Prospective Observational Study of a Racially Diverse Group of Men on Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer

To evaluate the risk upgrading of active surveillance (AS), we reviewed the outcomes of African American men (AA) after electing AS. AS is the standard of care for men with low-grade prostate cancer (PCa). AA are known to have more advanced PCa features and are more likely to die from PCa, thus subsequent disease progression for AA on AS is unclear.

A prospectively maintained AS database from the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Administration Medical Center, New Orleans, Lousiana was queried. We identified men with low- and very low-risk PCa (Gleason 3 + 3, PSA <10, ≤CT2a) who had undergone at least 2 prostate biopsies, including initial diagnostic and subsequent confirmatory prostate biopsies. Descriptive and comparative statistical analysis was performed using R version 3.5.1.

From a total of 274 men on AS (70% AA), 158 men met inclusion criteria (104 AA [66%]). All patients underwent at least 2 biopsies, and 29% underwent 3 or more biopsies. The median follow-up was 2.7 years. At 3 years on AS protocol, 57% AA and 61% Caucasians demonstrated no evidence of upgrading or treatment. No significant difference was observed between upgrading or progression to treatment when comparing racial groups. Seven (4%) patients in this cohort died from non PCa-specific causes, but no patients demonstrated metastasis or death from PCa over the course of study.

AA men with low-risk PCa can be safely followed with the same AS protocol as non-AA men. Further analysis with longer follow up is ongoing.