Integrated CT-perfusion shows no meaningful correlation with PSA and presurgical Gleason score in patients with early prostate cancer

A Case-Control Study of Association Between Serum Levels of 19 Trace Elements with Prostate Cancer in Southwest China

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent urological malignancy, exhibiting the highest incidence and the second-highest mortality among all male cancers. The incidence of PCa in men in China is consistently rising. Studies have shown that elemental exposure levels are associated with the occurrence of PCa. However, epidemiological data are limited, and more researches on different regions and races are needed. To clarify the relationship between the occurrence of PCa and serum levels of 19 trace elements. Serum samples from 79 PCa patients and 74 male healthy controls were obtained, and the levels of 19 trace elements were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Baseline matching of key demographic characteristics was performed between the two groups. The relationship between serum trace elements levels and PCa, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and PCa staging were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test, logistic regression, and Spearman's correlation analysis. Statistical analysis of the test results revealed that the low levels of Cu, Zn, and Se in serum may be associated with the development of PCa. Moreover, the changes in the interrelationship of trace elements may play a role in the development of PCa.

Perfusion change in benign prostatic hyperplasia before and after castration in a canine model: Contrast enhanced ultrasonography and CT perfusion study

Hormonal and vascular changes affecting the canine prostate after castration were investigated to identify the effects of hormones and perfusion on the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Concentrations of serum testosterone and estrogen and intraprostatic dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were compared between 5 normal dogs, 6 dogs with mild BPH, and 6 dogs with marked BPH. In addition, prostatic perfusion using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and CT perfusion (CTP), as well as CT volumes of the prostates were compared. The changes in these values following castration were assessed in 6 dogs with marked BPH. CEUS revealed significantly slower prostatic arterial inflow and relatively faster venous outflow in BPH versus normal prostate. Permeability and blood volume were not significantly different between the groups via CTP. Intraprostatic DHT level was higher in BPH than in normal prostate and decreased significantly following castration, which was accompanied by a rapid decrease in prostatic volume. On CEUS, arterial inflow to the prostate significantly decreased following castration. Blood volume within the prostate decreased significantly by day 60 following castration. Permeability increased significantly during the early phase after castration; however, by day 60 post-castration, all perfusion parameters decreased significantly. Perfusion changes including venous parameters measured by CEUS and blood volume changes measured by CTP, however, did not support the backflow theory postulating that BPH is induced by vascular changes from congested testes. The major etiology for the development of BPH is attributed to be increased levels of DHT rather than vascular changes.

Prostate cancer: correlation of intravoxel incoherent motion MR parameters with Gleason score

PURPOSE

To evaluate the potential of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging to predict histological prognostic parameters by investigating whether IVIM parameters correlate with Gleason score.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The institutional review board approved this retrospective study, and informed consent was waived. A total of 41 patients with histologically proven prostate cancer who underwent prostate MRI using a 3T MRI machine were included. For eight diffusion-weighted imaging b-values (0, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 800s/mm(2)), a spin-echo echo-planar imaging sequence was performed. D, f, D(⁎), and ADCfit values were compared among three groups of patients with prostate cancer: Gleason score 6 (n=9), 7 (n=16), or 8 or higher (n=16). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for D, f, D(⁎), and ADCfit to assess the ability of each parameter to distinguish cancers with low Gleason scores from cancers with intermediate or high Gleason scores.

RESULTS

Pearson's coefficient analysis revealed significant negative correlations between Gleason score and ADCfit (r=-0.490, P=.001) and Gleason score and D values (r=-0.514, P=.001). Gleason score was poorly correlated with f (r=0.168, P=.292) and D(⁎) values (r=-0.108, P=.500). The ADCfit and D values of prostate cancers with Gleason scores 7 or ≥8 were significantly lower than values for prostate cancers with Gleason score 6 (P<.05). ROC curves were constructed to assess the ability of IVIM parameters to discriminate prostate cancers with Gleason score 6 from cancers with Gleason scores 7 or ≥8. Areas under the curve were 0.671 to 0.974. ADCfit and D yielded the highest Az value (0.960-0.956), whereas f yielded the lowest Az value (0.633).

CONCLUSIONS

The pure molecular diffusion parameter, D, was the IVIM parameter that best discriminated prostate cancers with low Gleason scores from prostate cancers with intermediate or high Gleason scores.