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The simultaneous exposure of imatinib and EMP would be effective against hormone sensitive and hormone insensitive cell lines and this combination should be evaluated in clinical trials. In contrast, the simultaneous exposure of imatinib and docetaxel would have little therapeutic efficacy. Although there are gaps between in vitro studies and clinical trials, the present findings provide useful information for the establishment of clinical protocols involving imatinib in hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Purpose: To improve the rate of full continence in our patients, we performed, since June 1997, a careful preparation of the distally intraprostatic part of the membranous urethra to obtain a long urethral stump for the vesicourethral anastomosis. Patients and methods: In all, 610 patients without (group 1) and 403 patients with (group 2) a long intraprostatic stump of the urethra were asked by a selfadministered questionnaire about their continence status. The rate of positive surgical margins were compared as a marker of local tumour control. Results: Full continence (no pads) was achieved in 76.02% in group 1 and in 88.84%, of all patients in group 2. Stress incontinence (SIC) I1 was found in 12.46% and 7.44% respectiveley, SIC II1 was noted in 8.69 and 3.72% and complete incontinence was seen in 2.79% in group 1 and in two patients (0.5%) in group 2. Also the time to reach the final continence status was statistically and highly significantly (Po0.001) shortened. The rate of positive margins decreased in group 2, despite intraprostatic preparation. Conclusions: The preparation of a long, partially intraprostatic portion of the membranous urethra for vesicourethral anastomosis in radical retropubic prostatectomy leads to a statistically highly significant improvement of full continence and earlier continence in prostate cancer patients without compromising local tumour control.

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