Jonathan Shoag

MD

NA

Resident Physician

PLCO (Learn more about this study)

PLCO-147

Aug 7, 2015

History of lethal prostate cancer in the screening arm of PLCO

The PLCO prostate cancer screening trial showed no differences between screening and usual care arms in the endpoint of prostate cancer specific mortality. This result surprised many given the long history of PSA screening and multiple lines of evidence which were suggestive that screening would be beneficial. In order to better understand the results of this trial, we hope to characterize the clinical course of those patients who ultimately died of prostate cancer in the screening arm of the trial.

We will assess the baseline characteristics of participants who died in the screening arm (e.g. age, race, sex). We will also examine the number of screens, both positive and negative, these men underwent prior to diagnosis. The timeline from diagnosis to death will also be ascertained, and how this relates to screening results and compliance. Furthermore, we would like to assess time to biopsy and treatment in these men who ultimately died of prostate cancer. These results may help us better understand the clinical history of lethal prostate cancer and suggest how screening can be improved in the future to prevent prostate cancer deaths.

1. Develop a clinical timeline for the 154 patents who died of prostate cancer in the screening arm of PLCO.

2. Assess for patterns in the baseline characteristics, screening, biopsy, treatment, and diagnosis of men who ultimately died of prostate cancer.