title: Results from the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group Trial Number 4: a randomized controlled trial of radical prostatectomy versus watchful waiting.
abstract: In the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group Trial Number 4 (SPCG-4), 347 men were randomly assigned to radical prostatectomy and 348 to watchful waiting. In the most recent analysis (median follow-up time = 12.8 years), the cumulative mortality curves had been stable over the follow-up. At 15 years, the absolute risk reduction of dying from prostate cancer was 6.1% following randomization to radical prostatectomy, compared with watchful waiting. Hence, 17 need to be randomized to operation to avert one death. Data on self-reported symptoms, stress from symptoms, and quality of life were collected at 4 and 12.2 years of median follow-up. These questionnaire studies show an intricate pattern of symptoms evolving after surgery, hormonal treatments, signs of tumor progression, and also from natural aging. This article discusses some of the main findings of the SPCG-4 study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Studies, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, St Thomas Street, London, UK. lars.holmberg@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bill-Axelson
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steineck
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Garmo
authors.forename: Juni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmgren
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Hans-Olov
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.forename: Jan-Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Johansson
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012306:Risk; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D057832:Watchful Waiting
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen