Effectiveness of treatment for localized prostate cancer assessed in Norway

In August 2019, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has released a health technology assessment report regarding the effectiveness of treatment for localized prostate cancer. This assessment was initially commissioned to NIPH by the Centre for joint decision-making (Samvalgssenteret), which provides patients with relevant and reliable information about a diagnosis and available treatment options. The main objective of the report was to summarize the findings regarding the effectiveness of relevant treatment for localized prostate cancer.

The following results were obtained by NIPH:

• The effectiveness of the comparison of the following methods is unknown due to the lack of studies:
  • Radical prostatectomy compared to observation;
  • Low-dose-rate brachytherapy compared to observation;
  • Watchful waiting compared to low-dose-rate brachytherapy;
  • Watchful waiting compared to observation;
• Radical prostatectomy probably improves survival at 10-12 years as compared with watchful waiting, but it is uncertain if the difference is maintained at even longer-term follow-up
• There is little or no difference in survival after radical prostatectomy compared to low-dose-rate brachytherapy;
• There is little or no difference in five-year cancer-free survival when comparing surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy with surgery alone, but adjuvant radiotherapy may improve ten-year survival.

See the full health technology assessment report in Norwegian here.

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