Attention: Restrictions on use of AUA, AUAER, and UCF content in third party applications, including artificial intelligence technologies, such as large language models and generative AI.
You are prohibited from using or uploading content you accessed through this website into external applications, bots, software, or websites, including those using artificial intelligence technologies and infrastructure, including deep learning, machine learning and large language models and generative AI.

JU INSIGHT Use of Monitoring Tests Among Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer Managed With Observation

By: Michael S. Leapman, MD, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research Center, New Haven, Connecticut, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut; Rong Wang, PhD, Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research Center, New Haven, Connecticut, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut; Stacy Loeb, MD, New York University, Langone Health, New York, Manhattan Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New York; Tyler M. Seibert, PhD, MD, University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Franklin D. Gaylis, MD, Genesis Healthcare, San Diego, California; Ben Lowentritt, MD, Chesapeake Urology, Baltimore, Maryland; Gordon A. Brown, DO, New Jersey Urology, Bloomfield; Ronald Chen, MD, MPH, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City; Daniel Lin, MD, University of Washington, Seattle, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Cancer Prevention Program, Public Health Sciences, Seattle, Washington; John Witte, MS, PhD, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California; Matthew R. Cooperberg, MD, MPH, University of California San Francisco; William J. Catalona, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois; Cary P. Gross, MD, Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research Center, New Haven, Connecticut, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Xiaomei Ma, PhD, Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research Center, New Haven, Connecticut, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut | Posted on: 20 Apr 2023

Leapman MS, Wang R, Loeb S, et al. Use of monitoring tests among patients with localized prostate cancer managed with observation. J Urol. 2023;209(4):710-718.

Study Need and Importance

Active surveillance is the recommended initial strategy for patients with low-risk prostate cancer and is increasingly selected by patients with intermediate-risk disease. Despite increased uptake in the United States, little is known about compliance with recommended monitoring tests used to identify disease reclassification during active surveillance including PSA testing, prostate biopsy, and prostate MRI.

What We Found

We performed a retrospective cohort study of low- and intermediate-risk Medicare beneficiaries in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Among 10,639 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2004 and 2016 and followed with observation for at least 12 months, most (98%) had at least 1 PSA test, 48% underwent a repeat prostate biopsy, and 31% underwent a prostate MRI. Rates of PSA and biopsy increased over time (per calendar year: RR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.02-1.03 and RR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.08-1.11, respectively; see Figure).

image

Figure. Proportion of patients receiving repeat prostate biopsy, PSA tests, and prostate MRI during observation for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Limitations

In this administrative claims–based analysis, we were unable to assess whether observation for prostate cancer was undertaken in the context of active surveillance or intended watchful waiting.

Interpretation for Patient Care

In this national study of Medicare beneficiaries with prostate cancer, we found that use of recommended monitoring tests including repeat prostate biopsy increased over time but remain low. These findings can help refine strategies to improve the safety, tolerability, and outcome of patients with prostate cancer managed with active surveillance.

advertisement

advertisement