In a nutshell
This study described the clinical outcomes of active surveillance in patients with localized (confined) prostate cancer.
Some background
Active surveillance (AS), also known as watchful waiting, is an alternative to treatment for patients with early stage (localized, not spreading) prostate cancer. AS includes regular digital rectal examinations, prostate-specific antigen or PSA (a protein produced by the prostate gland whose levels increase in prostate cancer) measurements, periodic biopsies (tissue sampling of the cancer) and imaging of the prostate. The main goal of AS is to prevent over-treatment of prostate cancer patients (and thus avoid unwanted side effects of the treatments) by strictly monitoring them and avoid immediate radical treatments such as radical prostatectomy or RP (surgical removal of the whole prostate gland and some surrounding tissue). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients under active surveillance.
Methods & findings
This study involved 471 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent AS. If a patient was observed to have complications, he was immediately put under deferred treatment. After 5.7 years of follow-up, only 145 patients (31%) from the total patient population underwent deferred radical treatment (applying radical treatment after closely watching a patient's condition for signs or symptoms of disease progression). After this period of follow-up, researchers found a 22% probability for the cancer to develop adverse features and a 70% probability the patients will remain treatment-free.
The bottom line
In summary, the study showed that AS had favorable outcomes for a selected group of prostate cancer patients.
The fine print
The follow-up period for this study was very short. Studies involving longer periods of follow-up are needed to confirm these results.
What’s next?
Consult your physician about the most appropriate treatment in your situation.
Published By :
European Urology
Date :
Nov 01, 2013
