Conservative management of low-risk prostate cancer among young versus older men in the United States: Trends and outcomes from a novel national database.

Abstract

12 Background: The optimal management for men age ≤55 with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) is debated given quality of life implications with definitive treatment versus potential missed opportunity for cure with conservative management. We sought to define rates of conservative management for low-risk PCa and associated short-term outcomes in young versus older men in the United States (U.S.). Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Prostate with Active Surveillance/Watchful Waiting (AS/WW) Database identified 50,302 men diagnosed with low-risk PCa from 2010-2015. AS/WW rates in the U.S. were stratified by age (≤55 versus ≥56). Prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM)and overall mortality were defined by initial management type (AS/WW versus definitive treatment [referent]) and age. This non-public data was released by the SEER custom data group. Results: AS/WW utilization increased from 8.61% in 2010 to 34.56% in 2015 among men age ≤55 (Ptrend< 0.001) and from 15.99% to 43.81% among men age ≥56 (Ptrend< 0.001). Among patients with ≤2 positive biopsy cores, AS/WW rates increased from 12.90% to 48.78% for men age ≤55 and from 21.85% to 58.01% for men age ≥56. Among patients with ≥3 positive biopsy cores, AS/WW rates increased from 3.89% to 22.45% for men age ≤55 and from 10.05% to 28.49% for men age ≥56 (all Ptrend< 0.001). Five-year PCSM rates were below 0.30% across age and initial management type subgroups. Conclusions: AS/WW rates quadrupled for patients age ≤55 from 2010-2015, with favorable short-term outcomes. These findings demonstrate the short-term safety and increasing acceptance of AS/WW for both younger and older patients. However, there are still higher absolute rates of AS/WW in older patients (P < 0.001), suggesting some national ambivalence toward AS/WW in younger patients.