1.
Fransson, Per, et al.
(author)
Quality of life and symptoms in a randomized trial of radiotherapy versus deferred treatment of localized prostate carcinoma
2001
In: Cancer. - : American Cancer Society. - 0008-543X .- 1097-0142. ; 92:12, s. 3111-3119
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
BACKGROUND: Treatment of localized prostate carcinoma (LPC) using radiotherapy (RT) can induce disturbances in a patient's quality of life (QOL) and urinary and intestinal function. Late symptoms and QOL were evaluated in a randomized trial between RT and deferred treatment (DT).METHODS: Quality of life was evaluated with European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer's QLQ-C30 (+3) formula. Urinary and intestinal problems were evaluated with a validated symptom specific self-assessment questionnaire, QUFW94. The questionnaires were sent to 108 randomized patients with LPC and to an age-matched control group (n = 68). Mean age was 72 years. Mean total dose was 65 grays (Gy; 62.3-70 Gy). The median follow-up time from randomization was 40.6 months for the RT group and 30.4 months for the DT group.RESULTS: Social functioning was the only QOL scale in which a significant difference was found between the two patient groups and compared with the control group. Multivariate regression analysis showed that hematuria, incontinence, mucus, and planning of daily activities in response to intestinal problems caused this decrease in QOL in the RT group. A significant increase of intestinal problems was observed in the RT versus DT groups regarding mucus, stool leakage, intestinal blood, and planning of daily activity in response to intestinal problems.CONCLUSIONS: The RT patients showed increased levels of minor intestinal side effects compared with the DT patients and the controls, but the RT patients reported no decreased QOL except for decreased social functioning. This could be because this group developed coping skills or because of a low magnitude of side effects to influence the QOL.
2.
Grönberg, Henrik, et al.
(author)
BRCA2 mutation in a family with hereditary prostate cancer
2001
In: Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer. - 1045-2257. ; 30:3, s. 299-301
Journal article (peer-reviewed) abstract
Hereditary prostate cancer is a genetically heterogeneous disease, and so far four different susceptibility loci have been identified. Reports of associated cancers are few, and it is generally considered a sire-specific disease. However, some reports have shown an elevated risk for prostate cancer among BRCA2 mutation carriers. In this report, we present a family in which the father and four of his sons were diagnosed with prostate cancer at exceptionally early ages (51, 52, 56, 58, and 63 years, respectively). In addition, three daughters were diagnosed with breast cancer between the ages of 47 and 61. In this family, a truncating mutation in exon 11, 6051delA of the BRCA2 gene, leading to an early termination of the protein (codon 1962), was identified. Although BRCA2 is probably responsible only for a very small fraction of hereditary prostate cancers, this finding supports previous reports of an increased risk of prostate cancer in BRCA2 mutation carriers.
