Might men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer benefit from definitive treatment of the primary tumor? A SEER-based study - Abstract

BACKGROUND: Few data exist regarding the impact on survival of definitive treatment of the prostate in men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the survival of men diagnosed with mPCa based on definitive treatment of the prostate.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Men with documented stage IV (M1a-c) PCa at diagnosis identified using Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) (2004-2010) and divided based on definitive treatment of the prostate (radical prostatectomy [RP] or brachytherapy [BT]) or no surgery or radiation therapy (NSR).

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Kaplan-Meier methods were used to calculate overall survival (OS). Multivariable competing risks regression analysis was used to calculate disease-specific survival (DSS) probability and identify factors associated with cause-specific mortality (CSM).

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 8185 patients were identified: NSR (n=7811), RP (n=245), and BT (n=129). The 5-yr OS and predicted DSS were each significantly higher in patients undergoing RP (67.4% and 75.8%, respectively) or BT (52.6 and 61.3%, respectively) compared with NSR patients (22.5% and 48.7%, respectively) (p< 0.001). Undergoing RP or BT was each independently associated with decreased CSM (p< 0.01). Similar results were noted regardless of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) M stage. Factors associated with increased CSM in patients undergoing local therapy included AJCC T4 stage, high-grade disease, prostate-specific antigen ≥20 ng/ml, age ≥70 yr, and pelvic lymphadenopathy (p< 0.05). The major limitation of this study was the lack of variables from SEER known to influence survival of patients with mPCa, including treatment with systemic therapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Definitive treatment of the prostate in men diagnosed with mPCa suggests a survival benefit in this large population-based study. These results should serve as a foundation for future prospective trials.

PATIENT SUMMARY: We used a large population-based cancer database to examine survival in men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) undergoing definitive therapy for the prostate. Local therapy (LT) appeared to confer a survival benefit. Therefore, we conclude that prospective trials are needed to further evaluate the role of LT in mPCa.

Written by:
Culp SH, Schellhammer PF, Williams MB.   Are you the author?
Department of Urology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Reference: Eur Urol. 2013 Nov 20. pii: S0302-2838(13)01209-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2013.11.012


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24290503

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