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Objectives: To examine patterns of referral, management and survival of men with prostate cancer, and to document changes over time., Patients and Methods: All men registered with prostate cancer in 1988 and 1993 were identified from the Scottish Cancer Registry. Data were abstracted according to standard definitions from the available medical records of 930 men in 1988 and 1355 in 1993., Results: There was limited evidence of multidisciplinary care, with only 8% of patients in 1988 being managed by both a urologist and a clinical oncologist within a year of diagnosis, increasing to 13% in 1993. Only a small proportion of patients were managed by clinical oncologists during the first year of care (14% in 1988 and 20% in 1993). Documentation of thorough staging information was poor, with a T stage being recorded in <30% of cases in both years. Documentation of metastatic status increased from 53% to 63% between 1988 and 1993, paralleling an increase in the use of bone scans. The proportion of cases with pathological grading obtained at diagnosis increased from 63% in 1988 to 68% by 1993. The use of PSA testing and core biopsies increased between the years while the use of transurethral prostatectomy decreased. More patients received radical radiotherapy within a year of diagnosis in 1993 than 1988, increasing from 6% to 9%, and more radical prostatectomies were also undertaken (0.2% to 2.3%). Nonetheless, most patients (81% in 1993) with no documented evidence of metastases received no active intervention (radical radiotherapy, radical prostatectomy, or 'watchful waiting'). The survival at 5 years increased nonsignificantly from 34% for the 1988 cohort to 38% for the 1993 cohort., Conclusion: This audit reveals considerable inconsistency in the management of men with prostate cancer in Scotland. Against a background of controversy about numerous aspects of the management of this disease, the need for a multidisciplinary approach, comprehensive staging and appropriate documentation is highlighted.

Objective: To assess the results of radiotherapy in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. End points for assessment were survival, local control, development of metastases, and the toxicity of therapy., Materials and Methods: The case notes of 191 patients who were treated with radical radiotherapy between 1982 and 1992 were reviewed. The pathology of 130 patients was reviewed by a single pathologist. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify significant prognostic factors with regard to survival and relapse., Results: One-hundred and eighty-two patients were assessable. The minimum length of follow-up was one year (median = 40 months). The actuarial cause-specific 5 and 10 year survival rates were 63% and 35% respectively. Local progression occurred in 41% of patients with 37% developing metastases. Multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated that T stage and Gleason Score were significant predictors for survival. Late complications were usually mild, with only 4% developing serious bladder toxicity., Conclusion: Radical radiotherapy has a role in the curative treatment of prostate cancer. Survival is significantly related to T stage at the time of presentation, and to the Gleason Score of the tumour. Survival in this series was not as good as the best surgical series, but it is still not clear which patients should receive radiotherapy and which surgery as their primary management.

A prospective study has been performed to assess the feasibility and toxicity of administering neoadjuvant chemotherapy with methotrexate (200 mg/m2) and cisplatin (100 mg/m2) prior to radical radiotherapy. Twenty patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were assessed after each of 3 courses of chemotherapy, after radiotherapy and 6 months following treatment. Of particular concern was whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy compromised the ability to give potentially curative radical radiotherapy, delayed effective palliation of distressing urinary symptoms, or allowed local tumour progression prior to definitive treatment. It was concluded that this chemotherapy regimen was well tolerated, did not compromise the ability to give radical radiotherapy and resulted in the prompt palliation of urinary symptoms. This treatment, however, did not stop the development or progression of metastatic disease in some patients. In only 1 patient was there local progression during chemotherapy.

Twenty patients with metastatic testicular teratoma underwent surgery for residual disease after chemotherapy. Twelve patients in whom complete excision of all residual masses was possible are alive with no evidence of disease. Four patients have died of malignant teratoma, 2 have active malignant disease and 2 have inoperable residual cystic disease. Patients with malignant teratoma intermediate (MTI) primary testis tumours, and those with bulky abdominal disease at presentation, are more likely to have residual masses requiring excision. Completeness of excision appears to be the most important predictor of disease-free survival.

Thirty-nine men with metastatic testicular teratoma were treated with a combination of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP). Unlike the usual regimen of these 3 agents, bleomycin and cisplatin were given on day 1 only of the cycle, with etoposide for 3 days. Thirty patients (77%) are alive and disease-free after a median follow-up of 31 months--24/25 (96%) with disease confined to lymph nodes but only 6/14 (43%) patients with lung involvement. Modified BEP chemotherapy is a well tolerated alternative to standard BEP chemotherapy for small volume nodal disease; it minimises in-patient time, hospital visits and the risk of bleomycin lung toxicity. However, omission of the weekly doses of bleomycin and shortening of the administration schedule of cisplatin and etoposide may be detrimental in patients with more extensive disease, for whom more intensive therapy may be necessary.