Some new studies

I got some time on a computer with access to these journal articles. You can't just go download them, unless you buy a subscription ($$$), or pay over $30.00 for one article. I got the access at my local cancer center, in their library, which is run by the ACS. It's good, but they should be ashamed of themselves- one of the articles is in one of their journals. They hold the copyright on it, yet you still have to pay unless you get free access somewhere. There's is a wall between patients and these studies and articles. I found a hole in it, but I just don't like the way that whole system works.

You can probably get your doctor's office to print copies for you, if they have subscription access. You can also read at least the abstract on the website for free, usually. The quoted sections below are from the web pages.

All you need are the "DOI" numbers. Feed them into http://dx.doi.org/, unless your browser supports DOI directly. Some do.

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.25010
Impact of recent screening on predicting the outcome of prostate cancer biopsy in men with elevated prostate-specific antigen, Sept 2009

RESULTS:
Total PSA was not predictive of prostate cancer. The previously published 4-kallikrein model increased predictive accuracy compared with total PSA and age alone (area under the curve [AUC], 0.66 vs 0.51; P < .001) but was poorly calibrated and missed many cancers. A model that was developed with recently screened men provided important improvements in discrimination (AUC, 0.67 vs 0.56; P < .001). Using this model reduced the number of biopsies by 413 per 1000 men with elevated PSA, missed 60 of 216 low-grade cancers (Gleason score 6), but missed only 1 of 43 high-grade cancers.

DOI: 10.1097/CCO.0b013e32832a1868
Emerging therapies in castrate-resistant prostate cancer, May 2009

Abstract

Purpose of review: Prostate cancer continues to represent a major health problem. It represents the most common cancer in US men, with an estimated 186 320 new cases diagnosed in 2008. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. Despite several attempts, the median survival for men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer is 1-2 years, with improvements in survival seen primarily with docetaxel-based therapies. Treatment options are limited, and there is a clear need for therapies that improve outcome. The purpose of this article is to discuss recent developments in the field of metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer, including new cytotoxic agents, antiproliferative agents, immune-based therapies, circulating tumor markers and antiangiogenic agents.
Recent findings: During this last year, several promising approaches yielded disappointing results in the phase III setting (GVAX, satraplatin, DN-101); nonetheless, expectations for other agents (abiraterone, zibotentan, Provenge) still remain high.
Summary: These new agents will need to demonstrate survival benefit for approval. Circulating tumor cells have been shown to provide important prognostic information and are anticipated to be incorporated in future clinical decision-making.

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.24429
Integrated data from 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials of active cellular immunotherapy with sipuleucel-T in advanced prostate cancer

RESULTS:
In the integrated analysis of D9901 and D9902A, patients randomized to sipuleucel-T demonstrated a 33% reduction in the risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.05; P = .011; log-rank). The treatment effect remained strong after performing adjustments for imbalances in baseline prognostic factors, poststudy treatment chemotherapy use, and non-prostate cancer-related deaths.

{The 36-month survival was 33% for treated, 15% for placebo.}