title: Effects of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy on prostate biopsy results after (125)I and (103)Pd seed implantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Androgen ablation may improve the efficacy of radiation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 296 patients who had either (125)I (206; 70%) or (103)Pd (90; 30%) transperineal prostate brachytherapy (no external-beam radiation) had routine transrectal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy (minimum six cores) 2 years after treatment without regard to disease status. Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT: leuprolide acetate and flutamide) was used in 115 patients (39%) for 3 months prior to and 3 months after the implant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 296 patients, 30 (10%) had positive prostate biopsies. Biopsies were positive in 4 of 115 (3.5%) v 26 of 181 (14%) of those who received or had not received NHT, respectively (P = 0.002). When patients were separated into low risk (PSA < or = 10 ng/mL, stage < or = T(2a), and Gleason score < or = 6) and high risk (all others), it was seen that low-risk patients did not benefit from NHT (3.8 v 7.7% positive biopsy rate; P = 0.5) whereas high-risk patients did (3.4% v 21.1%; P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prostate brachytherapy yields high negative biopsy rates (90%) 2 years after treatment. Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy can improve the local control rates (as determined by biopsy) in patients undergoing (125)I or (103)Pd seed implantation. These results are most significant for patients who present with PSA >10 ng/mL, stage > or = T(2b) diseases, or Gleason score > or = 7 (high-risk status).
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. nproseed@aol.com
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Unger
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000728:Androgens; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D001918:Brachytherapy; D005485:Flutamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D005485:Flutamide; D016729:Leuprolide