Hormone Therapy: Improving Therapy Decisions and Monitoring

Assessment of Evidence-Based Standards in the Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer in a Community Practice

INTRODUCTION

Although the monitoring of patients with advanced prostate cancer is essential to optimize treatment, little is known about adherence to guidelines. In this study we compared testing practices at an integrated urology/radiation oncology group practice with evidence-based guidelines and best practices.

METHODS

Electronic medical records up to December 2014 from the integrated urology/radiation oncology group practice were queried to identify patients who received androgen deprivation therapy and in whom advanced disease was staged as androgen deprivation therapy sensitive, subcastration resistant (incompletely defined probable castration resistant prostate cancer) or castration resistant after April 2011 and for 6 months or more. Frequency of prostate specific antigen and testosterone level testing as well as imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, positron emission tomography/computerized tomography, bone scan or x-ray) was evaluated, and compared to national guidelines and best practices.

RESULTS

Overall 346 patients with androgen deprivation therapy sensitive prostate cancer, 90 with subcastration resistant prostate cancer and 102 with castration resistant prostate cancer met the study inclusion criteria. On average, prostate specific antigen was tested every 4.7, 3.7 and 3.3 months for patients with androgen deprivation therapy sensitive disease, subcastration resistant prostate cancer and castration resistant prostate cancer, respectively, compared with the 3 to 12 months and 3 months recommendations of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and RADAR (Prostate Cancer Radiographic Assessments for Detection of Advanced Recurrence) for patients with androgen deprivation therapy sensitive disease and nonmetastatic castration resistant prostate cancer, respectively. Testosterone levels were assessed within 6 months of classification for 23% and 46% of patients with subcastration resistant prostate cancer and castration resistant prostate cancer, respectively. Finally, 28% and 46% of patients with subcastration resistant prostate cancer and castration resistant prostate cancer, respectively, underwent some type of imaging within 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study of patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy at a particular integrated urology/radiation oncology group practice demonstrated adherence to prostate specific antigen best practices. However, there was some room for improvement in terms of testosterone testing and imaging.

Patient rationale in selecting androgen deprivation (PRISAD): do we give patients what they want?

To assess patient rationale in selecting androgen deprivation, structured telephone interviews were conducted on consecutive patients on androgen deprivation over a 17-year period. The majority of these patients have stable disease that require long-term follow-up with 6-monthly PSA estimations. Synchronous PSA check with depot injections are preferred by majority of patients and longer intervals between the depot administrations are preferable due to perceived less needle pain. This study highlights for the first time patients' preferences for synchronous PSA check with their depot injections and a longer interval between the depot administrations due to perceived less needle pain.

LHRH agonists in prostate cancer: frequency of treatment, serum testosterone measurement and castrate level: consensus opinion from a roundtable discussion

BACKGROUND

Options for lowering testosterone in patients with prostate cancer include bilateral orchiectomy, oestrogens and luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists. LHRH agonists have become widely used in the treatment of prostate cancer.

ROUNDTABLE ASSEMBLY

In May 2006, a team of experts convened a roundtable assembly to discuss key issues associated with the use of LHRH agonists in the treatment of prostate cancer.

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

The discussion centred on the frequency of treatment with LHRH agonists, the role of serum testosterone (ST) measurement as part of routine follow-up, and the recommended castrate level of ST. Several formulations of LHRH agonists are available, including 3-month depots that coincide with visit frequency for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. Appropriate monitoring of patients receiving LHRH agonists continues to be based on PSA levels. ST determination is not recommended as part of routine follow-up, and does not provide additional prognostic benefit or improved overall management for the majority of patients. However, determination of ST may be useful in selected patients, such as those with rising PSA levels or in cases where there is doubt over LHRH agonist administration or absorption. Achieving levels of ST similar to those obtained after orchiectomy is important for patient outcomes, although there is no evidence that a lower ST level (<50 ng/dl) results in additional clinical benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

LHRH agonists should be considered first-choice testosterone-lowering therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, with the 3-month depot formulation providing optimal convenience and flexibility. Assessment of patients receiving LHRH agonists should be based on PSA levels rather than ST levels, although levels of ST similar to those obtained after orchiectomy still need to be achieved. Further studies are warranted before the potential therapeutic benefit of considerably lowered ST levels can be fully assessed.