title: Early experience with active surveillance in low-risk prostate cancer treated.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to describe our early experience with active surveillance (AS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2008 and December 2012, 35 patients were treated with AS. Selection criteria included the following: Gleason score ≤6 with single positive core, clinical stage ≤T1c, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤10 ng/mL, and unremarkable imaging results. On patient follow-up, we regularly measured PSA (every 3-6 months) and performed prostate biopsies (after 1 and 3 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first year of follow-up, prostate biopsies were performed in 25 patients (13 patients, negative for cancer; 7 patients, Gleason score of 6 without progression; 5 patients, progression, treated with radical prostatectomy [RP]). In the third year of follow-up, prostate biopsies were performed in five patients (two patients, negative for cancer; one patient, Gleason score of 6 without progression; two patients, progression, treated with RP). Seven patients discontinued AS because of increased anxiety, and three patients were lost to follow-up. Overall, seven patients (28%) who experienced progression had a mean PSA doubling time (DT) of 7.54 years. Six patients had a PSA DT of more than 3 years, whereas one had a PSA DT of less than 3 years. This study was limited by its small sample size and short follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PSA kinetics did not correlate with progression, which suggests that regular biopsies should still be performed. AS is an available treatment option for patients with a low risk of prostate cancer but should only be used in carefully selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Choal Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Chun Il
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Needle biopsy; Prostate-specific antigen; Prostatic neoplasms; Watchful waiting