The American Urological Association (AUA), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) have collaborated on a new clinical guideline for managing localized prostate cancer.
Offering a framework for shared decision-making between physicians and patients, the evidence-based clinical guideline specifies which cancers are better managed by active surveillance and provides guidance on which treatments are appropriate for cancers warranting intervention, said guideline development panel chair Dr. Martin Sanda in a statement. Sanda said the guideline also includes specifics for implementing care options, managing side effects, and administering post-treatment follow-up.
The Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer guideline comprises 68 statements, including the recommendation that active surveillance is preferred for the care of low-risk localized prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy plus androgen deprivation therapy are recommended as the treatment standard for patients with intermediate- or high-risk localized prostate cancer, according to the AUA.
After initially being developed by a panel of prostate cancer experts selected by the AUA, ASTRO, and SUO, the guideline was distributed to peer reviewers of varying backgrounds as part of the AUA's peer review process, the AUA said. It then received final approval by the societies' boards of directors. The guideline is available on the AUA's website.
