title: Predicting life expectancy in prostate cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Due to its long natural history, prostate cancer illustrates best the need for tools that adequately predict life expectancy. We reviewed the actual tools available for clinicians involved in therapeutic decisions in newly diagnosed prostate cancer and examined their accuracy to provide individual life expectancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Life tables, comorbidity indices, and multivariate prognostic models can assist clinicians for life expectancy predictions. However, the accuracy of life tables (60.9%) and comorbidity indices (accuracy unknown) may be as weak as clinician-derived life expectancy predictions (69%). Actually, statistical models provide the highest accuracy (69-84.3%). To date, Walz et al. developed the most accurate model (84.3%), predicting the risk of death of nonprostate cancer-related causes within 10 years of definitive therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians need the most accurate estimates of life expectancy in situations in which there is uncertainty regarding the need for aggressive local therapy. As the accuracy of clinician-derived life expectancy prediction is relatively modest, clinicians may benefit from assisted life expectancy prediction by life tables and statistical tools in their daily clinical practice. This would enhance the accuracy of the life expectancy predictions of individual candidates to definitive therapy for prostate cancer. Actually, nomograms provide the most accurate health-adjusted life expectancy prognostication.
authors: Department of Urology, University of Montreal Health Center, Montreal, Canada.
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Jeldres
authors: Jean-Baptiste
authors: JB
authors: Latouff
authors: Fred
authors: F
authors: Saad
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018570:Risk Assessment