Fifteen-year outcomes after monitoring, surgery, or radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer

The ProtecT Study in the UK compared outcomes after active monitoring, prostatectomy, or radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer in men aged 50 to 69 years. After 15 years of follow-up, prostate cancer-specific mortality (primary end point) was 3.1% in the active-monitoring group, 2.2% in the prostatectomy group, and 2.9% in the radiotherapy group (p=0.53 for the overall comparison). Death from any cause occurred in 21.7%, with similar numbers in all three groups. The authors conclude that after 15 years of follow-up, prostate cancer-specific mortality was low regardless of the the treatment assigned.