Screening and prostate cancer mortality: Results of the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) at 13 years of follow-up Journal Article


Authors: Schröder, F. H.; Hugosson, J.; Roobol, M. J.; Tammela, T. L. J.; Zappa, M.; Nelen, V.; Kwiatkowski, M.; Lujan, M.; Määttänen, L.; Lilja, H.; Denis, L. J.; Recker, F.; Páez, A.; Bangma, C. H.; Carlsson, S.; Puliti, D.; Villers, A.; Rebillard, X.; Hakama, M.; Stenman, U. H.; Kujala, P.; Taari, K.; Aus, G.; Huber, A.; Van Der Kwast, T. H.; Van Schaik, R. H. N.; De Koning, H. J.; Moss, S. M.; Auvinen, A.
Article Title: Screening and prostate cancer mortality: Results of the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) at 13 years of follow-up
Abstract: Background The European Randomised study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) has shown significant reductions in prostate cancer mortality after 9 years and 11 years of follow-up, but screening is controversial because of adverse events such as overdiagnosis. We provide updated results of mortality from prostate cancer with follow-up to 2010, with analyses truncated at 9, 11, and 13 years. Methods ERSPC is a multicentre, randomised trial with a predefined centralised database, analysis plan, and core age group (55-69 years), which assesses prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in eight European countries. Eligible men aged 50-74 years were identified from population registries and randomly assigned by computer generated random numbers to screening or no intervention (control). Investigators were masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was prostate cancer mortality in the core age group. Analysis was by intention to treat. We did a secondary analysis that corrected for selection bias due to non-participation. Only incidence and no mortality data at 9 years' follow-up are reported for the French centres. This study is registered with Current Controlled Trials, number ISRCTN49127736. Findings With data truncated at 13 years of follow-up, 7408 prostate cancer cases were diagnosed in the intervention group and 6107 cases in the control group. The rate ratio of prostate cancer incidence between the intervention and control groups was 1·91 (95% CI 1·83-1·99) after 9 years (1·64 [1·58-1·69] including France), 1·66 (1·60-1·73) after 11 years, and 1·57 (1·51-1·62) after 13 years. The rate ratio of prostate cancer mortality was 0·85 (0·70-1·03) after 9 years, 0·78 (0·66-0·91) after 11 years, and 0·79 (0·69-0·91) at 13 years. The absolute risk reduction of death from prostate cancer at 13 years was 0·11 per 1000 person-years or 1·28 per 1000 men randomised, which is equivalent to one prostate cancer death averted per 781 (95% CI 490-1929) men invited for screening or one per 27 (17-66) additional prostate cancer detected. After adjustment for non-participation, the rate ratio of prostate cancer mortality in men screened was 0·73 (95% CI 0·61-0·88). Interpretation In this update the ERSPC confirms a substantial reduction in prostate cancer mortality attributable to testing of PSA, with a substantially increased absolute effect at 13 years compared with findings after 9 and 11 years. Despite our findings, further quantification of harms and their reduction are still considered a prerequisite for the introduction of populated-based screening. Funding Each centre had its own funding responsibility.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; aged; major clinical study; cancer risk; comparative study; outcome assessment; follow up; cancer incidence; prostate specific antigen; randomized controlled trial; cancer screening; risk factor; cancer mortality; groups by age; risk assessment; prostate cancer; multicenter study; screening test; risk reduction; selection bias; secondary analysis; intention to treat analysis; human; male; article; patient risk
Journal Title: Lancet
Volume: 384
Issue: 9959
ISSN: 0140-6736
Publisher: Elsevier Science, Inc.  
Date Published: 2014-12-06
Start Page: 2027
End Page: 2035
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(14)60525-0
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 25108889
PMCID: PMC4427906
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 2 February 2015 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Hans Gosta Lilja
    343 Lilja
  2. Sigrid Viktoria Carlsson
    220 Carlsson