recurrent cases were semi-quantitatively studied with immunohistochemistry for AR and androgen-converting enzymes. RESULTS: The expression scores for AR, 5alpha-reductase type 1 (SRD5A1), 5alpha-reductase type 2 (SRD5A2), and aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) in the metastatic lesion of stage IV or recurrent cancer (n = 6) were 284.2 (30.1), 300 (0.0), 279.2 (51) and 254.2 (74.9), respectively; these scores were significantly higher than the respective scores of 121.8 (82.1), 135.1 (59.7), 167.0 (66.4) and 150.5 (62.8) for stage II and III cancer (n = 54) (p<0.001, p<0.001, p = 0.002 and p = 0.018, respectively). The expression scores for AR and SRD5A1 in stage II and III cancer with Gleason score 7 (n = 19) were 128.7 (72.3) and 150.5 (52.9); these were significantly higher than the scores of 78.8 (67.2) and 100.0 (39.6), respectively, for cancers with a Gleason score of < or =6 (n = 20) (p = 0.032 and p = 0.002, respectively). The expression scores for AR, SRD5A1 and AKR1C3 in stage II and III cancer with primary Gleason pattern > or =4 (n = 21) were 158.1 (84.3), 158.3 (61.1) and 173.8 (64.8); these were significantly higher than the scores of 98.6 (72.8), 120.3 (54.7) and 135.6 (57.6), respectively, for cancers with primary Gleason pattern < or =3 (n = 33) (p = 0.011, p = 0.026 and p = 0.034, respectively). Within Gleason score 9 cancer, the expression scores for AR and SRD5A1 in the primary lesion of stage IV (n = 3) were 276.7 (5.8) and 283.3 (28.9); these scores were significantly higher than the scores of 182.1 (86.0) and 140.0 (56.6), respectively, for stage II and III cancer (n = 7) (p = 0.027 and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both AR and androgen-converting enzymes were upregulated in high-grade or advanced PCa.