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Mike
Kattan Updates The MSKCC Prostate Nomograms - And Makes It Easier To
Download Them (March 2004)
The previously
available nomograms from MSKCC have been updated. The basic
pretreatment nomogram calculates a prediction for 5 year freedom
from PSA progression based on the pretreatment PSA, clinical stage, and
Gleason score, and, the planned dose of radiation therapy. The nomogram
queries whether neoadjuvant androgen suppression or neoadjuvant
radiation therapy will be given. The resulting predictions estimate the
pathologic factors related to organ confinement and address the outcome
from surgery, external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. A
postoperative nomogram calculates predictions for bPFS at 2, 5, and
7 years after a radical prostatectomy based on the actual pathologic
findings. Another nomogram addresses predicted survival for patients
with hormone refractory disease based on factors of age, performance
score, hemoglobin, PSA, LDH, alkaline phosphatase and albumin, and gives
estimates for one and two year survival probabilities and median
survival in months. Urologists may find useful a calculator for prostate
volume. There is a convenient calculator for PSA doubling time, and a
calculator for life expectancy, an important factor when choosing
treatment for older men.
In the past I have
found it difficult to download this data onto my MAC and Palm Pilot, but
the new offering is extremely easy to obtain: go to www.mskcc.org/nomograms/prostate;
then, when asked to "select nomogram topic" choose "download software".
You will be asked to enter your e-mail address and will quickly get a
return e-mail from MSKCC with download instructions for MACs, Windows,
and various type of "Palm Pilots". The icon remains on your desktop for
easy usage. And MSKCC will automatically send you any new nomograms they
develop. One forthcoming nomogram calculates predictions for outcomes
from salvage radiation therapy post PSA failure after a radical
prostatectomy.
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