Immediate hormonal therapy compared with observation after radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy in men with node-positive prostate cancer

PRIORITI: Phase 4 study of triptorelin or active surveillance in high-risk prostate cancer

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of triptorelin after radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with negative lymph nodes.

METHODS

PRIORITI (NCT01753297) was a prospective, open-label, randomized, controlled, phase 4 study conducted in China and Russia. Patients with high-risk (Gleason score ≥ 8 and/or pre-RP prostate-specific antigen [PSA] ≥ 20 ng/mL and/or primary tumor stage 3a) prostate adenocarcinoma without evidence of lymph node or distant metastases were randomized to receive triptorelin 11.25 mg at baseline (≤ 8 weeks after RP) and at 3 and 6 months, or active surveillance. The primary endpoint was biochemical relapse-free survival (BRFS), defined as the time from randomization to biochemical relapse (BR; increased PSA > 0.2 ng/mL). Patients were monitored every 3 months for at least 36 months; the study ended when 61 BRs were observed.

RESULTS

The intention-to-treat population comprised 226 patients (mean [standard deviation] age, 65.3 [6.4] years), of whom 109 and 117 were randomized to triptorelin or surveillance, respectively. The median BRFS was not reached. The 25th percentile time to BRFS (95% confidence interval) was 39.1 (29.9-not estimated) months with triptorelin and 30.0 (18.6-42.1) months with surveillance (p = 0.16). There was evidence of a lower risk of BR with triptorelin versus surveillance but this was not statistically significant at the 5% level (p = 0.10). Chemical castration was maintained at month 9 in 93.9% of patients who had received triptorelin. Overall, triptorelin was well tolerated and had an acceptable safety profile.

CONCLUSION

BRFS was observed to be longer with triptorelin than surveillance, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Variation in management of lymph node positive prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy within a statewide quality improvement consortium

BACKGROUND

Patients with lymph node positive (pN+) disease found at the time of radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer (CaP) are at high risk of disease persistence and progression. Contemporary management trends of pN+ CaP are not well described.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients in the Michigan Urologic Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MUSIC) with clinically localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2012 and 2023 with cN0/pN+ disease were identified. The primary outcome was to evaluate patient and practice-level factors associated with time to secondary post-RP treatment. Secondary outcomes included practice-level variation in management of pN+ CaP and rates of secondary treatment modality. To assess factors associated with secondary treatment, a Cox proportional hazards model of a 60-day landmark analysis was performed.

RESULTS

We identified 666 patients with pN+ disease. Overall, 66% underwent secondary treatment within 12 months post-RP. About 19% of patients with detectable post-RP PSA did not receive treatment. Of patients receiving secondary treatment after 60-days post-RP, 34% received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone, 27% received radiation (RT) alone, 36% received combination, and 4% received other systemic therapies. In the multivariable model, pathologic grade group (GG)3 (HR 1.5; 95%CI: 1.05-2.14), GG4-5 (HR 1.65; 95%CI: 1.16-2.34), positive margins (HR 1.46; 95%CI: 1.13-1.88), and detectable postoperative PSA ≥0.1 ng/ml (HR 3.46; 95%CI: 2.61-4.59) were significantly associated with secondary post-RP treatment. There was wide variation in adjusted practice-level 12-month secondary treatment utilization (28%-79%).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority pN+ patients receive treatment within 12 months post-RP which was associated with high-risk pathological features and post-RP PSA. Variation in management of pN+ disease highlights the uncertainty regarding the optimal management. Understanding which patients will benefit from secondary treatment, and which type, will be critical to minimize variation in care.

Concurrent prognostic utility of lymph node count and lymph node density for men with pathological node-positive prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

While both the number (+LN) and density (LND) of metastatic lymph nodes on radical prostatectomy lymphadenectomy predict mortality in prostate cancer, the independent impact of each on overall mortality (OM) is unknown.

METHODS

We sampled men who underwent radical prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy between 2004 and 2013 from the National Cancer Database. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis with restricted cubic spline was used to assess the non-linear association of +LN count and LND with OM.

RESULTS

Of 229,547 men in our sample, 3% (n = 7507) had +LNs, of which 89% had 1-3 +LN and 11% had ≥4 +LN. In multivariable Cox analysis across all patients, OM increased with each additional +LN up to four (HR 1.14, 95%CI 1.06-1.23 per node), with no increase beyond 4 +LN. LND was an independent predictor of OM (HR 1.09, 95%CI 1.06-1.12 per 10% increase). However, after excluding patients with inadequate nodal sampling (<5 LN examined), the variation in OM explained by LND was negligible for patients with ≤3 +LN. In men with 1, 2, and 3 +LN, there was a 0.28%, 0.02%, and 0.50% increase in OM for each 10% increase in LND, compared with 1.9% and 1.6% for men with 4 or 5+ LNs.

CONCLUSIONS

While +LN count and LND independently predict OM, the impact of LND is negligible in men with ≤3 +LN, who comprise the vast majority of men with +LN. Pathological nodal staging should primarily rely on LN count rather than LND.

The Prognostic Role of Preoperative PSMA PET/CT in cN0M0 pN+ Prostate Cancer: A Multicenter Study

CONTEXT

Despite negative preoperative conventional imaging, up to 10% of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) harbor lymph-node involvement (LNI) at radical prostatectomy (RP). The advent of more accurate imaging modalities such as PET/CT improved the detection of LNI. However, their clinical impact and prognostic value are still unclear. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative PET/CT in patients node positive (pN+) at RP.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

We retrospectively identified cN0M0 patients at conventional imaging (CT and/or MRI, and bone scan) who had pN+ PCa at RP at 17 referral centers. Patients with cN+ at PSMA/Choline PET/CT but cN0M0 at conventional imaging were also included. Systemic progression/recurrence was the primary outcome; Cox proportional hazards models were used for multivariate analysis.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We included 1163 pN+ men out of whom 95 and 100 had preoperative PSMA and/or Choline PET/CT, respectively. ISUP grade ≥4 was detected in 66.6%. Overall, 42% of patients had postoperative PSA persistence (≥0.1 ng/mL). Postoperative management included initial observation (34%), ADT (22.7%) and adjuvant RT+/-ADT (42.8%). Median follow-up was 42 months. Patients with cN+ on PSMA PET/CT had an increased risk of systemic progression (52.9% vs. 13.6% cN0 PSMA PET/CT vs. 21.5% cN0 at conventional imaging; P < .01). This held true at multivariable analysis: (HR 6.184, 95% CI: 3.386-11-295; P < .001) whilst no significant results were highlighted for Choline PET/CT. No significant associations for both PET types were found for local progression, BCR, and overall mortality (all P > .05). Observation as an initial management strategy instead of adjuvant treatments was related with an increased risk of metastases (HR 1.808; 95% CI: 1.069-3.058; P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

PSMA PET/CT cN+ patients with negative conventional imaging have an increased risk of systemic progression after RP compared to their counterparts with cN0M0 disease both at conventional and/or molecular imaging.

Optimizing anti-androgen treatment use among men with pathologic lymph-node positive prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy: the importance of postoperative PSA kinetics

BACKGROUND

Optimal postsurgical management of prostate cancer (PCa) patients with nodal metastasis at the time of radical prostatectomy remains unclear. We sought to examine the role of postoperative PSA kinetics and pathologic tumor characteristics in guiding additional hormonal therapy use in pN1 men.

METHODS

In total, 297 pN1 PCa patients treated with radical prostatectomy and ePLND between 2002 and 2018 were identified within our prospectively maintained institutional cancer data-registry. Following surgery, these patients were managed with either immediate androgen deprivation therapy (iADT) or observation with deferred ADT (dADT). The former was defined as ADT given within ≤6 months of surgery and the latter as >6 months. The primary outcome was metastasis. Regression-tree analysis was used to stratify patients into novel risk-groups based on post-prostatectomy tumor characteristics and PSA kinetics and the corresponding metastasis risk. Multivariable Cox regression analyses tested the impact of iADT versus observation ± dADT on metastasis, cancer-specific mortality, and overall mortality within each risk-group separately.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 6.1 years (IQR 3.2-9.0). Regression-tree analysis stratified patients into 3 novel risk-groups (Harrell's C-index 0.79) based on PSA-nadir and time to biochemical failure: group 1 (low-risk) included patients with time to biochemical recurrence >6 months (n = 115), while groups 2 and 3 included patients with biochemical failure within ≤6 months with a postoperative PSA-nadir <1.05 ng/mL (group 2 [intermediate-risk], n = 125) or ≥1.05 ng/mL (group 3 [high-risk], n = 57), respectively. No other patient or tumor characteristics were significant for risk stratification. Within each risk-group, the 10-year metastasis-free survival rates with iADT versus observation ± dADT use were: group 1, 100% versus 95.4% (Log-rank p = 0.738), group 2, 80.6% versus 53.5% (Log-rank p = 0.016), and group 3, 41.5% versus 0% (Log-rank p = 0.015), respectively. Adjusted Cox regression analyses confirmed the benefit of iADT utilization in reducing metastasis in group 2 (p = 0.029) and group 3 (p = 0.008) patients, with no benefit for group 1 patients (p = 0.918). Similar results were noted for cancer-specific and overall mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Following radical prostatectomy, early postoperative PSA kinetics may provide valuable information for guiding the timing of ADT initiation-this may reduce over- and undertreatment of pN1 PCa men.

Metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk for Zimbabwean men with prostate cancer receiving long-term androgen deprivation therapy

Introduction

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the majority of sub-Saharan Africa region countries. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is effective treatment, however ADT is associated with complications including metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Although cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality among prostate cancer patients, there is limited information on ADT impact on metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk among Africans. An observational prospective cohort study was carried out in Harare, Zimbabwe. Prostate cancer patients due to be initiated on ADT (medical or surgical) were assessed for metabolic syndrome and a 10-year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) 10-year risk probability score was done before ADT and followed up to 9 months.

Results

17 black Zimbabwean men were enrolled with a median age 72 years. Most participants (59%) had stage IV disease and 75% opted for surgical castration. At enrolment 23.5% had metabolic syndrome and this increased to 33% after 9 months of ADT. Baseline ASCVD risk was in the high risk category for 68.8% of participants and remained above 50% after 9 months of ADT. In this cohort, there is a 10% absolute increase in metabolic syndrome prevalence amongst African men with prostate cancer within 9 months of ADT initiation.

Characterization of Lymph Node Tumor Burden in Node-Positive Prostate Cancer Patients after Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy with Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) nodal staging does not account for lymph node (LN) tumor burden. The LN anatomical compartment involved with the tumor or the quantified extent of extranodal extension (ENE) have not yet been studied in relation to biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS).

METHODS

Histopathological slides of 66 pN1 PCa patients who underwent extended pelvic lymph node dissection were reviewed. We recorded metrics to quantify LN tumor burden. We also characterized the LN anatomical compartments involved and quantified the extent of ENE.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 38 months. The median number of total LNs obtained per patient was 30 (IQR 23-37). In the risk-adjusted cox regression model, the following variables were associated with BRFS: mean size of the largest LN deposit per patient (log2: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.91, p < 0.001), the mean total span of all LN deposits per patient (2.07, p < 0.001), and the mean percent surface area of the LN involved with the tumor (1.58, p < 0.001). There was no significant BRFS association for the LN anatomical compartment or the quantified extent of ENE.

CONCLUSION

LN tumor burden is associated with BRFS. The LN anatomical compartments and the quantified extent of ENE did not show significant association with BRFS.

Management of Pathologic Node-Positive Prostate Cancer following Radical Prostatectomy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Approximately 15% of prostate cancer patients have lymph node metastases at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP). However, there is no universally accepted standard of care for these men. The options for treatment in this subset of patients range from observation to a combination of adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (aADT) and radiation therapy (RT).

RECENT FINDINGS

A recent systematic review showed that there was no clear choice out of the options above to treat these patients. Studies have shown that patients treated with adjuvant radiation therapy have lower all-cause mortality when compared to patients treated with salvage radiation therapy. In this review, we summarize treatment options for pathologic node-positive (pN1) patients and discuss the urgent need for robust clinical trials that includes observation as the control group to help establish a standard of care for treating patients with node-positive prostate cancer after RP.

Utilizing metformin to prevent metabolic syndrome due to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT): a randomized phase II study of metformin in non-diabetic men initiating ADT for advanced prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) can lead to metabolic syndrome (MS) and is implicated in ADT-resistance. Metformin showed antineoplastic activity through mTOR inhibition secondary AMPK-activation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To investigate whether metformin mitigated ADT-related MS, we conducted a randomized double-blind phase II trial of metformin 500 mg TID or placebo in non-diabetic patients with biochemically-relapsed or advanced PC due for ADT. Fasting serum glucose, insulin, PSA, metformin, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured at baseline, week 12 and 28. The primary endpoint was a group of MS metrics. Secondary endpoints include PSA response, safety, serum metformin concentrations and analysis of downstream an mTOR target, phospho-S6-kinase.

RESULTS

36 men were randomized to either metformin or placebo. Mean age was 68.4. Mean weight, WC and insulin levels increased in both arms. At week 12 and 28, no statistical differences in weight, WC or insulin were observed in either arm. No significant difference in percentage of patients with PSA <0.2 at week 28 between metformin (45.5%) vs. placebo (46.7%). Analysis in the metformin-arm showed variable down-regulation of phospho-S6 kinase.

CONCLUSIONS

In our small study, metformin added to ADT did not show a reduced risk of ADT-related MS or differences in PSA response.

Addition of Metastasis-Directed Therapy to Intermittent Hormone Therapy for Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer: The EXTEND Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Despite evidence demonstrating an overall survival benefit with up-front hormone therapy in addition to established synergy between hormone therapy and radiation, the addition of metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) to hormone therapy for oligometastatic prostate cancer, to date, has not been evaluated in a randomized clinical trial.

Objective

To determine in men with oligometastatic prostate cancer whether the addition of MDT to intermittent hormone therapy improves oncologic outcomes and preserves time with eugonadal testosterone compared with intermittent hormone therapy alone.

Design, Setting, Participants

The External Beam Radiation to Eliminate Nominal Metastatic Disease (EXTEND) trial is a phase 2, basket randomized clinical trial for multiple solid tumors testing the addition of MDT to standard-of-care systemic therapy. Men aged 18 years or older with oligometastatic prostate cancer who had 5 or fewer metastases and were treated with hormone therapy for 2 or more months were enrolled to the prostate intermittent hormone therapy basket at multicenter tertiary cancer centers from September 2018 to November 2020. The cutoff date for the primary analysis was January 7, 2022.

Interventions

Patients were randomized 1:1 to MDT, consisting of definitive radiation therapy to all sites of disease and intermittent hormone therapy (combined therapy arm; n = 43) or to hormone therapy only (n = 44). A planned break in hormone therapy occurred 6 months after enrollment, after which hormone therapy was withheld until progression.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was disease progression, defined as death or radiographic, clinical, or biochemical progression. A key predefined secondary end point was eugonadal progression-free survival (PFS), defined as the time from achieving a eugonadal testosterone level (≥150 ng/dL; to convert to nanomoles per liter, multiply by 0.0347) until progression. Exploratory measures included quality of life and systemic immune evaluation using flow cytometry and T-cell receptor sequencing.

Results

The study included 87 men (median age, 67 years [IQR, 63-72 years]). Median follow-up was 22.0 months (range, 11.6-39.2 months). Progression-free survival was improved in the combined therapy arm (median not reached) compared with the hormone therapy only arm (median, 15.8 months; 95% CI, 13.6-21.2 months) (hazard ratio, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12-0.55; P < .001). Eugonadal PFS was also improved with MDT (median not reached) compared with the hormone therapy only (6.1 months; 95% CI, 3.7 months to not estimable) (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11-0.91; P = .03). Flow cytometry and T-cell receptor sequencing demonstrated increased markers of T-cell activation, proliferation, and clonal expansion limited to the combined therapy arm.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, PFS and eugonadal PFS were significantly improved with combination treatment compared with hormone treatment only in men with oligometastatic prostate cancer. Combination of MDT with intermittent hormone therapy may allow for excellent disease control while facilitating prolonged eugonadal testosterone intervals.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03599765.

The Changing Face of cN0M0 Prostate Cancer Being Found With pN+ After Surgery in the Contemporary Era: Results of an International European Survey on Disease Management

INTRODUCTION

The urological community's opinion over the management of men being found with pathologically positive nodes (pN+) following radical prostatectomy (RP) performed with curative intent after preoperative negative conventional staging (cN0M0) has never been assessed. This remains crucial, especially considering the advent of novel imaging modalities. Our aim was to investigate the current opinion on management of pN+ cN0M0 prostate cancer (PCa) in the European urological community.

METHODS

Following validation, a 31-item survey, complying with the Cherries checklist, was distributed using a web link from December 2021 to April 2022 to 10 urological societies mailing list. Social media (Twitter, Facebook) were also used.

RESULTS

We received 253 replies. The majority were Urologists (96.8%), younger than 60 (90.5%); 5.2% did not have access to PET-scans; 78.9% believed pN+ is a multifaceted category; 10-years CSS was marked as 71 to 95% by 17.5%. Gold standard management was stated not being ADT by 80.8% and being RT±ADT by 52.3%. Early sRT±ADT was considered an option vs. aRT±ADT by 72.4%. In case of BCR 71% would perform and decide management based on PSMA-PET whilst 3.7% would not perform PSMA-PET. pN+ management is still unclear for 77.1%. On multivariate analysis PSMA-PET availability related to a lower and higher likelihood of considering aRT±ADT as standard and of considering early salvage versus aRT respectively (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The Urological community has an acceptable awareness of pN+ disease and management, although it may overestimate disease aggressiveness. The majority consider pN+ PCa as a multifaceted category and rely on a risk-adapted approach. Expectant compared to immediate upfront management and new imaging modalities are increasingly considered.

Selecting lymph node-positive patients for adjuvant therapy after radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy: An outcome analysis of 100 node-positive patients managed without adjuvant therapy

Objective

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of deferred androgen deprivation therapy on biochemical recurrence (BCR) and other survival parameters in node-positive prostate cancer patients after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with bilateral extended pelvic lymph node dissection (RARP + EPLND).

Materials and methods

Of the 453 consecutive RARP procedures performed from 2011 to 2018, 100 patients with no prior use of androgen deprivation therapy were found to be lymph node (LN) positive and were observed, with initiation of salvage treatment at the time of BCR only. Patients were divided into 1 or 2 LNs (67)-and more than 2 LNs (33)-positive groups to assess survival outcomes.

Results

At a median follow-up of 21 months (1-70 months), the LN group (p < 0.000), preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA, p = 0.013), tumor volume (TV, p = 0.031), and LND (p = 0.004) were significantly associated with BCR. In multivariate analysis, only the LN group (p = 0.035) and PSA level (p = 0.026) were statistically significant. The estimated BCR-free survival rates in the 1/2 LN group were 37.6% (27%-52.2%), 26.5% (16.8%-41.7%), and 19.9% (9.6%-41.0%) at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively, with a hazard of developing BCR of 0.462 (0.225-0.948) compared with the more than 2 LN-positive group. Estimated 5-year overall survival, cancer-specific, metastasis-free, and local recurrence-free survival rates were 88.4% (73.1%-100%), 89.5% (74%-100%), 65.1% (46.0%-92.1%), and 94.8% (87.2%-100.0%), respectively, for which none of the factors were significant. Based on cutoff values for PSA, TV, and LND of 30 ng/mL, 30%, and 10%, respectively, the 1/2 LN group was substratified, wherein the median BCR-free survival for the low- and intermediate-risk groups was 40 and 12 months, respectively.

Conclusions

Nearly one fourth and one fifth of 1/2 node-positive patients were BCR-free at 3 and 5 years after RARP + EPLND. Further substratification using PSA, TV, and LN density may help in providing individualized care regarding the initiation of adjuvant therapy.

Cardiovascular toxicities of androgen deprivation therapy in Asian men with localized prostate cancer after curative radiotherapy: a registry-based observational study

Background

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiotherapy (RT) are the mainstay treatment for localized prostate cancer and recurrence after surgery. Cardiovascular (CV) toxicity of ADT is increasingly recognized, and the risk relates to pre-existing risk factors and ADT modalities. Despite ethnic differences in the prevalence of CV risk factors and variations of CV mortality, data on ADT-related cardiotoxicities in the Asian population remain inconclusive. Our registry-based study investigated ADT-related major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after primary or salvage RT.

Methods

Our study combined two prospectively established registry databases from National Cancer Center Singapore and National Heart Center Singapore. The primary endpoint is time to first MACE after treatment. MACE is defined as myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, or cardiovascular death. Two types of propensity score adjustments, including ADT propensity score as a covariate in the multivariable regression model and propensity score weighting, were applied to balance baseline features and CV risk factors between RT alone and RT + ADT groups.

Results

From 2000 to 2019, 1940 patients received either RT alone (n = 494) or RT + ADT (n = 1446) were included. After a median follow-up of 10 years (RT) and 7.2 years (RT+ ADT), the cumulative incidence of MACE at 1, 3 and 9 years was 1.2, 5 and 16.2% in RT group, and 1.1, 5.2 and 17.6% in RT + ADT group, respectively. There were no differences in the incidence of MACE between 2 groups (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.78–1.30, p = 0.969). Pre-treatment CV risk factors were common (80%), and CV disease (15.9%) was the second leading cause of death after prostate cancer (21.1%). On univariate analysis, older age, Indians and Malays, pre-existing CV risk factors, and history of MACE were associated with higher MACE risk. After propensity score adjustments, there remained no significant differences in MACE risk between RT + ADT and RT group on multivariable analysis.

Conclusions

In our registry-based study, ADT is not associated with increased risk of major cardiovascular events among Southeast Asian men with prostate cancer after curative radiotherapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40959-022-00131-4.

[High risk localized and locally advanced prostate cancer: Long-term oncological outcomes after prostatectomy]

INTRODUCTION

High risk localized and locally advanced forms are responsible for the vast majority of specific deaths from prostate cancer among non-metastatic diseases at diagnosis. No randomized study has yet been published to establish the best local treatment in terms of survival.

AIM

Conduct a large-volume cohort study with long-term follow-up to analyze specific and overall survival outcomes after surgery.

METHOD

A single-center retrospective study of all patients operated on for localized high-risk and locally advanced prostate cancer was performed. Actuarial survival analyses and multivariate analyses were performed to discern predictive risk factors.

RESULTS

Five hundred patients were included. MRI stage was≥iT3a in 40.7% of cases and 50.2% of patients had a Gleason score≥8 on biopsy. The mean follow-up was 63.1 months. The overall, specific and biological recurrence-free survival were respectively 77.6%, 93.9% and 26.8% at 10 years. A PSA level≥20, a Gleason score on biopsy≥9 and a MRI stage≥iT3a were significantly associated with the 10-years biological recurrence risk.

CONCLUSION

This study shows very good long-term oncological results. In the absence of a randomized controlled trial, these results suggest the primary role of surgery in this indication and support the evolution of current practices. We pointed out very pejorative features that might help selection of the best candidates for surgical treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

Patients with Positive Lymph Nodes after Radical Prostatectomy and Pelvic Lymphadenectomy—Do We Know the Proper Way of Management?

Simple Summary

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent malignancy in the male population worldwide. Men with a nodal invasion established after radical prostatectomy with lymph node dissection are a heterogeneous group of patients who require more thorough stratification and therapy individualization, which remain uncovered by current guidelines. Considering a multitude of prognostic factors and novel diagnostic techniques, classifying patients into narrower and more specified risk groups should be a vital part of lymph node positive PCa management in the future.

Abstract

Lymph node invasion in prostate cancer is a significant prognostic factor indicating worse prognosis. While it significantly affects both survival rates and recurrence, proper management remains a controversial and unsolved issue. The thorough evaluation of risk factors associated with nodal involvement, such as lymph node density or extracapsular extension, is crucial to establish the potential expansion of the disease and to substratify patients clinically. There are multiple strategies that may be employed for patients with positive lymph nodes. Nowadays, therapeutic methods are generally based on observation, radiotherapy, and androgen deprivation therapy. However, the current guidelines are incoherent in terms of the most effective management approach. Future management strategies are expected to make use of novel diagnostic tools and therapies, such as photodynamic therapy or diagnostic imaging with prostate-specific membrane antigen. Nevertheless, this heterogeneous group of men remains a great therapeutic concern, and both the clarification of the guidelines and the optimal substratification of patients are required.

Targeting the androgen receptor signaling pathway in advanced prostate cancer

DISCLAIMER

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, AJHP is posting these manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

PURPOSE

This article summarizes current androgen receptor (AR)-directed therapies that have received regulatory approval for the treatment of advanced prostate adenocarcinoma (herein referred to as prostate cancer, PC).

SUMMARY

PC is an androgen-dependent malignancy in which ligands including testosterone and dihydrotestosterone bind to AR, initiating androgen-AR complex translocation to the nucleus followed by AR-mediated transcription of target genes. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), including gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists with or without AR antagonists (antiandrogens), GnRH antagonists, or bilateral orchiectomy, forms the backbone of treatment for patients with metastatic castration-naive PC and/or castration-resistant PC (CRPC). ADT is also an option for high-risk, early-stage PC after prostatectomy and/or radiation. While ADT is often very effective as initial therapy, resistance ultimately develops despite suppression of gonadal and/or adrenal androgens, leading to CRCPC, which is characterized by mechanisms such as reactivation of the AR signaling pathway, AR overexpression, and gene mutations in the ligand-binding domain of AR that lead to disease progression, resulting in increased symptom burden and ultimately death. However, disease in patients with CRPC is still dependent on androgen signaling, and these patients continue on ADT to maintain a castrate level of serum testosterone. Novel hormonal therapies including agents that target AR directly (eg, AR antagonists) are often added to ADT in this setting. Targeting the AR signaling pathway led to the development of second-generation AR antagonists, examples of which include enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide. These agents do not exhibit partial agonism or possess a higher affinity for AR and are not postulated to improve survival outcomes relative to their first-generation counterparts for patients with CRPC. Lastly, the emergence of ADT, including second-generation AR antagonists, has led to the development of supportive care for treatment-related adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

Major advances have been made in targeting the AR signaling pathway in patients with advanced PC. Further studies are warranted to identify the optimal sequencing of therapies to maximize treatment benefit. Mitigation of treatment-related adverse effects presents new opportunities to advance clinical pharmacy practice.

Postoperative moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy in prostate cancer: a mono-institutional propensity-score-matching analysis between adjuvant and early-salvage radiotherapy

AIM

To evaluate the impact of moderately hypofractionated postoperative radiotherapy (RT) in prostate cancer (PCa).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data of 304 surgically resected PCa patients were analyzed. One hundred and five patients underwent adjuvant RT (aRT), 77 early-savage RT (esRT), and 123 salvage RT (sRT). Biochemical relapse-free survival (BRFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity were analyzed. A propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to account for potential confounders between aRT and esRT groups.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 33 months. Three-year BRFS and PFS were 82 and 85.2%, respectively, in the overall population. At the multivariate analysis, Gleason score and hormone therapy were factors independently correlated with BRFS and PFS. After PSM, there was no difference in BRFS and PFS between aRT and esRT patients. Severe toxicity was represented by grade 3 urinary incontinence (3.5%) and urgency (1%), and aRT correlated with increased any-grade acute toxicity. Severe grade 3 gastrointestinal late toxicity occurred in 1.3% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative moderately hypofractionated RT achieved acceptable disease control rate and demonstrated no increased or unexpected toxicity. Future prospective studies should evaluate the role of postoperative RT in patients with unfavorable disease characteristics.

Einfluss von lokalen Therapiemaßnahmen auf die Biologie des fortschreitenden Prostatakarzinoms

Hintergrund

In den letzten 15 Jahren zeigt sich ein Trend hin zu einem längeren Überleben beim metastasierten Prostatakarzinom. Neben dem durch neue Medikamente bedingten Fortschritt deuten retrospektive Daten auch auf einen möglichen positiven Effekt einer früheren Primärtumorbehandlung hin.

Fragestellung

Kann eine Primärtumorbehandlung im Falle einer späteren Metastasierung die Prognose der betroffenen Patienten verbessern und wenn ja, über welche Mechanismen?

Material und Methode

Wir werteten die klinischen Langzeitergebnisse von 115 Patienten aus, die bei T4-Prostatakarzinomen nach induktiver Hormontherapie an unserer Klinik prostatektomiert worden waren. Weiterhin erfolgte eine kritische Durchsicht und Diskussion der zur oben genannten Fragestellung vorhandenen Literatur.

Ergebnisse

Von den 115 Patienten hatten 84 im weiteren Verlauf ein biochemisches Rezidiv erlitten, waren also definitiv durch die radikale Prostatektomie nicht geheilt. Das tumorspezifische und das Gesamtüberleben dieser 84 Patienten lag nach 150 Monaten bei 61 % bzw. 44 %. Bemerkenswert war die Beobachtung, dass diese Patienten ein überraschend gutes und langes Ansprechen auf eine Hormontherapie zeigten. Von den 84 Patienten waren nach durchschnittlich 95 Monaten Nachbeobachtungszeit noch 47 am Leben. 31 von ihnen, also ungefähr zwei Drittel, standen immer noch unter einer Standardhormontherapie. Nur 13 hatten eine Resistenz gegen die primäre Hormontherapie entwickelt und entsprechend eine tertiäre Hormontherapie erhalten, auf die sie teilweise aber auch wieder langfristig sensibel blieben.

Schlussfolgerungen

Die Primärtumorentfernung, zumindest unter den beschriebenen Begleitumständen, scheint die Entwicklung einer Hormonresistenz beim metastasierten Prostatakarzinom hinauszögern und in Einzelfällen sogar ganz verhindern zu können.

Features and management of men with pN1 cM0 prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy: a systematic review of population-based evidence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To investigate the features and optimal management of pN+ cM0 prostate cancer (PCa) according to registry-based studies.

RECENT FINDINGS

Up to 15% of PCa patients harbor lymph node invasion (pN+) at radical prostatectomy plus lymph node dissection. Nonetheless, the optimal management strategy in this setting is not well characterized.

SUMMARY

We performed a systematic review including n = 13 studies. Management strategies comprised 13 536 men undergoing observation, 11 149 adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (aADT), 7,075 adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) +aADT and 705 aRT. Baseline features showed aggressive PCa in the majority of men. At a median follow-up ranging 48-134months, Cancer-related death was 5% and overall-mortality 16.6%. aADT and aRT alone had no cancer-specific survival or overall survival advantages over observation only and over not performing aRT, respectively. aADT plus aRT yielded a survival benefit compared to observation and aADT, which in one study, were limited to certain intermediate-risk categories. Age, Gleason, Charlson score, positive surgical margins, pathological stage, and positive nodes number, but not prostate specific antigen, were most relevant prognostic factors. Our work further confirmed pN+ PCa is a multifaceted disease and will help future research in defining its optimal management based on different risk categories to maximize survival and patient's quality of life.

Robotic salvage pelvic lymph node dissection for locoregional recurrence after radical prostatectomy: a single institution experience

OBJECTIVES

To assess treatment response (PSA < 0.2 ng/ml), need for additional therapy and complication rate after robot assisted salvage pelvic lymph node dissection (sPLND).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Analysis of outcomes data from radical prostatectomy (RP) patients consecutively operated with robot assisted sPLND due to biochemical recurrence and positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT)-detected nodal recurrence of pelvic lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients underwent robotic sPLND after a median time of 47 months post- RP. Sixty-four patients (93%) had malignant lymph nodes upon histological assessment of sPLND specimen. Twenty patients (29%) achieved PSA < 0.2 ng/ml 6 weeks postoperatively. After median (IQR) follow-up of 15 months (10-27), fourteen patients (20%) still had PSA < 0.2 ng/ml without additional therapy and forty-one patients (59%) had started additional therapy. No significant predictor for treatment response was found. Postoperative complications occurred in 14 patients (20%). Eleven of these complications were classified as Clavien-Dindo grade 1.

CONCLUSION

Oncological benefit of sPLND as the only salvage procedure seems to be limited, though almost one third of patients achieved treatment response. Clinical trials are needed to determine if sPLND as part of a multimodal treatment may improve outcome.

Recent trend of androgen deprivation therapy in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients: Comparing between high- and middle-income Asian countries

The number of newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases varies across Asia, with higher mortality-to-incidence ratio reported in developing nations. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), alone or in combination, remains the mainstay of first-line treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Key findings of extensive research and randomized controlled trials have shaped current clinical practice and influenced clinical guideline recommendations. We describe here the recent trend of ADT in newly diagnosed prostate cancer for Asia focusing on Japan (high-income country) and Malaysia (middle-income country) based on the Asian Prostate Cancer (A-CaP) Study. The combination of radiotherapy and ADT or ADT alone was common in patients with intermediate-to-high risk localized and locally advanced disease. For metastatic prostate cancer, maximum androgen blockade (gonadotrophin-releasing hormone [GnRH] agonist/antagonist plus antiandrogen) was prevalent among the Japanese patients while primary ADT alone with GnRH agonist/antagonist was widely practiced in the Malaysian cohort. Upfront combined therapy (ADT plus docetaxel or androgen receptor pathway inhibitor) has significantly improved the outcomes of patients with metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer. Its application, however, remains low in our cohorts due to patients' financial capacity and national health insurance coverage. Early detection remains the cornerstone in prostate cancer control to improve treatment outcome and patient survival.

Temporal Trends and Predictors in Diagnosing Pathologic Node-Positive Prostate Cancer in Clinically Node-Negative Patients

INTRODUCTION

Managing pathologically node positive (pN+) prostate cancer (PCa) is controversial. We describe temporal patterns and predictors of pN+ PCa in men with initially surgically managed clinically node negative (cN-) PCa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This observational retrospective analysis of nonmetastatic, cN- PCa uses the National Cancer Database. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify covariates associated with pN+ disease. Cox proportional hazards modeling and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to evaluate survival patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with or without pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND).

RESULTS

The rates of radical prostatectomy in men with grade group (GG) 4 and GG5 increased from 47.6% to 53.1% and from 42.5% to 49.5%, respectively. The annual rate increased from 2.02% in 2010 to 5.12% in 2017 (P < .001). The annual rates of PLND increased from 54.3% to 71.7%. The most significant predictor of pN+ PCa was ISUP GG4 (odds ratio [OR] 12.5, P< .001) and GG 5 (OR 26.2, P < .001). Rates of pN+ identification increased from 5.5% to 9.4% in men with GG4 and from 13.4% to 19.5% in men with GG5 (P< .001). In GG4 and GG5, patients undergoing PLND had superior survival to those managed without PLND (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Among patients with cN- PCa, the diagnosis of pN+ PCa has become more common over time. GG4 and GG5 are the strongest independent predictors of pN+ disease. Because incidental pN+ results in upstaging these data are useful for informing discussions before radical prostatectomy.

Radiotherapy in nodal oligorecurrent prostate cancer

Objective

The current article encompasses a literature review and recommendations for radiotherapy in nodal oligorecurrent prostate cancer.

Materials and methods

A literature review focused on studies comparing metastasis-directed stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) vs. external elective nodal radiotherapy (ENRT) and studies analyzing recurrence patterns after local nodal treatment was performed. The DEGRO Prostate Cancer Expert Panel discussed the results and developed treatment recommendations.

Results

Metastasis-directed radiotherapy results in high local control (often > 90% within a follow-up of 1–2 years) and can be used to improve progression-free survival or defer androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) according to prospective randomized phase II data. Distant progression after involved-node SABR only occurs within a few months in the majority of patients. ENRT improves metastases-free survival rates with increased toxicity in comparison to SABR according to retrospective comparative studies. The majority of nodal recurrences after initial local treatment of pelvic nodal metastasis are detected within the true pelvis and common iliac vessels.

Conclusion

ENRT with or without a boost should be preferred to SABR in pelvic nodal recurrences. In oligometastatic prostate cancer with distant (extrapelvic) nodal recurrences, SABR alone can be performed in selected cases. Application of additional systemic treatments should be based on current guidelines, with ADT as first-line treatment for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Only in carefully selected patients can radiotherapy be initially used without additional ADT outside of the current standard recommendations. Results of (randomized) prospective studies are needed for definitive recommendations.

Clinically Lymph Node Positive Prostate Cancer: At the Intersection of Focal and Systemic Disease Control

Clinically node-positive prostate cancer is often found at the time of diagnosis by cross-sectional imaging and remains poorly understood. Advanced imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging nanoparticles or positron emission tomography-based molecular imaging stand to rapidly change the field and hopefully will bring better diagnostic clarity. This will allow for prospective clinical trials using radiographic, clinical, or molecular parameters to establish who may benefit from both localized and systemic treatment intensification and who may avoid overtreatment. Recent advances in metastatic hormone-sensitive disease may offer clues, but direct studies for nodal disease patients remain.

Androgen receptor splice variant 7 detected by immunohistochemical is an independent poor prognostic marker in men receiving adjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy after radical prostatectomy

Background

To evaluate the predictive value of AR-V7 expression detected by immunohistochemical (IHC) in the prognosis of prostate cancer patients receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy (AHT) following radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods

We retrospectively collected data of 110 patients with prostate cancer receiving RP, followed by AHT, from Tongji hospital. IHC analysis of AR-V7 expression was performed in a retrospective cohort.

Results

In total, 110 patients were enrolled, of whom 21 patients (19.1%) were AR-V7-positive and 89 patients (80.9%) were AR-V7-negative. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between the two groups. AR-V7-positive patients had shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (HR: 4.26; 95% CI, 1.55 to 11.68; P = 0.003), shorter cancer-special survival (CSS) (HR: 22.47; 95% CI, 2.912 to 173.4; P = 0.003) and shorter overall survival (OS) (HR: 6.61; 95% CI, 1.40 to 31.20; P = 0.017) compared to AR-V7-negative patients. In multivariate analysis, AR-V7 is an independent risk factor for shorter PFS (HR, 3.76; 95% CI, 1.63 to 8.70; P = 0.002), shorter CSS (HR: 9.17; 95% CI, 1.48 to 55.56; P = 0.017) and shorter OS (HR: 4.81; 95% CI, 1.28 to 17.86; P = 0.020).

Conclusion

The presence of AR-V7 in prostate cancer tissue is independently associated with an unfavorable prognosis for PFS, OS and CSS in patients who received AHT.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40364-021-00276-x.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy in High-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients after Primary Local Therapy: Recurrence, Metastasis, and Survival - A Meta-Analysis

CONTEXT

Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have recently tested adjuvant chemotherapy to high-risk prostate cancer patients (PCA) after primary local therapy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs evaluating the adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk prostate cancer patients after primary local therapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) and biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS).

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases was performed to identify relevant studies published in English up to March 2020. Six trials were selected for inclusion.

RESULTS

There were 7 studies included in the present study. The meta-analysis did not show a significant OS benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with high-risk prostate cancer after primary local therapy (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-1.05; p = 0.15). But docetaxel in patients with high-risk prostate cancer after primary local therapy was associated with a slightly OS improvement (HR: 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-0.98; p = 0.03). It also did not show a significant benefit in DFS and BRFS in patients with high-risk prostate cancer (HR: 0.89, 95% CI, 0.75-1.06, p = 0.18; HR: 0.85, 95% CI, 0.69-1.06, p = 0.16).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis shows a slightly OS benefit from docetaxel in patients with high-risk prostate cancer after primary local therapy. It did not show a significant benefit in DFS and BRFS from adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

Can local treatment prolong the sensitivity of metastatic prostate cancer to androgen deprivation or even prevent castration resistance?

Purpose

A number of observational clinical studies suggest that prior primary tumor treatment favorably influences the course of metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), but its mechanisms of action are still speculative. Here, we describe the long-lasting sensitivity to various forms of androgen deprivation in patients after radical prostatectomy (RP) for locally advanced PCa as one potential mechanism.

Methods

A consecutive series of 115 radical prostatectomies after inductive therapy for T4 prostate cancer was re-analyzed, and long-term survival, as well as recurrence patterns and responses to different forms of hormonal manipulation, were assessed.

Results

The estimated biochemical response-free, PCa-specific, and overall survival rates after 200 months were 20%, 65%, and 47% with a median overall survival of 156 months. The majority of patients, although not cured of locally advanced PCa (84/115), showed long-term survival after RP. PCa-specific and overall survival rates of these 84 patients with biochemical recurrence were 61% and 44% at 150 months. Long-term sensitivity to ADT was found to be the main reason for the favorable tumor-specific survival in spite of biochemical recurrence.

Conclusions

Sensitivity to primary or secondary hormonal manipulation was the main reason for the long-term survival of patients who had not been cured by surgery only. The results suggest that treatment of the primary tumor-bearing prostate delays castration-resistant PCa and enhances the effect of hormonal therapies in a previously unknown manner. The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms need to be explored in more detailed analyses, which could profoundly impact treatment concepts of locally advanced and metastatic PCa.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00345-020-03568-3.

Hypogonadism and its treatment among prostate cancer survivors

Adult-onset hypogonadism (AOH) is associated with sexual dysfunction, poor bone mineralization, decreased muscle mass, metabolic syndrome disorder, and cognitive suppression. Historically, testosterone has been contraindicated in men with a history of prostate cancer. However, there has been a modern resurgence in re-evaluating this belief. Not only can testosterone be safely utilized to alleviate AOH symptoms in prostate cancer survivors, it has been also touted as a treatment option for aggressive prostatic cancer. While much work remains in understanding the relationship between testosterone and prostate cancer, those who survive this disease should not be automatically turned away from an opportunity to be treated and restored.

The depressive effects of androgen deprivation therapy in locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer: a comparative study

AIM

To investigate association of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with depression and the effect of depression on cognitive functions in men with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.

METHODS

A total of 144 patients were evaluated in a prospective, comparative study. Group1 consisted of 72 patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer who received complete ADT treatment continuously for 12 months and group2 (control group) consisted of 72 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy without any additional treatment. MoCA (The Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and HAM-D (Hamilton depression rating scale) tests were used to assess the effects of ADT on depression and cognitive functions.

RESULTS

According to post-treatment results of MoCA test, patients had lower mean total scores in both the groups. The deficits were especially prominent in the areas of language ability and short-term memory capacity. In the comparison of two groups according to HAM-D tests, the scores were significantly higher in group1 at baseline-6 month, at baseline-12 month and at 6-12 month follow-up period (p = .003, p < .001, p = .023).There was a relationship between depression and deterioration of language and memory functions at 6th (p < .001, p = .002) and 12th months (p < .001, p = .046). Attention function was deteriorated in these patients at 6th (p < .001) and 12th months (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

ADT causes increase in depression and the deterioration of cognitive functions. ADT should be given carefully to these older group of patients with concomitant morbidities.

Salvage Therapies After 18F-Fluciclovine Detected Prostate Cancer Recurrences

BACKGROUND

F-Fluciclovine is the most recent prostate cancer (PCa)-directed PET radiotracer approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for detection of recurrent PCa. We report the treatments and outcomes of patients at our institution with PCa recurrences detected on F-fluciclovine PET/CT.

METHODS

We identified men with recurrent PCa detected on F-fluciclovine PET/CT performed between 2017 and 2018 who were previously treated definitively and analyzed their patterns of care and cancer-specific outcomes.

RESULTS

We identified 28 men with recurrent PCa detected on F-fluciclovine PET/CT. Twenty-three were initially treated with surgery and 13 also received postoperative radiation therapy (RT). Five patients were initially treated with definitive radiation. After surgery, the median time to F-fluciclovine PET/CT was 67 months (median prostate-specific antigen [PSA] of 1.63 ng/mL). After RT, the median time to F-fluciclovine PET/CT was 95 months with median PSA of 13.31 ng/mL. Six men recurred locally, 9 recurred in the pelvic nodes, 9 had distant nodal recurrences, and 4 had osseous metastases. Of the patients initially treated with surgery, 4 received salvage radiation and 3 received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Of the patients initially treated with surgery and postoperative RT, 3 received salvage pelvic nodal dissection, 4 received salvage radiation, and 2 received ADT. Of the patients initially treated with radiation, 4 received salvage ADT. All had PSA decline after salvage therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

F-fluciclovine PET/CT can localize PCa recurrences, and subsequent salvage therapies appear effective with decreasing PSA. Longer follow-up will reveal if these diagnostic tests and subsequent therapies will improve PCa survival.

Optimizing the risk threshold of lymph node involvement for performing extended pelvic lymph node dissection in prostate cancer patients: a cost-effectiveness analysis

BACKGROUND

Extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) may be omitted in prostate cancer (CaP) patients with a low predicted risk of lymph node involvement (LNI). The aim of the current study was to quantify the cost-effectiveness of using different risk thresholds for predicted LNI in CaP patients to inform decision making on omitting ePLND.

METHODS

Five different thresholds (2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 100%) used in practice for performing ePLND were compared using a decision analytic cohort model with the 100% threshold (i.e., no ePLND) as reference. Compared outcomes consisted of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs. Baseline characteristics for the hypothetical cohort were based on an actual Dutch patient cohort containing 925 patients who underwent ePLND with risks of LNI predicted by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center web-calculator. The best strategy was selected based on the incremental cost effectiveness ratio when applying a willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of €20,000 per QALY gained. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed with Monte Carlo simulation to assess the robustness of the results.

RESULTS

Costs and health outcomes were lowest (€4,858 and 6.04 QALYs) for the 100% threshold, and highest (€10,939 and 6.21 QALYs) for the 2% threshold, respectively. The incremental cost effectiveness ratio for the 2%, 5%, 10%, and 20% threshold compared with the first threshold above (i.e., 5%, 10%, 20%, and 100%) were €189,222/QALY, €130,689/QALY, €51,920/QALY, and €23,187/QALY respectively. Applying a WTP threshold of €20.000 the probabilities for the 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 100% threshold strategies being cost-effective were 0.0%, 0.3%, 4.9%, 30.3%, and 64.5% respectively.

CONCLUSION

Applying a WTP threshold of €20.000, completely omitting ePLND in CaP patients is cost-effective compared to other risk-based strategies. However, applying a 20% threshold for probable LNI to the Briganti 2012 nomogram or the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center web-calculator, may be a feasible alternative, in particular when higher WTP values are considered.

Adjuvant radiotherapy in node positive prostate cancer patients: a debate still on. when, for whom?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) found to have pathological positive lymph nodes (pN1s) after radical prostatectomy (RP) and extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) with regard to distant recurrence-free survival (RFS), according to both main tumour pathological characteristics and number of positive lymph nodes. Biochemical RFS, local RFS, overall survival (OS) and acute and late toxicity were assessed as secondary endpoints.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort of 187 consecutive patients with pN1 PCa were treated with aRT at the IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy. aRT on the tumour bed and pelvis was administered within 6 months of RP. Androgen deprivation therapy was administered according to the guidelines. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses predicting biochemical RFS, local RFS, distant RFS and OS rates were performed to assess whether the number of pN1s represented an independent prognostic factor. The Youden index was computed to find the optimal threshold for the number of pN1s able to discriminate between patients with or without biochemical and clinical relapse.

RESULTS

At 5 years, local RFS, distant RFS, biochemical RFS and OS were 68%, 71%, 56% and 94%, respectively. The median follow-up was 49 months. The number of pN1s was significantly associated with biochemical RFS, local RFS and distant RFS. The best threshold for discriminating between patients with or without biochemical and clinical relapse was five pN1s. In multivariate analyses, the number of pN1s was confirmed to be an independent predictor of biochemical RFS, local RFS and distant RFS, but not of OS. Multivariate analyses also showed an increased risk of biochemical relapse for increasing values of initial prostate-specific antigen and for patients with tumour vascular invasion. Local and distant RFS were also inversely correlated with significantly reduced risk for International Society of Urological Pathology grade group <3 (group 1 or 2 compared to group 3).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data confirmed the encouraging outcomes of patients with pN1 PCa treated with adjuvant treatments and the key role represented by the number of pN1s in predicting biochemical RFS, clinical RFS and distant RFS. Large prospective cohort studies and randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these results and to identify the subgroup of patients with pN1 PCa who would most benefit from aRT.

Management of Patients with Node-positive Prostate Cancer at Radical Prostatectomy and Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Optimal management of prostate cancer (PCa) patients with lymph node invasion at radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection still remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness of postoperative treatment strategies for pathologically node-positive PCa patients. The secondary aim was to identify the most relevant prognostic factors to guide the management of pN1 patients.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review was performed in January 2020 using Medline, Embase, and other databases. A total of 5063 articles were screened, and 26 studies including 12 537 men were selected for data synthesis and included in the current review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) recommendations.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Ten-year biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free, clinical recurrence-free, cancer-specific (CSS), and overall (OS) survival rates ranged from 28% to 56%, 70% to 92%, 72% to 98%, and 60% to 87.6%, respectively. A total of seven, five, and six studies assessed the oncological outcomes of observation, adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT), or adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), respectively. Initial observation followed by salvage therapies at the time of recurrence represents a safe option in selected patients with a low disease burden. The use of aRT with or without ADT might improve survival in men with locally advanced disease and a higher number of positive nodes. Risk stratification according to pathological Gleason score, number of positive nodes, pathological stage, and surgical margins status is the key to risk stratification and selection of the optimal postoperative therapy. Limitations of this systematic review are the retrospective design of the studies included and the lack of data on adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

While the majority of men with pN1 disease would experience BCR after surgery, long-term disease-free survival has been reported in selected patients. Management options to improve oncological outcomes include observation versus adjuvant therapies such as aRT and/or ADT. Disease characteristics should be used to select the optimal postoperative management for pN1 PCa patients.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Finding node-positive prostate cancer after a radical prostatectomy often leads to high postoperative prostate-specific antigen levels and is overall a poor prognostic factor. However, this does not necessarily translate into poor survival for all men. Management can be tailored to the severity of disease and options include observation, androgen deprivation therapy, and/or radiotherapy.

The Relationships between Survivals and Early Salvage Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Non-Organ Confined Prostate Cancer after Radical Prostatectomy

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is one salvage treatment used when prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurs after radical prostatectomy (RP), especially in high-risk prostate cancer (PC) patients. However, the optimal timing for salvage ADT (SADT) is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy of early SADT for non-organ confined PC. We investigated pathologically confirmed, non-organ confined PC patients who received SADT for PSA recurrence after RP. Patients with distant metastasis, those with lymph node involvement confirmed by lymph node dissection, and those who received neo-adjuvant or adjuvant therapy were excluded. Early SADT was defined as ADT initiated before PSA levels reached 0.5 ng/ml from the nadir PSA level after RP. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed for distant metastasis-free, PC-specific, and overall survival. Data from 345 patients were analyzed. The median follow-up duration was 82 months. The median PSA level was 10.9 ng/ml. Patients with T3b or T4 stage cancers represented 24.9% of the cohort; those with a Gleason score ≥9 represented 15.1%. The 10-year distant metastasis-free survival, PC-specific survival and overall survival were 87.1%, 92.0%, 80.9%, respectively. In univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses, SADT that was initiated when PSA levels were less than 0.5 ng/mL was significantly associated with improved distant metastasis-free survival, PC-specific survival, and overall survival in non-organ confined PC. Early SADT initiated in patients with PSA levels <0.5 ng/mL was associated with increased distant metastasis-free survival, PC-specific survival, and overall survival in non-organ confined PC after RP.

Recent Advances in the Management of High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer: Local Therapy, Systemic Therapy, and Biomarkers to Guide Treatment Decisions

High-risk prostate cancer accounts for approximately 15% of all prostate cancer diagnoses. Patients with high-risk disease have an increased risk of developing biochemical recurrence, metastases, and death from prostate cancer. As the optimal management of high-risk disease in patients with prostate cancer continues to evolve, the contemporary treatment paradigm is moving toward a multidisciplinary integrated approach of systemic and local therapy for patients with high-risk disease. The strategies for definitive, adjuvant, and salvage local treatment, including radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy, serve as the backbone of therapy for patients with localized disease. Systemic therapy decisions regarding use in combination with surgery, choice of therapy (hormone therapy, chemotherapy), and treatment duration continue to be refined. As more effective hormonal agents populate the treatment landscape for advanced prostate cancer, including abiraterone and next-generation antiandrogens, an opportunity is provided to explore these treatments in patients with localized disease in the hope of improving the long-term outcome for patients. Integration of innovative blood and tissue-based biomarkers to guide therapy selection for patients with high-risk disease is an area of active research. Contemporary studies are using such biomarkers to stratify patients and select therapies. In this review, we summarize contemporary evidence for local treatment strategies, systemic therapy options, and biomarkers in development for the management of high-risk prostate cancer in patients.

Adding radiotherapy to androgen deprivation therapy in men with node-positive prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several studies have tested the addition of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in node-positive prostate cancer (PCa) after radical prostatectomy (RP). This meta-analysis aims to assess the effects of adding RT to ADT in the treatment of PCa patients with lymph node invasion.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed and Embase through June 2018 for human studies comparing RT plus ADT versus ADT in men with node-positive PCa after RP. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end point was cancer-specific survival (CSS). Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the effects of RT plus ADT on OS and CSS were combined across studies using meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Five studies were selected for inclusion. Overall, 15,524 patients were enrolled in the 5 studies. This included 6309 (40.6%) patients receiving ADT, 4389 (28.3%) patients receiving adjuvant RT plus ADT, and 4826 (31.1%) patients receiving observation. In lymph node-positive PCa patients, the addition of adjuvant RT was associated with improved OS (HR: 0.74; 95% CI, 0.59-0.92; P = .008). Moreover, the addition of adjuvant RT was also associated with a dramatic CSS improvement (HR: 0.40; 95% CI, 0.27-0.59; P = .000).

CONCLUSIONS

Adding RT to ADT may be a clinically effective treatment option for men with lymph node-positive PCa after RP.

Long-term adherence to GnRH agonists in men with prostate cancer. A nation-wide population-based study in prostate cancer data base Sweden

Aim: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists are used to treat men with prostate cancer (PCa). To date, no study has fully assessed patterns of adherence to GnRH agonists. We investigated patterns of adherence to GnRH agonists using data from Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe).Methods: PCBaSe links the National Prostate Cancer Register (NPCR) Sweden to other healthcare registers and demographic databases. Men on primary or secondary GnRH agonists between 2006-2013 entered the study 45 days after GnRH agonists' initiation (run-in period) and exited at 3 years. Medication possession ratio quantified adherents (≥80%). Multivariable logistic regression models included age, injection interval, PCa risk categories, Charlson Comorbidity Index, prior PCa treatment, civil status and year of GnRH initiation. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) expressed odds of adherence.Results: Men on primary GnRH agonists (n = 8,105) were more adherent with increasing age (75-84 years compared to ≤65 years OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.23-1.81), longer injection intervals (365 days compared to 90 days OR: 3.29; 95% CI: 2.52-4.30) and higher PCa risk categories at diagnosis (distant metastasis compared to low risk PCa OR: 3.56; 95% CI: 2.54-5.00). Men on secondary GnRH agonists (n = 4,738) were more adherent with increasing age (≥85 years compared to ≤65 years OR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.23-2.22) and prior PCa treatment (anti-androgens compared to deferred treatment OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.23-1.82), (radiotherapy compared to deferred treatment OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.11-1.64).Conclusions: Longer injection intervals could be addressed in the clinical setting to improve adherence.

Treatment specific toxicities: Hormones, antihormones, radiation therapy

Session IV of the Second International Colloquium on Cardio-Oncology held in Kraków, focused on the cardiovascular risks of using hormone replacement therapy in breast cancer and androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer and continued the theme from Session 3 with a discussion of risk reduction strategies. The discussion then moved to an overview of modern radiation therapy and evolving mechanisms of cardioprotection. The risks and late cardiotoxic effects that must be considered in patients treated prior to the "modern era" were enumerated stressing the importance of long term follow-up of this population.

[When to introduce hormone therapy after total prostatectomy with positive lymph nodes? Study of the factors influencing the time of introduction of hormone therapy]

INTRODUCTION

Adjuvant hormone therapy is the standard treatment after total prostatectomy with positive lymph node. However, this treatment has side effects and at the time of the PSA era and extensive lymph node dissection, this principle is questioned. The aim of this study is to describe the oncological characteristics of patients that may explain the delay in introducing hormone therapy in patients with positive lymph node.

METHODS

Monocentric, retrospective study of 161 patients from November 1988 to February 2018 in a single French University Hospital, having undergone radical prostatectomy with positive lymph nodes on pathology. For each patient, preoperative data (age, clinical stage, biopsy results, d'Amico classification) and postoperative data (pathological results, number of lymph nodes removed, number of positive lympnodes, recurrence free survival, specific survival and overall survival) were collected. The date of introduction of hormone therapy was noted and survival without hormonal therapy was established according to the Kaplan Meier curve. The pre- and post-operative oncological factors that could influence hormone therapy introduction were investigated with Chi² and Student tests (statistically significant when P<0.05).

RESULTS

The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 12 [1-40]. The mean number of positive lymph nodes was 2.5 [1-24], the mean percentage of positive lymph nodes was 25% (2.5-100). After a mean follow-up of 95 months (3-354), 88 patients (54.6%) had no hormonal treatment. The average time to hormonal treatment was 40 months [0-310]. At 3 years, survival without hormone therapy was 52% and 51% at 5 years. Only the percentage of positive lymphnodes appeared to be a significant predictor of the introduction of hormone therapy. (29.32% vs. 21.99%, P=0.047). Hormone-free survival was significantly higher in patients with lymph node involvement less than 25% (P<0.0001) or with less than 2 positive lymph nodes (P=0.0294).

CONCLUSION

Lymph node invasion is a factor of poor prognosis after total prostatectomy and leads to introduce hormone therapy. Our study identified the percentage and number of positive lymph nodes as factors that identify patients who may be delayed in introducing this hormone therapy.

LEVEL OF PROOF

3.

Androgen deprivation therapy in men with node-positive prostate cancer treated with postoperative radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

In men with node-positive prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy there are limited data on the value of adding androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to postoperative radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether there is a clear oncologic benefit to ADT in the setting of node-positive prostate cancer treated with postoperative radiotherapy.

METHODS

We analyzed data for 372 prostate cancer patients treated at San Raffaele Hospital with postoperative radiotherapy for node-positive disease after radical prostatectomy, 272 received both ADT and radiotherapy. Eighty-six men were followed without an event for more than 10 years.

RESULTS

Patients who received postoperative radiotherapy + ADT had more aggressive disease, with higher preoperative PSA level, higher rate of ISUP grade 5, pT3b-T4 tumors and ≥3 positive nodes. At multivariable Cox regression, the comparison between men treated by postoperative radiotherapy + ADT vs. radiotherapy alone did not show a significant difference for overall (hazards ratio: 0.91; 95% confidence interval: 0.45, 1.84; P = 0.8) and cancer-specific survival (hazards ratio: 5.39; 95% confidence intervalI: 0.70, 41.39; P = 0.11). These results remained consistent in a number of sensitivity analyses, including propensity score matching. Consideration of 95% CIs suggests that a clinically significant benefit of ADT in node-positive patients receiving radiotherapy after surgery is unlikely.

CONCLUSIONS

We can exclude the sort of large survival benefit that would be required to justify the risks and toxicities of ADT in men with node-positive disease receiving postoperative radiotherapy. Awaiting larger and more powered studies on this topic, men with pN+ prostate cancer treated with postoperative radiotherapy should not receive ADT outside well-controlled clinical trials.

Association of National Cancer Institute-Sponsored Clinical Trial Network Group Studies With Guideline Care and New Drug Indications

Importance

National Cancer Institute Clinical Trial Network (NCTN) groups serve a vital role in identifying effective new antineoplastic regimens. However, the downstream clinical effect of their trials has not been systematically examined.

Objective

To examine the association of NCTN trials with guideline care and new drug indications.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study evaluated phase 3 SWOG Cancer Research Network clinical trials from January 1, 1980, through June 30, 2017. Only completed trials with published results were included. To be considered practice influential (PI), a trial must have been associated with guideline care through its inclusion in National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical guidelines or US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new drug approvals in favor of a recommended treatment. Data were analyzed from June 15, 2018, through March 29, 2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Estimated overall rate of PI trials, as well as trends over time. The total federal investment supporting the set of trials was also determined.

Results

In total, 182 trials consisting of 148 028 patients were studied. Eighty-two studies (45.1%; 95% CI, 37.7%-52.6%) were PI, of which 70 (38.5%) influenced NCCN guidelines, 6 (3.3%) influenced FDA new drug approvals, and 6 (3.3%) influenced both. The number of PI trials was 47 of 65 (72.3%) among those with positive findings and 35 of 117 (29.9%) among those with negative findings. Thus, 35 of 82 PI trials (42.7%) were based on studies with negative findings, with nearly half of these studies (17 of 35 [48.6%]) reaffirming standard of care compared with experimental therapy. The total federal investment spent in conducting the trials was $1.36 billion (2017 US dollars), a rate of $7.5 million per study or $16.6 million per PI trial.

Conclusions and Relevance

Nearly half of all phase 3 trials by one of the NCTN's largest groups were associated with guideline care or new drug indications, including those with positive and negative findings. Compared with the costs of a new drug approval in pharmaceutical companies, typically estimated at more than $1 billion, the amount of federal funds invested to provide this valuable evidence was modest. These results suggest that the NCTN program contributes clinically meaningful, cost-efficient evidence to guide patient care.

Landmarks in prostate cancer

The field of prostate cancer has been the subject of extensive research that has resulted in important discoveries and shaped our appreciation of this disease and its management. Advances in our understanding of the epidemiology, natural history, anatomy, detection, diagnosis, grading, staging, imaging, and management of prostate cancer have changed clinical practice and influenced guideline recommendations. The development of the Gleason score and subsequent modifications enabled accurate prediction of prognosis. Increased anatomical understanding and improved surgical techniques resulted in the development of nerve-sparing surgery for radical prostatectomy. The advent of active surveillance has changed the management of low-risk disease, and chemotherapy and hormonal therapy have improved the outcomes of patients with distant disease. Ongoing research and clinical trials are expected to yield more practice-changing results in the near future.