Cellular changes in prostatic carcinoma after treatment with orchidectomy, estramustine phosphate and medroxyprogesterone acetate

Antitumor progestins activity: Cytostatic effect and immune response

Progestins are used to treat some hormone-sensitive tumors. This review discusses the mechanisms of progestins' effects on tumor cells, the differences in the effects of progesterone and its analogs on different tumor types, and the influence of progestins on the antitumor immune response. Progestins cause a cytostatic effect, but at the same time they can suppress the antitumor immune response, and this can promote the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. Such progestins as dienogest, megestrol acetate and levonorgestrel increase the activity of NK-cells, which play a major role in the body's fight against tumor cells. The use of existing progestins and the development of new drugs with gestagenic activity may hold promise in oncotherapy.

The continuing role of fine-needle aspiration of the prostate gland into the 21st century: A tribute to Torsten Löwhagen

A brief review of the history of transrectal fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the prostate gland is reported in this article; the authors'experience of FNA during the last 20 yr is described also. Despite the worldwide acceptance of the thin-needle core approach, the use of transrectal FNA of palpable abnormalities of the prostate still is advocated because it is cheaper, faster, easier to perform, and results in lower morbidity than any other technique so far developed. High sensitivity, specificity, and efficacy account for its reliability. Appropriate training in performing transrectal FNA of the prostate and in interpreting the smears is, of course, essential. Transrectal FNA should be the initial diagnostic procedure for suspected prostatic cancer and will continue to be a useful diagnostic tool in the 21st century.

Pitfalls and infrequent findings in fine-needle aspiration of the prostate gland

Based on the experience accumulated over two decades and in more than 7,000 transrectal fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) of the prostate gland, several benign and malignant unusual cytologic findings are described. Infrequent benign cytologic findings and possible pitfalls are atrophic prostatic epithelium, squamous metaplasia, transitional cells, granulomatous prostatitis, seminal vesicle epithelium, ganglion cells, lubricant artifacts, and treatment effects. Infrequent variants of carcinoma are foamy-cell carcinoma, prostatic duct adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, transitional-cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma of the prostate, metastatic solid tumor within the prostate, and mesenchymal tumors. Cytopathologists must be able to diagnose these variants of prostate adenocarcinoma because on most occasions the variants imply a worse clinical prognosis. Appropriate training is essential to achieve success in this field of cytopathology. FNA of the prostate provides in a matter of minutes useful information concerning clinical management, prognosis, and treatment of patients.