Tissue preservation by means of focal therapy offers some men with clinically significant prostate cancer an alternative to standard care that appears to confer favourable genito-urinary outcomes. The precise estimates of these outcomes have so far been based on small series.
This analysis pools the sexual domain related patient reported outcomes from three prospective, registered studies that represent a range of inclusion criteria.
One-hundred and eighteen men with localised prostate cancer (prostate specific antigen ≤ 15ng/ml, Gleason ≤ 4+3, stage ≤ T3aN0M0) treated in a tissue-preserving manner using high intensity focused ultrasound from three registered studies were included. Data on International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores and use of phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitors were collected at baseline, and 1 mo, 3 mo, 6 mo, 9 mo, and 12 mo postoperatively. The IIEF-15 total and individual domain scores were used to assess overall sexual function. Urinary function was assessed with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS quality-of-life, and UCLA-Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite continence questionnaires. General health status was derived by means of the Charlson score. Multiple linear regression was used to assess whether age, grade, stage, qualitative scores (IIEF, IPSS, Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite, Charlson), or focal therapy type duration were associated with IIEF-5 and IIEF-15 scores at 12 mo.
Median age was 63 yr (interquartile range [IQR] 52-70 yr). Median IIEF-erectile score at baseline was 23 (IQR 11-28). This declined significantly to 9 (IQR 3-22, p
Men who received a range of tissue preserving therapies from the three pertinent studies experienced small decreases in total IIEF, erectile, and individual sexual domain scores that are not significantly different to those recorded at baseline. The only determinant of erectile dysfunction after tissue preserving therapy was preoperative erectile dysfunction status. Tissue preservation confers a high probability of maintaining erectile function that appears independent of all perioperative factors with the exception of baseline status.
In this report, the largest prospectively collected and published set of patients with erectile dysfunction outcomes post-focal therapy for prostate cancer, we have found a return to baseline International Index of Erectile Function-erectile and total International Index of Erectile Function scores by 6 mo post-focal therapy which was maintained at 1 yr, with the majority of patients not on any form of medical treatment for their erectile dysfunction at that point. Focal therapy may represent a suitable alternative for men of any age or comorbidity wishing to maintain erectile function.
European urology. 2015 Oct 30 [Epub ahead of print]
Tet Yap, Hashim U Ahmed, Richard G Hindley, Stephanie Guillaumier, Neil McCartan, Louise Dickinson, Mark Emberton, Suks Minhas
Department of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Department of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, UK. , Department of Urology, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK. , Department of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, UK. , Department of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, UK. , Department of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, UK. , Department of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, UK. , Department of Urology, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.