Post-diagnostic metformin and statin use and risk of biochemical recurrence in Veterans diagnosed with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of post-diagnostic metformin or statin use and duration on risk of biochemical recurrence in a racially-diverse cohort of Veterans. METHODS: The population consisted of men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the Veterans Health Administration and treated with either radical prostatectomy or radiation (Full cohort n = 65,759, Black men n = 18,817, White men n = 46,631, Other = 311). The association between post-diagnostic (1) metformin and (2) statin use with biochemical recurrence was assessed using multivariable, time-varying Cox Proportional Hazard Models for the overall cohort and by race. In a secondary analysis, metformin and statin duration were evaluated. RESULTS: Post-diagnostic metformin use was not associated with biochemical recurrence (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94, 1.09), with similar results observed for both Black and White men. However, duration of metformin use was associated with a reduced risk of biochemical recurrence in the cohort overall (HR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.92, 0.95) as well as both Black and White men. By contrast, statin use was associated with a reduced risk of biochemical recurrence (HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.88) in the overall cohort as well as both White and Black men. Duration of statin use was also inversely associated with biochemical recurrence in all groups. CONCLUSION: Post-diagnostic metformin and statin use have the potential to prevent biochemical recurrence in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Definitive treatment and risk of death among men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer at the Veterans Health Administration.

PURPOSE: To assess the potential survival benefit associated with receipt of definitive treatment (radical prostatectomy or radiation), compared to non-definitive treatment (hormonal therapy or chemotherapy) among men with metastatic prostate cancer. METHODS: A cohort of men diagnosed with metastatic (T4/M1/N1 or T4/M1) prostate cancer from 1999 to 2013 in the Veterans Health Administration were identified and followed to December 28, 2014. All-cause and prostate cancer-specific mortality were evaluated at 10 years for the T4/M1/N1 cohort and 8 years for the T4/M1/ cohort. The association of definitive treatment (radical prostatectomy or radiation), compared to non-definitive (hormonal therapy or chemotherapy) with both all-cause and prostate cancer-specific mortality was assessed using inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) multivariable survival analyses. RESULTS: The cohort included 2919 with T4/M1/N1 disease and 1479 men with T4/M1 disease. Receipt of definitive treatment was associated with a reduced risk of 10-year all-cause (Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.61; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.57-0.65) and prostate cancer-specific mortality (HR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.46-0.55) among men diagnosed with T4/M1/N1 met-astatic disease. Definitive treatment was similarly associated with a reduced risk of all-cause (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77-0.91) and prostate cancer-specific (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73-0.90) mortality among men diagnosed with T4/M1 only metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Definitive treatment may improve survival in men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

Improved survival with post-diagnostic metformin and statin use in a racially diverse cohort of US Veterans with advanced prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between post-diagnostic metformin or statin use with all-cause and prostate cancer (PCa)-specific mortality in men with advanced prostate cancer. METHODS: Our study consisted of 4572 men (Black = 1352, White = 3192, Other Race = 28) diagnosed with advanced cancer (T4/M1/N1) between 1999 and 2013 in the Veteran Health Administration. The association between post-diagnostic (1) metformin and (2) statin use with all-cause and PCa-specific mortality was examined using multivariable, time-varying Cox Proportional Hazard Models. In a secondary analysis, models were stratified by race. RESULTS: Post-diagnostic metformin use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause (Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.84, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.73, 0.96) and PCa-specific death (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.91). In stratified analyses, the inverse association between post-diagnostic metformin use and both all-cause PCa-specific mortality was limited to White men. Post-diagnostic statin use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.83) and PCa-specific mortality (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.81). In stratified analyses, similar inverse associations were observed for post-diagnostic statin use and all-cause and PCa-specific mortality in both Black and White men. CONCLUSION: Post diagnostic metformin and statin use may prevent progression to lethal prostate cancer in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Predictors of annual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening among black men: results from an urban community-based prostate cancer screening program.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Black men have an increased risk of prostate cancer mortality compared with any racial or ethnic group. Further, research on prostate cancer prevention and control messaging focusing on Black men is limited. Community screening events are successful in attracting members from high-risk groups, like Black men, and are a valuable source to collect cancer screening and health promotion data. Therefore, the authors examined data of Black men attending a community-based PCa screening event to evaluate predictors of annual PCa screening, and identify sub-populations of Black men needing targeted cancer prevention messaging. METHODS: Black men attending PCa screening events in St. Louis, MO 2007-2017 were eligible. Participants completed either a mail-in or on-site survey at the time of their screening to collect information on annual screening history. We analyzed sociodemographic factors, having a first-degree relative with a history of PCa, healthcare utilization characteristics, and predictors of annual PSA screening. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between predictors and annual PSA screening. RESULTS: Data was analyzed from 447 respondents. One-third of the residents did not know their cancer family history status. Older age and having a primary healthcare provider predicted an annual prostate cancer after attending the PCa community screening event. In the fully adjusted model, all ages older than 45 years were 2-4 times more likely to have an annual PCa screening. Having a healthcare provider also predicted an annual PCa screening (OR: 4.59, 95% CI: 2.30-9.14). CONCLUSION: Regardless of sociodemographic and family history factors, older Black men and those with a primary physician are more likely to have an annual PSA screening. Cancer prevention promotion efforts for Black men should target mechanisms that facilitate family cancer history conversations to engage younger Black men. Also, additional health promotions efforts are needed to educate Black men without a primary healthcare provider.

Three-month pancreas graft function significantly influences survival following simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation in type 2 diabetes patients.

Successful simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) improves quality-of-life and prolongs kidney allograft and patient survival in type-1 diabetic (T1DM) patients. However, the use of SPK in type-2 diabetic (T2DM) patients remains limited. We examined a national transplant registry for 35 849 T2DM kidney disease patients who received transplant between 2000 and 2016 and survived the first 3 months with a functioning kidney, and categorized as: deceased-donor kidney transplant alone (DD-KA, 68%), living-donor kidney transplant alone (LD-KA, 30%), or SPK (2%). Among SPK recipients, 6% had pancreas allograft failure within 3 months (SPK,P-) and 94% had a functional pancreas (SPK,P+). Associations of transplant type with kidney allograft failure and death (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio, 95%LCL aHR95%UCL ), over follow-up through December 2018, were quantified by multivariable inverse probability of treatment weighted survival analyses. SPK recipients had better kidney graft and patient survival than LD-KA or DD-KA recipients. Compared to SPK,P+, DD-KA, or LD-KA recipients had significantly higher risk of kidney allograft failure (DD-KA: aHR 1.53 2.203.17 ; LD-KA: aHR 1.29 1.872.71 ) and death (DD-KA: aHR 2.12 3.255.00 ; LD-KA: aHR 1.54 2.353.59 ). SPK,P- recipients had significantly higher risk of death (aHR 1.68 3.306.50 ). Similar to T1DM, T2DM patients with SPK have a survival benefit compared to those with kidney transplant alone, but this benefit depends upon successful early pancreas function.

An Evaluation of Follow-Up Activities of Participants From an Urban Prostate Cancer Screening Event.

This study aims to evaluate follow-up activities completed by participants attending community prostate cancer (PCa) screening events. On-site surveys were collected from participants of 17 free PCa screening events from 2007 to 2011 in the St. Louis, MO metropolitan area. Follow-up action surveys were mailed to all on-site participants to assess medical (i.e., made an appointment with a doctor, got additional testing for PCa, made an appointment to be screened) and nonmedical activities (i.e., sought social support, health information-seeking, health behavior modifications) completed after the PCa screening event. Further, t tests and chi-square tests characterized participant information from the on-site survey and within each follow-up activity category for the mailed surveys. Among 1,088 on-site community PCa screening participants, the mean age was 50 years old, 94% were Black, and 30% responded to the mailed follow-up action survey. For the recorded follow-up activities, 65% of participants reported medically reported activities, of which "made an appointment to get a yearly physical" was the most common action (29%). Health behavior modifications were the most common nonmedically related activities (44%). Health information-seeking behaviors were the least reported follow-up action (22%). Men with higher incomes, married, with health insurance, and a primary care physician, most often participated in post-PSA screening activities, namely medically-related and social support activities. Understanding the most common activities completed by participants of a community PCa screening suggests the effectiveness of community events to re-engage underserved populations in the health-care system and provides insight on acceptable health promotion opportunities.

Predictors of Follow-Up Visits Post Radical Prostatectomy.

Long-term follow-up care among prostate cancer patients is important as biochemical recurrence can occur many years after diagnosis, with 20%-30% of men experiencing biochemical recurrence within 10 years of treatment. This study examined predictors of follow-up care among 1,158 radical prostatectomy patients, treated at the Washington University in St. Louis, within 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years post surgery. Predictors examined included age at surgery, race (Black vs. White), rural/urban status, education, marital status, and prostate cancer aggressiveness. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between the predictors and follow-up visits with a urologist in 6 months, the 1st year, and the 2nd year post surgery. In a secondary analysis, any follow-up visit with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was included, regardless of provider type. Men that were Black ( 6 months OR: 0.60; 95% CI [0.36, 0.99], 1 year OR: 0.34; 95% CI [0.20, 0.59], 2 year OR: 0.41; 95% CI [0.25, 0.68]), resided in a rural residence ( 1 year OR: 0.61; 95% CI [0.44, 0.85], 2 year OR: 0.41; 95% CI [0.25, 0.68]), or were unmarried ( 2 year OR: 0.69; 95% CI [0.49, 0.97]) had a reduced odds of follow-up visits with a urologist. In models where any follow-up visit with a PSA test was examined, race remained a significant predictor of follow-up. The results indicate that Black men, men residing in a rural residence, and unmarried men may not receive adequate long-term follow-up care following radical prostatectomy. These men represent a high-risk group that could benefit from increased support post treatment.

The association of weight change in young adulthood and smoking status with risk of prostate cancer recurrence.

The decades before prostate cancer diagnosis represent an etiologically relevant time period for prostate cancer carcinogenesis. However, the association of weight gain in young adulthood with subsequent biochemical recurrence among men with prostate cancer is not well studied, particularly among smokers. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1,082 men with prostate cancer and treated with either radical prostatectomy or radiation between 2003 and 2010. The association of weight at age 20, weight at age 50 and weight change from age 20 to age 50 with biochemical recurrence was assessed using Cox Proportional Hazards with adjustment for confounders. Stratum-specific hazard ratio (HR) estimates by smoking status were evaluated. In the overall cohort, weight at age 20 (HR per 30 kg: 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 2.38, p-trend: 0.039), weight at age 50 (HR per 30 kg: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.47, p-trend: <0.001) and weight change from age 20 to age 50 (HR per 30 kg: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.74, p-trend: 0.003) were associated with biochemical recurrence. In stratified analyses, weight change from age 20 to age 50 was significantly associated with biochemical recurrence only in former smokers (HR per 30 kg: 3.87, 95% CI: 1.88, 8.00, p-trend: <0.001) and ever smokers (HR per 30 kg: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.27, 4.45, p-trend: 0.007). No significant association was observed between weight gain in young adulthood and biochemical recurrence in never smokers. Our study adds further evidence that weight gain during early adult years conveys long-term risk for adverse cancer outcomes.