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Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) has been an invaluable tool in the assessment of prostate size, anatomy and aiding in prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis for decades. Emerging techniques warrant an investigation into the efficacy of TRUS, how it compares to new techniques, and options to increase the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis. Currently, TRUS is used to guide both transrectal and transperineal biopsy approaches with similar cancer detection rates, but lower rates of infection have been reported with the transperineal approach, while lower rates of urinary retention are often reported with the transrectal approach. Multiparametric MRI has substantial benefits for prostate cancer diagnosis and triage such as lesion location, grading, and can be combined with TRUS to perform fusion biopsies targeting specific lesions. Micro-ultrasound generates higher resolution images that traditional ultrasound and has been shown effective at diagnosing PCa, giving it the potential to become a future standard of care. Finally, high-intensity focused ultrasound focal therapy administered via TRUS has been shown to offer safe and effective short-term oncological control for localized disease with low morbidity, and the precise nature makes it a viable option for salvage and repeat therapy.

Traditional cancer treatments have been associated with substantial morbidity for patients. Focused ultrasound offers a novel modality for the treatment of various forms of cancer which may offer effective oncological control and low morbidity. We performed a review of PubMed articles assessing the current applications of focused ultrasound in the treatment of genitourinary cancers, including prostate, kidney, bladder, penile, and testicular cancer. Current research indicates that high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) focal therapy offers effective short-term oncologic control of localized prostate and kidney cancer with lower associated morbidity than radical surgery. In addition, studies in mice have demonstrated that focused ultrasound treatment increases the accuracy of chemotherapeutic drug delivery, the efficacy of drug uptake, and cytotoxic effects within targeted cancer cells. Ultrasound-based therapy shows promise for the treatment of genitourinary cancers. Further research should continue to investigate focused ultrasound as an alternative cancer treatment option or as a complement to increase the efficacy of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: We investigated the association between race and FT among previous patients with cancer. Studies show that patients with cancer experience financial toxicity (FT) because of their cancer treatment. METHODS: Data on individuals with a cancer history were collected in this cross-sectional study during 2012, 2014, and 2017, from the US Health Information National Trends Survey. This survey is conducted by mail with monetary compensation as an incentive. We specifically assessed responses to two questions: Has cancer hurt you financially? Have you been denied health insurance because of cancer? Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between these questions and race. RESULTS: Of 10,592 individuals participating, 1,328 men and women (12.5%) with a cancer history were assessed. Compared with Blacks, Whites were found to have a higher rate of insurance (95.4% v 90.0%), were more likely to receive cancer treatment (93.9% v 85%), and had a higher rate of surgical treatment than Blacks (77% v 60%), Hispanics (55%), and others (77%, 60%, 55%, and 74.2%, respectively, P < .001). On multivariable analysis, Blacks were more than five times as likely to be denied insurance (odds ratio, 5.003; 95% CI, 2.451 to 10.213; P < .001) and more than twice as likely to report being hurt financially because of cancer (odds ratio, 2.448; 95% CI, 1.520 to 3.941; P < .001) than Whites. Of all cancer groups analyzed (genitourinary, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and breast), genitourinary malignancies were the only group in which the rate of reporting being hurt financially varied in a statistically significant manner (Whites 36.7%, Hispanics 62.5%, and Blacks 59.3%, P = .004). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that race is significantly associated with FT because of cancer. Awareness of racial inequality with regards to FT should be raised among health care workers.

e17014 Background: Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing can improve early prostate cancer detection. However, numerous factors can influence patients’ willingness and ability to undergo PSA testing. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study investigating the impact of various degrees of ischemic heart disease (IHD) on PSA testing. We assessed 3,822 male respondents aged 55-75 from the 2018 year of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Men were stratified according to the degree of IHD (none, history of angina pectoris (AP), history of myocardial infarction (MI), or history of neither, but with a diagnosis of IHD). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between IHD and being tested for PSA, adjusting for known cofounders. Results: Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that males with a history of IHD (no MI or AP) were more likely to have ever been PSA tested than males without IHD (p = 0.012, OR = 1.630, 95% CI 1.115-2.383), as seen in Table. Additionally, older age (p < 0.001), having a partner (vs. no partner p < 0.001), homosexual sexual orientation (vs. heterosexual orientation p = 0.007), and a history of cancer (vs. no history p < 0.001) all increased likelihood of being PSA tested. In contrast, Asian race (vs. White, p = 0.001), and being a current smoker (vs. no smoking history, p < 0.001) decreased the likelihood. Interestingly, males with a history of a symptomatic IHD (MI or AP) were not shown to be more likely to undergo PSA testing. Conclusions: Our results suggest that males with non-symptomatic IHD are more likely to be PSA tested. Males with symptomatic IHD do not seem to undergo more PSA screening, perhaps due to lower suggested life expectancy. Awareness of discrepancies in PSA testing in men with IHD should be raised. Table - Multivariable logistic regression analyses demonstrating relationships with likelihood of being PSA tested.[Table: see text]

e18558 Background: Research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced access to cancer treatment and care for patients, especially for COVID-19 patients. Methods: We investigated the impact of COVID-19 testing on access to cancer care. A US based cross sectional study was conducted on 2,393 cancer patients using data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations between COVID-19 testing and likelihood of receiving cancer treatment or other cancer care during the pandemic. Results: Patients who reported ever being tested for COVID were on average younger (66.9 vs 69.3, p

1525 Background: Studies show that cancer patients and survivors are likely to endure financial toxicity long after being diagnosed. Methods: To examine the influence of race on financial toxicity among individuals with a history of cancer, a US based cross sectional study was conducted using data on 1,328 cancer patients collected from the Health Information National Trends Survey. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the relationship between race and financial toxicity, adjusting for known confounders. Results: Blacks, Hispanics and other races were shown to have a lower rate of insurance compared to Whites. Whites were also more likely to receive cancer treatment than other races (6.1% received no treatment vs 15.0% of Blacks, 17.8% of Hispanics, and 9.7% of other races, p