North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness & Survivorship Study (NC ProCESS)

NC ProCESS is a cohort of patients from diverse backgrounds diagnosed with early prostate cancer, who were enrolled from January 2011-June 2013. These patients were recruited throughout North Carolina, and also in partnership with institutions across the country. Patients enrolled before they start treatment, and are then followed prospectively through treatment and then afterwards. This observational study collects information on quality of life, cancer control, and health care received inclusive of treatment and management of subsequent effects including complications and recurrence. The objective of this study is to examine comparative outcomes among different modern prostate cancer treatment options in this cohort of patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Prostate Cancer; Cancer of the Prostate; Prostatic Cancer; Cancer of Prostate

Detailed Description

Localized prostate cancer treatment options is consistently a "highest priority" comparative effectiveness research (CER) topic according to the Institute of Medicine, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and other summary reports. Patients urgently need information on the comparative outcomes of modern treatment options to guide decision-making for this disease that causes significant burden based on its high prevalence, mortality and treatment effects on quality of life. The status quo as it pertains to prostate cancer is significant overtreatment causing potential patient harm, rapid diffusion of new/expensive technologies without proven benefit and patients lacking high quality research evidence to balance direct-to-consumer advertising and guide individualized decision-making.

NC ProCESS is a population-based cohort designed specifically to address well-described knowledge gaps. It was designed in close collaboration with the unique AHRQ consortium stakeholder group, which included representatives from patients, clinicians and policymakers. Stakeholders helped define study design to emphasize "real-world" patients and select patient-centered and relevant outcomes, and have been involved throughout assembly of this patient cohort. The diverse cohort is well-represented by "hard to reach" patients; enrollment before treatment avoids biases with participation and recall. As clinical trials are not feasible to address the central questions in prostate cancer CER, this prospective study will yield the highest level of evidence to inform patients and other stakeholders. With an assembled cohort, this study is necessary to examine comparative outcomes.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 1556

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
      • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 35 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Newly-diagnosed, early stage (localized, non-metastatic) prostate cancer patients

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newly-diagnosed, histologically-proven, localized prostate adenocarcinoma.
• Completion of baseline interview prior to initiating therapy.
• Patient ability to complete study interview: no cognitive impairment, language or hearing problems.
• Not diagnosed with prostate cancer through transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
• Age 35-80.
• English speaking.
• Has telephone.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Initiation of treatment for prostate cancer prior to completion of baseline interview.
• Cognitive impairment.
• Hearing problems.
• Inability to speak or understand English.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cancer-specific Quality of Life	Prostate Cancer Symptom Indices (PCSI) - measures treatment-related morbidity and adverse effects and is comprised of 4 functional scales measuring Sexual Dysfunction, Bowel Problems, Urinary Incontinence, and Urinary Obstruction/Irritation. Four parallel distress indices measure distress from symptoms. In each index, patient answers are converted to a score from 0 (no symptom/distress) to 100 (maximum symptoms/distress). A 5-10 point difference in QOL is considered "clinically meaningful."	4 years
Overall Quality of Life	Short Form-12 (SF12) - Measures health-related quality of life. Consists of Likert response formats that assess overall health, mental health, vitality, social functioning, and whether ones health or pain limits their daily physical activities. The SF-12 also contains four categorical questions (yes or no) that assess limitations in functioning due to physical and emotional health. The SF-12 provides the Mental Component Summary score (MCS) and Physical Component Summary score (PCS), calculated using norm-based scoring, with the mean set at 50 and standard deviation 10. A lower score indicates lower QOL.	4 years
Prostate Cancer Recurrence	Percentage of patients who had a recurrence of prostate cancer during 5 years of follow-up.	From date of completion of treatment (radiation or surgery) until the date of recurrence or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 5 years.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Prostate Cancer Anxiety	Prostate cancer anxiety was measured by the validated Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX-PC), with 18 questions assessing anxiety related to prostate cancer (11 items, total score 0 to 33), PSA testing (3 items, total score 0 to 9), and fear of recurrence (4 items, total score 0 to 12). The subscale for prostate cancer anxiety asks the patient to report how frequently comments about prostate cancer were true for them during the past week (not at all, rarely, sometimes, or often). The subscale for PSA testing anxiety asks the patient to indicate how frequently situations have ever been true for them. The subscale for anxiety related to prostate cancer recurrence asks the patient to indicate how much they agree or disagree with statements about their own health during the past week. A higher score in each subscale indicates more anxiety.	4 years
Decisional Regret	Decisional regret was measured by a validated scale for prostate cancer. The five items of the decisional regret scale assess (on a Likert scale) a patient's feeling that he chose the wrong treatment, a wish to change the decision, or doubt about treatment value. Answers are converted to a score from 0 (no regret) to 100 (maximum regret). Decisional regret provides an assessment of the overall decisional and treatment experience from a patient perspective.	4 years
5-year Mortality	Percentage of patients who died within 5 years of follow-up.	From date of diagnosis until date of death or end of follow-up up to 5 years

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Physician Visits During Follow-up	Number of physician and specialist visits during treatment, subsequent monitoring of recurrence and management of prostate cancer treatment-related morbidity. Assessed through analysis of healthcare claims linked to cohort data.	4 years
Number of Diagnostic Tests and Procedures During Follow-up	Number of diagnostic tests and procedures including biopsies, radiographic scans, laboratory tests, and procedures to assess cancer progression (active surveillance) or recurrence and work-up for treatment-related morbidity. Assessed through analysis of healthcare claims linked to cohort data.	4 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Collaborators: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): September 30, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 28, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2020
• Last Verified: April 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Genital Neoplasms, Male; Prostatic Diseases; Prostatic Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: UNC-10-1483