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Sildenafil Citrate and Risk of Biochemical Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Patients Treated with Radiation Therapy: Post-Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

J. Haseltine, M. Hopkins, E. Schofield, M. Kollmeier, D. Shasha, D. Gorovets, S. McBride, J. Mulhall et al.

Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2021

162 participants · 4 citations

Abstract

Background: Sildenafil citrate has been shown to be protective of sexual function when given concurrently and following prostate radiation therapy (RT), but some evidence suggests an increased biochemical recurrence (BCR) risk in patients taking sildenafil after radical prostatectomy. Aim: To evaluate whether sildenafil use is associated with increased risk of BCR in patients receiving prostate RT, we performed a secondary analysis of a randomized placebo-controlled trial (RPCT) that compared sildenafil citrate to placebo during and after prostate RT. Methods: The study population consisted of prostate cancer patients who initiated radiation treatment at our institution and participated in our multi-institutional RPCT that compared six months of sildenafil 50 mg once a day to placebo with a 24-month follow-up. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was allowed. Prostate cancer prognostic risk grouping was not an exclusion criterion, but most study participants had low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank testing. Outcomes: The primary outcomes of this report were biochemical recurrence and overall survival rates, where BCR was defined according to the Phoenix definition. Results: Data of 162 men were analyzed. Nine men had inadequate PSA follow-up and the remaining 153 men were included in the final report. Median age was 61 years. At a median follow-up of 8.3 (range: 3.0–12.2) years, 5/94 (5.3%) and 2/59…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 162 participants or records.

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