BACKGROUND: After sufficient oncological treatment of prostate cancer the life quality becomes most important. A multi disciplinary research network aims to optimize the diagnostics and the resulting treatment of prostate cancer. METHODS: Main characteristics of the interdisciplinary cooperation are the interlocked individual projects. A major research field is investigation of the whole mounted prostate sections to study the peripheral nerves and the comparison of histological tumor locations with the MRI. Using serial sections of prostate specimens, three-dimensional computer-animated models are created illustrating the tumors histological and immunohistochemical distributions. For nodal staging, a new methodology is investigated to demonstrate single tumor cells in lymphatic tissue lysates. A retrospective evaluation of life quality including the functional outcome is performed by using questionnaire surveys. RESULTS: Anatomical studies gave new insights into the exact localizations of peripheral nerves which may lead to an improvement of the surgical approach in nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy. For the preoperative planning the MRI imaging might need a different interpretation in relation to the topographic location. Studies using molecular markers and their relation and distribution patterns gave new insights regarding interpretation of histological biopsy results concerning the tumor extension. Numerical quantification of tumor cells in each lymph node demonstrated micro metastases in histological negative nodes contributing to the nodal staging. A close connection of the nerve-sparing technique was demonstrated with quality of life aspects and functional results. CONCLUSION: An interdisciplinary approach is mandatory for translational prostate cancer research. As a result, individualized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches improve oncological results and at the same time provide the best quality of life in these patients.
BACKGROUND: After sufficient oncological treatment of prostate cancer the life quality becomes most important. A multi disciplinary research network aims to optimize the diagnostics and the resulting treatment of prostate cancer. METHODS: Main characteristics of the interdisciplinary cooperation are the interlocked individual projects. A major research field is investigation of the whole mounted prostate sections to study the peripheral nerves and the comparison of histological tumor locations with the MRI. Using serial sections of prostate specimens, three-dimensional computer-animated models are created illustrating the tumors histological and immunohistochemical distributions. For nodal staging, a new methodology is investigated to demonstrate single tumor cells in lymphatic tissue lysates. A retrospective evaluation of life quality including the functional outcome is performed by using questionnaire surveys. RESULTS: Anatomical studies gave new insights into the exact localizations of peripheral nerves which may lead to an improvement of the surgical approach in nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy. For the preoperative planning the MRI imaging might need a different interpretation in relation to the topographic location. Studies using molecular markers and their relation and distribution patterns gave new insights regarding interpretation of histological biopsy results concerning the tumor extension. Numerical quantification of tumor cells in each lymph node demonstrated micro metastases in histological negative nodes contributing to the nodal staging. A close connection of the nerve-sparing technique was demonstrated with quality of life aspects and functional results. CONCLUSION: An interdisciplinary approach is mandatory for translational prostate cancer research. As a result, individualized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches improve oncological results and at the same time provide the best quality of life in these patients.
Authors: Stefan Corvin; David Schilling; Kai Eichhorn; Ilse Hundt; Joerg Hennenlotter; Aristotelis G Anastasiadis; Markus Kuczyk; Roland Bares; Arnulf Stenzl Journal: Eur Urol Date: 2005-12-09 Impact factor: 20.096
Authors: Anja Ulmer; Jörg R Fischer; Stefan Schanz; Karl Sotlar; Helmut Breuninger; Klaus Dietz; Gerhard Fierlbeck; Christoph A Klein Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2005-08-01 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: Liang Wang; Michael Mullerad; Hui-Ni Chen; Steven C Eberhardt; Michael W Kattan; Peter T Scardino; Hedvig Hricak Journal: Radiology Date: 2004-05-27 Impact factor: 11.105