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2012 has been an exciting year for kidney cancer research. From the FDA approval of a new targeted agent to revival of interest in immunotherapy, several interesting studies were published that generated considerable interest.
2012 was a year of global controversy surrounding PSA screening—updated results were reported from the two largest trials and the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a Grade D recommendation against screening. Other data supported active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer, whereas radical prostatectomy was shown to benefit those with intermediate-risk and high-risk disease.
Interesting data on kidney stone prevalence and metabolic risk factors for stone formation in children were published in 2012, suggesting that we must invest more time and resources in epidemiological research. Further advances in endoscopic technology will hopefully lead to lower morbidity and better outcomes for stone removal procedures.
2012 in BPH has been characterized by studies investigating treatment options for BPH-associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Onabotulinumtoxin A and saw palmetto have both been shown to be no more effective than placebo. However, in a positive move, tadalafil received FDA approval for LUTS treatment.
2012 has been a promising year for patients with bladder cancer. Published reports have challenged current knowledge in areas ranging from disease aetiology to second-line chemotherapy. However, advances in the care of this cancer lag behind those in many other malignancies, reflecting the low priority of bladder cancer to many research funders.
The past year has seen several new developments in the field of male reproductive health, including a major revision of how urologists should assess semen quality following the release of new WHO guidelines, novel approaches to sperm selection for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and changes in how clinicians might evaluate and treat patients with hematospermia.
Research into sexual dysfunction is expanding rapidly; in 2011 alone more than 600 articles on sexual dysfunction were listed in PubMed. Increased understanding of pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical diagnosis and therapeutic options has propelled clinicians and researchers alike to be more innovative and holistic in their approach to the management of sexual dysfunction.
Long awaited data from the clinical investigation of bladder cancer in both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings were released in 2011, setting the stage for the next generation of work in this area. The findings of a number of studies provide the first steps towards a personalized approach to this disease.
Contemporary treatment guidelines for the localized renal mass are largely driven by expert opinion and retrospective observational data. Three articles published in 2011 add important information to the existing body of literature, enabling improved objectification of risk and individualization of clinical tradeoff decisions for patients presenting with localized renal tumors.
2011 was a breakthrough year for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. The encouraging results of two large clinical trials were reported, as well as data identifying a number of promising new therapeutic targets. Bone-modulating agents continued to show potential for the prevention of skeletal events.
Urinary incontinence is a common and distressing condition. Although management of stress urinary incontinence can be challenging, new innovations in 2010 have improved the range of therapeutic options for both men and women.
Gleason sum upgrading (GSU) is common in patients with organ-confined prostate cancer. Studies in 2010 have identified GSU predictors and examined the role of GSU in patients with prostate cancer, but several clinical applications for GSU have been suggested—has its clinical importance in daily practice been inflated?
Noteworthy findings over the past year have included the growing importance of nephron-sparing surgery, a promising new drug for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and a nomogram to assist treatment decision making in elderly patients—all important principles in the treatment of RCC.
Treatment for patients with urinary tract stone disease includes removal of the stones and prevention of their recurrence. However, the optimal therapy for stone disease is currently debated. How far has the field advanced in terms of treatment and understanding of stone formation?
