Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
The pursuit of reduced-intensity treatments for testicular cancer continued with vigour in 2013. For those with metastatic disease and poor prognoses, an alternative to bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy emerged. These advances suggest we are making progress by reducing treatment intensity with personalized approaches for this highly curable malignancy.
Big data and computational biology brought to the forefront a number of potential actionable mutations and drug targets in clear cell renal cell carcinoma in 2013. As we continue to unravel the molecular underpinnings of tumorigenesis and progression, the clinical benefits will eventually be reaped.
2013 saw the publication of several reports providing insight into a range of ongoing issues in bladder cancer, from screening high-risk candidates to using blue-light cystoscopy to reduce recurrence. These data will strengthen efforts to optimize the detection and treatment of bladder cancer, benefiting patients along the cancer continuum.
In 2012, three trials of antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) were reported, with conflicting results. Taken together with data from 2010 we now have two trials that showed no benefit and four studies that demonstrated moderate-to-high efficacy. Accordingly, it seems that PrEP might have a limited role for HIV prevention in individuals at high-risk of infection.
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.
