Cohort Profile: the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden and Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden 2.0

The risk for rectal cancer recurrence and overall mortality is not increased in men previously diagnosed with prostate cancer: a report from the Swedish colorectal cancer registry

INTRODUCTION

Limited data exists on oncological outcomes following rectal cancer surgery in men who have previously been diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC). This study aimed to assess overall mortality and rectal cancer recurrence in men previously diagnosed with PC who underwent bowel resection.

METHODS

Data from the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry identified men who had rectal cancer surgery between 2000 and 2016, and the National Prostate Cancer Registry was used to identify those with a prior PC diagnosis. Cox regression analysis with propensity score matching was employed for data analysis. The primary outcome was overall mortality. Secondary outcome was recurrence for rectal cancer.

RESULTS

Out of 13,299 men undergoing bowel resection for rectal cancer between 2000 and 2016, 1130 had a history of PC. Overall mortality did not significantly differ between men with and without a prior PC diagnosis. Cox regression analyses with propensity score matching revealed that men with previously diagnosed low- or intermediate-risk (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70-0.90) and high-risk PC (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.98) had lower overall mortality after rectal cancer surgery compared with men without a PC. There was no significant difference in rectal cancer recurrence between men with a previous low or intermediate-risk PC (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.74-1.14) or high-risk PC (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.52-1.01) compared with those without PC history.

CONCLUSION

Men undergoing rectal cancer surgery with a previous diagnosis of prostate cancer do not experience an increased risk of rectal cancer recurrence or overall mortality compared with men without a previous history of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality in men exposed to α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists

BACKGROUND

α1-Adrenergic receptor antagonists are commonly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. Preclinical studies suggest that they induce cell death and inhibit tumor growth. This study evaluated the risk of prostate cancer death in men using α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists.

METHODS

A population-based cohort study in Stockholm, Sweden (January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2019) included 451 779 men with a prostate-specific antigen test result. Study entry was 1 year after the first prostate-specific antigen test. Men were considered exposed at their second filled prescription. The primary outcome was prostate cancer mortality. Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality and prostate cancer incidence. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all outcomes. Inverse-probability weighting with marginal structural models accounted for time-dependent confounders.

RESULTS

Of 351 297 men in the final cohort, 39 856 (11.3%) were exposed to α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists. Median (interquartile range) follow-up for prostate cancer mortality was 8.9 (5.1-10.9) years; median (interquartile range) exposure time to α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists was 4.4 (2.0-7.6) years. There was no evidence of an association between α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist use and prostate cancer mortality, all-cause mortality, or high-grade prostate cancer. α1-Adrenergic receptor antagonist use was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.17) and low-grade prostate cancer (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.33). Men whose prostate cancer was treated with α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists underwent more frequent prostate-specific antigen testing.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show no significant association between α1-adrenergic receptor adrenoceptor antagonist exposure and prostate cancer mortality or high-grade prostate cancer. Although the preclinical evidence indicates a potential chemopreventive effect, this study's findings do not support it.

Target trial emulation using new comorbidity indices provided risk estimates comparable to a randomized trial

OBJECTIVES

To quantify the ability of two new comorbidity indices to adjust for confounding, by benchmarking a target trial emulation against the randomized controlled trial (RCT) result.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Observational study including 18,316 men from Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden 5.0, diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2008 and 2019 and treated with primary radical prostatectomy (RP, n = 14,379) or radiotherapy (RT, n = 3,937). The effect on adjusted risk of death from any cause after adjustment for comorbidity by use of two new comorbidity indices, the multidimensional diagnosis-based comorbidity index and the drug comorbidity index, were compared to adjustment for the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI).

RESULTS

Risk of death was higher after RT than RP (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.70-2.21). The difference decreased when adjusting for age, cancer characteristics, and CCI (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.06-1.66). Adjustment for the two new comorbidity indices further attenuated the difference (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.91-1.44). Emulation of a hypothetical pragmatic trial where also older men with any type of baseline comorbidity were included, largely confirmed these results (HR 1.10; 95% CI 0.95-1.26).

CONCLUSION

Adjustment for comorbidity using two new indices provided comparable risk of death from any cause in line with results of a RCT. Similar results were seen in a broader study population, more representative of clinical practice.

Cohort profile: The Obesity and Disease Development Sweden (ODDS) study, a pooled cohort

PURPOSE

The Obesity and Disease Development Sweden (ODDS) study was designed to create a large cohort to study body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and changes in weight and WC, in relation to morbidity and mortality.

PARTICIPANTS

ODDS includes 4 295 859 individuals, 2 165 048 men and 2 130 811 women, in Swedish cohorts and national registers with information on weight assessed once (2 555 098 individuals) or more (1 740 761 individuals), in total constituting 7 733 901 weight assessments at the age of 17-103 years in 1963-2020 (recalled weight as of 1911). Information on WC is available in 152 089 men and 212 658 women, out of whom 108 795 have repeated information on WC (in total 512 273 assessments). Information on morbidity and mortality was retrieved from national registers, with follow-up until the end of 2019-2021, varying between the registers.

FINDINGS TO DATE

Among all weight assessments (of which 85% are objectively measured), the median year, age and BMI (IQR) is 1985 (1977-1994) in men and 2001 (1991-2010) in women, age 19 (18-40) years in men and 30 (26-36) years in women and BMI 22.9 (20.9-25.4) kg/m2 in men and 23.2 (21.2-26.1) kg/m2 in women. Normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) is present in 67% of assessments in men and 64% in women and obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2) in 5% of assessments in men and 10% in women. The median (IQR) follow-up time from the first objectively measured or self-reported current weight assessment until emigration, death or end of follow-up is 31.4 (21.8-40.8) years in men and 19.6 (9.3-29.0) years in women. During follow-up, 283 244 men and 123 457 women died.

FUTURE PLANS

The large sample size and long follow-up of the ODDS Study will provide robust results on anthropometric measures in relation to risk of common diseases and causes of deaths, and novel findings in subgroups and rarer outcomes.

Prognosis of Gleason score 8 prostatic adenocarcinoma in needle biopsies: a nationwide population-based study

A 5-tier grouping of Gleason scores has recently been proposed. Studies have indicated prognostic heterogeneity within these groups. We assessed prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) and all-cause mortality (ACM) for men diagnosed with Gleason score 3 + 5 = 8, 4 + 4 = 8 and 5 + 3 = 8 acinar adenocarcinoma on needle biopsy in a population-based national cohort. The Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden 5.0 was used for survival analysis with PCSM and ACM at 5 and 10 years as endpoints. Multivariable Cox regression models controlling for socioeconomic factors, stage and primary treatment type were used for PCSM and ACM. Among 199,620 men reported with prostate cancer in 2000-2020, 172,112 were diagnosed on needle biopsy. In 18,281 (11%), there was a Gleason score of 8 in needle biopsies, including a Gleason score of 3 + 5, 4 + 4 and 5 + 3 in 11%, 86% and 2.3%, respectively. The primary treatment was androgen deprivation therapy (55%), deferred treatment (8%), radical prostatectomy (16%) or radical radiotherapy (21%). PCSM in men with Gleason scores of 3 + 5, 4 + 4 and 5 + 3 at 5 years of follow-up was 0.10 (95% CI 0.09-0.12), 0.22 (0.22-0.23) and 0.32 (0.27-0.36), respectively, and at 10 years 0.19 (0.17-0.22), 0.34 (0.33-0.35) and 0.44 (0.39-0.49), respectively. There was a significantly higher PCSM after 5 and 10 years in men with Gleason score 5 + 3 cancers than in those with 4 + 4 and in Gleason score 4 + 4 cancers than in those with 3 + 5. Grouping of Gleason scores will eliminate the prognostic granularity of Gleason scoring, thus diminishing the prognostic significance of this proposed grading system.

Risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide in partners of men with prostate cancer: a national cohort study

BACKGROUND

A diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) may cause psychosocial distress not only in a man but also in his intimate partner. However, long-term risks of depression, anxiety, or suicide in partners of men with PC are largely unknown.

METHODS

A national cohort study was conducted of 121 530 partners of men diagnosed with PC during 1998-2017 and 1 093 304 population-based controls in Sweden. Major depression, anxiety disorder, and suicide death were ascertained through 2018. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) while adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

Partners of men with high-risk PC had increased risks of major depression (adjusted HR = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30 to 1.39) and anxiety disorder (adjusted HR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.20 to 1.30), which remained elevated 10 or more years later. Suicide death was increased in partners of men with distant metastases (adjusted HR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.08 to 5.22) but not other high-risk PC (adjusted HR =1.14, 95% CI = 0.70 to 1.88). Among partners of men with high-risk PC, risks of major depression and anxiety disorder were highest among those 80 years of age or older (adjusted HR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.53 to 1.96; adjusted HR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.47 to 1.96, respectively), whereas suicide death was highest among those younger than 60 years of age (adjusted HR = 7.55, 95% CI = 2.20 to 25.89). In contrast, partners of men with low- or intermediate-risk PC had modestly or no increased risks of these outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort, partners of men with high-risk PC had increased risks of major depression and anxiety disorder, which persisted for 10 or more years. Suicide death was increased 2-fold in partners of men with distant metastases. Partners as well as men with PC need psychosocial support and close follow-up for psychosocial distress.

Mortality Risks Associated with Depression in Men with Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC) have an increased risk of depression; however, it is unclear to what extent depression affects long-term survival. A better understanding of such effects is needed to improve long-term care and outcomes for men with PC.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the associations between major depression and mortality in a national cohort of men with PC.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A national cohort study was conducted of all 180 189 men diagnosed with PC in Sweden during 1998-2017. Subsequent diagnoses of major depression were ascertained from nationwide outpatient and inpatient records through 2018.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Deaths were identified from nationwide records through 2018. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality associated with major depression, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. Subanalyses assessed differences by PC treatment during 2005-2017. PC-specific mortality was examined using competing risks models.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

In 1.3 million person-years of follow-up, 16 134 (9%) men with PC were diagnosed with major depression and 65 643 (36%) men died. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities, major depression was associated with significantly higher all-cause mortality in men with high-risk PC (HR, 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-1.55) or low- or intermediate-risk PC (1.64; 1.56-1.71). These risks were elevated regardless of PC treatment or age at PC diagnosis, except for youngest men (<55 yr) in whom the risks were nonsignificant. Major depression was also associated with increased PC-specific mortality in men with either high-risk PC (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.28-1.43) or low- or intermediate-risk PC (1.42; 1.27-1.59). This study was limited to Sweden and will need replication in other countries when feasible.

CONCLUSIONS

In this national cohort of men with PC, major depression was associated with ∼50% higher all-cause mortality. Men with PC need timely detection and treatment of depression to support their long-term outcomes and survival.

PATIENT SUMMARY

In this report, we examined the effects of depression on survival in men with prostate cancer. We found that among all men with prostate cancer, those who developed depression had a 50% higher risk of dying than those without depression. Men with prostate cancer need close monitoring for the detection and treatment of depression to improve their long-term health outcomes.

Prediagnostic Prostate-specific Antigen Testing and Clinical Characteristics in Men with Lethal Prostate Cancer

Background and objective

Prostate cancer (PC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men worldwide. Opportunistic testing with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has limited impact on PC mortality. Our objective was to assess prediagnostic PSA testing patterns and clinical characteristics at diagnosis in men with lethal PC.

Methods

We conducted a population-based observational study of all men dying from PC in Stockholm County, Sweden, from 2015 to 2019. Data were retrieved from the National Prostate Cancer Register and the Stockholm PSA and Biopsy Register. If the first PSA was registered within 1 yr before diagnosis, men were categorised as PSA naïve. If an elevated PSA level was registered >1 yr before diagnosis without leading to prostate biopsy or repeating PSA within 1 yr, men were categorised as having delayed diagnosis. If a normal PSA level was registered within 5 yr before diagnosis, followed by an elevated PSA level that resulted in PC diagnosis within 1 yr, men were categorised as PSA tested. Clinical characteristics at diagnosis were stratified with D'Amico risk group classification.

Key findings and limitations

Among 1473 men dying from PC, PSA test history was available for 995. Of these men, 60% (n = 592) were PSA naïve, 25% (n = 250) received delayed diagnosis, and 15% (n = 153) were PSA tested. After examining all 1473 men, 25% (n = 350) were diagnosed with low- or intermediate-risk cancer, 48% (n = 687) with high-risk cancer, and 27% (n = 385) with metastatic disease. Limitations include the retrospective design.

Conclusions and clinical implications

Many men with lethal PC lacked PSA testing before diagnosis or had been tested without subsequent follow-up. Nearly half of the study population was diagnosed with high-risk cancer and almost one-third with metastatic disease. These findings suggest further evaluation of the current opportunistic PSA testing approach.

Patient summary

Data from a population-based observational study of men dying from prostate cancer showed that many of them did not undergo either prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing before diagnosis or subsequent follow-up if tested. These findings implicate deficiencies in the current opportunistic PSA testing approach.

Prognosis of Gleason Score 9-10 Prostatic Adenocarcinoma in Needle Biopsies: A Nationwide Population-based Study

BACKGROUND

Since 2014, prostate cancer is reported using five-tier grouping of Gleason scores. Studies have suggested prognostic heterogeneity within the groups.

OBJECTIVE

We assessed the risk of prostate cancer death for men diagnosed with Gleason scores 4 + 5, 5 + 4, and 5 + 5 on needle biopsy in a population-based cohort.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We used the data from Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe) 4.0 for a survival analysis. Among 199 620 men reported to have prostate cancer in 2000-2020, 172 112 were diagnosed on needle biopsy. The primary treatment was classified as androgen deprivation therapy (66%), deferred treatment (5%), radical prostatectomy (7%), or radical radiotherapy (21%).

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The risks of death from prostate cancer in men with Gleason score 9-10 at 5 and 10 yr were used as endpoints. Multivariable Cox regression models controlling for socioeconomic factors and primary treatment were used for time-to-event analyses of death from prostate cancer and death from any causes.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

A total of 20 419 (12%) men had a Gleason score of 9-10, including Gleason scores of 4 + 5, 5 + 4, and 5 + 5 in 14 333 (70%), 4223 (21%), and 1863 (9%) men, respectively. The risks of prostate cancer death for men with Gleason scores 4 + 5, 5 + 4, and 5 + 5 at 10 yr of follow-up were 0.45 (confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.46), 0.56 (0.55-0.58), and 0.66 (0.63-0.68), respectively. The risks of death of any cause for men with Gleason scores 4 + 5, 5 + 4, and 5 + 5 at 10 yr were 0.73 (CI 0.72-0.74), 0.81 (0.80-0.83), and 0.87 (0.85-0.89), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate in the largest and most complete cohort analyzed to date that collapsing the Gleason scores by grouping results in loss of prognostic information in men with Gleason score 9-10 cancer.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Survival of prostate cancer patients with the highest tumor grades varies depending on grade composition.

Time trends in the use of curative treatment in men 70 years and older with nonmetastatic prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Undertreatment of otherwise healthy men in their seventies with prostate cancer has been reported previously.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using information in a Swedish prostate cancer research database, patterns of management and cancer-specific mortality were compared across age groups in over 70,000 men diagnosed with intermediate- or high-risk nonmetastatic prostate cancer between 2008 and 2020. Crude probabilities of death were estimated non-parametrically. Staging procedures, primary treatment, and cancer death were compared using regression models, adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics.

RESULTS

During the study period, the proportion of men treated with curative intent increased in ages 70-74 (intermediate-risk from 45% to 72% and high-risk from 49% to 84%), 75-79 (intermediate-risk from 11% to 52% and high-risk from 12% to 70%), and 80-84 years (intermediate-risk from < 1% to 14% and high-risk from < 1% to 30%). Older age was associated with lower likelihoods of staging investigations and curative treatment, also after adjustment for tumor characteristics and comorbidity. Men treated with curative intent and those initially managed conservatively had lower crude risks of prostate cancer death than men receiving androgen deprivation treatment (ADT). In adjusted analyses, ADT was associated with higher prostate cancer mortality than curative treatment across ages and risk groups. Among men managed conservatively, prostate cancer mortality was higher in ages 70 and above.

INTERPRETATION

Use of curative treatment increased substantially in older men with prostate cancer between 2008 and 2020. Our findings suggest reduced age-bias and under-treatment, likely reflecting improved individualized decision-making and adherence to guidelines recommending more active management of older men.

Development and validation of a multi-dimensional diagnosis-based comorbidity index that improves prediction of death in men with prostate cancer: Nationwide, population-based register study

Assessment of comorbidity is crucial for confounding adjustment and prediction of mortality in register-based studies, but the commonly used Charlson comorbidity index is not sufficiently predictive. We aimed to develop a multidimensional diagnosis-based comorbidity index (MDCI) that captures comorbidity better than the Charlson Comorbidity index. The index was developed based on 286,688 men free of prostate cancer randomly selected from the Swedish general population, and validated in 54,539 men without and 68,357 men with prostate cancer. All ICD-10 codes from inpatient and outpatient discharges during 10 years prior to the index date were used to define variables indicating frequency of code occurrence, recency, and total duration of related hospital admissions. Penalized Cox regression was used to predict 10-year all-cause mortality. The MDCI predicted risk of death better than the Charlson comorbidity index, with a c-index of 0.756 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.751, 0.762) vs 0.688 (95% CI = 0.683, 0.693) in the validation cohort of men without prostate cancer. Men in the lowest vs highest MDCI quartile had distinctively different survival in the validation cohort of men with prostate cancer, with an overall hazard ratio [HR] of 5.08 (95% CI = 4.90, 5.26). This was also consistent within strata of age and Charlson comorbidity index, e.g. HR = 5.90 (95% CI = 4.65, 7.50) in men younger than 60 years with CCI 0. These results indicate that comorbidity assessment in register-based studies can be improved by use of all ICD-10 codes and taking related frequency, recency, and duration of hospital admissions into account.

Risk of prostate cancer death after radical radiotherapy with neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy with bicalutamide or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists

BACKGROUND

Oncological outcome after radical radiotherapy (RRT) combined with neoadjuvant and adjuvant androgen suppression therapy (AST) may differ according to type of AST. The aim of this nationwide register-based study was to investigate risk of prostate cancer (Pca) death after different neoadjuvant and adjuvant ASTs; (i) bicalutamide, (ii) gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH) or (iii) combined bicalutamide and GnRH (CAB), together with RRT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data for 6882 men diagnosed with high-risk Pca between 2007 and 2020 and treated with primary RRT was retrieved from Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe) 5.0. Time to Pca death according to type of neoadjuvant and adjuvant AST was assessed by use of Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for putative confounders.

RESULTS

Data were stratified by RRT type since the effect of AST in risk of Pca death differed according to type of RRT. Compared with the reference RRT combined with neoadjuvant CAB/adjuvant GnRH, risk of Pca death for men treated with CAB/bicalutamide and conventionally fractionated external beam radiotherapy (CF-EBRT) was hazard ratio (HR) 0.73 (95% CI: 0.50-1.04), hypofractionated EBRT (HF-EBRT), HR 1.35 (95% CI: 0.65-2.81) and EBRT with high dose rate brachytherapy (EBRT-HDRBT), HR 0.85 (95% CI: 0.37-1.95). Risk of Pca death for men treated with bicalutamide/bicalutamide and: (i) CF-EBRT was HR 2.35 (95% CI: 1.42-3.90), (ii) HF-EBRT, HR 0.70 (95% CI: 0.26-1.85), (iii) HF-EBRT, HR 4.07 (95% CI: 1.88-8.77) vs the reference.

CONCLUSION

In this observational study, risk of Pca death between men receiving different combinations of AST varied according to RRT type. No difference was found in risk of Pca death for men treated with bicalutamide or GnRH as adjuvant therapy to RRT following neoadjuvant CAB. Risk of Pca death was increased for men with monotherapy neo-/adjuvant bicalutamide in combination with CF-EBRT or EBRT-HDRBT.

Men's Achilles' heel: prostate cancer and the reconstruction of masculinity

The aim of this study was to investigate how Swedish men diagnosed with prostate cancer understand the effects of their treatment in relation to sexual health and masculinity. Utilising a phenomenological and sociologically informed approach, the study involved interviews with 21 Swedish men who experienced problems following treatment. The results showed that participants' initial response post-treatment, involved the development of new bodily understandings and socially informed strategies to handle incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Due to impotence and the loss of ejaculatory ability following treatments such as surgery, participants re-articulated the meaning of intimacy, as well as their understanding of masculinity and themselves as ageing men. Unlike in previous research, such a re-articulation of masculinity and sexual health is understood as taking place within rather than in opposition to hegemonic masculinity.

Risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer; a nationwide cohort study

PURPOSE

To assess whether androgens play a role in explaining the sex related differences in the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

A nationwide matched cohort study was conducted employing the Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe) 4.0 during the study period 2006-2016. Prostate cancer (PC) patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were treated as exposed. Prostate cancer-free men from the general population were randomly selected and matched to the index case by birth year and county of residence, forming the unexposed group. All were followed until a diagnosis of CRC, death, emigration, or end of the study period. The risk of CRC among ADT exposed PC patients compared to unexposed cancer-free men was calculated using a flexible parametric survival model and expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

There was an increased risk of CRC among ADT exposed PC patients compared to unexposed cancer-free men (HR 1.27 [95% CI 1.15-1.41]), in particular an increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the colon (HR 1.33 [95% CI 1.17-1.51]) and more specifically an increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the distal colon (HR 1.53 [95% CI 1.26-1.85]). Examination of latency effects yielded significantly decreased HRs over time for CRC (p = 0.049 for trend).

CONCLUSIONS

This population-based study found an increased risk of CRC among PC patients exposed to ADT, specifically adenocarcinoma of the distal colon, which indicates an increased association between ADT (PC + ADT) and CRC but not a positive dose-response trend questioning a true causal effect.

Long-term Risks of Depression and Suicide Among Men with Prostate Cancer: A National Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

A diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) may cause psychosocial distress that worsens quality of life; however, long-term mental health outcomes are unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the long-term risks of major depression and death by suicide in a large population-based cohort.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This was a national cohort study of 180 189 men diagnosed with PC during 1998-2017 and 1 801 890 age-matched, population-based, control men in Sweden.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Major depression and death by suicide were ascertained from nationwide outpatient, inpatient, and death records up to 2018. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. Subanalyses assessed differences by PC treatment during 2005-2017.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Men diagnosed with high-risk PC had higher relative rates of major depression (adjusted HR [aHR] 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.75-1.89) and death by suicide (aHR 2.43, 95% CI 2.01-2.95). These associations persisted for ≥10 yr after PC diagnosis. The relative increase in major depression was lower among those treated with radiation (aHR 1.44, 95% CI 1.31-1.57) or surgery (aHR 1.60, 95% CI 1.31-1.95) in comparison to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone (aHR 2.02, 95% CI 1.89-2.16), whereas the relative rate of suicide death was higher only among those treated solely with ADT (aHR 2.83, 95% CI 1.80-4.43). By contrast, men with low- or intermediate-risk PC had a modestly higher relative rate of major depression (aHR 1.19, 95% CI 1.16-1.23) and higher relative rate of suicide death at 3-12 mo after PC diagnosis (aHR 1.88, 95% CI 1.11-3.18) but not across the entire follow-up period (aHR 1.02, 95% CI 0.84-1.25). This study was limited to Sweden and will need replication in other populations.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort, high-risk PC was associated with substantially higher relative rates of major depression and death by suicide, which persisted for ≥10 yr after PC diagnosis. PC survivors need close follow-up for timely detection and treatment of psychosocial distress.

PATIENT SUMMARY

In a large Swedish population, men with aggressive prostate cancer had higher long-term relative rates of depression and suicide.

Frequency of Biopsy and Tumor Grade Before vs After Introduction of Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Importance

In randomized clinical trials (RCTs), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before prostate biopsy has been associated with fewer biopsies, decreased detection of Gleason score 6 cancers, and increased detection of Gleason score 7 or higher cancers.

Objective

To study whether MRI of the prostate before the decision to biopsy is associated with biopsy frequency and distribution of Gleason score in clinical practice.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This is a retrospective, population-based cohort study of men in Jönköping Region, Sweden. Men with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level measured between November 2011 and 2020 were monitored until January 31, 2021. Men with known prostate cancer were excluded. Data analysis was performed from July to December 2022.

Exposures

Data on repeated PSA measures, prostate biopsies, and MRI prostate were extracted from health care records, and cancer characteristics were obtained from The National Prostate Cancer Register.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The proportions of men who underwent prostate biopsy and risk of Gleason score 6 or Gleason score 7 or higher cancer and negative biopsy before and after introduction of MRI were calculated.

Results

In this cohort study of 23 802 men (mean [SD] age, 60.8 [13.6] years) who underwent PSA testing, when the use of MRI increased, fewer biopsies were performed (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.72-0.97) and the odds of detecting Gleason score 6 cancer decreased (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.33-0.64), whereas the odds of detecting Gleason score 7 or higher cancer increased (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.02-1.50).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, the introduction of MRI to clinical practice was associated with a decreased proportion of men who underwent a biopsy and decreased detection of Gleason score 6 cancer but increased detection of Gleason score 7 or higher cancer. These clinical data support the use of prostate MRI before biopsy in an effort to avoid unnecessary biopsies.

Risks of alcohol and drug use disorders in prostate cancer survivors: a national cohort study

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PC) survivors may potentially use substances to cope with psychological distress or poorly controlled physical symptoms. Little is known, however, about the long-term risks of alcohol use disorder (AUD) or drug use disorders in men with PC.

METHODS

A national cohort study was conducted in Sweden of 180 189 men diagnosed with PC between 1998 and 2017 and 1 801 890 age-matched population-based control men. AUD and drug use disorders were ascertained from nationwide records through 2018. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) while adjusting for sociodemographic factors and prior psychiatric disorders. Subanalyses examined differences by PC treatment from 2005 to 2017.

RESULTS

Men with high-risk PC had increased risks of both AUD (adjusted HR = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.33 to 1.57) and drug use disorders (adjusted HR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.67 to 2.24). Their AUD risk was highest in the first year and was no longer significantly elevated 5 years after PC diagnosis, whereas their drug use disorders risk remained elevated 10 years after PC diagnosis (adjusted HR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.45 to 3.52), particularly opioid use disorder (adjusted HR = 3.07, 95% CI = 1.61 to 5.84). Those treated only with androgen-deprivation therapy had the highest risks of AUD (adjusted HR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.62 to 2.25) and drug use disorders (adjusted HR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.70 to 2.92). Low- or intermediate-risk PC was associated with modestly increased risks of AUD (adjusted HR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.30 to 1.46) and drug use disorders (adjusted HR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.34).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort, men with PC had significantly increased risks of both AUD and drug use disorders, especially those with high-risk PC and treated only with androgen-deprivation therapy. PC survivors need long-term psychosocial support and timely detection and treatment of AUD and drug use disorders.

Variations in the Uptake of Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer and Its Impact on Outcomes

Background

Regional differences in active surveillance (AS) uptake for prostate cancer (PC) illustrate an inequality in treatment strategies.

Objective

To examine the association between regional differences in AS uptake and transition to radical treatment, start of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), watchful waiting, or death.

Design setting and participants

A Swedish population-based cohort study was conducted including men in the National Prostate Cancer Register in Sweden with low-risk or favorable intermediate-risk PC, starting AS from January 1, 2007 and continuing till December 31, 2019.

Intervention

Regional tradition of low, intermediate, or high proportions of immediate radical treatment.

Outcomes measurements and statistical analysis

Probabilities of transition from AS to radical treatment, start of ADT, watchful waiting, or death from other causes were assessed.

Results and limitations

We included 13 679 men. The median age was 66 yr, median PSA 5.1 ng/ml, and median follow-up 5.7 yr. Men from regions with a high AS uptake had a lower probability of transition to radical treatment (36%) than men from regions with a low AS uptake (40%; absolute difference 4.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-7.2), but not a higher probability of AS failure defined as the start of ADT (absolute difference 0.4%; 95% CI -0.7 to 1.4). There were no statistically significant differences in the probability of transition to watchful waiting or death from other causes. Limitations include uncertainty in the estimation of remaining lifetime and transition to watchful waiting.

Conclusions

A regional tradition of a high AS uptake is associated with a lower probability of transition to radical treatment, but not with AS failure. A low AS uptake suggests overtreatment.

Patient summary

There are considerable regional differences in active surveillance (AS) uptake for prostate cancer. This study compared the outcomes of AS in different regions and found no association between AS uptake and failure of AS; it suggests that a low AS uptake indicates overtreatment.

H3 histone methylation landscape in male urogenital cancers: from molecular mechanisms to epigenetic biomarkers and therapeutic targets

During the last decades, male urogenital cancers (including prostate, renal, bladder and testicular cancers) have become one of the most frequently encountered malignancies affecting all ages. While their great variety has promoted the development of various diagnosis, treatment and monitoring strategies, some aspects such as the common involvement of epigenetic mechanisms are still not elucidated. Epigenetic processes have come into the spotlight in the past years as important players in the initiation and progression of tumors, leading to a plethora of studies highlighting their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and even as therapeutic targets. Thus, fostering research on the various epigenetic mechanisms and their roles in cancer remains a priority for the scientific community. This review focuses on one of the main epigenetic mechanisms, namely, the methylation of the histone H3 at various sites and its involvement in male urogenital cancers. This histone modification presents a great interest due to its modulatory effect on gene expression, leading either to activation (e.g., H3K4me3, H3K36me3) or repression (e.g., H3K27me3, H3K9me3). In the last few years, growing evidence has demonstrated the aberrant expression of enzymes that methylate/demethylate histone H3 in cancer and inflammatory diseases, that might contribute to the initiation and progression of such disorders. We highlight how these particular epigenetic modifications are emerging as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or targets for the treatment of urogenital cancers.

Association between atherogenic lipids and GnRH agonists for prostate cancer in men with T2DM: a nationwide, population-based cohort study in Sweden

BACKGROUND

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH) used in prostate cancer (PCa) are associated with atherogenic dyslipidaemia. It can be assumed that GnRH need to be used with greater caution in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study investigated association of GnRH with atherogenic lipids (AL) in PCa men with T2DM.

METHODS

Two cohorts including 38,311 men with 11 years follow-up based on Swedish national registers were defined (PCa-Exposure cohort and GnRH-Exposure cohort). Based on European guidelines on cardiovascular diseases (CVD), primary outcomes were defined as: 1.0 mmol/L increase in AL and lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) intensification. We used Cox proportional-hazards models and Kaplan-Meier curves to assess the association.

RESULTS

There was an association between GnRH and increased AL (i.e., triglyceride, PCa-Exposure cohort: HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.48-2.10; GnRH-Exposure cohort: HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.38-2.57). There was also an association between PCa diagnosis and increased AL. In contrast, no association between LLT intensification and GnRH was found.

CONCLUSION

In this large population-based study, men with T2DM on GnRH for PCa had an increased risk of increased atherogenic lipids. These results highlight the need to closely monitor lipids and to be ready to intensify lipid-lowering therapy in men with T2DM on GnRH for PCa.

Use of Antiepileptic Drugs and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Nationwide Case-Control Study in Prostate Cancer Data Base Sweden

An inverse association between use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and prostate cancer (PCa) has been suggested, putatively due to the histone deacetylases inhibitory (HDACi) properties of the AEDs. In a case-control study in Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe), PCa cases diagnosed between 2014 and 2016 were matched to five controls by year of birth and county of residence. AED prescriptions were identified in the Prescribed Drug Registry. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for risk of PCa were estimated using multivariable conditional logistic regression, adjusted for civil status, education level, Charlson comorbidity index, number of outpatient visits, and cumulative duration of hospital stay. Dose responses in different PCa risk categories and HDACi properties of specific AED substances were further explored. 1738/31591 (5.5%) cases and 9674/156802 (6.2%) controls had been exposed to AED. Overall, users of any AED had a reduced risk of PCa as compared to nonusers (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.87-0.97) which was attenuated by adjustment to healthcare utilisation. A reduced risk was also observed in all models for high-risk or metastatic PCa in AED users compared to nonusers (OR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81-0.97). No significant findings were observed for dose response or HDACi analyses. Our findings suggest a weak inverse association between AED use and PCa risk, which was attenuated by adjustment for healthcare utilisation. Moreover, our study showed no consistent dose-response pattern and no support for a stronger reduction related to HDAC inhibition. Further studies focusing on advanced PCa and PCa treatments are needed to better analyse the association between use of AED and risk of PCa.

Estimation in discrete time coarsened multivariate longitudinal models

We consider the analysis of longitudinal data of multiple types of events where some of the events are observed on a coarser level (e.g. grouped) at some time points during the follow-up, for example, when certain events, such as disease progression, are only observable during parts of follow-up for some subjects, causing gaps in the data, or when the time of death is observed but the cause of death is unknown. In this case, there is missing data in key characteristics of the event history such as onset, time in state, and number of events. We derive the likelihood function, score and observed information under independent and non-informative coarsening, and conduct a simulation study where we compare bias, empirical standard errors, and confidence interval coverage of estimators based on direct maximum likelihood, Monte Carlo Expectation Maximisation, ignoring the coarsening thus acting as if no event occurred, and artificial right censoring at the first time of coarsening. Longitudinal data on drug prescriptions and survival in men receiving palliative treatment for prostate cancer is used to estimate the parameters of one of the data-generating models. We demonstrate that the performance depends on several factors, including sample size and type of coarsening.

Real World Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic, Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Treated With Radium-223 in Routine Clinical Practice in Sweden

AIM

Estimate the effect of Radium-223 (Ra-223) on the incidence of bone fractures, prostate cancer death, and all-cause death compared with other standard treatments for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

METHODS

Using a cohort design, we estimated the effect of Ra-223 on the risk of bone fractures, all-cause and prostate cancer-specific mortality across different lines of treatment for mCRPC using Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (2013-2018). The comparator group comprised other standard treatments for mCRPC. We used 36-month risk differences and hazard ratios (HRs) as effect estimates.

RESULTS

The number of eligible individuals was 635, 453, 262, and 84 for the first-, second-, third-, and fourth-line cohorts, respectively. When compared Ra-223 to other standard treatments, the difference in the 36-month risk of fracture was 6% (95% confidence interval [CI], -7% to 18%) in the first-line cohort (n = 635) and 8% (95% CI, -7% to 18%) in the second-line cohort (n = 453). The number of fractures in the third-/fourth-line cohorts was too small for an adjusted comparison. The difference in 36-month mortality was higher in the first-line cohort 13% (95% CI, -3% to 31%), but lower in the second- and third-/fourth-line cohorts-8% (95% CI, -23% to 7%) and -14% (95% CI, -21% to 16%) respectively. Most deaths were due to prostate cancer.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that the difference in the risk of fractures is small, if any. A difference in the risk of mortality may be present in first-line treatment, but a decreased risk of mortality was observed in second and later lines of treatment. The results on mortality need to be considered in the context of potential unmeasured or residual confounding.

Hyaluronic acid spacer in prostate cancer radiotherapy: dosimetric effects, spacer stability and long-term toxicity and PRO in a phase II study

BACKGROUND

Perirectal spacers may be beneficial to reduce rectal side effects from radiotherapy (RT). Here, we present the impact of a hyaluronic acid (HA) perirectal spacer on rectal dose as well as spacer stability, long-term gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity and patient-reported outcome (PRO).

METHODS

In this phase II study 81 patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer received transrectal injections with HA before external beam RT (78 Gy in 39 fractions). The HA spacer was evaluated with MRI four times; before (MR0) and after HA-injection (MR1), at the middle (MR2) and at the end (MR3) of RT. GI and GU toxicity was assessed by physician for up to five years according to the RTOG scale. PROs were collected using the Swedish National Prostate Cancer Registry and Prostate cancer symptom scale questionnaires.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction in rectal V70% (54.6 Gy) and V90% (70.2 Gy) between MR0 and MR1, as well as between MR0 to MR2 and MR3. From MR1 to MR2/MR3, HA thickness decreased with 28%/32% and CTV-rectum space with 19%/17% in the middle level. The cumulative late grade ≥ 2 GI toxicity at 5 years was 5% and the proportion of PRO moderate or severe overall bowel problems at 5 years follow-up was 12%. Cumulative late grade ≥ 2 GU toxicity at 5 years was 12% and moderate or severe overall urinary problems at 5 years were 10%.

CONCLUSION

We show that the HA spacer reduced rectal dose and long-term toxicity.

Choice of imputation method for missing metastatic status affected estimates of metastatic prostate cancer incidence

OBJECTIVES

To study how handling missing data on M stage in a clinical cancer register affects estimates of incidence of metastatic prostate cancer.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Estimates of age-standardized incidence of metastatic prostate cancer were obtained by the use of data in a population-based clinical cancer register in Sweden and using four methods for imputation of missing M stage. Adjusted survival was used to compare men with known and imputed M stage.

RESULTS

The proportion of men with missing M stage was high (66%) and varied according to the risk group and over calendar time. The estimated incidence of metastatic disease varied depending on imputation method, with all methods indicating a decreasing incidence over time. A combination of deterministic imputation (DI) and multiple imputation (MI) produced adjusted survival curves for men with imputed M stage that best resembled the survival for men with known M stage.

CONCLUSIONS

Plausible estimates of incidence of metastatic prostate cancer in clinical cancer registers can be obtained by the use of a combination of DI of missing M stage and MI.

Diagnostic activity impacts lifetime risk of prostate cancer diagnosis more strongly than life expectancy

The main aim of the study was to determine the impact of diagnostic activity and life expectancy on the lifetime risk of a prostate cancer diagnosis. We used a state transition simulation model based on Swedish population-based data to simulate life trajectories for 2,000,000 men from age 40 to 100 in order to estimate the lifetime risk of a prostate cancer diagnosis. Risk estimates were determined by the level of diagnostic activity and estimated life expectancy. Higher exposure to diagnostic activity resulted in more prostate cancer diagnoses. This was especially true for men diagnosed with low or intermediate grade disease. Men exposed to high diagnostic compared to low diagnostic activity had a five-fold increased lifetime risk (22% vs. 5%) of being diagnosed with a low or intermediate-risk prostate cancer and half the risk of being diagnosed with a high-risk prostate cancer (6% vs. 13%). Men with a long life expectancy had a higher lifetime risk of a prostate cancer diagnosis both overall (21% vs. 15%) and in all risk categories when compared to men with a short life expectancy. The lifetime risk of a prostate cancer diagnosis is strongly influenced by diagnostic activity and to a lesser degree by life expectancy.

Surgeon volume and patient-reported urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. Population-based register study in Sweden

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between surgeon volume and urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

METHODS

A total of 8326 men in The National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden (NPCR) underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) between 2017 and 2019 of whom 56% (4668/8 326) had responded to a questionnaire one year after RARP. The questionnaire included the question: 'How much urine leakage do you experience?' with the response alternatives 'Not at all', 'A little', defined as continence and 'Moderately', 'Much/Very much' as incontinence. Association between incontinence and mean number of RARPs/year/surgeon was analysed with multivariable logistic regression including age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), PSA, prostate volume, number of biopsy cores with cancer, cT stage, Gleason score, lymph node dissection, nerve sparing intent and response rate to the questionnaire.

RESULTS

14% (659/4 668) of the men were incontinent one year after RARP. There was no statistically significant association between surgeon volume and incontinence. Older age (>75 years vs. < 65 years, OR 2.29 [95% CI 1.48-3.53]), higher CCI (CCI 2+ vs. CCI 0, OR 1.37 [95% CI 1.04-1.80]) and no nerve sparing intent (no vs. yes OR 1.53 [95% CI 1.26-1.85]) increased risk of incontinence. There were large differences in the proportion of incontinent men between surgeons with similar annual volumes, which remained after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of association between surgeon volume and incontinence and the wide range in outcome between surgeons with similar volumes underline the importance of individual feedback to surgeons on functional results.

Long-term Outcomes Among Men Undergoing Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer in Sweden

IMPORTANCE

The long-term outcomes among men with prostate cancer (PC) whose disease is managed with active surveillance (AS) remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a simulation model with a 30-year follow-up for men with PC managed with AS.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this cohort study, a state transition model was created using data from Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe) on 23 655 men diagnosed with PC and managed with deferred treatment to estimate treatment trajectories. A simulation was performed with 100 000 men in each combination of age at diagnosis, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and PC risk with a follow-up of 30 years.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Death from PC and death from other causes were estimated, and the proportion of time without active PC treatment was assessed until date of death or age 85 years.

RESULTS

This study included 23 655 men from PCBaSe with a median age at diagnosis of 69 years (IQR, 64-74 years). Of these, 16 177 men underwent active surveillance for PC and 7478 underwent watchful waiting. The proportion of men who were diagnosed at age 55 years and died of PC before age 85 years was 9% for very low-risk PC, 13% for low-risk PC, and 15% for intermediate-risk PC. Among men with a Charlson Comorbidity Index of 0 who were diagnosed at age 70 years, the corresponding percentages were 3%, 6%, and 7%, respectively. The mean proportion of remaining life-years without active PC treatment for men diagnosed at age 55 years was 12 of 25 years (48%) for very low-risk PC, 9 of 25 years (36%) for low-risk PC, and 7 of 25 (29%) for intermediate-risk PC. For men aged 70 years, the corresponding numbers were 10 of 13 years (77%), 9 of 13 years (66%), and 8 of 13 years (60%), respectively. Men with intermediate-risk PC who were younger than 60 years at diagnosis had a high risk of PC death (12%-15%) and fewer remaining life-years without active PC treatment (29%-33%). In contrast, men with low-risk PC who were older than 65 years at diagnosis had a lower risk of PC death (3%-5%) and more remaining life-years without active PC treatment (62%-77%).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The findings of this Swedish cohort study suggest that active surveillance may be a safe strategy for disease management among men with PC who were older than 65 years at diagnosis.

Protocol for the Flinders Kidney Health Registry: patient outcomes of kidney cancers and nephrectomies

BACKGROUND

Kidney cancer accounts for 2% of new cancers diagnosed in Australia annually. Partial and radical nephrectomy are the treatment of choice for kidney cancer. Nephrectomy is also performed for living donor kidney transplantation. Nephrectomy is a risk factor for new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) or deterioration of pre-existing CKD. Understanding the risk factors for new-onset or deterioration of existing CKD after nephrectomy is important in developing preventive measures to provide better care for these patients. There is also a need to understand the incidence, natural history, management trends, and sequelae of radiofrequency ablation as well as surveillance of small renal cancers or small renal masses (SRMs). Clinical registries are critical in providing excellent patient-centre care and clinical research as well as basic science research. Registries evaluate current practice and guide future practice. The Flinders Kidney Health Registry will provide the key information needed to assess various treatment outcomes of patients with kidney cancer and patients who underwent nephrectomy for other reasons. The registry aims to provide clinical decision makers with longitudinal data on patient outcomes, health systems performance, and the effect of evolving clinical practice. The registry will also provide a platform for large-scale prospective clinical studies and research.

METHODS

Patients above the age of 18 undergoing nephrectomy or radiofrequency ablation for any indication and patients with SRMs will be included in the registry. Demographic, clinical and quality of life data will be collected from hospital information systems and directly from the patient and/or caregiver.

DISCUSSION

The Registry will report a summary of patient characteristics including indication for treatment, clinical risk profiles, surgical and oncological outcomes, the proportion of patients who progress to CKD and end stage kidney disease, quality of life post treatment as well as other relevant outcomes for all patients who have undergone nephrectomy for any indication, ablation or surveillance for SRMs. The registry will record the follow-up practice after nephrectomy and patient on active surveillance, which will help to develop and enhance a best practice protocol. The collected prospective data will provide a platform for ongoing patient-orientated research and improve patient-centred healthcare delivery.

Changes in Characteristics of Men with Lethal Prostate Cancer During the Past 25 Years: Description of Population-based Deaths

Background

Attempts to reduce prostate cancer (PC) mortality require an understanding of temporal changes in the characteristics of men with lethal PC.

Objective

To describe the diagnostic characteristics of and time trends for a nationwide population-based cohort of Swedish men who died from PC between 1992 and 2016.

Design, setting, and participants

Men with PC as the underlying cause of death from 1992 to 2016 according to the Swedish Cause of Death Register were included in the study. Characteristics at diagnosis were collected via links to other nationwide registries using personal identity numbers.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

Data on disease duration, age at death, and risk category were analyzed. Missing data for risk categories for men with an early date of PC diagnosis were imputed according to the method of chained equations.

Results and limitations

Between 1992 and 2016, age-standardized PC mortality decreased by 25%. Median PC disease duration increased from 3.3 yr (interquartile range [IQR] 1.6–6.3) to 5.9 yr (IQR 2.5–10.3) and the median age at death from PC increased from 78.9 yr (IQR 73.3–84.2) to 82.2 yr (IQR 75.2–87.5). The proportion of men with localized disease at diagnosis who died from PC increased from 34% to 48%, while the rate of distant metastases at diagnosis decreased from 56% to 42%. The rate of distant metastases at diagnosis was highest among the youngest men. Treatment trajectories could not be described owing to the large proportion of missing data before the start of registration in the National Prostate Cancer Registry.

Conclusion

Age-standardized PC mortality has decreased substantially since 1992. However, there is still a high proportion of men who die from PC who had localized disease at diagnosis, which indicates that more attention is needed to identify the underlying causes to prevent disease progression. Since the proportion of men with distant metastases at diagnosis remains high, early detection of lethal tumors is essential to further reduce PC mortality.

Patient summary

We investigated the characteristics of men who died from prostate cancer in Sweden between 1992 and 2016. We found that men with lethal prostate cancer live longer and are older when they die today in comparison to men who died at the beginning of the study period. However, the proportion of men with distant metastases at diagnosis remains high, which is why early detection of lethal tumors is essential to reduce mortality.

Association of Blood Pressure with Prostate Cancer Risk by Disease Severity and Prostate Cancer Death: A Pooled Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The association of blood pressure (BP) with prostate cancer risk after accounting for asymptomatic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, and with prostate cancer death, is unclear.

METHODS

We investigated BP, measured at a mean age of 38 years among 430,472 men from five Swedish cohorts, in association with incident prostate cancer (n = 32,720) and prostate cancer death (n = 6718). HRs were calculated from multivariable Cox regression models.

RESULTS

Increasing systolic and diastolic BP levels combined were associated with a slightly lower prostate cancer risk, with a HR of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97-0.99) per standard deviation (SD) of mid-BP (average of systolic and diastolic BP). The association was restricted to the PSA era (1997 onwards, HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.95-0.98), to diagnoses initiated by a PSA test in asymptomatic men (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.97), and to low-risk prostate cancer (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.97). There was no clear association with more advanced disease at diagnosis. In cases, a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer death was observed for higher BP levels (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08) per SD of mid-BP; however, the association was restricted to distant metastatic disease (Pheterogeneity between case groups = 0.01), and there was no association for BP measured less than 10 years prior to diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Prediagnostic BP is unlikely an important risk factor for prostate cancer development and death. Less asymptomatic PSA testing among men with higher BP levels may explain their lower risk of prostate cancer.

IMPACT

Elevated BP is unlikely to be an important risk factor for prostate cancer.

Risk of venous thromboembolism in men with prostate cancer compared with men in the general population: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Sweden

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the additional risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in men with prostate cancer compared with men without prostate cancer in Sweden.

DESIGN

Nationwide cohort study following 92 105 men with prostate cancer and 466 241 men without prostate cancer (comparison cohort) matched 5:1 by birth year and residential region.

SETTING

The male general population of Sweden (using the Nationwide Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Crude incidence proportion ratios (IPRs) comparing the incidence of VTE in men with prostate cancer and men in the comparison cohort. Cox regression was used to calculate HRs for VTE adjusted for confounders.

RESULTS

2955 men with prostate cancer and 9774 men in the comparison cohort experienced a first VTE during a median of 4.5 years' follow-up. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) accounted for 52% of VTE cases in both cohorts. Median time from start of follow-up to VTE was 2.5 years (IQR 0.9-4.7) in the prostate cancer cohort and 2.9 years (IQR 1.3-5.0) in the comparison cohort. Crude incidence rates of VTE per 1000 person-years were 6.54 (95% CI 6.31 to 6.78) in the prostate cancer cohort (n=2955 events) and 4.27 (95% CI 4.18 to 4.35) in the comparison cohort (n=9774 events). The IPR decreased from 2.53 (95% CI 2.26 to 2.83) at 6 months to 1.59 (95% CI 1.52 to 1.67) at 5 years' follow-up. Adjusted HRs were 1.48 (95% CI 1.39 to 1.57) for DVT and 1.47 (95% CI 1.39 to 1.56) for pulmonary embolism after adjustment for patient characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Swedish men with prostate cancer had a mean 50% increased risk of VTE during the 5 years following their cancer diagnosis compared with matched men free of prostate cancer. Physicians should be mindful of this marked increase in VTE risk in men with prostate cancer to help ensure timely diagnosis.

Association of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors With Prostate Cancer Mortality

Importance

There is evidence that 5α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), a standard treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia, are associated with a decrease in the incidence of prostate cancer (PCa). However, studies to date have had conflicting results regarding the association with prostate cancer mortality (PCM).

Objective

To evaluate the association of treatment with 5-ARIs with PCM in men without a prior diagnosis of PCa.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This population-based cohort study was conducted in Stockholm, Sweden, between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2018, and included 429 977 men with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test within the study period. Study entry was set to 1 year after the first PSA test. Data were analyzed from September 2021 to December 2021.

Exposures

After their initial PSA test, men with 2 or more newly dispensed prescriptions of 5-ARI, finasteride, or dutasteride were considered 5-ARI users (n = 26 190).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary outcome was PCM. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for all-cause mortality and PCM.

Results

The study cohort included 349 152 men. The median (IQR) age for those with 2 or more filled prescriptions of 5-ARI was 66 (61-73) years and 57 (50-64) years for those without. The median follow-up time was 8.2 (IQR, 4.9-10) years with 2 257 619 person-years for the unexposed group and 124 008 person-years for the exposed group. The median exposure to treatment with 5-ARI was 4.5 (IQR, 2.1-7.4) years. During follow-up, 35 767 men (8.3%) died, with 852 deaths associated with PCa. The adjusted multivariable survival analysis showed a lower risk of PCM in the 5-ARI group with longer exposure times (0.1-2.0 years: adjusted HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.64-1.25; >8 years: adjusted HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.27-0.74). No statistically significant differences were seen in all-cause mortality between the exposed and unexposed group. Men treated with 5-ARIs underwent more PSA tests and biopsies per year than the unexposed group (median of 0.63 vs 0.33 and 0.22 vs 0.12, respectively).

Conclusions and Relevance

The results of this cohort study suggest that there was no association between treatment with 5-ARI and increased PCM in a large population-based cohort of men without a previous PCa diagnosis. Additionally, a time-dependent association was seen with decreased risk of PCM with longer 5-ARI treatment. Further research is needed to determine whether the differences are because of intrinsic drug effects or PCa testing differences.

Risk of severe late toxicity after radiotherapy following radical prostatectomy - a nationwide study

BACKGROUND

Severe side-effects are rare but may occur years after radiation therapy following radical prostatectomy. We sought to estimate the long-term risks of severe late toxicities in an unselected, nationwide, cohort.

METHODS

The study population comprised all men undergoing radical prostatectomy between 1997-2016 in the Prostate Cancer database Sweden (PCBaSe) (n=40,962). By (1:2) matching, two cohorts were created: 2789 men exposed to postoperative radiation and 5578 nonexposed men with comparable age, comorbidities and year of surgery. Cumulative incidences and rate ratios were calculated for the following outcomes: symptoms and interventions of the urinary or intestinal tract demanding inpatient care, secondary malignancies and non-prostate cancer mortality.

RESULTS

The largest differences were seen for late toxicities affecting the urinary tract. The 10-year cumulative incidences among those exposed to postoperative radiation versus the surgery only group were: 17.8% versus 10.5% for procedures of the urinary tract (difference 7.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4 to 10.3; relative risk [RR] 1.74, 95% CI 1.47 to 2.05); 6.0% versus 1.2% for hematuria (difference 4.8%, 95% CI 3.1 to 6.5; RR 6.50 95% CI 4.31 to 10.10); and 2.4% versus 1.1% for bladder cancer (difference 1.4%, 95% CI 0.4 to 2.3; RR 2.71 95% CI 1.72 to 4.33). The groups were similar regarding intestinal toxicity, other secondary malignancies, and non-prostate cancer mortality. Adjustments for preoperative tumor risk factors did not importantly affect the rate ratios.

CONCLUSION

Severe late toxicity after postoperative radiation following radical prostatectomy predominately affects the bladder and can appear many years after radiotherapy.

Smoking and Risk of Prostate Cancer and Prostate Cancer Death: A Pooled Study

BACKGROUND

Prospective and detailed investigations of smoking and prostate cancer (PCa) risk and death are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate prediagnosis smoking habit (status, intensity, duration, and cessation) as a risk factor, on its own and combined with body mass index (BMI), for PCa incidence and death.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We included 351448 men with smoking information from five Swedish cohorts.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

We used Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for PCa incidence (n = 24731) and death (n = 4322).

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Smoking was associated with a lower risk of any PCa (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.86-0.92), which was most pronounced for low-risk PCa (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.69-0.79) and was restricted to PCa cases diagnosed in the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era. Smoking was associated with a higher risk of PCa death in the full cohort (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.18) and in case-only analysis adjusted for clinical characteristics (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.11-1.31), which was a consistent finding across case groups (p = 0.8 for heterogeneity). Associations by smoking intensity and, to lesser degree, smoking duration and cessation, supported the associations for smoking status. Smoking in combination with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) further decreased the risk of low-risk PCa incidence (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.30-0.53 compared to never smokers with BMI <25 kg/m²) and further increased the risk of PCa death (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.21-1.84). A limitation of the study is that only a subgroup of men had information on smoking habit around the time of their PCa diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The lower PCa risk for smokers in the PSA era, particularly for low-risk PCa, can probably be attributed to low uptake of PSA testing by smokers. Poor survival for smokers, particularly obese smokers, requires further study to clarify the underlying causes and the preventive potential of smoking intervention for PCa death.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Smokers have a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer, which further increases with obesity.

Population-based estimates of age and comorbidity specific life expectancy: a first application in Swedish males

Introduction

For clinical decision-making, an estimate of remaining lifetime is needed to assess benefit against harm of a treatment during the remaining lifespan. Here, we describe how to predict life expectancy based on age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and a Drug Comorbidity Index (DCI), whilst also considering potential future changes in CCI and DCI using population-based data on Swedish men.

Methods

Simulations based on annual updates of vital status, CCI and DCI were used to estimate life expectancy at population level. The probabilities of these transitions were determined from generalised linear models using prostate cancer-free comparison men in PCBaSe Sweden. A simulation was performed for each combination of age, CCI, and DCI. Survival curves were created and compared to observed survival. Life expectancy was then calculated as the area under the simulated survival curve.

Results

There was good agreement between observed and simulated survival curves for most ages and comorbidities, except for younger men. With increasing age and comorbidity, there was a decrease in life expectancy. Cross-validation based on six regions in Sweden also showed that simulated and observed survival was similar.

Conclusion

Our proposed method provides an alternative statistical approach to estimate life expectancy at population level based on age and comorbidity assessed by routinely collected information on diagnoses and filled prescriptions available in nationwide health care registers.

Time on treatment with abiraterone and enzalutamide in the Patient-overview Prostate Cancer in The National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden

BACKGROUND

There are little and inconsistent data from clinical practice on time on treatment with the androgen receptor-targeted drugs (ART) abiraterone and enzalutamide in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). We assessed time on treatment with ART and investigated predictors of time on treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Time on treatment with ART in men with mCRPC in the patient-overview prostate cancer (PPC), a subregister of the National Prostate Cancer Register (NPCR) of Sweden, was assessed by use of Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression. To assess the representativity of PPC for time on treatment, a comparison was made with all men in NPCR who had a filling for ART in the Prescribed Drug Registry.

RESULTS

2038 men in PPC received ART between 2015 and 2019. Median time on treatment in chemo-naïve men was 10.8 (95% confidence interval 9.1-13.1) months for abiraterone and 14.1 (13.5-15.5) for enzalutamide. After the use of docetaxel, time on treatment was 8.2 (6.5-12.4) months for abiraterone and 11.1 (9.8-12.6) for enzalutamide. Predictors of a long time on treatment with ART were long duration of ADT prior to ART, low serum levels of PSA at start of ART, absence of visceral metastasis, good performance status, and no prior use of docetaxel. PPC captured 2522/6337 (40%) of all men in NPCR who had filled a prescription for ART. Based on fillings in the Prescribed Drug Registry, men in PPC had a slightly longer median time on treatment with ART compared to all men in NPCR, 9.6 (9.1-10.3) vs. 8.6 (6.3-9.1) months.

CONCLUSIONS

Time on treatment in clinical practice was similar or shorter than that in published RCTs, due to older age, poorer performance status and more comorbidities.

Exploring the association between use of gonadotropin releasing hormones agonists and prostate cancer diagnosis per se and diabetes control in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a nationwide, population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormones agonists (GnRH), which are first line treatment for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), increase risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aims to quantify the association of use of GnRH with diabetes control in PCa men with T2DM.

METHODS

Nationwide population-based cohort study in the Swedish National Diabetes Register and Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden 4.1, on the association between GnRH and diabetes control in T2DM men with PCa by comparing T2DM men with PCa vs. without PCa, as well as comparing T2DM men with PCa on or not on GnRH. The primary exposure was use of GnRH. Worsening diabetes control was the primary outcome, defined as: 1) HbA1c rose to 58 mmol/mol or higher; 2) HbA1c increase by 10 mmol/mol or more; 3) Start of antidiabetic drugs or switch to insulin. We also combined all above definitions. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze the association.

RESULTS

There were 5714 T2DM men with PCa of whom 692 were on GnRH and 28,445 PCa-free men with T2DM with similar baseline characteristics. Diabetes control was worse in men with GnRH vs. PCa-free men (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.13-1.34) as well as compared with PCa men without GnRH (HR:1.58, 95% CI: 1.39-1.80), when we defined the worsening control of diabetes by combining all definitions above.

CONCLUSION

Use of GnRH in T2DM men with PCa was associated with worse glycemic control. The findings highlight the need to closely monitor diabetes control in men with T2DM and PCa starting GnRH.

Protocol: A multi-modal, physician-centered intervention to improve guideline-concordant prostate cancer imaging

BACKGROUND

Almost half of Veterans with localized prostate cancer receive inappropriate, wasteful staging imaging. Our team has explored the barriers and facilitators of guideline-concordant prostate cancer imaging and found that (1) patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer have little concern for radiographic staging but rather focus on treatment and (2) physicians trust imaging guidelines but are apt to follow their own intuition, fear medico-legal consequences, and succumb to influence from imaging-avid colleagues. We used a theory-based approach to design a multi-level intervention strategy to promote guideline-concordant imaging to stage incident prostate cancer.

METHODS

We designed the Prostate Cancer Imaging Stewardship (PCIS) intervention: a multi-site, stepped wedge, cluster-randomized trial to determine the effect of a physician-focused behavioral intervention on Veterans Health Administration (VHA) prostate cancer imaging use. The multi-level intervention, developed according to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and Behavior Change Wheel, combines traditional physician behavior change methods with novel methods of communication and data collection. The intervention consists of three components: (1) a system of audit and feedback to clinicians informing individual clinicians and their sites about how their behavior compares to their peers' and to published guidelines, (2) a program of academic detailing with the goal to educate providers about prostate cancer imaging, and (3) a CPRS Clinical Order Check for potentially guideline-discordant imaging orders. The intervention will be introduced to 10 participating geographically distributed study sites.

DISCUSSION

This study is a significant contribution to implementation science, providing VHA an opportunity to ensure delivery of high-quality care at the lowest cost using a theory-based approach. The study is ongoing. Preliminary data collection and recruitment have started; analysis has yet to be performed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

CliniclTrials.gov NCT03445559. Prospectively registered on February 26, 2018.

A drug comorbidity index to predict mortality in men with castration resistant prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

The Charlson Comorbidity Index is a poor predictor of mortality in men with castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). To improve this prediction, we created a comorbidity index based on filled prescriptions intended to be used in registry-based studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a population-based cohort of men with CPRC a drug comorbidity index (DCI-CRPC) was calculated based on prescriptions filled during a 365-day period before the date of CRPC diagnosis to predict mortality. Five risk categories for men with CRPC were defined based on PSA kinetics. Mortality rates were described by Kaplan-Meier curves. The predictive ability of the DCI-CRPC was compared in univariable models to that of the original DCI, derived from men in the general population, and to that of the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

RESULTS

In 1,885 men with CRPC the median overall survival ranged from 3.0 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.8 to 3.4) in the first tertile of the DCI-CRPC, to 1.0 year (95% CI 0.9 to 1.1) in the third tertile of the DCI-CRPC. The index had higher discriminative ability (C-index 0.667) than the Charlson Comorbidity Index (C-index 0.508). The discriminative ability of the DCI-CRPC was highest in the subgroup with least aggressive cancer (C-index 0.651) and lowest in men with most aggressive cancer (C-index 0.618). The performance of the DCI-CRPC was comparable to that of the original DCI.

CONCLUSION

Our newly created comorbidity index using filled prescriptions predicted death in men with CRPC better than the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

The 90-day cause-specific mortality after radical prostatectomy: a nationwide population-based study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the cause-specific mortality in the postoperative period after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODS

In the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden (NPCR), we identified all men who died within 90 days after RP performed 1998-2018 and we assessed cause of death in a chart review. We compared the adjudications of death from our medical record review with those in in the Swedish Cause of Death Registry (CDR).

RESULTS

Out of 44 635, 58 (0.13%) men who had undergone RP from 1998 through 2018 died within 90 days after RP. Per medical record review the most common causes of death were cardiac disease (30%) and venous thromboembolic events (VTE; 21%). No men died of metastatic PCa as was first indicated in the CDR. After robot-assisted RP (RARP) or open retropubic RP (RRP), the postoperative mortality was 0.09% (19/21 520) and 0.19% (37/19 635), respectively. The effect off modality was confounded mainly by year of surgery, age at surgery, Charlson Comorbidity Index score and the concomitant pelvic lymph node dissection.

CONCLUSION

The validated absolute 90-day mortality after RP was 1.3/1000 during the 21-year study period. Cardiovascular diseases were the most common causes of death after RP. Our validation of the CDR refuted the occurrence of postoperative deaths from metastatic PCa. There were differences in rates and type of mortality between RRP and RARP, but the RARP cohort was more recent than the RRP cohort, which likely explain the differences.

Temporal changes in cause-specific death in men with localised prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy: a population-based, nationwide study

Background and Objective

Changes in diagnostic work‐up, histopathological assessment, and treatment of men with prostate cancer during the last 20 years have affected the prognosis. The objective was to investigate the risk of prostate cancer death in men with clinically localised prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy in Sweden in 2000–2010.

Methods

Population‐based, nationwide, study on men with clinically localised prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy in the period 2000–2010. Cox regression analyses were used to assess differences in risk of prostate cancer death according to calendar period for diagnosis and stratified on risk category.

Results

The study included 19 330 men with a median follow‐up of 12.4 years. Men diagnosed in 2007–2008 and 2009–2010 had a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer death compared to men diagnosed in 2000–2002. The reduced risk of prostate cancer death was restricted to men with intermediate‐risk prostate cancer with no differences observed in men with low‐ or high‐risk prostate cancer.

Conclusion

During the study period, the risk of prostate cancer death decreased in the total population of men with localised prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy. The decrease was restricted to men with intermediate‐risk prostate cancer.

Association of surgeon and hospital volume with short-term outcomes after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: Nationwide, population-based study

Background and objective

Few studies have investigated the association between surgical volume and outcome of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in an unselected cohort. We sought to investigate the association between surgical volume with peri-operative and short-term outcomes in a nation-wide, population-based study group.

Methods

9,810 RARP’s registered in the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden (2015–2018) were included. Associations between outcome and volume were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression including age, PSA-density, number of positive biopsy cores, cT stage, Gleason score, and extent of lymph node dissection.

Results

Surgeons and hospitals in the highest volume group compared to lowest group had shorter operative time; surgeon (OR 9.20, 95% CI 7.11–11.91), hospital (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.53–3.06), less blood loss; surgeon (OR 2.58. 95% CI 2.07–3.21) hospital (no difference), more often nerve sparing intention; surgeon (OR 2.89, 95% CI 2.34–3.57), hospital (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.66–2.44), negative margins; surgeon (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.54–2.35), hospital (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07–1.53). There was wide range in outcome between hospitals and surgeons with similar volume that remained after adjustment.

Conclusions

High surgeon and hospital volume were associated with better outcomes. The range in outcome was wide in all volume groups, which indicates that factors besides volume are of importance. Registration of surgical performance is essential for quality control and improvement.

Is leisure time sitting associated with mortality rates among men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer?

OBJECTIVE

Being physically active postdiagnosis has been associated with lower rates of prostate cancer progression and mortality, but studies investigating postdiagnostic time spent sitting are lacking. We aim to study the association between leisure time sitting after a prostate cancer diagnosis and overall and prostate cancer-specific mortality.

METHODS

Data from 4595 men in Sweden, diagnosed with localized prostate cancer between 1997-2002 and followed-up until the end of 2012, were analyzed. Time spent sitting during leisure time postdiagnosis was categorized into <2, 2-3, 3-4, and >4 h/day. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of postdiagnosis leisure time sitting and a joint variable of sitting time and exercise, and time to overall or prostate cancer-specific death.

RESULTS

The results showed no significant associations between postdiagnostic leisure time sitting and overall or prostate cancer-specific mortality rates. When the joint effect of both sitting and exercise time was considered, borderline significantly lower mortality rates for overall and prostate cancer-specific mortality were seen among participants that sat the least and exercised the most compared to the reference category with participants sitting the most and exercising least (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.56-1.00 and HR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.36-1.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

No significant association between leisure time sitting and mortality rates among men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer was seen. This study does not support an association between leisure time sitting per se; however, being physically active may have beneficial effects on survival among men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer.

High Monocyte Count and Expression of S100A9 and S100A12 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are Associated with Poor Outcome in Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Increasing evidence indicates calcium-binding S100 protein involvement in inflammation and tumor progression. In this prospective study, we evaluated the mRNA levels of two members of this family, S100A9 and S100A12, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in a cohort of 121 prostate cancer patients using RT-PCR. Furthermore, monocyte count was determined by flow cytometry. By stratifying patients into different risk groups, according to TNM stage, Gleason score and PSA concentration at diagnosis, expression of S100A9 and S100A12 was found to be significantly higher in patients with metastases compared to patients without clinically detectable metastases. In line with this, we observed that the protein levels of S100A9 and S100A12 in plasma were higher in patients with advanced disease. Importantly, in patients with metastases at diagnosis, high monocyte count and high levels of S100A9 and S100A12 were significantly associated with short progression free survival (PFS) after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). High monocyte count and S100A9 levels were also associated with short cancer-specific survival, with monocyte count providing independent prognostic information. These findings indicate that circulating levels of monocytes, as well as S100A9 and S100A12, could be biomarkers for metastatic prostate cancer associated with particularly poor prognosis.

Prostate cancer diagnosis, staging, and treatment in Sweden during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

The first case of COVID-19 in Sweden was diagnosed in late January 2020, the first recommendations against the spread of the virus were released in mid-March, and the peak of the first wave of the pandemic was reached in March-June. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the short-term effects of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis, staging, and treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data in the National Prostate Cancer Register (NPCR) of Sweden on newly diagnosed PCa cases and on the number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed between 18 March 2020 and 2 June 2020 were compared with those in the corresponding time periods in 2017-2019, as reported until January 31 of the year after each study period.

RESULTS

During the study period in 2020, 36% fewer PCa cases were registered in NPCR compared with the corresponding time period in previous years: 1458 cases in 2020 vs a mean of 2285 cases in 2017-2019. The decrease in new PCa registrations was more pronounced in men above age 75 years, down 51%, than in men aged 70-75, down 37%, and in men below age 70, down 28%. There was no decrease in the number of radical prostatectomies and number of radical radiotherapy courses increased by 32%.

CONCLUSIONS

During the peak of the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of men diagnosed with PCa in Sweden decreased by one third compared with previous years, whereas there was no decrease in the number of curative treatments.

Short-term ciprofloxacin prophylaxis for prostate biopsy and risk of aortic aneurysm. Nationwide, population-based cohort study

INTRODUCTION

The use of quinolones has recently been questioned due to reports on side effects including an increased risk of aortic aneurysm. The aim of the study was to examine the risk of aortic aneurysm (AA) after short-term ciprofloxacin as prophylaxis for prostate biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden and investigated 192,024 prostate biopsy exposures vs. 554,974 non-exposures for risk of AA.Prostate biopsy was used as a proxy for quinolone use as short-term ciprofloxacin is the recommended and documented prophylaxis in Sweden for this procedure.The outcome was the hazard ratio (HR) of AA in men who underwent a biopsy vs. those that did not.

RESULTS

The absolute risk of AA was small, 39/10,000 person years for all AÁs and for ruptured AÁs 3.5/10,000 person years. In multivariate analyses, there were small, non-significant increases in risk of all AA's (adjusted HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.39) and ruptured AÁs (adjusted HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.52 to 2.15) in men who underwent biopsy. A significantly increased risk of AA was observed in men diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer on biopsy (HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.15-2.21). The use of prostate biopsy as a proxy for exposure to ciprofloxacin was a limitation of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term ciprofloxacin was not associated with an increased risk of aortic aneurysm and the increased risk in men with high-risk prostate cancer was likely due detection bias caused by imaging more commonly performed in these men.

Risk of cardiovascular events in men on abiraterone or enzalutamide combined with GnRH agonists: nation-wide, population-based cohort study in Sweden

BACKGROUND

Men with prostate cancer (PCa) on gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to men with PCa not on GnRH as well as compared with PCa-free men. Whether the addition of androgen receptor targeted (ART) drugs to GnRH further increases CVD risk, remains to be fully elucidated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We investigated risk of CVD for men with castration resistant PCa (CRPC) on GnRH plus ART; abiraterone or enzalutamide vs 5,127 and 12,079 respective matched comparator men on GnRH in Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe^Traject) 4.1 between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2018. PCBaSe^Traject links National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden to other healthcare registries and demographic databases. We conducted multivariable Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for PCa risk category, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), insulin or statin use, civil status, level of education, history of CVD events and number of CVD drugs, with any incident or fatal CVD as the outcome.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

1,310 men were treated with abiraterone and 3,579 with enzalutamide. In multivariable analysis, CVD risk was increased in men on abiraterone (hazard ratio (HR): 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.38) and in men on enzalutamide (HR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01-1.20). Men with a recent CVD (<12 months) including both men on ART as well as comparators had a much higher probability of a new CVD vs men with no prior CVD. CVD risk was mildly increased in men with PCa on GnRH plus abiraterone or enzalutamide vs comparator men on GnRH. Residual confounding and detection bias may at least partly explain this association.

How reliable are surgeon-reported data? A comparison of the British Association of Urological Surgeons radical prostatectomy audit with the National Prostate Cancer Audit Hospital Episode Statistics-linked database

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the accuracy and completeness of surgeon-reported radical prostatectomy outcome data across a national health system by comparison with a national dataset gathered independently from clinicians directly involved in patient care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data submitted by surgeons to the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) radical prostatectomy audit for all men undergoing radical prostatectomy between 2015 and 2016 were assessed by cross linkage to the National Prostate Cancer Audit (NPCA) database. Specific data items collected in both databases were selected for comparison analysis. Data completeness and agreement were assessed by percentages and Cohen's kappa statistic.

RESULTS

Data from 4707 men in the BAUS and NPCA databases were matched for comparison. Compared with the NPCA, dataset completeness was higher in the BAUS dataset for type of nerve-sparing procedure (92% vs 42%) and postoperative margin status (89% vs 48%) but lower for readmission (87% vs 100%) and Charlson score (80% vs 100%). For all other variables assessed completeness was comparable. Agreement and data reliability were high for most variables. However, despite good agreement, the inter-cohort reliability was poor for readmission, M stage and Charlson score (κ < 0.30).

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time in urology we show that surgeon-reported data from the BAUS radical prostatectomy audit can reliably be used to benchmark peri-operative radical prostatectomy outcomes. For comorbidity data, to assist with risk analysis, and longer-term outcomes, NPCA routinely collected data provide a more comprehensive source.

Waist circumference and a body shape index and prostate cancer risk and mortality

We recently found a negative association between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of localised prostate cancer (PCa), no association with advanced PCa, and a positive association with PCa‐specific mortality. In a 15% subpopulation of that study, we here investigated the measures of abdominal adiposity including waist circumference (WC) and A Body Shape Index (ABSI) in relation to PCa risk and mortality. We used data from 58,457 men from four Swedish cohorts to assess WC and ABSI in relation to PCa risk according to cancer risk category, including localised asymptomatic and symptomatic PCa and advanced PCa, and PCa‐specific mortality. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During, on average, 10 years of follow‐up, 3290 men were diagnosed with PCa and 387 died of PCa. WC was negatively associated with the risk of total PCa (HR per 10 cm, 0.95; 95% CI 0.92–0.99), localised PCa (HR per 10 cm, 0.93, 95% CI 0.88–0.96) and localised asymptomatic PCa cases detected through a prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) test (HR per 10 cm, 0.87, 95% CI 0.81–0.94). WC was not associated with the risk of advanced PCa (HR per 10 cm, 1.02, 95% CI 0.93–1.14) or with PCa‐specific mortality (HR per 10 cm, 1.04, 95% CI 0.92–1.19). ABSI showed no associations with the risk of PCa or PCa‐specific mortality. While the negative association between WC and the risk of localised PCa was partially driven by PSA‐detected PCa cases, no association was found between abdominal adiposity and clinically manifest PCa in our population.