Drug Therapy

A chemical used in certain types of plastic may stimulate growth of a specific category of prostate cancer cells, according a study in Cancer Research (2005; 65:54-65).

Eli Lilly said it has withdrawn its new drug application for duloxetine hydrochloride for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

Certain mutations in the androgen receptor protein appear to cause advanced and invasive prostate cancer, at least in a mouse model, according to a recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2005; 102:1151-6).

Will leuprolide acetate (Lupron) reimbursement fall by 20% in 2005? When will it take place? And what will the reimbursement be?

In general, we recommend cryoablation for patients with localized, high-grade tumors and higher-volume disease who are not potent or not interested in maintaining their potency.

I suggest taking the DIMS plunge in incremental steps. Then consider an application composed of modules that you can purchase and phase in over time.

Oak Brook, IL--Patients with interstitial cystitis may also have vulvodynia, another pelvic pain syndrome that isn't well understood and can be difficult to treat. But research is beginning to tease out the sources of pain, and therapies aimed at treating neuropathic pain seem to offer the most effective approach to treatment today.

Buenos Aires, Argentina--For men with Peyronie's disease with or without erectile dysfunction, intralesional interferon alfa-2b (Intron-A) may offer a simple, safe, and effective treatment for improving penile curvature and the ability to have sexual intercourse. So say Cleveland Clinic researchers, who presented the results of a study on the drug in this population at the International Society for Sexual and Impotence Research world congress here.

Buenos Aires, Argentina--The serotonin transport inhibitor dapoxetine appears to be a well-tolerated and effective agent for the treatment of premature ejaculation, according to the results of a phase II study presented at the International Society for Sexual and Impotence Research world congress.

Chicago--In the wake of the surprising results of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), researchers continue to investigate possible therapies for prostate cancer prevention. Some focus on alternative therapies, with a major effort underway to determine the possible efficacy of selenium and vitamin E in the form of the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT).

Chicago--A phase II clinical trial now enrolling patients aims to test the efficacy of an immunophilin ligand in assisting the regeneration of penile nerves following radical prostatectomy.

Buenos Aires, Argentina--The onset of action may be very rapid within 10 minutes in some men who take vardenafil (Levitra) to treat erectile dysfunction, according to the results of a multinational study.

Chicago--A panel of experts is expected to convene to reconsider the controversial findings of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), in particular, the indication that finasteride (Proscar) may prevent prostate cancer and yet lead to more severe grades of cancer in those men who develop it.

A leading ophthalmology group has issued a physician advisory about a possible link between the alpha-blocker tamsulosin and a new small pupil syndrome known as intraoperative floppy iris syndrome.

TAP Pharmaceutical Products agreed to settle claims that consumers and private insurers overpaid for the LHRH hormone analog leuprolide acetate (Lupron), according to a report in The Boston Globe.

Urinary calcium influences the formation of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate kidney stones, according to two studies by researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

The FDA has received a new drug application from ALZA Corp. for dapoxetine hydrochloride, a possible new treatment for premature ejaculation.

Please discuss how you treat IC, starting with what you tell patients and when you initiate oral therapy.

Philadelphia--Even after vasovasostomy success, there is a chance that transient patency the "shutting down" of viable sperm production may occur, say researchers from the University of Alabama, Medical College of Wisconsin, and University of Iowa.

Toronto--Although few published studies exist on the prevention of thromboembolic disorders in urologic surgery, the risk of such disorders appears to be similar to that seen in other major surgical procedures.Therefore, urologists should concentrate on identifying patients at sufficient risk to warrant routine thromboprophylaxis, said the co-author of a new set of antithrombotic guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians.

Philadelphia--Vitamin D may play a role in sperm physiology and male infertility, according to findings from new basic research presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 60th annual meeting.

Extended-release tolterodine tartrate (Detrol LA) significantly reduces symptoms of overactive bladder with a low occurrence of side effects, according to results of a study published in Drug Safety (2004; 27:1043-57).

Treatment of prostate cancer cells with satraplatin or its active metabolite resulted in the killing of tumor cells, according to a poster presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Basic, Translational, and Clinical Advances in Prostate Cancer meeting.

Washington--The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has published its final rule implementing the 2005 Medicare fee schedule, and it's not good news for urologists-especially those who administer cancer drugs in their offices.

Raritan, NJ-The FDA has approved a once-a-day liquid formulation of the fluoroquinone antibiotic levofloxacin (Levaquin), from Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. Levofloxacin is indicated for the treatment of a number of infections, including complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections, chronic bacterial prostatitis, and acute pyelonephritis.

If the patient's physician is out of the office, the overseeing physician should charge

San Diego--A moderately strong association has been found between lower urinary tract symptoms and the rate of erectile dysfunction in men with moderate to severe symptoms of BPH and enlarged prostate glands, according to a presentation of data gleaned from the Proscar Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Study (PLESS).

Extraprostatic seed placement during prostate brachytherapy frequently results in seed migration to the thorax. However, this occurrence apparently does not influence dosimetry or cause adverse effects, suggest results of a Mayo Clinic series.