Objective: The aim of our study is to investigate the anti-neoplastic effect of curcumin in prostate cancer cell lines. Specifically, we are using the LNCaP cell line and another prostate cell line developed in our laboratory, PcBra1. The PcBra1 cells were derived from a localized, obstructive prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9 (4+5). Materials and Methods: A prostate cancer cell line was isolated from a localized, obstructive prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9 (4+5), and it was characterized using immunohistochemistry. After six passages, the new cell line was treated with varying doses of curcumin: 10 μM, 25 μM or 50 μM. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry using Annexin V FITC. For comparison, the same experiment was performed using the well-established metastatic prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP. Results: Increasing concentrations of curcumin promoted more apoptosis in the PcBra1 cells. Exposure to 10 and 25 μM curcumin induced apoptosis in 31.9% and 52.2% of cells, respectively. Late apoptosis was induced in 37% of cells after treatment with 10 μM curcumin and 35% of cells with a 25 μM treatment. Necrosis accounted for less than 10% of the death in these cells at those two concentrations. When curcumin was used at 50 μM, apoptosis was observed in 64.3% of the cells. Including late apoptosis and necrosis, 98.6% of the cells died in response to 50 μM curcumin. Results with the LNCaP cells were similar although late apoptosis was the main phenomenon at 25 μM. Conclusion: We have shown that curcumin acts on localized prostate cancer to induce apoptosis and may therefore be an option as a future therapeutic agent.

Kato RB, Srougi V, Salvadori FA, Ayres PPMR, Leite KM, Srougi M. Pretreatment tumor volume estimation based on total serum PSA in patients with localized prostate cancer. Clinics. 2008;63:759-62. OBJECTIVES:To establish a formula that estimates tumor volume in localized prostate cancer based on serum prostate specific antigen levels. One of the main prognostic variables in localized prostate cancer is tumor volume, which can be precisely defined only after prostate extirpation. The present study defines a simple method that allows for estimation of tumor volume before treatment, which can help to establish a better therapeutic strategy for each patient. METHODS: From 1997 to 2002, 735 patients with prostate cancer of stagesT1c-T2c without any previous treatment were submitted to radical prostatectomy. Surgical specimens were evaluated by the same pathologist and the total tumor volume (in cc) and the relative tumor volume (as the percent of the total prostate volume) were determined using the grid morphometric method. Pretreatment serum prostate specific antigen was correlated with tumor volume in each patient using a linear regression model. RESULTS: There were positive correlations between the serum levels of prostate specific antigen and the total tumor volume in cc (p<0.001) and the relative tumor volume as a percentage (p<0.001). For each ng/ml unit increment of serum prostate specific antigen, there was a 0.302 cc increase in total tumor volume and a 0.7% increase in relative tumor volume. Total and percent tumor volume could be calculated, respectively, using the formulas Volume (cc) = 3.476 + 0.302 x PSA (ng/ml) and Volume (%) = 11.331 + 0.704 x prostate specific antigen (ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor volume in patients with prostate cancer can be determined before treatment based on the serum prostate specific antigen levels. KEYWORDS: Prostate Cancer; Tumor Volume; Prognosis; Prostate Specific Antigen; Radical Prostatectomy. INTRODUCTIONStudies of prostate cancer and its prognostic factors are of high importance to public health. Prostate cancer is frequent in males, representing 40% of malignant neoplasias in men and affecting 17.1% of all men. 1 Epidemiological data show that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men, with lung cancer ranking first. 1 The clinical challenge in treating prostate adenocarcinoma is that only a small number of men will die from the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to establish criteria to distinguish between those cases that require treatment and those for whom routine management is a good choice. 2 After prostate cancer is diagnosed, the main prognostic factors that define severity and disease evolution are the Gleason score of the biopsy, the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood and tumor volume. 3 The importance of tumor volume in the follow-up of prostate cancer patients was demonstrated in papers that related larger neoplasia volumes with characteristics that were indicative of a worse prognosis: capsular invasio...

Background: Little is known about the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) course and outcomes in patients receiving immunotherapy. Here we describe a metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma patient with a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection while receiving pembrolizumab. Case presentation: A 66-year-old man, with a metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma receiving pembrolizumab, presented with fever. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed pulmonary ground-glass opacities, suggesting viral or immuno-related etiology. On day 7, the patient was hospitalized due to dyspnea and worsening of the radiological findings. Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing confirmed COVID-19. The patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney injury. Hydroxychloroquine was administered for 5 days, but discontinued after supraventricular extrasystoles. Clinical improvement allowed the patient’s discharge after 81 days of hospitalization. Conclusion: A careful evaluation of oncologic patients receiving immunotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic is of utmost importance.

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