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Updated: Jan 19, 2026
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A New Technique for Treating Low-risk Prostate Cancer—Super Active Surveillance
Published on: November 7, 2025
681
Active treatment in low-risk prostate cancer: a population-based study
S Roy1,2, M E Hyndman3,4, B Danielson5,6
1Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB.
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.)
|September 25, 2019
Summary
About one-third of low-risk prostate cancer patients receive active treatment instead of surveillance. Younger age, higher tumor stage, and PSA levels were associated with receiving treatment.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Public Health
Background:
- Active surveillance is preferred for low-risk prostate cancer (lr-pca), but treatment practices vary.
- A population-based study assessed treatment rates and associated factors for lr-pca.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of lr-pca patients undergoing active treatment (at).
- To identify patient and tumor factors associated with receiving active treatment.
Main Methods:
- Linked provincial cancer registry and administrative health data for lr-pca patients (2011-2014).
- Defined active treatment as radiotherapy, brachytherapy, prostatectomy, cryotherapy, or androgen deprivation within 12 months of diagnosis.
- Used logistic regression to analyze factors associated with active treatment.
Main Results:
- 554 of 1565 (35.4%) lr-pca patients received active treatment within 12 months.
- Radical prostatectomy (58%) and brachytherapy (29.6%) were most common treatments.
- Younger age, lower comorbidity, higher T-stage, higher PSA, radiation oncologist consultation, and earlier diagnosis year were linked to higher active treatment rates.
Conclusions:
- Approximately one-third of lr-pca patients undergo active treatment.
- Factors influencing treatment decisions include patient age, comorbidity, tumor characteristics, and consultations.
- Further research is needed to reduce overtreatment in lr-pca.
