Sexual potency preservation and quality of life after prostate brachytherapy and low-dose tadalafil - Abstract

PURPOSE: To prospectively determine sexual function, bother, and potency preservation in men treated with prostate brachytherapy and twice-weekly tadalafil.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 2005 to 2011, men treated with low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy were treated on a prospective registration study. All patients were prescribed tadalafil 10mg twice weekly. The expanded prostate cancer index composite questionnaire was administered before treatment and at each followup. A subgroup analysis of men with sexual potency at baseline was performed.

RESULTS: A total of 237 men were analyzed. Median age was 64 years (range,44-86). Median followup was 24.8 months (range, 1-60). At baseline, 175 men (74%) reported erections firm enough for sexual activity and 148 (62%) were potent (erections firm enough for intercourse). Statistically significant changes in sexual function/bother were appreciated from baseline throughout the analysis period, although absolute changes were relatively small and did not meet criteria for clinical significance. At 24-months followup, 72% reported erections firm enough for sexual activity and 56% were potent. Of men with potency at baseline, 89% had erections firm enough for sexual activity and 76% remained potent 24 months after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Peri-procedural tadalafil and prostate brachytherapy resulted in high rates of sexual potency preservation and no clinically significant effect on sexual quality of life.

Written by:
Pugh TJ, Mahmood U, Swanson DA, Munsell MF, Wang R, Kudchadker RJ, Bruno TL, Frank SJ.   Are you the author?
Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Department of Urology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.

Reference: Brachytherapy. 2014 Sep 22. pii: S1538-4721(14)00634-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.brachy.2014.08.045


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25255712

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