Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, accounting for 14.1% of new cancer cases in 2020. The aggressiveness of prostate cancer is highly variable, depending on its grade and stage at the time of diagnosis. Despite recent advances in prostate cancer treatment, some patients still experience recurrence or even progression after undergoing radical treatment. Accurate initial staging and monitoring for recurrence determine patient management, which in turn affect patient prognosis and survival. Classical imaging has limitations in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, but the use of novel molecular probes has improved the detection rate, specificity, and accuracy of prostate cancer detection. Molecular probe-based imaging modalities allow the visualization and quantitative measurement of biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels in living systems. An increased understanding of tumor biology of prostate cancer and the discovery of new tumor biomarkers have allowed the exploration of additional molecular probe targets. The development of novel ligands and advances in nano-based delivery technologies have accelerated the research and development of molecular probes. Here, we summarize the use of molecular probes in positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical imaging, and ultrasound imaging, and provide a brief overview of important target molecules in prostate cancer.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Molecular Probes ; Molecular Imaging/methods* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Ultrasonography ; Optical Imaging ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Precision Medicine/methods*

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence of prostate cancer on follow up after an initial negative MRI- fusion biopsy of the prostate, and to determine the change in PSA and MRI results on follow-up.

MRI-fusion prostate biopsy registry from 2018 to 2022 was obtained then histopathology, MRI results, and PSA results were obtained. Repeat PSA and MRI results at extracted at 3 years. PSA mean, range, and change were then determined. MRI results were extracted to determine progression, regression, or persistence.

A total of 670 prostate biopsies were done in the study period, of which 70 were included. PSA on biopsy 9.93 (3.35 – 55.0) with corresponding PIRADS lesions 3, 4, and 5 (n=55, n=19, and n=6). No patient was subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer on follow-up. PSA mean 7.03, 6.44, 5.27, and 6.07 at 3years interval from biopsy. Repeat prostate MRI showed persistence in 1 and regression in 6 patients.

After a negative MRI-fusion biopsy of the prostate no patient developed prostate cancer with a general decrease in trend in PSA and MRI on follow-up. These patients may have longer interval follow-up periods given the clinical scenario but would be best to test this method in prospective trials first.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

The increasing demand for cost-effective surgical techniques has driven innovations in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). While single-port robotic surgery reduces invasiveness and improves cosmesis, its widespread use is limited by high costs and technical constraints. This study evaluates the safety, feasibility and cost-effectiveness of extraperitoneal single-port robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (espRARP) using a modified Da Vinci Si HD system, employing a wound protector and surgical glove as a low-cost multi-channel laparoscopic port.

Ten patients with localized prostate cancer underwent espRARP using a three-arm Da Vinci Si system and side docking to enhance instrument access. A homemade multi-channel port was constructed using an Alexis® wound protector and surgical gloves. Perioperative outcomes—including operative time, blood loss, complications and oncologic results were analyzed descriptively.

All cases were completed without conversion to open surgery. The mean operative time was 215.8 minutes with an estimated blood loss of 200 mL. No positive surgical margins were recorded, and 20% of patients exhibited pathological upgrading. The average hospital stay was 3.4 days. One patient developed a Clavien–Dindo II complication; no major complications occurred

This pilot study is limited by its small sample size (n = 10), single-surgeon, single institution design, short follow-up period, and absence of functional outcome assessment. Only descriptive analysis was performed without statistical comparison.

The modified espRARP technique using a low-cost glove-port and three-arm Da Vinci Si system is safe, feasible and cost-efficient. Comparable perioperative and oncologic outcomes to conventional multi-port and proprietary single-port systems were achieved at a fraction of the cost. This approach provides a practical and accessible alternative for robotic prostatectomy in resource-limited healthcare settings.

OBJECTIVES

To create a pilot urologic malignancy registry using demographic and clinical data of a cohort of patients newly diagnosed to have urologic malignancies in the year 2021.

This was a prospective cohort study conducted in four study sites: National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center, UP-Philippine General Hospital and Batangas Medical Center

A total of 243 patients with newly diagnosed urologic cancers were enrolled. The median age was 61 years, with a wide range of 1 to 87 years. Most of the patients (81.47%) were male, while there were 45 females (18.52%) who had either urinary bladder, kidney or upper urothelial cancer. The most common type of malignancy was prostate cancer (34.57%), followed by kidney cancer (30.04%) and urinary bladder cancer (24.69%), consistent with the currently observed worldwide incidence. There were also 3 patients (1.23%) noted with multiple primaries. More than half of the patients (63.37%) received surgery as active treatment. After the two-year follow-up period, thirteen patients (5.35%) developed progressive disease, and 14 patients (5.76%) died.

This urologic cancer registry represents the first multi-center, investigator-initiated epidemiologic study of its kind in the Philippines. As a proof-of-concept (POC) project, it demonstrates the feasibility of establishing a national database capturing baseline data on the country’s most common urologic malignancies.

Prostate cancer represents a prevalent malignancy within the male genitourinary system. In recent years, its incidence in China has gradually increased, becoming a significant public health issue. While early detection correlates strongly with improved prognosis, the majority of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients in China are already in intermediate or advanced stages, precluding curative-intent interventions and contributing to marked survival disparities. The progression of prostate cancer is lengthy, typically encompassing diagnosis, treatment, progression, metastasis, and death, accompanied by a decline in quality of life. Personalized treatment plans should be developed based on the disease stage and patient preferences. In non-metastatic prostate cancer, where the tumor is confined to the prostate, surgery and radiotherapy are the primary treatments, supplemented by neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies to delay metastasis. For metastatic prostate cancer, systemic therapy is prioritized to prolong survival. In metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, controlling androgen levels is crucial, while treatment options for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer are relatively limited, necessitating individualized and precise treatment. During prostate cancer management, prostate-specific antigen levels are closely linked to prognosis and require monitoring. Bone metastasis, the most common site in prostate cancer patients, often triggers skeletal-related events, demanding effective prevention and management. Treatment-related adverse reactions are also a clinical challenge, requiring balanced risk-benefit assessments and judicious drug selection to preserve quality of life. Rapid advancements in screening technologies, surgical innovations, drug development, and China-specific epidemiological factors further complicate decision-making in holistic prostate cancer management. To optimize the standardization of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment in China, the Genitourinary Oncology Committee of Chinese Anti-cancer Association synthesized global guidelines, clinical evidence and clinical expertise, and addressed critical challenges in the whole-course management of prostate cancer to formulate a multidisciplinary consensus. The expert consensus on whole-course management of prostate cancer (2025 edition) establishes standardized protocols to guide clinical practice, improve treatment outcomes, and enhance patient quality of life.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Consensus ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood* ; Quality of Life ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology* ; China ; Bone Neoplasms/secondary* ; Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use*

BACKGROUND: At present, biopsy is essential for the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) before radical prostatectomy (RP). However, with the development of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), it might be feasible to avoid biopsy before RP. Herein, we aimed to explore the feasibility of avoiding biopsy before RP in patients highly suspected of having PCa after assessment of PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI. METHODS: Between December 2017 and April 2022, 56 patients with maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of ≥4 and Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) ≥4 lesions who received RP without preoperative biopsy were enrolled from two tertiary hospitals. The consistency between clinical and pathological diagnoses was evaluated. Preoperative characteristics were compared among patients with different pathological types, T stages, International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grades, and European Association of Urology (EAU) risk groups. RESULTS: Fifty-five (98%) patients were confirmed with PCa by pathology, including 49 (89%) with clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa, defined as ISUP grade ≥2 malignancy). One patient was diagnosed with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN). CsPCa patients, compared with clinically insignificant prostate cancer (cisPCa) and HGPIN patients, were associated with a higher level of prostate-specific antigen (22.9 ng/mL vs . 10.0 ng/mL, P = 0.032), a lower median prostate volume (32.2 mL vs . 65.0 mL, P = 0.001), and a higher median SUVmax (13.3 vs . 5.6, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS It might be feasible to avoid biopsy before RP for patients with a high probability of PCa based on PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI. However, the diagnostic efficacy of csPCa with PI-RADS ≥4 and SUVmax of ≥4 is inadequate for performing a procedure such as RP. Further prospective multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm our perspectives and establish predictive models with PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatectomy/methods* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography/methods* ; Biopsy ; Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: Enzalutamide, a second-generation androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibitor, is widely used in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, after a period of enzalutamide treatment, patients inevitably develop drug resistance. In this study, we characterized leucine-rich repeated G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) and explored its potential therapeutic value in prostate cancer. METHODS: A total of 142 pairs of tumor and adjacent formalin-fixed paraf-fin-embedded tissue samples from patients with prostate cancer were collected from the Pathology Department at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hos-pital. LGR5 was screened by sequencing data of enzalutamide-resistant cell lines combined with sequencing data of lesions with different Gleason scores from the same patients. The biological function of LGR5 and its effect on enzalutamide resistance were investigated in vitro and in vivo . Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down, coimmunoprecipitation, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence assays were used to explore the specific binding mechanism of LGR5 and related pathway changes. RESULTS: LGR5 was significantly upregulated in prostate cancer and negatively correlated with poor patient prognosis. Overexpression of LGR5 promoted the malignant progression of prostate cancer and reduced sensitivity to enzalutamide in vitro and in vivo . LGR5 promoted the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) by binding heat shock protein 90,000 alpha B1 (HSP90AB1) and mediated the activation of the Wingless/integrated (WNT)/β-catenin signaling pathway. The increased β-catenin in the cytoplasm entered the nucleus and bound to the nuclear AR, promoting the transcription level of AR, which led to the enhanced tolerance of prostate cancer to enzalutamide. Reducing HSP90AB1 binding to LGR5 significantly enhanced sensitivity to enzalutamide. CONCLUSIONS LGR5 directly binds to HSP90AB1 and mediates GSK-3β phosphorylation, promoting AR expression by regulating the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby conferring resistance to enzalutamide treatment in prostate cancer.
Male ; Humans ; Phenylthiohydantoin/pharmacology* ; Benzamides ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics* ; Nitriles ; Cell Line, Tumor ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; Receptors, Androgen/genetics* ; Animals ; Mice ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/physiology*

Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks as the second most prevalent malignancy among men worldwide. Early diagnosis, personalized treatment, and prognosis prediction of PCa play a crucial role in improving patients' survival rates. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly the utilization of deep learning (DL) algorithms, has brought about substantial progress in assisting the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis prediction of PCa. The introduction of the foundation model has revolutionized the application of AI in medical treatment and facilitated its integration into clinical practice. This review emphasizes the clinical application of AI in PCa by discussing recent advancements from both pathological and imaging perspectives. Furthermore, it explores the current challenges faced by AI in clinical applications while also considering future developments, aiming to provide a valuable point of reference for the integration of AI and clinical applications.
Humans ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Male ; Artificial Intelligence ; Deep Learning ; Prognosis

Prostate cancer(PCa) is a common malignant tumor among elderly men, with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide, posing a serious threat to human health. Traditional treatments face limitations, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Recent studies on the regulatory mechanisms of micro ribonucleic acid(microRNA, miRNA) in tumor development has identified miRNA as new targets for PCa diagnosis and treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), with its multi-mechanism, multi-target, and multi-pathway regulatory properties, shows promising potential in miRNA-based PCa therapy. This review summarized recent findings on miRNA' roles in PCa and research progress of TCM intervention and found that a variety of miRNA played important regulatory roles in cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, immune microenvironment, and drug resistance, and their potential as biomarkers for PCa diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy, indicating the potential to be a biomarker for the diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, and treatment of PCa. The review concluded that the active components of TCM(terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and others) and compounds(Yishen Tonglong Decoction, Shenhu Decoction, Zhoushi Qiling Decoction, Fuzheng Yiliu Decoction, and Qilan Formula) could regulate the expression of their downstream target genes by acting on specific miRNA and affect the above biological behaviors of PCa cells, thus playing a role in the treatment of PCa. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for miRNA as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PCa and suggest new avenues for further development of targeted therapy strategies against miRNA.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects*

Urinary incontinence is a common complication following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Urethral length has been identified as a factor affecting postoperative continence recovery. In this meta-analysis, we examined the association between use of the maximal urethral length preservation (MULP) technique and postoperative urinary continence in patients undergoing RARP. We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to December 31, 2023. The quality of the literature was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to synthesize data and calculate the odds ratio (OR) from eligible studies on continence and MULP. Six studies involving 1869 patients met the eligibility criteria. MULP was positively associated with both early continence (1 month after RARP; Z = 3.62, P = 0.003, OR = 3.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.68-5.73) and late continence (12 months after RARP; Z = 2.34, P = 0.019, OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.13-3.90). Oncological outcomes indicated that MULP did not increase the overall positive surgical margin rate or the positive surgical margin status at the prostate apex (both P > 0.05). In conclusion, the use of the MULP technique in RARP significantly improved both early and late postoperative continence outcomes without compromising oncological outcomes.
Humans ; Prostatectomy/adverse effects* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Male ; Urethra/surgery* ; Urinary Incontinence/prevention & control* ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Organ Sparing Treatments/methods*