Marc Gittelman

Natural history of rising serum prostate-specific antigen in men with castrate nonmetastatic prostate cancer

PURPOSE To describe the natural history of nonmetastatic prostate cancer and rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) despite androgen deprivation therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS The 201 patients in this report were the placebo control group from an aborted randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of zoledronic acid on time to first bone metastasis in men with prostate cancer, no bone metastases, and rising PSA despite androgen deprivation therapy. Relationships between baseline covariates and clinical outcomes were assessed by Cox proportional hazard analyses. Covariates in the model were baseline PSA, Gleason sum, history of bilateral orchiectomies, regional lymph node metastases at diagnosis, prior prostatectomy, time from androgen deprivation therapy to random assignment, time from diagnosis to random assignment, and PSA velocity. RESULTS At 2 years, 33% of patients had developed bone metastases. Median bone metastasis-free survival was 30 months. Median time to first bone metastases and overall survival were not reached. Baseline PSA level greater than 10 ng/mL (relative risk, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.74 to 5.80; P < .001) and PSA velocity (4.34 for each 0.01 increase in PSA velocity; 95% CI, 2.30 to 8.21; P < .001) independently predicted shorter time to first bone metastasis. Baseline PSA and PSA velocity also independently predicted overall survival and metastasis-free survival. Other covariates did not consistently predict clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION Men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer and rising PSA despite androgen deprivation therapy have a relatively indolent natural history. Baseline PSA and PSA velocity independently predict time to first bone metastasis and survival.

Comparative efficacy and safety of transdermal oxybutynin and oral tolterodine versus placebo in previously treated patients with urge and mixed urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and safety of an oxybutynin transdermal delivery system (OXY-TDS) and oral, long-acting tolterodine (TOL-LA) with placebo in previously treated patients with urge or mixed urinary incontinence. METHODS After withdrawal of their current antimuscarinic therapy, 361 adult patients were randomized to 12 weeks of double-blind, double-dummy treatment with twice weekly OXY-TDS 3.9 mg/day, daily TOL-LA 4 mg, or placebo. Evaluations included change from baseline in patient urinary diary symptoms, incontinence-specific quality of life, and safety. RESULTS OXY-TDS 3.9 mg/day and TOL-LA 4 mg/day significantly reduced the number of daily incontinence episodes (median change -3 OXY-TDS and -3 TOL-LA versus -2 placebo; P <0.05), increased the average void volume (median change 24 and 29 mL versus 5.5 mL, P <0.01), and improved quality of life (incontinence impact questionnaire [IIQ] total score, P <0.05; Urogenital Distress Inventory Irritative Symptom subscale, P <0.05) compared with placebo. The most common adverse event for OXY-TDS was localized application site pruritus (14% versus 4% placebo) accompanied by a low incidence of systemic side effects (eg, dry mouth 4.1%). Anticholinergic adverse events occurred with greatest frequency during TOL-LA treatment (dry mouth 7.3% versus 1.7% placebo, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS OXY-TDS and TOL-LA are effective and comparable treatments for patients with urge and mixed incontinence. OXY-TDS improves systemic safety with regard to anticholinergic side effects. Local skin irritation occurs in some OXY-TDS patients.

Serum prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume predict long-term changes in symptoms and flow rate: results of a four-year, randomized trial comparing finasteride versus placebo ☆

OBJECTIVES To determine whether baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA), in addition to prostate volume, is associated with long-term changes in symptoms and urinary flow rate. METHODS Three thousand forty men with benign prostatic hyperplasia enrolled in the PLESS trial were randomly assigned to finasteride 5 mg or placebo for 4 years. Symptoms and flow rate were assessed every 4 months, and data were analyzed by dividing the patients into three groups by baseline PSA tertiles (0 to 1.3, 1.4 to 3.2, and 3.3 ng/mL or greater) and baseline prostate volume tertiles (14 to 41, 42 to 57, and 58 to 1 50 mL). RESULTS After the initial placebo effect, a slow deterioration in symptoms over time was observed in the placebo-treated men with a baseline PSA 1.4 ng/mL or greater. However, placebo-treated men in the lowest PSA tertile (less than 1.4 ng/mL) had sustained symptomatic improvement that was not seen in placebo-treated men in the higher tertiles (P<0.001). In all finasteride-treated groups, there was initial improvement followed by maintenance or continued symptom improvement over time (approximately 3 to 3.5 points by the end of 4 years). The differences in symptom score improvement between placebo and finasteride were marginal for men with baseline PSA levels less than 1.4 ng/mL (P = 0.128) but were highly significant for men with PSA levels 1.4 ng/mL or greater (P<0.001). Urinary flow rate results were similar to those observed for symptoms. Analysis of symptom and flow rate data by prostate volume tertiles in a 10% subset of men yielded similar results, namely a deterioration of symptoms and flow rate in the two higher tertiles treated with placebo (greater than 41 mL) and a sustained improvement in all three groups of finasteride-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS Baseline PSA and prostate volume are good predictors of long-term symptomatic and flow rate changes. Baseline PSA levels of 1.4 ng/mL or greater and enlarged prostate glands predict the best long-term response to finasteride compared with placebo.

Rapid Efficacy of the Highly Selective α1A-Adrenoceptor Antagonist Silodosin in Men With Signs and Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Pooled Results of 2 Phase 3 Studies

PURPOSE We evaluated the efficacy and safety of silodosin for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms in 2 randomized, placebo controlled, phase 3 studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Men 50 years or older with an International Prostate Symptom Score of 13 or greater and peak urinary flow rate of 4 to 15 ml per second received placebo or 8 mg silodosin daily with breakfast for 12 weeks. The primary end point was International Prostate Symptom Score change from baseline to last observation. Change in peak urinary flow rate was a secondary end point. Differences in treatment efficacy were assessed by ANCOVA. RESULTS Of 923 patients (mean age 65 years) 466 received silodosin and 457 placebo. After 0.5 week (range 3 to 4 days) of treatment patients receiving silodosin vs placebo achieved significant improvement in total International Prostate Symptom Score (difference -1.9, p <0.0001) and irritative (-0.5, p = 0.0002) and obstructive (-1.4, p <0.0001) subscores. The mean +/- SD change from baseline in total International Prostate Symptom Score was -4.2 +/- 5.3 for silodosin vs -2.3 +/- 4.4 for placebo. Differences (silodosin vs placebo) in International Prostate Symptom Score and subscores increased by week 12 (p <0.0001). Mean change from baseline in peak urinary flow rate (ml per second) 2 to 6 hours after initial dose was greater (p <0.0001) with silodosin (2.8 +/- 3.4) than placebo (1.5 +/- 3.8). Differences remained significant (p <0.001) through week 12. The most common treatment emergent adverse event was (mostly mild) retrograde ejaculation (silodosin 28.1% of patients, placebo 0.9%). Few patients receiving silodosin (2.8%) discontinued because of retrograde ejaculation. Proportions of patients with treatment emergent orthostatic hypotension were similar for silodosin (2.6%) and placebo (1.5%). CONCLUSIONS Treatment with silodosin produced rapid improvement in urinary symptoms that was sustained for 12 weeks. Silodosin was well tolerated with a low incidence of orthostatic hypotension.

Sustained efficacy and tolerability of vardenafil, a highly potent selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, in men with erectile dysfunction: results of a randomized, double-blind, 26-week placebo-controlled pivotal trial

The durability of key efficacy response parameters and safety of vardenafil was evaluated in a pivotal trial conducted in a broad population of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) in North America. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, fixed-dose, parallel-group, 6-month comparison study, men >18 years of age with ED for >6 months received 5-mg, 10-mg, and 20-mg doses of vardenafil as needed for up to 26 weeks. The primary efficacy variables were the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-Erectile Function (EF) domain scores, and the Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) mean per-patient success rates for penetration (SEP question 2) and maintenance of erections (SEP question 3). Safety data were also collected over time. Improvement in all primary efficacy variables was observed in all vardenafil groups versus placebo. These improvements occurred early and were either sustained or increased through week 26. Vardenafil in 10-mg and 20-mg doses was significantly superior to placebo at all time points for all efficacy variables (P <0.01), and all doses were superior to placebo at endpoint (P <0.001). Most treatment-emergent adverse events (headache, flushing, dyspepsia, and rhinitis) were mild or moderate in intensity, and incidence generally decreased over time. All 3 doses of vardenafil were superior to placebo across all primary efficacy variables and all study time points in a broad range of patients with ED, regardless of etiology or severity. Vardenafil was well tolerated. These results demonstrate that vardenafil provides sustained efficacy with reduced incidence of nuisance side effects over time. High resolution video, medium resolution video, low resolution video.

Silodosin in the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 9-month, open-label extension study.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate long-term safety of the highly selective alpha(1A)-adrenoceptor antagonist silodosin in men with signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS Patients enrolled in this open-label extension study had completed 1 of 2 identical double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week studies of silodosin treatment for symptomatic BPH. For 40 weeks, patients received silodosin 8 mg once daily with breakfast. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded to evaluate safety. Change in International Prostate Symptom Score was a secondary variable. RESULTS Of the 661 participants, 435 (65.8%) completed the study; 431 patients (65.2%) experienced 924 AEs. No serious AEs that were considered drug-related by investigators occurred. AEs reported most often (percentage of patients) were retrograde ejaculation (20.9%), diarrhea (4.1%), and nasopharyngitis (3.6%). Orthostatic hypotension and dizziness occurred in 2.6% and 2.9% of patients, respectively. The percentage of patients with treatment-emergent AEs, stratified by preceding double-blind treatment (placebo or silodosin), was higher for de novo (previous treatment with placebo, 71.5%) than for continuing silodosin treatment (58.3%). More patients receiving de novo (7.5%) vs continuing treatment (1.9%) discontinued study participation because of retrograde ejaculation. Mean International Prostate Symptom Score change (standard deviation) from baseline to week 40 (observed cases) was -4.5 (6.7) for de novo treatment (P <.0001) and -1.6 (6.0) for continuing treatment (P <.01). CONCLUSIONS Silodosin was well tolerated by men with BPH-related symptoms and was associated with low incidences of dizziness and orthostatic hypotension. Discontinuation because of retrograde ejaculation was more common among patients receiving silodosin de novo than in those who continued silodosin treatment.

Managing the progression of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia: therapeutic options for the man at risk

There are two fairly divergent reviews in this month’s issue. The first is a paper which concentrates on the progression of LUTS and BPH. Previous papers on LUTS and BPH were focused on changes in urinary flow rates and symptom scores, a rather static view of things. The first author in this review introduced the concept of dynamic variables in LUTS and BPH, and this, along with the idea of progression of the disease which the MTOPS study brought to our notice, has lead to a major change to our approach to trials of therapy in LUTS and BPH.

Time to Onset of Action of Vardenafil: A Retrospective Analysis of the Pivotal Trials for the Orodispersible and Film‐Coated Tablet Formulations

INTRODUCTION Patients and physicians consider a rapid onset of action to be an important attribute of oral pharmacotherapy for erectile dysfunction. AIM To investigate the time to onset of action of a new orodispersible tablet (ODT) formulation of vardenafil. METHODS A post hoc integrated analysis was performed on data from two 12-week, double-blind, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase III trials of 10 mg vardenafil ODT. Data for the vardenafil film-coated tablet were generated from a retrospective integrated analysis at week 12 of four double-blind, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, fixed-dose, placebo-controlled phase III trials. Time intervals (in 15-, 30-, and 60-minute increments, up to ≥6 hours after study medication intake) were determined for the period between dosing and start of sexual activity (with the intention of intercourse). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The total number of sexual intercourse attempts and Sexual Encounter Profile question 3 (SEP3) success rates were calculated per time interval. RESULTS Within 15 minutes postdosing, mean per-patient SEP3 success rates were 62.5% (vardenafil ODT) vs. 29.4% (placebo), with corresponding overall SEP3 success rates of 59.8% and 38.2%. In this time interval, 5.3% vs. 2.8% of all sexual activity attempts were initiated by subjects taking vardenafil ODT (n = 89) or placebo (n = 62), respectively. At 16-30 minutes postdosing, SEP3 success rates were 65.3% and 32.6% (mean per-patient) and 70.2% and 51.0% (overall) for vardenafil ODT vs. placebo, respectively, with a corresponding 10.4% and 8.7% of all sexual activity attempts being made by subjects taking vardenafil ODT (n = 170) or placebo (n = 118). Comparable results were observed for vardenafil 10 and 20 mg film-coated tablet at corresponding time intervals. CONCLUSIONS Vardenafil ODT shows a rapid onset of action comparable with that of vardenafil film-coated tablet. In those men who begin sexual activity within 30 minutes after dosing, the majority of sexual attempts lead to successful intercourse.

Efficacy and Safety of an Orodispersible Vardenafil Formulation for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in Elderly Men and Those with Underlying Conditions: An Integrated Analysis of Two Pivotal Trials*

INTRODUCTION Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) are typically older and have one or more underlying cardiovascular conditions. AIM To determine the efficacy and safety of a new orodispersible tablet (ODT) formulation of vardenafil for the treatment of ED, and whether age, or the presence of underlying conditions affects treatment outcomes. METHODS This is an integrated analysis of data from two phase III, double-blind, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled studies that compared 10 mg on-demand vardenafil ODT with placebo in a general population of men with ED, stratified so that approximately 50% of patients were aged ≥ 65 years. Results were reported by age (<6 5 vs. ≥ 65 years) and presence/absence of diabetes, dyslipidemia, or hypertension. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary measures were the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) and Sexual Encounter Profile questions 2 (SEP2) and 3 (SEP3). RESULTS Of the 701 men randomized (51% aged ≥ 65 years), 686 were included in the intent-to-treat population (placebo, n = 334; vardenafil ODT, n = 352). Vardenafil ODT was significantly superior to placebo for all primary efficacy measures, regardless of age, baseline ED severity, or underlying condition (P < 0.0001 for vardenafil vs. placebo for each endpoint). IIEF-EF scores and SEP2/3 success rates in older patients and men with underlying conditions were not significantly different to those of younger patients or men without underlying conditions. Adverse events (AEs) were mostly mild to moderate in severity, occurring with higher incidence in the vardenafil vs. placebo group. The most frequently reported drug-related AEs in the vardenafil group were headache, flushing, nasal congestion, dizziness, and dyspepsia, consistent with the known safety profile of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS Vardenafil ODT significantly improves erectile function in men with ED regardless of age, baseline ED severity, or underlying condition.

Long-term efficacy and tolerability of once-yearly histrelin acetate subcutaneous implant in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Study Type – Therapy (individual cohort)