Search

Introduction:In order to assess whether bladder cancer is appropriately referenced in online anti-tobacco advertisements, we evaluated 200 videos and assessed diseases mentioned in these vi...

To assess whether a multimodal opioid-limiting protocol and patient education intervention can reduce postoperative opioid use following transurethral resection of the prostate.This prospective, non-blinded, single-institution, randomized controlled trial (NCT04102566) assigned 50 patients undergoing a transurethral resection of the prostate to either a standard of care control (SOC) or multimodal experimental group (MMG). The intervention included adding ibuprofen to the postoperative pain regimen, promoting appropriate opioid use while hospitalized, an educational intervention, and discharging without opioid prescription. Data regarding demographics, operative data, opioid use, pain scores, and patient satisfaction were compared.A total of 47 patients were included, n = 23 (MMG) and n = 24 (SOC). Demographic and operative findings were similar. Statistical analysis for noninferiority demonstrated non-inferior inpatient pain control (mean pain score 2.5 MMG vs 2.4 SOC, P = 0.0003). The multimodal group used significantly fewer morphine milligram equivalents after discharge (0 vs 4.1, P = 0.04). Inpatient use was reduced but did not reach statistical significance (6.0 vs 9.8, P = 0.2). Mean satisfaction scores with pain control were similar (9.6 MMG vs 9.2 SOC, P = 0.32). No opioid prescriptions were requested after discharge. Adverse events and medication side effects were infrequent and largely similar between groups.Implementation of an opioid-limiting postoperative pain protocol and patient education resulted in no outpatient opioid use while maintaining patient satisfaction with pain control. Eliminating opioids following a common urologic procedure will decrease risk of opioid-related adverse events and have a positive downstream impact.

To investigate impact of age and race on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) using a prospectively maintained, racially diverse cohort.The Center for Prostate Disease Research Multicenter National Database was used to identify patients receiving RP from 2007-2017. The Expanded PCa Index Composite and 36 Item Short-Form Health Survey were completed at baseline and regular intervals. Groups were stratified based on age:60, 60-70,70. Longitudinal patterns in HRQoL were assessed using linear regression models, adjusting for baseline HRQoL, demographics, and clinical characteristics.In 626 patients undergoing RP, 278 (44.4%) were60, 291 (46.5%) were 60-70, 57 (9.1%) were70. Older men had worse baseline urinary bother (P.01) and sexual HRQoL (P.01). Baseline urinary function was similar for older and younger men. Post-RP urinary and sexual HRQoL was significantly lower in men70. However, when adjusting for baseline HRQoL, race, NCCN risk, and comorbidities, no difference was found between age groups in urinary function or bother, or sexual function. Sexual bother was worse in older men until 48 months post-operatively but subsequently improved to levels similar to younger patients. Race independently affected HRQoL outcomes with older African American men reporting worse urinary function and sexual bother.When accounting for baseline HRQoL, age does not independently predict worse HRQoL outcomes. Older and younger men experience similar declines in urinary and sexual domain scores after RP. Our findings may be used to better inform patients regarding their expected post RP HRQoL and guide treatment decision-making.

Purpose Surveillance is now the preferred treatment strategy for patients with stage 1A/1B seminoma as reflected by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. In this study, we aimed to describe trends in adjuvant management strategy for stage 1A/B seminoma from 2004 to 2016 using the National Cancer Database. Materials and methods The database was queried for patients diagnosed with stage 1A/1B seminoma between 2004 and 2016. Staging was determined using the American Joint Committee on Cancer guidelines. Surveillance was defined as no treatment with chemotherapy or radiation within 60 days of diagnosis. Proportions of cancer patients utilizing surveillance, radiation, and single-agent chemotherapy were summarized annually. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare overall survival between groups. Results 8,686 patients with stage 1A/1B seminoma met inclusion criteria over the course of the study period. Overall, 3,004 (34.6%) patients began adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation within 60 days. Utilization of surveillance increased from 39.8% in 2004 to 86.8% in 2016 while utilization of radiation decreased from 59.7% to 4.6%. High-volume centers adopted surveillance earlier than low-volume centers. Conclusion This study describes trends in utilization of surveillance, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for stage 1A/1B seminoma over 12 years. A major shift from utilization of adjuvant treatment to surveillance in patients with stage 1A/B seminoma is observed in this large national cancer database; a minority of patients now receive adjuvant treatment and risk-related toxicities. Survival analysis reveals similar survival at a median 5-year follow-up. The results provide insight into the time needed for clinical practice to adopt the preferred approach of surveillance over the time period studied.

PURPOSE Provide evidence- and expert-based recommendations for optimal use of imaging in advanced prostate cancer. Due to increases in research and utilization of novel imaging for advanced prostate cancer, this guideline is intended to outline techniques available and provide recommendations on appropriate use of imaging for specified patient subgroups. METHODS An Expert Panel was convened with members from ASCO and the Society of Abdominal Radiology, American College of Radiology, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, American Urological Association, American Society for Radiation Oncology, and Society of Urologic Oncology to conduct a systematic review of the literature and develop an evidence-based guideline on the optimal use of imaging for advanced prostate cancer. Representative index cases of various prostate cancer disease states are presented, including suspected high-risk disease, newly diagnosed treatment-naïve metastatic disease, suspected recurrent disease after local treatment, and progressive disease while undergoing systemic treatment. A systematic review of the literature from 2013 to August 2018 identified fully published English-language systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses, reports of rigorously conducted phase III randomized controlled trials that compared ≥ 2 imaging modalities, and noncomparative studies that reported on the efficacy of a single imaging modality. RESULTS A total of 35 studies met inclusion criteria and form the evidence base, including 17 systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis and 18 primary research articles. RECOMMENDATIONS One or more of these imaging modalities should be used for patients with advanced prostate cancer: conventional imaging (defined as computed tomography [CT], bone scan, and/or prostate magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and/or next-generation imaging (NGI), positron emission tomography [PET], PET/CT, PET/MRI, or whole-body MRI) according to the clinical scenario.

Objective To review the pioneering contributions of Dr. Robert Gibbons of Virginia Mason Medical Center to the evolution and development of the modern ureteral stent. Methods We reviewed Dr. Gibbons' extensive work through primary sources, including interviews, projector slides, radiology images, stent prototypes, his personal writings, and archived documents. In addition, we performed a review of historical texts and manuscripts describing important innovations in the development of the ureteral stent. Results In 1972, motivated by a desire to provide his patients with a long-term alternative to open nephrostomy and inspired by Drs. David Davis and Paul Zimskind, who in 1967 had described the use of indwelling ureteral silicone tubing, Dr. Gibbons began to experiment with modifications to improve upon existing stents. To address distal migration, Dr. Gibbons added “wings” that collapsed as the stent was advanced and expanded once in proper position to secure the stent in place. Barium was embedded into the proximal tip to facilitate radiographic visualization. A flange was added to the distal end, preventing proximal migration and minimizing trigonal irritation, and a tail was attached to aid in stent removal. The result was the original Gibbons stent, the first commercially available ureteral stent, and the establishment of Current Procedural Terminology code 52332, still used today. Conclusion The ureteral stent is a fundamental component of urologic practice. In developing the Gibbons stent, Dr. Gibbons played a pivotal role in addressing the challenge of internal urinary diversion particularly for those who needed long-term management. Urologists and the patients they serve owe Dr. Gibbons and other surgeon-inventors a debt of gratitude for their innovative work.

Introduction Patients with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) often have excellent oncologic outcomes. However, treatment with curative intent can lead to decrements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Patients treated with radical prostatectomy have been shown to suffer declines in urinary and sexual HRQoL as compared to those managed with active surveillance (AS). Similarly, patients treated with external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) are hypothesized to experience greater declines in bowel HRQoL. As health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) concerns are paramount when selecting among treatment options for low-risk PCa, this study examined HRQoL outcomes in men undergoing EBRT as compared to AS in a prospective, racially diverse cohort. Methods A prospective study of HRQoL in patients with PCa enrolled in the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) Multicenter National Database was initiated in 2007. The current study included patients diagnosed through April 2014. HRQoL was assessed with the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36). Temporal changes in HRQoL were compared for patients with low-risk PCa managed on AS vs. EBRT at baseline, 1-, 2-, and 3 years post-PCa diagnosis. Longitudinal patterns were modeled using linear regression models fitted with generalized estimating equations (GEE), adjusting for baseline HRQoL, demographic, and clinical patient characteristics. Results Of the 499 eligible patients with low-risk PCa, 103 (21%) selected AS and 60 (12%) were treated with EBRT. Demographic characteristics of the treatment groups were similar, though a greater proportion of patients in the EBRT group were African American ( P = 0.0003). At baseline, both treatment groups reported comparable HRQoL. EBRT patients experienced significantly worse bowel function and bother at 1 year (adjusted mean score: 87 vs. 95, P = 0.001 and 89 vs. 95, P = 0.008, respectively) and 2 years (87 vs. 93, P = 0.007 and 87 vs. 96, P = 0.002, respectively) compared to patients managed on AS. In contrast to those on AS, more than half the number of patients who received EBRT experienced a decline in bowel function (52% vs. 17%, p =0.003) and bother (52% vs. 15%, P = 0.002) from baseline to 1 year. Patients who received EBRT were significantly more likely to experience a decrease in more than one functional domain (urinary, sexual, bowel, or hormonal) at 1 year when compared with those on AS (60% vs. 28%, P = 0.004). Conclusions Patients receiving EBRT for low-risk prostate cancer suffer declines in bowel HRQoL. These declines are not experienced by patients on AS, suggesting that management of low-risk prostate cancer with AS may offer a means for preserving HRQoL following prostate cancer diagnosis.

Introduction Combined radiotherapy and hormonal treatment are recommended for intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer (CaP). This study compared the long-term effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of intermediate- and high-risk CaP patients managed with radiation therapy (RT) with vs. without hormone therapy (HT). Methods Patients with intermediate- and high-risk CaP enrolled in the Center for Prostate Disease Research diagnosed from 2007 to 2017 were included. EPIC and SF-36 questionnaires were completed and HRQoL scores were compared for patients receiving RT vs. RT + HT at baseline (pretreatment), 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after CaP diagnosis. Longitudinal patterns of change in HRQoL were modeled using linear regression models, adjusting for baseline HRQoL, age at CaP diagnosis, race, comorbidities, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk stratum, time to treatment, and follow-up time. Results Of 164 patients, 93 (56.7%) received RT alone and 71 (43.3%) received RT + HT. Both groups reported comparable baseline HRQoL. Patients receiving RT+HT were more likely to be NCCN high risk as compared to those receiving only RT. The RT + HT patients experienced worse sexual function, hormonal function, and hormonal bother than those who only received RT; however, HRQoL recovered over time for the RT + HT group. No significant differences were observed between groups in urinary and bowel domains or SF-36 mental and physical scores. Conclusion Combined RT + HT treatment was associated with temporary lower scores in sexual and hormonal HRQoL compared with RT only. Intermediate- and high-risk CaP patients should be counseled about the possible declines in HRQoL associated with HT.

Introduction The standard of care (SOC) for primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is orchiectomy, chemotherapy (CHT), and radiotherapy (RT). We hypothesized that men may not receive SOC and may have worse outcomes. To assess this, we queried the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to analyze treatment patterns and survival in PTL patients. Methods The NCDB was queried (2006–2016) for men diagnosed with extranodal lymphoma with primary site testis. Patients were placed in 2 treatment groups (1) orchiectomy with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (CHT + RT), named the SOC group; and 2) CHT + orchiectomy, or RT + orchiectomy, or orchiectomy alone, grouped as non-SOC. Propensity score matching and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to investigate 5-year overall survival (OS). Results Two thousand two hundred thirty-two men with PTL underwent orchiectomy. After exclusions, 891 men were included in the SOC group and 1,006 men were included in the non-SOC group. KM analysis showed 5-year OS was significantly higher in the SOC group vs. non-SOC for all stages (hazard ratio = 0.54, with 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 0.65, P Conclusions This study represents one of the largest PTL cohort reported to date reflecting current treatments and shows men receiving standard of care treatment have significantly improved survival. Additionally, analysis reveals that most men included in the NCDB do not receive the standard of care.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:With the recognition that limiting opiate exposure mitigates long term dependency, efforts have been taken to critically assess perioperative narcotic use. Eight years a...

The aim of this study was to identify the effects of subsequent prostate needle biopsies after the baseline biopsy on health related quality of life with time. We compared men with and without prostate cancer, and men who did and did not undergo followup prostate needle biopsy.Included in analysis were patients enrolled in the Center for Prostate Disease Research Multicenter National Database between 2007 and 2015 who had low or favorable intermediate risk prostate cancer, were on active surveillance and underwent prostate needle biopsy for suspicion of prostate cancer. Patients completed the EPIC (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite) and the RAND SF-36 (36-Item Short Form Health Survey) after baseline biopsy and at regular followup intervals. Mean health related quality of life was compared with time between patients who did and did not undergo subsequent prostate needle biopsies following baseline.Of the 637 patients included in study 129 (20.3%) with prostate cancer were on active surveillance and 508 (79.7%) were in the noncancer group. In the cancer and noncancer groups mean ± SD followup was 34.7 ± 16.9 and 31.6 ± 14.6 months, respectively. Of the patients with prostate cancer 54 (60.7%) underwent subsequent prostate needle biopsies compared with 114 (27.1%) without cancer. No significant impact on health related quality of life was observed in men who underwent subsequent prostate needle biopsies during a 5-year period.A subsequent prostate needle biopsy is required in most active surveillance protocols and in men with persistent suspicion of prostate cancer. Our analysis shows that subsequent prostate needle biopsies do not significantly impact health related quality of life.

e16530 Background: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines state partial cystectomy (PC) may be offered in select patients with clinical T2 (cT2) muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) utilizing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND). Our objective was to investigate utilization and survival outcomes of PC in a large contemporary cohort. Methods: Propensity matching was used to compare pathological and surgical outcomes in non-metastatic MIBC patients in the National Cancer Database undergoing PC or radical cystectomy (RC). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of NAC, LND, peri-operative morbidity and mortality outcomes. This analysis was repeated in the subset with cT2 MIBC. Results: Of 31,306 T2-T4N0M0 patients, 1543 (4.9%) underwent PC. PC use was higher in older patients and most often (85%) performed for cT2 disease. The PC group was less likely to receive standard of care including NAC (11.4 vs 27.9%, p

4536 Background: Current guidelines recommend neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) prior to radical cystectomy (RC) for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). NAC has been shown to confer a survival benefit across all ages. Yet, many elderly patients are not offered NAC due to concern regarding physiologic reserve and postoperative complications. Our objective was to evaluate age-based disparity in treatment and outcomes of MIBC. Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we identified patients with MIBC from 2006-2017. First, use of different treatments, RC, RC and adjuvant chemotherapy, RC with NAC (“optimal treatment”), chemo-radiation, and no treatment, was compared between age groups. A second analysis was performed in the cohort of elderly patients, ≥70, undergoing cystectomy. Propensity weighting was used to compare peri-operative and mortality outcomes in those who received NAC vs. no NAC. Results: In 70,911 patients with non-metastatic MIBC, use of RC with NAC was lower in patients ≥70, 7.2 vs. 20.9%, p

Sex cord stromal tumors of the testis comprise less than 5% of testicular neoplasms. Consequently, data regarding patterns of care and survival are sparse. Using a large national database, we sought to provide a more definitive analysis of outcomes and management of these malignancies.Data were obtained from the National Cancer Data Base. Patients diagnosed from 1998 to 2011 with 2 of the most frequent sex cord stromal tumors of the testis, including Leydig and Sertoli cell tumors, were selected for study. Overall survival estimates were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method.Of the 79,120 cases of testicular cancer between 1998 and 2011, 315 (0.39%) were primary malignant Leydig or Sertoli cell tumors. Median patient age was 43 years for both tumors. Of the 315 patients 250 (79%) had malignant Leydig cell tumors and 65 (21%) had malignant Sertoli cell tumors, of which 94% and 78%, respectively, were stage I. Overall survival at 1 and 5 years for stage I Leydig cell tumors was 98% (95% CI 96-100) and 91% (95% CI 85-96), and for stage I Sertoli cell tumors overall survival was 93% (95% CI 83-100) and 77% (95% CI 62-95), respectively (p = 0.015). Of patients with stage I Leydig and Sertoli cell tumors 94% and 84%, respectively, received no further treatment following orchiectomy.Five-year survival estimates of stage I Leydig and Sertoli cell tumors are significantly lower compared to those of stage I germ cell tumors with Sertoli cell tumors significantly worse than Leydig cell tumors. These differences in the survival of sex cord stromal tumors indicate the importance of large databases to evaluate the efficacy of treatment for rare neoplasms.

Purpose – Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a global health crisis that is attracting focussed attention from healthcare, public health, governmental agencies, the public, and food producers. The purpose of this paper is to describe the work in Washington State to combat resistance and promote antimicrobial stewardship from a one health perspective. Design/methodology/approach – In 2014, the Washington State Department of Health convened a One Health Steering Committee and two workgroups to focus on AR, the One Health Antimicrobial Stewardship work group and the One Health Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance work group. The group organized educational sessions to establish a basic understanding of epidemiological factors that contribute to resistance, including antibiotic use, transmission of resistant bacteria, and environmental contamination with resistant bacteria and antibiotic residues. Findings – The authors describe the varied uses of antibiotics; efforts to promote stewardship in human, and animal health, including examples from the USA and Europe; economic factors that promote use of antibiotics in animal agriculture; and efforts, products and next steps of the workgroups. Originality/value – In Washington, human, animal and environmental health experts are working collaboratively to address resistance from a one health perspective. The authors are establishing a multi-species resistance database that will allow tracking resistance trends in the region. Gaps include measurement of antibiotic use in humans and animals; integrated resistance surveillance information; and funding for AR and animal health research.

Multiple biomarkers are needed to distinguish aggressive from indolent prostate cancer. We tested the prognostic utility of a three-marker fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) panel (TMPRSS2/ERG rearrangements, AR gain, and PTEN deletion) in a retrospective cohort (n = 210; median follow-up, 5.7 years). PTEN deletion was associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence (BcR; hazard ratio, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.39–9.22; P 0.1). Second, AR gain and concurrent trisomy 10 without TMPRSS2/ERG rearrangement were enriched in pT3/4 tumors and tumors with Gleason grades of 8 to 9. The three-marker FISH panel demonstrated prognostic utility and identified genomic aberrations associated with advanced disease state and early BcR in prostate cancer.

e17514 Background: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend definitive treatment for high risk prostate cancer (HRPCa). This study aims to assess treatment trends for men with HRPCa, focusing on men deemed high risk on the basis of an elevated PSA alone with otherwise low risk features. Our hypothesis is that this group is treated differently than other patients with high risk disease. Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) prostate cancer (PCa) participant use file was queried for high risk patients ages 18-75 with biopsy proven PCa from 2010-2016. The NCDB represents approximately 55% of men treated for PCa in the United States. Patients were divided into two groups: the study group with PSA > 20 and otherwise low risk features, and a comparison group comprised of high-risk patients due to cT stage ≥T3a or Gleason Grade Group ≥4. Patients with nodal or metastatic disease were excluded. Rates of treatment by modality were compared over the years studied. Survival was modeled using Kaplan Meier analysis. Results: 91,565 patients met eligibility criteria with 12,156 in the study group and 79,409 in the comparison group (Table). In the study group, a significantly higher number of patients underwent surveillance (10.2%) versus the comparison group (0.3%)(p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was an upward trend in use of surveillance in the study group, with a surveillance rate of 18.9% in 2016. Amongst patients receiving radiation, only 26.1% received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in the study group versus 82.8% in the comparison group. Despite these findings, survival analysis demonstrated significantly higher 5-year overall survival in the study group (95.1%) vs the comparison group (87.8%) (HR = 0.41, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Men categorized as HRPCa by PSA alone with otherwise low risk features are treated less aggressively than other high-risk patients with significantly higher rates of surveillance and radiation without ADT. However, these men appear to have better survival outcomes than other high-risk patients at 5-year follow-up. [Table: see text]

e17518 Background: The treatment options for low risk PCa are active surveillance (AS), radiation therapy (RT), and radical prostatectomy (RP). HRQoL studies with long term follow up are lacking. We evaluated HRQoL of initial active surveillance vs initial treatment. Methods: The Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) database was used. HRQoL data was collected for 5 years with the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) and the 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36). Patients had low risk PCa, age less than 75, and follow up data of at least 1 year. AS was defined as no definitive treatment within 12 months of diagnosis and repeat biopsy or PSA within 18 months of diagnosis. Results: Patient characteristics are located in the table. Baseline HRQoL scores were comparable across treatment groups for all HRQoL domains, except for sexual function and bother, and physical health where RT were worse than RP. Of the 68 patients classified as AS, 4 had brachytherapy, 9 had hormone therapy, 38 had RP, and 17 had XRT as a first treatment after terminating their AS. In the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) model, the HRQoL scores were compared. Multivariate analysis was done accounting for baseline differences. Urinary function (p = 0.0017), urinary bother (p = 0.0028), hormone function (p = 0.035), bowel bother (p = 0.0122), sexual function (p < 0.01), sexual bother (p < 0.01), and physical health (p = 0.0457) were significantly different. For urinary function and bother, XRT had the best HRQoL scores at most time points, with AS getting worse over time as patients went on to receive treatment. AS had worse scores with hormone function and sexual function. RP had the best scores for bowel bother over the course of the study, but had the worst initial scores in sexual bother, which got better over time. Hormone bother (p = 0.5574), Bowel function (p = 0.098), mental health (p = 0.7231) were not statistically different between groups. Conclusions: Initially AS results in improved HRQoL. For those patients who undergo treatment after AS, HRQoL is no worse than those who got treatment initially. [Table: see text]

37 Background: This study compared 5-year health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes among prostate cancer (PCa) patients who underwent a robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) versus a radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), with a focus on race-specific outcomes for Caucasian American (CA) compared to African American (AA) men. RARPs have almost replaced RRPs in recent years, with few long-term studies focused on HRQoL and race. Methods: A prospective cohort study of HRQoL was conducted on patients diagnosed with PCa from 2007 to 2017 and enrolled in the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) Multicenter National Database. HRQoL was assessed with the EPIC instrument. Temporal changes in urinary and sexual-related quality of life domain scores were compared across surgery type (RARP versus RRP) at pre-treatment (“baseline”), 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5 years post-baseline. Longitudinal HRQoL patterns were modeled using generalized estimating equations (GEE), adjusting for baseline HRQoL and key clinical characteristics. Results: Of 497 PCa patients who met study inclusion criteria, 68% had RARP and 32% had RRP, with 22% AA men and 88% CA men. Baseline HRQoL domains were comparable across race and surgery type. In adjusted GEE analysis, no differences were noted between AA and CA patients. However, treatment-related differences were observed over time in urinary function (UF) and incontinence (UI) (p=0.02 and p=0.03, respectively), with lower HRQoL scores in RARP vs. RRP patients. Upon dual stratification by surgery type and race, the differences for UF and UI persisted (p=0.01 and p=0.03, respectively) with poorest outcomes observed, and similar trajectories of decline, for AA patients who received RARP. Conclusions: In this 10+ year prospective cohort study, AA patients receiving RARP had the poorest UF and UI outcomes which continued to decline for 5 years post treatment. In light of these findings, AA men considering RARP might benefit from discussions with their providers to set expectations regarding long-term urinary outcomes; though these decrements in HRQoL may be overshadowed by the minimally invasive nature of RARP.

Background. SLCO-encoded transporters have been associated with progression to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) after initiation of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Although expressed at lower levels than in CRPC tissues, SLCO-encoded transporters may also play a role in response of primary prostate cancer (PCa) to ADT and biochemical recurrence. Methods. We systematically explored expression of the 11 human SLCO genes in a large sample of untreated and ADT-treated normal prostate (NP) and primary PCa tissues, including tumors treated with neoadjuvant abiraterone. Results. Transporters with the most recognized role in steroid uptake in PCa, including SLCO2B1 (DHEAS) and 1B3 (testosterone), were consistently detected in primary PCa. SLCO1B3 was nearly 5-fold higher in PCa vs NP with no difference in Gleason 3 vs 4 and no change with ADT. SLCO2B1 was detected at 3-fold lower levels in PCa than NP but was nearly 7-fold higher in Gleason 4 vs Gleason 3 and increased 3-fold following ADT (p

Introduction The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for urologists on the integration of advanced practice providers into the urological care setting with a focus on the current state and federal regulatory environment, reimbursement considerations, core competency benchmarks, patient satisfaction with the advanced practice provider-physician team approach and proposed models of team based integrative care. Methods Since 1983, the AUA (American Urological Association) has issued its position on allied health professionals, recognizing that in some areas allied health personnel contribute to the care of the patient with genitourinary disease and, therefore, encourages the proper use of allied health personnel. A 2013 AUA survey on workforce revealed that 62% of urologists surveyed were using an advanced practice provider in their practice. In 2012 there were nearly 8,000 advanced practice providers working in urology departments and practices in the United States, including more than 3,300 nurse practitioners and more than 4,000 physician assistants. In 2013 the AUA convened an ad hoc work group of a diverse set of urology providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The consensus statement was drafted over 10 months and approved by the AUA Board of Directors in November 2014. Results Urologists work with advanced practice providers frequently but many may not know the most efficient way to incorporate them into their practice. The consensus statement examines advanced practice provider integration from a regulatory and practice management approach, as well as provides several applicable examples of how this applies to urologists in various clinical settings throughout the United States. Conclusions This document supports the AUA’s policy statement that in a team based approach with a board certified urologist in a supervisory role, allied health personnel contribute to the care of the patient with genitourinary disease and, therefore, encourages the proper use of allied health personnel.

BACKGROUND For patients with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa), active surveillance (AS) may produce oncologic outcomes comparable to those achieved with radical prostatectomy (RP). Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) outcomes are important to consider, yet few studies have examined HRQoL among patients with PCa who were managed with AS. In this study, the authors compared longitudinal HRQoL in a prospective, racially diverse, and contemporary cohort of patients who underwent RP or AS for low-risk PCa. METHODS Beginning in 2007, HRQoL data from validated questionnaires (the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite and the 36-item RAND Medical Outcomes Study short-form survey) were collected by the Center for Prostate Disease Research in a multicenter national database. Patients aged ≤75 years who were diagnosed with low-risk PCa and elected RP or AS for initial disease management were followed for 3 years. Mean scores were estimated using generalized estimating equations adjusting for baseline HRQoL, demographic characteristics, and clinical patient characteristics. RESULTS Of the patients with low-risk PCa, 228 underwent RP, and 77 underwent AS. Multivariable analysis revealed that patients in the RP group had significantly worse sexual function, sexual bother, and urinary function at all time points compared with patients in the AS group. Differences in mental health between groups were below the threshold for clinical significance at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS In this study, no differences in mental health outcomes were observed, but urinary and sexual HRQoL were worse for patients who underwent RP compared with those who underwent AS for up to 3 years. These data offer support for the management of low-risk PCa with AS as a means for postponing the morbidity associated with RP without concomitant declines in mental health. Cancer 2015;121:2465–2473. © 2015 American Cancer Society.

Prostate cancer patients diagnosed with low- and intermediate-risk disease have several treatment options. Decisional regret after treatment is a concern, especially when poor oncologic outcomes or declines in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) occur. This study assessed determinants of longitudinal decisional regret in prostate cancer patients attending a multidisciplinary clinic and treated with radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), brachytherapy (BT), or active surveillance (AS).Patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center who attended a multidisciplinary clinic were enrolled into a prospective study from 2006 to 2014. The Decision Regret Scale was administered at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months posttreatment. HRQoL was also assessed at regular intervals using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite and 36-item RAND Medical Outcomes Study Short Form questionnaires. Adjusted probabilities of reporting regret were estimated via multivariable logistic regression fitted with generalized estimating equations.A total of 652 patients met the inclusion criteria (395 RP, 141 EBRT, 41 BT, 75 AS). Decisional regret was consistently low after all of these treatments. In multivariable models, only African American race (odds ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.47) was associated with greater regret across time. Age and control preference were marginally associated with regret. Regret scores were similar between RP patients who did and did not experience biochemical recurrence. Declines in HRQoL were weakly correlated with greater decisional regret.In the context of a multidisciplinary clinic, decisional regret did not differ significantly between treatment groups but was greater in African Americans and those reporting poorer HRQoL. Cancer 2017;123:4252-4258. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Introduction Clinical stage I seminoma can be managed with surveillance, chemotherapy or radiotherapy with similar survival rates. However, costs and side effects vary among these treatment modalities. We created a model to estimate the direct and indirect costs during the first 5 years of treatment for the 3 treatment strategies. Methods Markov model based analyses were conducted to compare the costs of the 3 management strategies during the first 5 years. In this model clinicians and patients were assumed to be 100% compliant with the 2012 NCCN Guidelines® for testicular cancer. Model parameters were collected from the Washington State CHARS (Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System), published literature and Medicare reimbursement amounts. A 5% annual health inflation rate was assumed. Results The model predicts an initial cost premium for carboplatin (1 cycle—$9,199.49; 2 cycles—$10,613.85) and radiotherapy ($9,532.80) compared with surveillance ($9,065.31). Radiotherapy (145.8 hours) and surveillance (123.0 hours) require more patient time than carboplatin (1 cycle—93.2 hours, 2 cycles—106.3 hours). When the direct and indirect costs are considered, the least expensive management strategy is surveillance. Conclusions Surveillance is the most cost-effective management strategy for clinical stage I seminoma during the first 5 years of treatment. Although not evaluated in this analysis, costs of late side effects associated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be considered. Due to potentially minimal late side effects and superior cost-effectiveness, surveillance represents a safe, cost-effective and time effective option for the management of stage I seminoma.

Objectives In patients with a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level during treatment with androgen deprivation therapy, identification of men who progress to bone metastasis and death remains problematic. Accurate risk stratification models are needed to better predict risk for bone metastasis and death among patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). This study evaluates whether alkaline phosphatase (AP) kinetics predicts bone metastasis and death in patients with CRPC. Methods and materials A retrospective cohort study of 9,547 patients who underwent treatment for prostate cancer was conducted using the Center for Prostate Disease Research Multi-center National Database. From the entire cohort, 347 were found to have CRPC and, of those, 165 had 2 or more AP measurements during follow-up. To determine the AP velocity (APV), the slope of the linear regression line of all AP values was plotted over time. Rapid APV was defined as the uppermost quartile of APV values, which was found to be ≥6.3 IU/l/y. CRPC was defined as 2 consecutive rising PSA values after achieving a PSA nadir Results Rapid APV and PSA doubling time (PSADT) less than 10 months were strong predictors of both BMFS and OS in a multivariable analysis. Faster PSADT was a stronger predictor for BMFS (odds ratio [OR] = 12.1, P Conclusion APV is an independent predictor of OS and BMFS in patients with CRPC. APV, in conjunction with PSA-based clinical parameters, may be used to better identify patients with CRPC who are at the highest risk of metastasis and death. These findings need validation in prospective studies.

5082 Background: Active surveillance (AS) is the preferred management of low risk (LR) prostate cancer (PCa) to decrease morbidity associated with overtreatment. We hypothesized management trends would show AS increasing and initial definitive treatment decreasing for men with LR PCa. This study describes contemporary trends in initial treatment for LR PCa using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), which includes ~50% of new PCa diagnoses in the United States per year. Methods: NCDB was queried for all patients with LR localized PCa (2010-2015), defined as non-metastatic PCa with PSA

e16583 Background: Despite the significant stage migration of prostate cancer (CaP), a large proportion of patients harbor high-risk disease. Few CaP series provide long term outcomes with the ability to assess disparities in diverse populations. We examined 27-year outcomes among men treated for high risk CaP in a large, racially diverse, equal access system. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients enrolled into the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) Multi-Center National Database from 1990-2017. There were 2,241 CaP patients who were NCCN-defined high risk, had a self-reported race of Caucasian (CA) or African American (AA), and had a primary treatment of hormonal therapy (HT), radical prostatectomy (RP), radiation therapy (RT) or no treatment (NoTX). Demographic and clinico-pathological variables were evaluated and stratified by race and treatment. Primary study outcomes included temporal patterns in race-specific treatment intensity and type(s). Secondary outcomes included biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival (BRFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier estimation curves and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis were used. Results: Mean patient age at CaP diagnosis and follow-up time were 68.1 years and 7.8 years, respectively. AAs made up 26.9% of the study cohort. Median prostate specific antigen level was 20.9 ng/mL (IQR: 7.8 - 35.0). 52% of patients had a biopsy Gleason score of 8 or greater. 714 (31.9%) underwent RP, 966 (43.1%) underwent RT, 288 (12.9%) received primary HT, and 273 (12.2%) had NoTX. A decreasing trend of HT, with stable rates of RP and RT, was observed. Median time to BCR after RP and RT was 1.3 and 3.1 years, respectively. After RP and RT, 51.2% and 39.3% experienced BCR while 10.9% and 12.7% experienced distant metastasis, respectively. There were no significant racial differences in treatment intensity, treatment type, BRFS or DMFS. Conclusions: In this longitudinal series, there was racial comparability for all study outcomes. Moreover, in this high-risk patient series with long-term follow up (median = 6.9 years), nearly 50% did not experience BCR, and only 1 in 10 men developed metastasis.

BACKGROUND ETS-related gene (ERG) protein is present in 40–70% of prostate cancer and is correlated with TMPRSS2-ERG gene rearrangements. This study evaluated ERG expression at radical prostatectomy to determine whether it was predictive of earlier relapse or prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM).

Since the identification of the TMPRSS2-ERG rearrangement as the most common fusion event in prostate cancer, various methods have been developed to detect this rearrangement and to study its prognostic significance. We report a novel four-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay that detects not only the typical TMPRSS2-ERG fusion but also alternative rearrangements of the TMPRSS2 or ERG gene. We validated this assay on fresh, frozen, or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded prostate cancer specimens, including cell lines, primary prostate cancer tissues, xenograft tissues derived from metastatic prostate cancer, and metastatic tissues from castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients. When compared with either reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction or the Gen-Probe method as the technical reference, analysis using the four-color FISH assay demonstrated an analytical sensitivity of 94.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–0.99) and specificity of 100% (95% CI 0.89–1.00) for detecting the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion. The TMPRSS2-ERG fusion was detected in 41% and 43% of primary prostate cancer (n = 59) and CRPC tumors (n = 82), respectively. Rearrangements other than the typical TMPRSS2-ERG fusion were confirmed by karyotype analysis and found in 7% of primary cancer and 13% of CRPC tumors. Successful karyotype analyses are reported for the first time on four of the xenograft samples, complementing the FISH results. Analysis using the four-color FISH assay provides sensitive detection of TMPRSS2 and ERG gene rearrangements in prostate cancer.

Testicular cancer represents only 1% of all malignancies occurring in men. However, it is the most frequent malignancy in men between the ages of 20 and 34 years, accounting for 10% to 14% of cancer incidence in that age group. In most instances, the diagnosis of testicular tumors is established with a carefully performed physical examination and scrotal ultrasonography. Tumor markers are useful for determining the presence of residual disease. Cross-sectional imaging studies (CT, MRI) are useful in determining the location of metastases. Chest radiography and CT are used to assess pulmonary disease. Fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) PET scans have slightly higher sensitivity than CT, but their role in staging testicular cancer has not been determined in a large study. FDG PET may play a role in the follow-up of higher stage seminoma after chemotherapy. Bone scans are useful in the absence of FDG PET scans and should be used when bone metastases are suspected. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances in which evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Active surveillance is an important alternative to definitive therapy for men with low risk prostate cancer. However, the impact of active surveillance on health related quality of life compared to that in men without cancer remains unknown. In this study we evaluated health related quality of life outcomes in men on active surveillance compared to men followed after negative prostate needle biopsy.A prospective study was conducted on men who were enrolled into the Center for Prostate Disease Research Multicenter National Database and underwent prostate needle biopsy for suspicion of prostate cancer between 2007 and 2014. Health related quality of life was assessed at biopsy (baseline) and annually for up to 3 years using SF-36 and EPIC questionnaires. Health related quality of life scores were modeled using generalized estimating equations, adjusting for baseline health related quality of life, and demographic and clinical characteristics.Of the 1,204 men who met the initial eligibility criteria 420 had a negative prostate needle biopsy (noncancer comparison group). Among the 411 men diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer 89 were on active surveillance. Longitudinal analysis revealed that for most health related quality of life subscales there were no significant differences between the groups in adjusted health related quality of life score trends over time.In this study most health related quality of life outcomes in patients with low risk prostate cancer on active surveillance did not differ significantly from those of men without prostate cancer. A comparison group of men with a similar risk of prostate cancer detection is critical to clarify the psychological and physical impact of active surveillance.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for the treatment of testicular cancer is a relatively rare and complex operation that may contribute to differences in utilization. We sought to characterize the use of RPLND between different categories of cancer center facilities in the United States.The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with germ cell tumors treated at different types of cancer centers between 1998 and 2011. The proportion of patients who underwent RPLND was stratified by stage and histology and then compared between treatment facilities. RPLND utilization was then compared between facility types as a function of time.A total of 59,652 patients met inclusion criteria and 5,475 (9.2%) underwent RPLND. The proportion of patients treated with RPLND for non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) was significantly different between cancer center types for all stages (P0.001) and used most often in academic comprehensive cancer centers. There was no difference in the proportion of RPLND utilization for stage II and III seminoma stratified by treatment facility. There was a significantly decreased trend in the utilization of RPLND for stage I (P = 0.032) NSGCT whereas utilization was increased for stage III NSGCT (P≤0.001) over the study period.The proportion of patients undergoing RPLND for NSGCT varies significantly by the type of cancer center and is used most often in academic cancer centers. Utilization of RPLND decreased for stage I NSGCT and increased for stage III NSGCTs during the study period.

The history of urologic lymphadenectomy is rich and diverse. Our current understanding of its use and benefits is a product of the hard work of numerous physicians and scientists from many nations. Standard dissection templates for the various urologic malignancies are based on a complete understanding of the anatomy of the lymphatic system, which has developed immensely since Hippocrates first described the white blood of the lymphatic system while performing an axillary dissection. It is hoped that the next 100 years will bring even greater comprehension of its value and utility.

Although numerous attempts have been made to forecast outcomes for prostate cancer after therapy using clinical and histological variables, the ability to accurately predict an individual's response to a specific treatment remains elusive. Recently, major advances in the field of genomics have made possible the near-comprehensive assessment of the genetic status of tumor genomes, with major concentration on predicting an individual's response to a specific treatment. Genomic approaches to treatment response include, but are not limited to, detection of gene rearrangements, DNA copy-number aberrations, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, epigenetic changes and differential gene-expression patterns. These approaches have been used to predict response to treatment for local and systemic disease in multiple small cohorts. Further study with larger cohorts and longer follow-up should result in more concordance among genomic approaches, and will enable physicians to gain insight into the heterogeneity of supposedly 'similar' cancers and help tailor treatments accordingly.

5077Background: Racial differences in prostate cancer (PCa) outcomes are widely observed, irrespective of risk stratum at diagnosis. The primary study aim was to compare distant metastasis-free sur...

e17081Background: PSA of 10-20 often excludes men from Active Surveillance (AS). These men are considered intermediate risk (IR) even with Gleason (Gl) 6 prostate cancer (PCa) on biopsy. Radical tr...

7555Background: The standard of care (SOC) for primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is orchiectomy, chemotherapy (CHT) and radiation (RT) of the contralateral testis regardless of stage. PTL is rare a...

Non-germinal tumors account for less than 10% of all testicular tumors and consist of a wide array of benign and malignant lesions. Due to their rarity, little is known about the appropriate management of malignant non-germinal testicular tumors.A literature review directed at the variety of non-germinal testicular tumors using the Medline/PubMed database was performed. Our review was focused on the natural history of these diseases, the treatment regimens utilized, and the outcomes of the various treatments.The majority of data on the treatment of non-germinal testicular tumors comes from case series and retrospective reviews; thus the management of many of these diseases is a matter of debate. Recommendations for the treatment of patients with these rare diseases are made based on available data. For many of these diseases, radical inguinal orchiectomy is the initial treatment of choice, and further treatment differs based on pathology and staging studies.Non-germinal testicular tumors are a diverse group of rare lesions, and as a result their management is often difficult. A multi-disciplinary approach to management is needed in these patients; however, efficacious chemotherapeutic regimens are often lacking. Due to poor alternatives, patients may benefit from early surgical intervention, including RPLND.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) on the rate of cancer-specific and overall survival after radical prostatectomy (RP) in a group of patients with a long-term follow-up, as there is controversy about the benefit of aRT after RP for prostate cancer when endpoints beyond biochemical and local recurrence are considered. PATIENTS AND METHODS Within a study cohort of 752 patients treated with RP, 118 (15.7%) received aRT; these patients were matched with controls who did not receive aRT after RP. Exact matches were made for pT stage, RP Gleason sum, surgical margin status, age (±10 years), year of surgery (±10 years) and delivery of hormonal therapy. Kaplan-Meier and life-table analyses were used to assess overall and cancer-specific survival RESULTS The median (range) follow-up was 11.4 (0.1–41) years. The 10- and 20-year overall survival after RP in those with no aRT were, respectively, 81.1% and 44.8%, vs 75.5% and 40.0% in the aRT group (P = 0.1). The corresponding probabilities for cause-specific survival were, respectively, 97.3% and 89.0% vs 86.3% and 69.3% (P

Objectives: To develop and internally validate a nomogram predicting the individual probability of metastatic progression after radical prostatectomy according to the length of disease-free interval. Methods: Cox regression modeled the probability of metastatic progression of prostate cancer in 752 patients treated with radical prostatectomy with a mean follow up of 11.6 years (median 11.4; range 0.1–40.5). The significance of the predictors was confirmed in competing risks analysis, which accounts for other causes of mortality. The Cox regression model-based nomogram was internally validated with 200 bootstrap resamples. Results: Eighty-five of 752 patients (11.3%) developed metastatic progression. The 5, 10, 15 and 20-year actuarial rates of metastatic progression-free survival were, respectively, 95.9, 90.5, 84.8 and 80.5%. Pathological stage T3, elevated radical prostatectomy Gleason sum and delivery of adjuvant radiotherapy represented independent predictors of metastatic progression in both Cox and competing risks regression models, and constituted the nomogram predictors along with a fourth variable describing the presence of co-morbidities. After 200 bootstrap resamples the nomogram achieved 80.2, 77.7, 77.6 and 76.0% accuracy in predicting metastatic progression at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years after radical prostatectomy. Conclusions: Metastatic progression is a sign of poor prognosis in men with prostate cancer. Our nomogram is able to accurately predict the conditional probability of metastatic progression up to 20 years after radical prostatectomy.

Objectives We hypothesized that prostate cancer-specific survival (PCaSS) could be accurately predicted in men in whom radical prostatectomy (RP) failed and who received hormonal therapy (HT) after RP failure. Methods Between 1954 and 1994, 752 consecutive patients underwent RP without neoadjuvant therapy. Of those, 114 patients (15.2%) received HT at RP failure and represent the focus of this analysis. Cox regression models and a nomogram targeted PCaSS. The main predictor was timing of HT initiation: at prostate-specific antigen (PSA) versus local versus distant recurrence. Covariates included age at HT, pathologic T stage, surgical margin status and Gleason sum at RP, use of adjuvant or salvage radiation, and time from RP to HT. Results Mean and median follow-up periods were 5.1 and 3.9 yr; 70 deaths were recorded, of which 45 (39.8%) were due to PCa. At 1, 5, 10, and 15 yr, the estimates of PCaSS were, respectively, 97.1%, 68.3%, 49.3%, and 30.2% (median, 9.8 yr). Younger men and those with HT initiated at the time of distant recurrence had lower PCaSS. A nomogram predicting PCaSS at 2, 3, 4, and 5 yr after RP was developed and demonstrated 66% accuracy after 200-bootstrap internal validation. Conclusion Despite RP failure, half the patients can expect to survive for 10 yr. The nomogram can help in discriminating between those with better versus worse PCaSS, better than relying on most educated guesses.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate our experience with a referral population of 790 patients undergoing initial prostate biopsy in the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era, to assess the role of a digital rectal examination (DRE) in predicting the outcome of prostate needle biopsy (PNB) and to evaluate if DRE findings were associated with cancer grade. PATIENTS AND METHODS We analysed 790 consecutive men who had an initial PNB from September 1999 to July 2005 by one urologist (C.P.). All data were collected in a prospective database. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between an abnormal DRE and the presence of cancer and cancer grade on PNB. RESULTS An abnormal DRE was an independent predictor for prostate cancer on multivariate analysis (odds ratio 2.18, 95% confidence interval 1.53–3.10, P

We determined whether the characteristics of patients undergoing prostate needle biopsies and prostate needle biopsy results changed after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation in 2012 against prostate specific antigen based screening for prostate cancer for men of any age.A prospective database of patients undergoing prostate needle biopsies at Virginia Mason from 2004 to 2014 was reviewed. Welch's t-test and chi-square tests were used to compare patients seen before to those seen after the USPSTF recommendation. Relative risks and corresponding confidence intervals were estimated by general linear regression.Patients in the post-USPSTF group (310) had a higher prostate specific antigen (p0.001), were more likely to be diagnosed with higher clinical stage (2b, p=0.003; 2c-3a, p=0.027) and D'Amico high risk prostate cancer (p=0.036), with an adjusted relative risk for high risk prostate cancer of 1.25 (95% CI 1.02-1.52) compared to those in the pre-USPSTF group (1,416). Limiting the pre-USPSTF group to the 30 months before the draft guidelines (448 patients) yielded similar results. The absolute number of biopsies performed decreased by 31%, with the majority of the decrease occurring in the detection of intermediate risk tumors.In the 2 and a half years after the USPSTF recommendation against prostate specific antigen based screening, patients undergoing prostate needle biopsies were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with high risk disease. However, a reduction in the number of prostate needle biopsies performed occurred concomitantly with a decrease in the detection of intermediate risk, potentially curable prostate cancer. Future focus on informed application of screening techniques may prevent the reversal of decades of improvement in the prostate cancer mortality rate.

Background Patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) are presented with several treatment options of similar efficacy but varying side effects. Understanding how and why patients make their treatment decisions, as well as the effect of treatment choice on long-term outcomes, is critical to ensuring effective, patient-centered care. This study examined treatment decision-making in a racially diverse, equal-access, contemporary cohort of patients with PCa counseled on treatment options at a multidisciplinary clinic. Methods A prospective cohort study was initiated at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (formerly Walter Reed Army Medical Center) in 2006. Newly diagnosed patients with PCa were enrolled before attending a multidisciplinary clinic. Patients completed surveys preclinic and postclinic to assess treatment preferences, reasons for treatment choice, and decisional regret. Results As of January 2014, 925 patients with PCa enrolled in this study. Surgery (54%), external radiation (20%), and active surveillance (12%) were the most common primary treatments for patients with low- and intermediate-risk PCa, whereas patients with high-risk PCa chose surgery (34%) or external radiation with neoadjuvant hormones (57%). Treatment choice differed by age at diagnosis, race, comorbidity status, and calendar year in both univariable and multivariable analyses. Patients preferred to play an active role in the decision-making process and cited doctors at the clinic as the most helpful source of treatment-related information. Almost all patients reported satisfaction with their decision. Conclusions This is one of the first prospective cohort studies to examine treatment decision-making in an equal-access, multidisciplinary clinic setting. Studies of this cohort would aid in understanding and improving the PCa decision-making process.