Does Protocol Make a Difference? Comparison of Two Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Cohorts: A Non–protocol-based Follow-up and a Protocol-based Contemporary Follow-up

Abstract

Take Home Message In terms of clinically relevant outcomes, such as overall survival, prostate cancer–specific survival, metastasis-free survival, and treatment-free survival, a strict follow-up protocol does not provide benefit for men with low-risk prostate cancer on active surveillance.

Prospective Implementation and Early Outcomes of a Risk-stratified Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Follow-up Protocol

“…These are focused on addressing fundamental questions on the value of MRI and optimal biopsy schedules, and are recruiting men with grade group 1 disease, which differs from more contemporary AS practice. Some studies comparing protocols have been conducted in non-trial settings, and these so far suggest no differences in stricter versus more relaxed protocols in low-risk (CPG1) patients [23] . Currently, the main focus of predictive modelling in AS is to identify the optimal timing for repeat biopsies with a number of calculators already produced [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] .…”