Patient-Reported Outcomes after Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer

Prevalence and associations of general practitioners' ordering of "non-symptomatic" prostate-specific antigen tests: A cross-sectional analysis

AIMS

Testing for asymptomatic prostate cancer with prostate specific antigen (PSA) is of uncertain benefit. Most relevant authorities recommend against screening, and for informed patient choice. We aimed to establish the prevalence and associations of "non-symptomatic" PSA-testing of men aged 40 or older by early-career general practitioners (GP registrars).

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis from the ReCEnT cohort study of registrars' consultations, 2010-2014 (analysed in 2016). Registrars record 60 consecutive consultations each 6-month training term. The outcome factor was ordering an "asymptomatic" PSA test (a PSA ordered for an indication that was not prostate-related symptoms or prostatic disease monitoring). Independent variables were patient, registrar, practice, consultation and educational factors.

RESULTS

A total of 856 registrars contributed details of 21,372 individual consultations and 35,696 problems/diagnoses of males 40 or older. Asymptomatic PSAs were ordered for 1.8% (95%CI: 1.7-2.0%) of consultations and for 1.1% (95%CI: 1.0-1.2%) of problems/diagnoses. Multivariable associations of asymptomatic PSA testing (compared with problems/diagnoses for which a PSA was not ordered) included patient age (OR 2.32 [95%CI: 1.53-3.53] for 60-69 years compared with 40-49), patient ethnicity (OR 0.40 [95%CI: 0.19-0.86] for non-English speaking background), the patient being new to both the registrar and practice (ORs 1.46 [95%CI: 1.08-1.99] and 1.79 [95%CI: 1.03-3.10]), the number of problems/diagnoses addressed (OR 1.44 [95%CI: 1.25-1.66] for each extra problem) and more pathology tests being ordered (OR 1.88 [95%CI: 1.79-1.97] for each extra test).

CONCLUSION

GP registrars frequently order "asymptomatic" PSA tests. Our findings suggest that non-compliance with current guidelines for PSA screening may be relatively common and that targeted education is warranted.

[Therapeutic innovations in radiation oncology for localized prostate cancer]

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy with fiducial markers and prostate brachytherapy allow the delivery of dose escalation for localized prostate cancer with very low rates of long-term toxicity and sequelae. Nowadays, modern radiotherapy techniques make it possible to shorten treatment time with hypofractionation, to better protect surrounding healthy tissues and to escalate the dose even further. Advances in radiotherapy are closely linked to advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or PET imaging. Functional imaging makes it possible to deliver personalised pelvic nodal radiotherapy, targeting the nodal areas at higher risk of microscopic involvement. In patients with an index lesion at baseline or at failure, MR-based focal therapy or focal dose escalation with brachytherapy or stereotactic body radiation therapy is also currently investigated. MR-based adaptive radiotherapy, which makes it possible to track prostate shifts during radiation delivery, is another step forward in the integration of MR imaging in radiation delivery.

Decision aid use during post-biopsy consultations for localized prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Decision Aids (DAs) effectively translate medical evidence for patients but are not routinely used in clinical practice. Little is known about how DAs are used during patient-clinician encounters.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the content and communicative function of high-quality DAs during diagnostic clinic visits for prostate cancer.

PARTICIPANTS

252 men newly diagnosed with localized prostate cancer who had received a DA, 45 treating physicians at 4 US Veterans Administration urology clinics.

METHODS

Qualitative analysis of transcribed audio recordings was used to inductively develop categories capturing content and function of all direct references to DAs (booklet talk). The presence or absence of any booklet talk per transcript was also calculated.

RESULTS

Booklet talk occurred in 55% of transcripts. Content focused on surgical procedures (36%); treatment choice (22%); and clarifying risk classification (17%). The most common function of booklet talk was patient corroboration of physicians' explanations (42%), followed by either physician or patient acknowledgement that the patient had the booklet. Codes reflected the absence of DA use for shared decision-making. In regression analysis, predictors of booklet talk were fewer years of patient education (P = .027) and more time in the encounter (P = .027). Patient race, DA type, time reading the DA, physician informing quality and physician age did not predict booklet talk.

CONCLUSIONS

Results show that good decision aids, systematically provided to patients, appeared to function not to open up deliberations about how to balance benefits and harms of competing treatments, but rather to allow patients to ask narrow technical questions about recommended treatments.

The Natural History of Erectile Dysfunction After Prostatic Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Erectile dysfunction (ED) after treatment for prostate cancer with radiotherapy (RT) is well known, and pooled estimates of ED after RT will provide more accurate patient education.

AIM

To systematically evaluate the natural history of ED in men with previous erectile function after prostate RT and to determine clinical factors associated with ED.

METHODS

We performed a review of the PubMed and Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases in April 2016 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. Identified reports included a measurement of ED before and after prostate RT. Two hundred seventy-eight abstracts were screened and 105 publications met the criteria for inclusion. Only men with known erectile function before RT were included in the analysis.

OUTCOME

ED after RT of the prostate.

RESULTS

In total, 17,057 men underwent brachytherapy (65%), 8,166 men underwent external-beam RT (31%), and 1,046 men underwent both (4%). Seven common instruments were used to measure ED, including 23 different cutoffs for ED. The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) was used in 31 studies (30%). Pooled estimates of SHIM-confirmed ED (score <10-17) suggested the prevalence of ED after RT is 34% of men (95% CI = 0.29-0.39) at 1 year and 57% (95% CI = 0.53-0.61) at 5.5 years. Compared with brachytherapy, studies of the two types of radiation increased the proportion of new-onset ED found by 12.3% of studies (95% CI = 2.3-22.4). For every 10% who were lost to follow-up, the proportion of ED reported increased by 2.3% (95% CI = 0.03-4.7).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

ED is common regardless of RT modality and increases during each year of follow-up. Using the SHIM, ED is found in approximately 50% patients at 5 years.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

The strengths of this systematic review include strict inclusion criteria of studies that measured baseline erectile function, no evidence for large effect size bias, and a large number of studies, which allow for modeling techniques. However, all data included in this analysis were observational, which leaves the possibility that residual confounding factors increase the rates of ED.

CONCLUSION

Definitions and measurements of ED after RT vary considerably in published series and could account for variability in the prevalence of reported ED. Loss to follow-up in studies could bias the results to overestimate ED. Gaither TW, Awad MA, Osterberg EC, et al. The Natural History of Erectile Dysfunction After Prostatic Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Sex Med 2017;14:1071-1078.

Neuroprotective and Nerve Regenerative Approaches for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction after Cavernous Nerve Injury

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a significant cause of reduced quality of life in men and their partners. Cavernous nerve injury (CNI) during pelvic surgery results in ED in greater than 50% of patients, regardless of additional patient factors. ED related to CNI is difficult to treat and typically poorly responsive to first- and second-line therapeutic options. Recently, a significant amount of research has been devoted to exploring neuroprotective and neuroregenerative approaches to salvage erectile function in patients with CNI. In addition, therapeutic options such as neuregulins, immunophilin ligands, gene therapy, stem cell therapy and novel surgical strategies, have shown benefit in pre-clinical, and limited clinical studies. In the era of personalized medicine, these new therapeutic technologies will be the future of ED treatment and are described in this review.

Erectile function after stereotactic body radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the functional erection rate after prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and to develop a comprehensive prognostic model of outcomes after treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2008 and 2013, 373 consecutive men with localized prostate cancer were treated with SBRT at a single academic institution as part of a prospective clinical trial or prospective registry. Prospective longitudinal patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data was collected using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC)-26 instrument. Functional erections were strictly defined as 'firm enough for intercourse' according to EPIC-26. Detailed comorbidity data were also collected. Logistic regression models were used to predict 24- and 60-month functional erection rates. Observed erection rates after SBRT were compared with those after other radiation therapies (external beam radiation therapy [EBRT] and brachytherapy) using prospectively validated models.

RESULTS

The median (interquartile range) follow-up was 56 (37-73) months and the response rate at 2 years was 84%. For those with functional erections at baseline, 57% and 45% retained function at 24 and 60 months, respectively. On multivariable analysis for 24-month erectile function, significant variables included higher baseline sexual HRQoL (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.55 per 10 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-1.74; P < 0.001) and older age (aOR 0.66 per 10 years, 95% CI 0.43-1.00; P = 0.05). At 60 months, baseline HRQoL and age remained associated with erectile function, along with body mass index (aOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.78; P < 0.001). The 24- and 60-month models had excellent discrimination (c-index 0.81 and 0.84, respectively). Erection rates after SBRT were not statistically different from model-predicted rates after EBRT or brachytherapy for the whole cohort and the cohort with baseline erectile function.

CONCLUSIONS

Intermediate- to long-term post-SBRT erectile function results are promising and not significantly different from other radiotherapy techniques. Clinicians can use our prognostic model to counsel patients regarding expected erectile function after SBRT.

A multi-institutional phase 2 trial of prostate stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) using continuous real-time evaluation of prostate motion with patient-reported quality of life

PURPOSE

The use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer has been reported predominantly from single institutional studies, although concerns for broader adoption exist.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

From 2011 through 2013, 66 men were accrued to a phase 2 trial at 5 centers. SBRT consisted of 5 fractions of 7.4 Gy to a total dose of 37 Gy using conventional linear accelerators. Electromagnetic transponders were used for motion management. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was evaluated via the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite 26 questionnaire. Acute and late toxicities were collected according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Linear mixed modeling was performed to assess changes in HRQOL over time.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 36 months. All men had low- or intermediate-risk disease. There have been 0 biochemical recurrences. No grade 3 urinary or bowel toxicity was reported. Twenty-three percent of patients had acute grade 2 urinary toxicity, with 9% late grade 2 urinary toxicity. Four percent and 5% experienced acute or late grade 2+ bowel toxicity, respectively. Urinary bother and bowel HRQOL transiently decreased during the first 6 to 12 months post-SBRT, and then returned to baseline. In men with good erectile function at baseline, sexual HRQOL declined during the first 6 months and stabilized thereafter. On linear mixed modeling, the strongest predictor of sustained bowel and sexual HRQOL was baseline HRQOL.

CONCLUSIONS

In this multi-institutional phase 2 clinical trial using continuous real-time evaluation of prostate motion, prostate SBRT has excellent intermediate-term tumor control with mild and expected treatment-related side effects.

Association of androgen deprivation therapy and depression in the treatment of prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is increasing evidence that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) may be associated with depression. Existing studies have shown conflicting results.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO were queried on April 5, 2017. Eligible studies were in English and reported depression among individuals with prostate cancer exposed to a course of ADT vs. a lesser-exposed group (e.g., any-ADT vs. no ADT and continuous ADT vs. intermittent ADT). We used the MOOSE statement guidelines and the Cochrane Review Group's data extraction template. Study quality was evaluated by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale criteria. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis to calculate summary statistic risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I² statistic and prespecified subgroup analysis. Small study effects were evaluated using Begg and Egger statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 1,128 studies were initially identified and evaluated. A meta-analysis of 18 studies among 168,756 individuals found that ADT use conferred a 41% increased risk of depression (RR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.18-1.70; P<0.001). We found a consistent strong statistically significant association when limiting our analysis to studies in localized disease (RR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.20-2.85; P = 0.005) and those using a clinical diagnosis of depression (RR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.08-1.32; P = 0.001). We did not find an association for continuous ADT with depression risk compared to intermittent ADT (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.50-1.99; P = 0.992). There was no statistically significant evidence of small study effects. Statistically significant heterogeneity in the full analysis (I² = 80%; 95% CI: 69-87; P<0.001) resolved when examining studies using a clinical diagnosis of depression (I² = 16%; 95% CI: 0-60; P = 0.310).

CONCLUSION

The currently available evidence suggests that ADT in the treatment of prostate cancer is associated with an increased risk of depression.

Reproducibility in contouring the neurovascular bundle for prostate cancer radiation therapy

PURPOSE

Efforts to define the neurovascular bundle (NVB) for prostate radiation have varied. In this series, we sought to determine the reproducibility and reliability of contouring the classical posterolateral NVB on dedicated pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 120 NVB structures were defined on 10 3-Tesla pelvic MRI scans in patients with prostate cancer but without extraprostatic extension. One pelvic radiologist served as the expert in contouring the right and left NVB for each case. Five radiation oncologists, with varying levels of experience, contoured the right and left NVBs on these same cases. The intraclass correlation coefficient across each rater and the expert, Pearson correlation coefficient between each rater and the expert, and the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) between each rater and the expert were calculated to evaluate contour agreement and overlap.

RESULTS

The overall intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81-0.95). The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.86-0.98) for rater 1, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.95-0.99) for rater 2, 0.94 (95% CI, 0.86-0.98) for rater 3, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.95-0.99) for rater 4, and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.63-0.93) for rater 5. The mean DSC was 0.72 (standard deviation [SD], 0.07) for rater 1, 0.72 (SD, 0.06) for rater 2, 0.73 (SD, 0.09) for rater 3, 0.74 (SD, 0.09) for rater 4, and 0.68 (SD, 0.13) for rater 5. Overall, across all raters, the average DSC was 0.72 (SD, 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

The classic posterolateral NVB can be accurately and reliably contoured on 3-Tesla pelvic MRI scans by radiation oncologists.

Long-term oncological outcomes and toxicity in 597 men aged ≤60 years at time of low-dose-rate brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer

OBJECTIVES

To report oncological and functional outcomes of men treated with low-dose-rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy aged ≤60 years at time of treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Of 3262 patients treated with LDR brachytherapy at our centre up to June 2016, we retrospectively identified 597 patients aged ≤60 years at treatment with ≥3-years post-implantation follow-up and four prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements, of which one was at baseline. Overall survival (OS), prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) and relapse free survival (RFS) were analysed together with prospectively collected physician-reported adverse events and patient-reported symptom scores.

RESULTS

The median (range) age was 57 (44-60) years, follow-up was 8.9 (1.5-17.2) years, and PSA follow-up 5.9 (0.8-15) years. Low-, intermediate- and high-risk disease represented 53%, 37% and 10% of the patients, respectively. At 10 years after implantation OS and PCSS were 98% and 99% for low-risk, 99% and 100% for intermediate-risk, and 93% and 95% for high-risk disease, respectively. At 10 years after implantation RFS, using the PSA level nadir plus 2 ng/mL definition, was 95%, 90% and 87% for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk disease, respectively. Urinary stricture was the most common genitourinary adverse event occurring in 19 patients (3.2%). At 5 years after implantation erectile function was preserved in 75% of the patients who were potent before treatment.

CONCLUSION

LDR brachytherapy is an effective treatment with long-term control of prostate cancer in men aged ≤60 years at time of treatment. It was associated with low rates of treatment-related toxicity and can be considered a first-line treatment for prostate cancer in this patient group.

Low-risk Prostate Cancer: Identification, Management, and Outcomes

CONTEXT

The incidence of low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) has increased as a consequence of prostate-specific antigen testing.

OBJECTIVE

In this collaborative review article, we examine recent literature regarding low-risk PCa and the available prognostic and therapeutic options.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We performed a literature review of the Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy included the terms: prostate cancer, low risk, active surveillance, focal therapy, radical prostatectomy, watchful waiting, biomarker, magnetic resonance imaging, alone or in combination.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Prospective randomized trials have failed to show an impact of radical treatments on cancer-specific survival in low-risk PCa patients. Several series have reported the risk of adverse pathologic outcomes at radical prostatectomy. However, it is not clear if these patients are at higher risk of death from PCa. Long-term follow-up indicates the feasibility of active surveillance in low-risk PCa patients, although approximately 30% of men starting active surveillance undergo treatment within 5 yr. Considering focal therapies, robust data investigating its impact on long-term survival outcomes are still required and therefore should be considered experimental. Magnetic resonance imaging and tissue biomarkers may help to predict clinically significant PCa in men initially diagnosed with low-risk disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of low-risk PCa has increased in recent years. Only a small proportion of men with low-risk PCa progress to clinical symptoms, metastases, or death and prospective trials have not shown a benefit for immediate radical treatments. Tissue biomarkers, magnetic resonance imaging, and ongoing surveillance may help to identify those men with low-risk PCa who harbor more clinically significant disease.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Low-risk prostate cancer is very common. Active surveillance has excellent long-term results, while randomized trials have failed to show a beneficial impact of immediate radical treatments on survival. Biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging may help to identify which men may benefit from early treatment.

Quality of Life Outcomes after Primary Treatment for Clinically Localised Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Current evidence-based management for clinically localised prostate cancer includes active surveillance, surgery, external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy. The impact of these treatment modalities on quality of life (QoL) is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review comparative studies investigating disease-specific QoL outcomes as assessed by validated cancer-specific patient-reported outcome measures with at least 1 yr of follow-up after primary treatment for clinically localised prostate cancer.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies. Studies were critically appraised for the risk of bias. A narrative synthesis was undertaken.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Of 11486 articles identified, 18 studies were eligible for inclusion, including three randomised controlled trials (RCTs; follow-up range: 60-72 mo) and 15 nonrandomised comparative studies (follow-up range: 12-180 mo) recruiting a total of 13604 patients. Two RCTs recruited small cohorts and only one was judged to have a low risk of bias. The quality of evidence from observational studies was low to moderate. For a follow-up of up to 6 yr, active surveillance was found to have the lowest impact on cancer-specific QoL, surgery had a negative impact on urinary and sexual function when compared with active surveillance and EBRT, and EBRT had a negative impact on bowel function when compared with active surveillance and surgery. Data from one small RCT reported that brachytherapy has a negative impact on urinary function 1 yr post-treatment, but no significant urinary toxicity was reported at 5 yr.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first systematic review comparing the impact of different primary treatments on cancer-specific QoL for men with clinically localised prostate cancer, using validated cancer-specific patient-reported outcome measures only. There is robust evidence that choice of primary treatment for localised prostate cancer has distinct impacts on patients' QoL. This should be discussed in detail with patients during pretreatment counselling.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Our review of the current evidence suggests that for a period of up to 6 yr after treatment, men with localised prostate cancer who were managed with active surveillance reported high levels of quality of life (QoL). Men treated with surgery reported mainly urinary and sexual problems, while those treated with external beam radiotherapy reported mainly bowel problems. Men eligible for brachytherapy reported urinary problems up to a year after therapy, but then their QoL returned gradually to as it was before treatment.

Urinary quality of life outcomes in men who were treated with image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer

PURPOSE

Quality of life (QoL) outcomes play a major role in the treatment selection for prostate cancer (CaP). We evaluated the urinary QoL outcomes in men who were treated with image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) for CaP.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We enrolled men who were diagnosed with CaP and underwent IG-IMRT in a large urological group practice into a prospectively maintained database. The typical radiation treatment dosage to prostates and seminal vesicles was 8100 cGy in 45 fractions. Urinary QoL was self-assessed using the standardized incontinence grade and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at baseline and at each follow-up visit. We evaluated the cumulative incidence of urinary incontinence and changes in both continence and IPSS over time.

RESULTS

Of the 3602 men who were eligible for analysis, 3086 (85.7%) had no urinary incontinence; 479 (13.3 %) had minimal incontinence (no requirement for pads), and 37 (1.0 %) had significant urinary incontinence that required the use of pads or interfered with activities of daily living, at baseline. After a median follow-up of 24 months (range: 12.0-41.0 months), these numbers were 80.6%, 17.4%, and 2.0%, respectively. Radiation therapy appeared to have a beneficial effect on some men: 54.1% of men with minimal incontinence became completely continent of urine during follow-up. Of those with significant urinary incontinence, 29.7% reported resolution and 27.0% reported improved symptoms with no requirement for pads. Of the 1276 men with moderate IPSS, the mean IPSS decreased from 12 to 9.8 at the time of the last follow-up (P < .001). Similarly, of the 233 men with severe IPSS, the mean IPSS decreased from 24 to 13 at the time of the last follow-up (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

IG-IMRT for clinically localized CaP is associated with a relatively low incidence of urinary incontinence. Although unexplained, IG-IMRT seems to improve symptoms in some men with baseline urinary incontinence and moderate-to-severe IPSS.

Informed consent in randomised controlled trials: development and preliminary evaluation of a measure of Participatory and Informed Consent (PIC)

BACKGROUND

Informed consent (IC) is an ethical and legal prerequisite for trial participation, yet current approaches evaluating participant understanding for IC during recruitment lack consistency. No validated measure has been identified that evaluates participant understanding for IC based on their contributions during consent interactions. This paper outlines the development and formative evaluation of the Participatory and Informed Consent (PIC) measure for application to recorded recruitment appointments. The PIC allows the evaluation of recruiter information provision and evidence of participant understanding.

METHODS

Published guidelines for IC were reviewed to identify potential items for inclusion. Seventeen purposively sampled trial recruitment appointments from three diverse trials were reviewed to identify the presence of items relevant to IC. A developmental version of the measure (DevPICv1) was drafted and applied to six further recruitment appointments from three further diverse trials to evaluate feasibility, validity, stability and inter-rater reliability. Findings guided revision of the measure (DevPICv2) which was applied to six further recruitment appointments as above.

RESULTS

DevPICv1 assessed recruiter information provision (detail and clarity assessed separately) and participant talk (detail and understanding assessed separately) over 20 parameters (or 23 parameters for three-arm trials). Initial application of the measure to six diverse recruitment appointments demonstrated promising stability and inter-rater reliability but a need to simplify the measure to shorten time for completion. The revised measure (DevPICv2) combined assessment of detail and clarity of recruiter information and detail and evidence of participant understanding into two single scales for application to 22 parameters or 25 parameters for three-arm trials. Application of DevPICv2 to six further diverse recruitment appointments showed considerable improvements in feasibility (e.g. time to complete) with good levels of stability (i.e. test-retest reliability) and inter-rater reliability maintained.

CONCLUSIONS

The DevPICv2 provides a measure for application to trial recruitment appointments to evaluate quality of recruiter information provision and evidence of patient understanding and participation during IC discussions. Initial evaluation shows promising feasibility, validity, reliability and ability to discriminate across a range of recruiter practice and evidence of participant understanding. More validation work is needed in new clinical trials to evaluate and refine the measure further.

Follow-up of Prostatectomy versus Observation for Early Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND

We previously found no significant differences in mortality between men who underwent surgery for localized prostate cancer and those who were treated with observation only. Uncertainty persists regarding nonfatal health outcomes and long-term mortality.

METHODS

From November 1994 through January 2002, we randomly assigned 731 men with localized prostate cancer to radical prostatectomy or observation. We extended follow-up through August 2014 for our primary outcome, all-cause mortality, and the main secondary outcome, prostate-cancer mortality. We describe disease progression, treatments received, and patient-reported outcomes through January 2010 (original follow-up).

RESULTS

During 19.5 years of follow-up (median, 12.7 years), death occurred in 223 of 364 men (61.3%) assigned to surgery and in 245 of 367 (66.8%) assigned to observation (absolute difference in risk, 5.5 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.5 to 12.4; hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.70 to 1.01; P=0.06). Death attributed to prostate cancer or treatment occurred in 27 men (7.4%) assigned to surgery and in 42 men (11.4%) assigned to observation (absolute difference in risk, 4.0 percentage points; 95% CI, -0.2 to 8.3; hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.39 to 1.02; P=0.06). Surgery may have been associated with lower all-cause mortality than observation among men with intermediate-risk disease (absolute difference, 14.5 percentage points; 95% CI, 2.8 to 25.6) but not among those with low-risk disease (absolute difference, 0.7 percentage points; 95% CI, -10.5 to 11.8) or high-risk disease (absolute difference, 2.3 percentage points; 95% CI, -11.5 to 16.1) (P=0.08 for interaction). Treatment for disease progression was less frequent with surgery than with observation (absolute difference, 26.2 percentage points; 95% CI, 19.0 to 32.9); treatment was primarily for asymptomatic, local, or biochemical (prostate-specific antigen) progression. Urinary incontinence and erectile and sexual dysfunction were each greater with surgery than with observation through 10 years. Disease-related or treatment-related limitations in activities of daily living were greater with surgery than with observation through 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

After nearly 20 years of follow-up among men with localized prostate cancer, surgery was not associated with significantly lower all-cause or prostate-cancer mortality than observation. Surgery was associated with a higher frequency of adverse events than observation but a lower frequency of treatment for disease progression, mostly for asymptomatic, local, or biochemical progression. (Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs and others; PIVOT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00007644 .).

Prevention of Prostate Cancer Morbidity and Mortality: Primary Prevention and Early Detection

More than any other cancer, prostate cancer screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests increases the risk a man will have to face a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The best evidence from screening trials suggests a small but finite benefit from prostate cancer screening in terms of prostate cancer-specific mortality, about 1 fewer prostate cancer death per 1000 men screened over 10 years. The more serious harms of prostate cancer screening, such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence, result from cancer treatment with surgery or radiation, particularly for men whose PSA-detected cancers were never destined to cause morbidity or mortality.

Long-term quality of life after definitive treatment for prostate cancer: patient-reported outcomes in the second posttreatment decade

Definitive treatment for prostate cancer includes radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and brachytherapy (BT). The different side effect profiles of these options are crucial factors for patients and clinicians when deciding between treatments. This study reports long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients in their second decade after treatment for prostate cancer. We used a validated survey to assess urinary, bowel, and sexual function and HRQOL in a prospective cohort of patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer 14-18 years previously. We report and compare the outcomes of patients who were initially treated with RP, EBRT, or BT. Of 230 eligible patients, the response rate was 92% (n = 211) and median follow-up was 14.6 years. Compared to baseline, RP patients had significantly worse urinary incontinence and sexual function, EBRT patients had worse scores in all domains, and BT patients had worse urinary incontinence, urinary irritation/obstruction, and sexual function. When comparing treatment groups, RP patients underwent larger declines in urinary continence than did BT patients, and EBRT and BT patients experienced larger changes in urinary irritation/obstruction. Baseline functional status was significantly associated with long-term function for urinary obstruction and bowel function domains. This is one of the few prospective reports on quality of life for prostate cancer patients beyond 10 years, and adds information about the late consequences of treatment choices. These data may help patients make informed decisions regarding treatment choice based on symptoms they may experience in the decades ahead.

The evolution of brachytherapy for prostate cancer

Brachytherapy (BT), using low-dose-rate (LDR) permanent seed implantation or high-dose-rate (HDR) temporary source implantation, is an acceptable treatment option for select patients with prostate cancer of any risk group. The benefits of HDR-BT over LDR-BT include the ability to use the same source for other cancers, lower operator dependence, and - typically - fewer acute irritative symptoms. By contrast, the benefits of LDR-BT include more favourable scheduling logistics, lower initial capital equipment costs, no need for a shielded room, completion in a single implant, and more robust data from clinical trials. Prospective reports comparing HDR-BT and LDR-BT to each other or to other treatment options (such as external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or surgery) suggest similar outcomes. The 5-year freedom from biochemical failure rates for patients with low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk disease are >85%, 69-97%, and 63-80%, respectively. Brachytherapy with EBRT (versus brachytherapy alone) is an appropriate approach in select patients with intermediate-risk and high-risk disease. The 10-year rates of overall survival, distant metastasis, and cancer-specific mortality are >85%, <10%, and <5%, respectively. Grade 3-4 toxicities associated with HDR-BT and LDR-BT are rare, at <4% in most series, and quality of life is improved in patients who receive brachytherapy compared with those who undergo surgery.

New advances in focal therapy for early stage prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION

Prostate focal therapy offers men the opportunity to achieve oncological control while preserving sexual and urinary function. The prerequisites for successful focal therapy are to accurately identify, localize and completely ablate the clinically significant cancer(s) within the prostate. We aim to evaluate the evidence for current and upcoming technologies that could shape the future of prostate cancer focal therapy in the next five years. Areas covered: Current literature on advances in patient selection using imaging, biopsy and biomarkers, ablation techniques and adjuvant treatments for focal therapy are summarized. A literature search of major databases was performed using the search terms 'focal therapy', 'focal ablation', 'partial ablation', 'targeted ablation', 'image guided therapy' and 'prostate cancer'. Expert commentary: Advanced radiological tools such as multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), multiparametric ultrasound (mpUS), prostate-specific-membrane-antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET) represent a revolution in the ability to understand cancer function and biology. Advances in ablative technologies now provide a menu of modalities that can be rationalized based on lesion location, size and perhaps in the near future, pre-determined resistance to therapy. However, these need to be carefully studied to establish their safety and efficacy parameters. Adjuvant strategies to enhance focal ablation are under development.

Toxicity after post-prostatectomy image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy using Australian guidelines

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated single institution toxicity outcomes after post-prostatectomy radiotherapy (PPRT) via image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) with implanted fiducial markers following national eviQ guidelines, for which late toxicity outcomes have not been published.

METHODS

Prospectively collected toxicity data were retrospectively reviewed for 293 men who underwent 64-66 Gy IG-IMRT to the prostate bed between 2007 and 2015.

RESULTS

Median follow-up after PPRT was 39 months. Baseline grade ≥2 genitourinary (GU), gastrointestinal (GI) and sexual toxicities were 20.5%, 2.7% and 43.7%, respectively, reflecting ongoing toxicity after radical prostatectomy. Incidence of new (compared to baseline) acute grade ≥2 GU and GI toxicity was 5.8% and 10.6%, respectively. New late grade ≥2 GU, GI and sexual toxicity occurred in 19.1%, 4.7% and 20.2%, respectively. However, many patients also experienced improvements in toxicities. For this reason, prevalence of grade ≥2 GU, GI and sexual toxicities 4 years after PPRT was similar to or lower than baseline (21.7%, 2.6% and 17.4%, respectively). There were no grade ≥4 toxicities.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-prostatectomy IG-IMRT using Australian contouring guidelines appears to have tolerable acute and late toxicity. The 4-year prevalence of grade ≥2 GU and GI toxicity was virtually unchanged compared to baseline, and sexual toxicity improved over baseline. This should reassure radiation oncologists following these guidelines. Late toxicity rates of surgery and PPRT are higher than following definitive IG-IMRT, and this should be taken into account if patients are considering surgery and likely to require PPRT.

Survival and Complications Following Surgery and Radiation for Localized Prostate Cancer: An International Collaborative Review

BACKGROUND

Evaluation of treatment options for localized prostate cancer (PCa) remains among the highest priorities for comparative effectiveness research. Surgery and radiotherapy (RT) are the two interventions most commonly used.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a critical narrative review of evidence of the comparative effectiveness and harms of surgery and RT in the treatment of localized PCa.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A collaborative critical narrative review of the literature was conducted.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Evidence to clearly guide treatment choice in PCa remains insufficient. Randomized trials are underpowered for clinically meaningful endpoints and have demonstrated no difference in overall or PCa-specific survival. Observational studies have consistently demonstrated an absolute survival benefit for men treated with radical prostatectomy, but are limited by selection bias and residual confounding errors. Surgery and RT are associated with comparable health-related quality of life following treatment in three randomized trials. Randomized data regarding urinary, erectile, and bowel function show few long-term (>5 yr) differences, although short-term continence and erectile function were worse following surgery and short-term urinary bother and bowel function were worse following RT. There has been recent recognition of other complications that may significantly affect the life trajectory of those undergoing PCa treatment. Of these, hospitalization, the need for urologic, rectoanal, and other major surgical procedures, and secondary cancers are more common among men treated with RT. Androgen deprivation therapy, frequently co-administered with RT, may additionally contribute to treatment-related morbidity. Technological innovations in surgery and RT have shown inconsistent oncologic and functional benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

Owing to underpowered randomized control studies and the selection biases inherent in observational studies, the question of which treatment provides better PCa control cannot be definitively answered now or in the near future. Complications following PCa treatment are relatively common regardless of treatment approach. These include the commonly identified issues of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, and others including hospitalization and invasive procedures to manage complications and secondary malignancies. Population-based outcome studies, rather than clinical trial data, will be necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the relative benefits and risks of each therapeutic approach.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Surgery and radiotherapy are the most common interventions for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Comparisons of survival after these treatments are limited by various flaws in the relevant studies. Complications are common regardless of the treatment approach.

Quality of Life After Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer With a Hydrogel Spacer: 5-Year Results

PURPOSE

To evaluate quality of life changes up to 5 years after prostate cancer radiation therapy (RT) with a hydrogel spacer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

In the years 2010 to 2011, 114 patients received external beam radiation therapy to the prostate; 54 patients were selected for a hydrogel injection before the beginning of RT. Treatment was performed applying fractions of 2 Gy up to a total dose of 76 Gy (n=96) or 78 Gy (n=18, all with hydrogel). Patients were surveyed before RT; at the last day of RT; and a median time of 2 months, 17 months, and 63 months after RT using a validated questionnaire (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite). A mean score change of >5 points was defined as clinically relevant.

RESULTS

For patients treated with a hydrogel spacer, mean bowel function and bother score changes of >5 points in comparison with baseline levels were found only at the end of RT (10-15 points; P<.01). No spacer patient reported moderate or big problems with his bowel habits overall. Mean bother score changes of 21 points at the end of RT, 8 points at 2 months, 7 points at 17 months, and 6 points at 63 months after RT were found for patients treated without a spacer. A bowel bother score change >10 points was found in 6% versus 32% (P<.01) at 17 months and in 5% versus 14% (P=.2) at 63 months with versus without a spacer.

CONCLUSIONS

The first 5-year quality of life results in a group of prostate cancer patients treated with a hydrogel spacer demonstrate excellent treatment tolerability, in particular regarding bowel problems. Further studies with dose-escalated or re-irradiation concepts can be encouraged.

Morbidity and Mortality of Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer: A Population Based Analysis Comparing Radical Prostatectomy versus External Beam Radiation

PURPOSE

The management of locally advanced prostate cancer remains controversial. We compared the effect of primary external beam radiation therapy vs radical prostatectomy for locally advanced prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the records of 2,935 elderly men 65 years old or older in the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results)-Medicare linked database who underwent external beam radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy for locally advanced prostate cancer. Propensity adjusted Cox proportional hazard and regression models were fit to examine urinary and gastrointestinal toxicities, the use of androgen deprivation therapy, and overall and prostate cancer specific mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 1,429 men (48.69%) underwent radical prostatectomy and had a median followup of 11.47 years (IQR 6.17-17.17) years. A total of 1,506 men (51.31%) received external beam radiation therapy and had a median followup of 7.04 years (IQR 4.11-10.51, p <0.001). Patients treated with radical prostatectomy were at significantly higher risk for urinary and sexual toxicities (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.66-2.24 and HR 5.50, 95% CI 3.59-8.42, respectively). However, they were at lower risk for gastrointestinal toxicities (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.86) than those treated with external beam radiation therapy. Radical prostatectomy was associated with lower odds of androgen deprivation therapy 5 years after primary treatment (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.41-0.69, p <0.001). External beam radiation therapy was associated with higher overall and prostate specific mortality (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.09-1.82 and HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.85-2.98, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

We found significant toxicity and survival differences in elderly men who underwent primary external beam radiation therapy vs radical prostatectomy for locally advanced prostate cancer. While our findings must be interpreted within the limitations of studies that rely on administrative claims, they may yet help tailor individual therapies for elderly men who present with locally advanced prostate cancer.

The clinical communication and information challenges associated with the psychosexual aspects of prostate cancer treatment

RATIONALE

Prostate cancer and its treatment have significant sexual side effects that necessitate timely patient information and open communication with healthcare professionals. However, very little is known about men's experiences of talking to clinicians about the psychosexual difficulties associated with the disease.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to advance understanding of men's perceptions of the communication and information challenges associated with the psychosexual aspects of prostate cancer and its treatment.

METHOD

Between October 2013 and April 2014, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 men from the UK who had been treated for prostate cancer. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three themes describe the communication challenges men face: (1) It can be too soon to talk about sex; (2) the psychology of sex is missing; (3) communication is not individually tailored.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians might usefully (1) consider and discuss with patients how their psychosexual communication needs and information processing abilities may fluctuate across the cancer timeline; (2) initiate discussions about the consequences of treatment that extend beyond biological and mechanical aspects to include emotional and relational factors; (3) tailor communication to the dynamic mix of attributes that shape men's individual psychosexual needs, including their relationship status, sexual orientation, sexual motivations and values. Skills-based training in communication and psychosexual awareness may facilitate the proactive and permissive stance clinicians need to discuss sexual side effects with a heterogeneous group of patients.

Comparative effectiveness of prostate cancer treatments for patient-centered outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA Compliant)

BACKGROUND

In the context of prostate cancer (PCa) characterized by the multiple alternative treatment strategies, comparative effectiveness analysis is essential for informed decision-making. We analyzed the comparative effectiveness of PCa treatments through systematic review and meta-analysis with a focus on outcomes that matter most to newly diagnosed localized PCa patients.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of literature published in English from 1995 to October 2016. A search strategy was employed using terms "prostate cancer," "localized," "outcomes," "mortality," "health related quality of life," and "complications" to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prospective, and retrospective studies. For observational studies, only those adjusting for selection bias using propensity-score or instrumental-variables approaches were included. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratio was used to assess all-cause and disease-specific mortality. Funnel plots were used to assess the level of bias.

RESULTS

Our search strategy yielded 58 articles, of which 29 were RCTs, 6 were prospective studies, and 23 were retrospective studies. The studies provided moderate data for the patient-centered outcome of mortality. Radical prostatectomy demonstrated mortality benefit compared to watchful waiting (all-cause HR = 0.63 CI = 0.45, 0.87; disease-specific HR = 0.48 CI = 0.40, 0.58), and radiation therapy (all-cause HR = 0.65 CI = 0.57, 0.74; disease-specific HR = 0.51 CI = 0.40, 0.65). However, we had minimal comparative information about tradeoffs between and within treatment for other patient-centered outcomes in the short and long-term.

CONCLUSION

Lack of patient-centered outcomes in comparative effectiveness research in localized PCa is a major hurdle to informed and shared decision-making. More rigorous studies that can integrate patient-centered and intermediate outcomes in addition to mortality are needed.

Data-Based Radiation Oncology: Design of Clinical Trials in the Toxicity Biomarkers Era

The ability to stratify patients using a set of biomarkers, which predict that toxicity risk would allow for radiotherapy (RT) modulation and serve as a valuable tool for precision medicine and personalized RT. For patients presenting with tumors with a low risk of recurrence, modifying RT schedules to avoid toxicity would be clinically advantageous. Indeed, for the patient at low risk of developing radiation-associated toxicity, use of a hypofractionated protocol could be proposed leading to treatment time reduction and a cost-utility advantage. Conversely, for patients predicted to be at high risk for toxicity, either a more conformal form or a new technique of RT, or a multidisciplinary approach employing surgery could be included in the trial design to avoid or mitigate RT when the potential toxicity risk may be higher than the risk of disease recurrence. In addition, for patients at high risk of recurrence and low risk of toxicity, dose escalation, such as a greater boost dose, or irradiation field extensions could be considered to improve local control without severe toxicities, providing enhanced clinical benefit. In cases of high risk of toxicity, tumor control should be prioritized. In this review, toxicity biomarkers with sufficient evidence for clinical testing are presented. In addition, clinical trial designs and predictive models are described for different clinical situations.

Prostate Cancer and the John West Effect

The first results of the UK ProtecT study have been published. A total of 1643 men with localised prostate cancer were randomised between active monitoring, radical prostatectomy, and external-beam radiotherapy. Comparisons between treatments showed no differences between surgery and radiotherapy in terms of cancer-specific survival and overall survival. Moreover, the patient-reported outcomes indicate that although the patterns of treatment-related side effects differ markedly according to the modality, neither surgery nor radiotherapy appears to be "kinder" overall. Conclusions from nonrandomised case series can be misleading, however carefully they are analysed, and this is particularly so for early prostate cancer.

Partial Gland Treatment of Prostate Cancer Using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in the Primary and Salvage Settings: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

Advances in prostate imaging, biopsy and ablative technologies have been accompanied by growing enthusiasm for partial gland ablation, particularly using high-intensity focused ultrasound, to treat prostate cancer. Preserving noncancerous prostate tissue and minimizing damage to the neurovascular bundles and external urethral sphincter may improve functional outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review was performed following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using a combination of MeSH® terms, free text search and examination of relevant bibliographies using MEDLINE® and Embase® from the inception of each database through October 10, 2016. We excluded studies describing exclusively whole gland ablation, case reports and series where treatment was followed by immediate resection.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies that enrolled 543 patients were included. Of the studies 11 were performed in the primary setting and 2 in the salvage setting. Median followup ranged from 6 months to 10.6 years. Rates of posttreatment erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence ranged from 0% to 48% and 0% to 50%, respectively, with definitions varying by study. Overall there were 254 reported complications. Marked heterogeneity between studies limited the ability to pool results regarding functional and oncologic outcomes. A total of 76 patients (14%) subsequently received further oncologic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Early evidence suggests that partial gland ablation is a safe treatment option for men with localized disease. Longer term data are needed to evaluate oncologic efficacy and functional outcomes, and will aid in identifying the optimal candidates for therapy. Standardization of outcomes definitions will allow for better comparison between studies and among treatment modalities.

Does early resection of presumed low-grade glioma improve survival? A clinical perspective

Early resection is standard of care for presumed low-grade gliomas. This is based on studies including only tumors that were post-surgically confirmed as low-grade glioma. Unfortunately this does not represent the clinicians’ situation wherein he/she has to deal with a lesion on MRI that is suspect for low-grade glioma (i.e. without prior knowledge on the histological diagnosis). We therefore aimed to determine the optimal initial strategy for patients with a lesion suspect for low-grade glioma, but not histologically proven yet. We retrospectively identified 150 patients with a resectable presumed low-grade-glioma and who were otherwise in good clinical condition. In this cohort we compared overall survival between three types of initital treatment strategy: a wait-and-scan approach (n = 38), early resection (n = 83), or biopsy for histopathological verification (n = 29). In multivariate analysis, no difference was observed in overall survival for early resection compared to wait-and-scan: hazard ratio of 0.92 (95% CI 0.43–2.01; p = 0.85). However, biopsy strategy showed a shorter overall survival compared to wait-and-scan: hazard ratio of 2.69 (95% CI 1.19–6.06; p = 0.02). In this cohort we failed to confirm superiority of early resection over a wait-and-scan approach in terms of overall survival, though longer follow-up is required for final conclusion. Biopsy was associated with shorter overall survival.

Association Between Choice of Radical Prostatectomy, External Beam Radiotherapy, Brachytherapy, or Active Surveillance and Patient-Reported Quality of Life Among Men With Localized Prostate Cancer

Importance

Patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer have to decide among treatment strategies that may differ in their likelihood of adverse effects.

Objective

To compare quality of life (QOL) after radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, and brachytherapy vs active surveillance.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Population-based prospective cohort of 1141 men (57% participation among eligible men) with newly diagnosed prostate cancer were enrolled from January 2011 through June 2013 in collaboration with the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry. Median time from diagnosis to enrollment was 5 weeks, and all men were enrolled with written informed consent prior to treatment. Final follow-up date for current analysis was September 9, 2015.

Exposures

Treatment with radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, or active surveillance.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Quality of life using the validated instrument Prostate Cancer Symptom Indices was assessed at baseline (pretreatment) and 3, 12, and 24 months after treatment. The instrument contains 4 domains-sexual dysfunction, urinary obstruction and irritation, urinary incontinence, and bowel problems-each scored from 0 (no dysfunction) to 100 (maximum dysfunction). Propensity-weighted mean domain scores were compared between each treatment group vs active surveillance at each time point.

Results

Of 1141 enrolled men, 314 pursued active surveillance (27.5%), 469 radical prostatectomy (41.1%), 249 external beam radiotherapy (21.8%), and 109 brachytherapy (9.6%). After propensity weighting, median age was 66 to 67 years across groups, and 77% to 80% of participants were white. Across groups, propensity-weighted mean baseline scores were 41.8 to 46.4 for sexual dysfunction, 20.8 to 22.8 for urinary obstruction and irritation, 9.7 to 10.5 for urinary incontinence, and 5.7 to 6.1 for bowel problems. Compared with active surveillance, mean sexual dysfunction scores worsened by 3 months for patients who received radical prostatectomy (36.2 [95% CI, 30.4-42.0]), external beam radiotherapy (13.9 [95% CI, 6.7-21.2]), and brachytherapy (17.1 [95% CI, 7.8-26.6]). Compared with active surveillance at 3 months, worsened urinary incontinence was associated with radical prostatectomy (33.6 [95% CI, 27.8-39.2]); acute worsening of urinary obstruction and irritation with external beam radiotherapy (11.7 [95% CI, 8.7-14.8]) and brachytherapy (20.5 [95% CI, 15.1-25.9]); and worsened bowel symptoms with external beam radiotherapy (4.9 [95% CI, 2.4-7.4]). By 24 months, mean scores between treatment groups vs active surveillance were not significantly different in most domains.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort of men with localized prostate cancer, each treatment strategy was associated with distinct patterns of adverse effects over 2 years. These findings can be used to promote treatment decisions that incorporate individual preferences.