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Effect of endocrine treatment on prostatic blood flow in patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma
H Toma1, R Nakamura, S Onitsuka
1Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
Abstract:
Prostatic blood flow in 19 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma was measured by the hydrogen gas clearance method before and during endocrine treatment. Prostatic volume was reduced to 70 per cent of the pre-treatment volume by 3 months after the beginning of treatment. Prostatic blood flow was remarkably depressed in patients who had never had any treatment of the prostatic carcinoma (22.2 +/- 8.3 ml. per minute per 100 gm.), while prostatic blood flow increased significantly after endocrine treatment (56.3 +/- 21.8 ml. per minute per 100 gm.). It was likely that prostatic blood flow increased as the prostate volume decreased. Final histology of serial prostatic biopsy specimens after endocrine treatment, revealed distinct deterioration of tumor cells and slight stromal hyperplasia compared to the initial pre-treatment biopsy. The stromal-epithelial ratio, which was calculated by computer-assisted image analysis, was markedly increased after endocrine treatment. Our study indicated that endocrine treatment caused a growth-inhibitory effect that was accompanied by increased blood flow in the prostatic carcinoma.
Insights
Endocrine treatment for prostate cancer significantly increased prostatic blood flow and decreased tumor volume. This suggests a growth-inhibitory effect linked to improved blood perfusion in the prostate carcinoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Urology
- Medical Physiology
Background:
- Prostate cancer is a significant health concern.
- Endocrine therapy is a common treatment modality for advanced prostate cancer.
- Understanding the physiological changes induced by treatment is crucial for evaluating efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of endocrine treatment on prostatic blood flow in patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma.
- To correlate changes in prostatic blood flow with tumor volume and histological alterations.
Main Methods:
- Hydrogen gas clearance method was used to measure prostatic blood flow in 19 patients.
- Prostatic volume and blood flow were assessed before and during endocrine treatment.
- Computer-assisted image analysis was employed to calculate the stromal-epithelial ratio from biopsy specimens.
Main Results:
- Prostatic volume decreased to 70% of pre-treatment levels within 3 months.
- Prostatic blood flow increased significantly from 22.2 +/- 8.3 to 56.3 +/- 21.8 ml/min/100 gm after endocrine treatment.
- Histological analysis revealed tumor cell deterioration and increased stromal-epithelial ratio post-treatment.
Conclusions:
- Endocrine treatment enhances prostatic blood flow in patients with prostate cancer.
- The observed increase in blood flow correlates with decreased tumor volume and improved histological outcomes.
- Endocrine therapy exerts a growth-inhibitory effect on prostatic carcinoma, associated with increased perfusion.