Active surveillance (AS) is a monitoring strategy to avoid or defer curative treatment, minimizing the side effects of radiotherapy and prostatectomy without compromising survival. AS in intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PC) has increasingly become used. There is heterogeneity in intermediate-risk PC patients. Some of them have an aggressive clinical course and require active treatment, while others have indolent disease and may benefit from AS. However, intermediate-risk patients have an increased risk of metastasis, and the proper way to select the best candidates for AS is unknown. In addition, there are several differences between AS protocols in inclusion criteria, monitoring follow-up, and triggers for active treatment. A few large series and randomized trials are under investigation. Therefore, more research is needed to establish an optimal therapeutic strategy for patients with intermediate-risk disease.
Authors | Study Name | Number of Patients Intermediate Risk/Total, n (%) | Type | Initiation | Comparator | Gleason 4 | Median Follow-Up | PC Mortality | Non-PC Mortality | Reference Number |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hamdy et al. | ProtecT | 490/1634 (31%) | Prospective RCT | 2001–2009 | AS vs. PR vs. RT | NA | 10 years | Similar deaths per 1000 person year of 1.5, 0.9 and 0.7 for AS, RP, and RT, respectively | Similar all cause mortality per 1000 person year AS = 10.9; RP = 10.1; and RT = 10.3 | [10] |
Wilt et al. | PIVOT | Observation = 120/348 (34.5%) RP = 129/383 (33.6%) |
Prospective RCT | 1994–2002 | RP vs. observation (WW) | NA | 12.7 years | Slightly higher 10-year PC mortality in RP (9.0% vs. 8.6%) | Higher 10 year mortality in AS (71.2% vs. 62.6%) | [8] |
Bill-Axelson et al. | The Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group 4 Study | Observation = 133/348 (38.2%) RP = 148/347 (42.7%) |
Prospective RCT | 1989–1999 | RP vs. observation (WW) | 54/116 (46.5%) | 13.4 years | Higher number of deaths by PC during follow-up in WW (99 vs. 63) | Higher number of deaths by any cause during follow-up in WW (247 vs. 200) | [9] |
Thomsen et al. | Active surveillance versus radical prostatectomy in favorable-risk localized prostate cancer | AS = 271/647 (42%) RP = 276/647 (43%) |
Retrospective | 2002–2012 for AS 1995–2011 for RP |
RP vs. AS | NA | 8.6 years | Slightly higher 10-year PC mortality in RP (1.5% vs. 0.4%) | Slightly higher 10-year non-PC mortality in RP (12.0% vs. 10.7%) | [12] |
Stattin et al. | Outcomes in localized PC: National PC Register of Sweden follow-up study | AS/WW = 936/2021 (42%) RP = 2172/3399 (52.5%) |
Retrospective | 1997–2002 | RP vs. AS/WW | NA | 8.2 years | Higher 10-year PC mortality in AS/WW (5.2% vs. 3.4%) | Higher 10-year non-PC mortality in AS (23.4% vs. 11.3%) * | [11] |