0000000001307431
AUTHOR
Alexander Kretschmer
showing 17 related works from this author
Combining anticancer drugs with osteoprotective agents in prostate cancer—A contemporary update
2018
Recently, a plethora of life-prolonging cytotoxic, next-generation hormonal, immunotherapeutical as well as radionuclide therapies has emerged as a standard care for metastasized castration-resistant prostate cancer. Being strikingly effective in cancer control, these novel therapies might in fact exert a beneficial impact on skeletal events. Therefore, combining anticancer drugs with osteoprotective agents might lead to additional clinical advantage but must be weighed against simultaneously exposing patients to serious toxicities. In addition, further survival prolongation by changing treatment paradigm in both metastasized hormone-sensitive and nonmetastatic castration-resistant disease …
A Systematic Review of the Emerging Role of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: Will Combination Strateg…
2020
Abstract Context The role of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) in the treatment of prostate cancer (PC) still remains elusive. It has been proposed that combination of ICI with other molecules increases the efficacy of immunotherapy in PC. Objective To systematically review the literature to assess the potential role of ICI in combination with additional therapies for the management of metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC). Evidence acquisition A systematic review using Medline and scientific meeting records was carried out in September 2020 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses guidelines. Ongoing trials of immunotherapy with standard mCRP…
Features and management of men with pN1 cM0 prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy: a systematic review of population-based …
2021
Purpose of review To investigate the features and optimal management of pN+ cM0 prostate cancer (PCa) according to registry-based studies. Recent findings Up to 15% of PCa patients harbor lymph node invasion (pN+) at radical prostatectomy plus lymph node dissection. Nonetheless, the optimal management strategy in this setting is not well characterized. Summary We performed a systematic review including n = 13 studies. Management strategies comprised 13 536 men undergoing observation, 11 149 adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (aADT), 7,075 adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) +aADT and 705 aRT. Baseline features showed aggressive PCa in the majority of men. At a median follow-up ranging 48-134mont…
Radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy: what has changed over time?
2021
The role and timing of radiotherapy (RT) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) remains controversial. While recent trials support the oncological safety of early salvage RT (SRT) compared to adjuvant RT (ART) in selected patients, previous randomized studies demonstrated that ART might improve recurrence-free survival in patients at high risk for local recurrence based on adverse pathology. Although ART might improve survival, this approach is characterized by a risk of overtreatment in up to 40% of cases. SRT is defined as the administration of RT to the prostatic bed and to the surrounding tissues in the patient with PSA recurrence after surgery but no …
Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Complications and Their Treatment
2021
Focal therapy is a modern alternative to selectively treat a specific part of the prostate harboring clinically significant disease while preserving the rest of the gland. The aim of this therapeutic approach is to retain the oncological benefit of active treatment and to minimize the side-effects of common radical treatments. The oncological effectiveness of focal therapy is yet to be proven in long-term robust trials. In contrast, the toxicity profile is well-established in randomized controlled trials and multiple robust prospective cohort studies. This narrative review summarizes the relevant evidence on complications and their management after focal therapy. When compared to whole glan…
Targeting Moderate and Severe Male Stress Urinary Incontinence With Adjustable Male Slings and the Perineal Artificial Urinary Sphincter: Focus on Pe…
2017
Purpose: To analyze perioperative complications and postoperative explantation rates for selected readjustable male sling systems and the perineal single-cuff artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) in a large, contemporary, multi-institutional patient cohort. Methods: Two hundred eighty-two male patients who underwent implantation between 2010 and 2012 in 13 participating institutions were included in the study (n = 127 adjustable male sling [n = 95 Argus classic, n = 32 Argus T], n = 155 AUS). Perioperative characteristics and postoperative complications were analyzed. The explantation rates of the respective devices were assessed using the Fisher exact test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. A Kapl…
The TiLOOP® Male Sling: Did We Forejudge.
2017
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the TiLOOP® male sling (pfm medical, Cologne, Germany) used in the treatment for male stress urinary incontinence (SUI). <b><i>Material and Methods:</i></b> We retrospectively evaluated a total of 34 patients with a TiLOOP® male sling. Perioperative complication rates were assessed and validated questionnaires were prospectively evaluated to assess quality of life and satisfaction rate. Outcome and complication rates were analysed by using descriptive statistics. Correlation of continence outcome and risk factors was performed with the chi-square test. A <i>p</i> va…
Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review
2021
Abstract Context The assessment of “soft” endpoints such as health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is increasingly relevant when evaluating the optimal treatment sequence of novel therapeutic options in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Objective To systematically review contemporary data regarding HRQOL outcomes in patients with advanced PCa. Evidence acquisition A systematic review of the literature published between January 2011 and March 2019 was performed using the PubMed/Medline Database. In total, 873 articles were screened, and 14 articles including 12 661 patients were selected for synthesis and included in the current analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items…
High/low-volume center experience predicts outcome of AMS 800 in male stress incontinence: Results of a large middle European multicenter case series.
2020
AIM To analyze the influence of implantation volume of artificial sphincters (AMS 800) on outcome in a large central European multicenter cohort study. METHODS As part of the DOMINO (Debates on Male Incontinence) project, the surgical procedures and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed in a total of 473 patients who received an artificial sphincter (AMS 800) between 2010 and 2012. Clinics that implanted at least 10 AMS 800 per year were defined as high-volume centers. RESULTS Sixteen centers had a mean rate of 9.54 AMS 800/y of which five clinics were identified as high-volume centers. They implanted significantly more double cuffs (55% vs 12.1%; P < .001), used the perineal approach sign…
Initial Experience with Radical Prostatectomy Following Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate
2021
Background: Although an increasing number of prostate cancer (PCa) patients received holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) previously for benign prostatic obstruction (BPO), there is still no evidence regarding the outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) in this setting. Objective: To assess functional and oncological results of RP in PCa patients who received HoLEP for BPO previously in a contemporary multi-institutional cohort. Design, setting, and participants: A total of 95 patients who underwent RP between 2011 and 2019 and had a history of HoLEP were identified in two institutions. Functional as well as oncological follow-up was prospectively assessed and retrospectively an…
Aggressive variants of prostate cancer – Are we ready to apply specific treatment right now?
2019
Recently, adoption of novel drugs for systemic treatment of metastatic prostate cancer has led to a striking improvement of response rate and survival in both hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant disease. In most cases, prostate cancer essentially depends on androgen receptor signaling axis, even in castration-resistant setting, and hence may be targeted by second generation hormonal therapy. However, a subset of patients bears androgen-independent cancer biology with a short-term response to hormonal treatment, early and extensive visceral metastases, low PSA levels and poor outcomes. Identification and specific management of these rapidly fatal malignancies is of an unmet medical ne…
Risk Factors for Failure of Male Slings and Artificial Urinary Sphincters: Results from a Large Middle European Cohort Study.
2016
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> We analysed the impact of predefined risk factors: age, diabetes, history of pelvic irradiation, prior surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), prior urethral stricture, additional procedure during SUI surgery, duration of incontinence, ASA-classification and cause for incontinence on failure and complications in male SUI surgery. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> We retrospectively identified 506 patients with an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and 513 patients with a male sling (MS) in a multicenter cohort study. Complication rates were correlated to the risk factors in univariate analysis. Subsequentl…
Artificial Urinary Sphincter Cuff Size Predicts Outcome in Male Patients Treated for Stress Incontinence: Results of a Large Central European Multice…
2019
Purpose The aim was to study the correlation between cuff size and outcome after implantation of an AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter. Methods A total of 473 male patients with an AMS 800 sphincter implanted between 2012 and 2014 were analyzed in a retrospective multicenter cohort study performed as part of the Central European Debates on Male Incontinence (DOMINO) Project. Results Single cuffs were implanted in 54.5% and double cuffs in 45.5% of the patients. The cuffs used had a median circumference of 4.5 cm. Within a median follow of 18 months, urethral erosion occurred in 12.8% of the cases and was associated significantly more often with small cuff sizes (P<0.001). Multivariate ana…
Management of Patients with Node-positive Prostate Cancer at Radical Prostatectomy and Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection: A Systematic Review.
2020
Abstract Context Optimal management of prostate cancer (PCa) patients with lymph node invasion at radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection still remains unclear. Objective To assess the effectiveness of postoperative treatment strategies for pathologically node-positive PCa patients. The secondary aim was to identify the most relevant prognostic factors to guide the management of pN1 patients. Evidence acquisition A systematic review was performed in January 2020 using Medline, Embase, and other databases. A total of 5063 articles were screened, and 26 studies including 12 537 men were selected for data synthesis and included in the current review according to the Preferred Re…
Hereditary prostate cancer – Primetime for genetic testing?
2019
Prostate cancer (PCa) remains the most common cancer in men. The proportion of all PCa attributable to high-risk hereditary factors has been estimated to 5-15%. Recent landmark discoveries in PCa genetics led to the identification of germline mutations/alterations (eg. BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM or HOXB13), single nucleotide polymorphisms or copy number variations associated with PCa incidence and progression. However, offering germline testing to men with an assumed hereditary component is currently controversial. In the present review article, we provide an overview about the epidemiology and the genetic basis of PCa predisposition and critically discuss the significance and consequence in the cli…
The impact of perioperative complications on favorable outcomes after artificial urinary sphincter implantation for post-prostatectomy incontinence
2020
ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the effect of perioperative complications involving artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation on rates of explantation and continence as well as health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Materials and methods Inclusion criteria encompassed non-neurogenic, moderate-to-severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI) post radical prostatectomy and primary implantation of an AUS performed by a high-volume surgeon (>100 previous implantations). Reporting complications followed the validated Clavien-Dindo scale and Martin criteria. HRQOL was assessed by the validated IQOL score, continence by the validated ICIQ-SF score. Statistical analysis included Chi (2) test, M…
The impact of perioperative complications on favorable outcomes after artificial urinary sphincter implantation for post-prostatectomy incontinence
2021
ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the effect of perioperative complications involving artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation on rates of explantation and continence as well as health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Materials and methods Inclusion criteria encompassed non-neurogenic, moderate-to-severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI) post radical prostatectomy and primary implantation of an AUS performed by a high-volume surgeon (>100 previous implantations). Reporting complications followed the validated Clavien-Dindo scale and Martin criteria. HRQOL was assessed by the validated IQOL score, continence by the validated ICIQ-SF score. Statistical analysis included Chi (2) test…