R. H. Riffenburgh

The purpose of this study was to determine if early PSA velocity (EPSAV), drawn from PSA values within normal ranges, predicts the later occurrence of abnormally high PSA values or positive prostate biopsy early enough to be clinically beneficial. Early PSAV (ng/ml/y) calculated from two normal PSA readings was tested to predict later PSA exceeding 4 ng/ml (1551 evaluable patients) or 10 ng/ml (1905 evaluable patients) and positive prostate biopsy. The time from EPSAV to develop abnormal PSA was recorded. A post-EPSAV PSA>4 ng/ml was reached by 367 patients and >10 by 293. EPSAV was significantly different (PP<0.001). EPSAV predicted abnormal PSA more than 1 y in advance in 68 and 52% of the PSA 4 and 10 ng/ml cut-off point groups, respectively. Early PSAV from normal PSA readings may allow early detection of men at risk for prostate cancer. This may help identify men for earlier prostate biopsy or for less frequent PSA monitoring.

Patients with surgically staged localized prostate cancer treated with external beam radiation therapy were retrospectively analyzed for 15 and 20-year overall and cause specific survival. The need for additional therapy was also evaluated. We analyzed 145 patients who received external beam radiotherapy after negative staging pelvic lymphadenectomy. Followup data were available for 129 patients. Overall and cause specific survival was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Median followup was 14.9 years. Actuarial overall survival at 15 and 20 years was 45.9% and 24.6%, respectively. Cause specific survival at 15 and 20 years was 64.5% and 37.7% for having all patients dying of unknown causes censored, and 54.4% and 30.1% for those dying of unknown causes categorized as having prostate cancer, respectively. Of the patients who survived 47% were on hormonal therapy. Longer followup after external beam radiation therapy continues to demonstrate a decrease in cause specific survival. Many patients ultimately require hormonal therapy.

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with surgically staged localized prostate cancer treated with external beam radiation therapy for 10-year overall, cause specific and disease-free survivals based on lack of clinical recurrence and 2 separate prostate specific antigen criteria for cure. We analyzed 145 patients who received external beam radiation therapy after a negative staging pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer. Followup data were available for 129 patients (90%). Disease was stage A in 29 patients (22.5%), stage B in 64 (49.6%), stage B2/C in 2 (17%) and stage C in 14 (10.9%). Average potential followup from date of diagnosis was 11.5 years (minimum 7.2). Of the patients 87 potentially can be followed for longer than 10 years. Disease-free survival was based on a normal digital rectal examination, lack of symptoms suspicious for metastasis and application of 2 separate prostate specific antigen criteria of 4 ng./ml. or less (group 1), or 1.5 ng./ml. or less (group 2). Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier actuarial method. Actuarial overall survival at 10 and 15 years was 63.7 and 49.6, respectively, and cause specific survival was 84.2 and 80%, respectively. Disease-free survival was 54.5 and 32.4%, respectively, for group 1, and 42.3 and 9.6%, respectively, for group 2. The improved patient selection inherent in surgical staging before definitive external beam radiation therapy provides for improved overall and cause specific survival over that of patients without surgical staging. Biochemical disease-free survival also appears to be improved.

To investigate if Schistosoma haematobium infection increases the observed frequency of cervical cancer, data from literature were analysed in meta-analysis fashion. Results reveal that cervical cancer is statistically significantly less frequent in the presence of S. haematobium infection. A protective effect might be inferred; however, underlying bias in data collection and/or analysis is suspected. An approach to detecting bias is given, consisting of: (a) carefully stating and assessing the several components of the scientific method and; (b) identifying and contrasting the populations hypothesised and sampled. The approach is illustrated by searching for bias in the schistosomiasis-and-cancer reports. Sampling discrepancies were detected in patient geography, ages, and states of health, and suspected in disease prevalence sampled and disease prevalence reported. The conclusion is reached that effects of bias in the original studies preclude inference of a "protective" effect of S. haematobium infection against cervical cancer.