A Pilot Study of Prostate Cancer-specific Anxiety in Active Surveillance
Phase: NA
Conditions: Prostate Cancer
Sponsor: NYU Langone Health

 
 
 
 
Project Title: A pilot study of prostate cancer-specific anxiety in active surveillance 
Name of Principal Investigator: Aaron Pinkhasov, MD 
Name of Sub-investigator(s): Carole Filangieri, PhD; Aaron Katz, MD; Deepan Singh, MD; 
Glenn Werneburg, PhD 
Name of Biostatistician: Melissa Fazzari, PhD; 
Name of Research Coordinator: Kaitlin Kosinski, MS 
Name of Research Analyst: Daniel Halpern 
 
Protocol version and date: Version 1, February 24, 2017 
 
 
I    RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY  
 
The purpose of this study is to identify patients undergoing active holistic surveillance (AHS) for 
prostate cancer who have anxiety associated with their diagnosis, to implement a 12-week 
licensed psychologist-facilitated group intervention in this patient population to determine if 
treating disease-related anxiety improves quality of life, delays radical, elective treatment of 
prostate cancer, and to monitor symptom progression and remission during and after therapy. 
 
Our goal is to further our understanding of anxiety in men who are diagnosed with prostate 
cancer, and to determine if effectively treating disease-related anxiety  can improve patients’ 
quality of life, delay radical, elective treatment, and potentially improve disease progression.  
 
II   BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE  
 
Previous research suggests that the prevalence of anxiety in prostate cancer (PCa) patients 
undergoing active surveillance (AS) may be two to three times greater than anxiety levels of 
similarly aged men in the general population who have not been diagnosed with prostate 
cancer1. There is concern that substantial feelings of anxiety in men undergoing AS may be 
enough to divert PCa patients from AS to pursue definitive treatment2.  
 
To date, there is no consensus with regard to the optimal active surveillance protocol. Most 
active surveillance regimens consist of regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, digital 
rectal exams (DREs), and serial biopsies to assess for signs of progression.   
 
Although numerous studies have assessed the psychological impact active surveillance may 
have on men, no study has examined the role that a holistic regimen may have on these men’s 
health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study is to determine the extent to which 
disease-related anxiety in patients undergoing our institution’s AS protocol may alter their 
course of treatment. It is possible that the psychosocial concern of living with cancer may have 
adverse effects on PCa patients, and the anxiety related to living with cancer may be enough to 
divert PCa patients from participating in AS to pursue definitive treatment2. Previously, it has 

been demonstrated that, at the moment of treatment choice, fear of disease progression is the 
main reason patients reject AS for a more radical treatment approach4.  
 
Clinical studies have investigated the claim that men who choose AS as a treatment option may 
be at higher risk of psychological distress than men who choose a more radical approach1. 
Patients with PCa undergoing AS experienced substantially higher rates of depression and 
anxiety, when compared to a control population1. This may be due in part to the passive nature 
of AS, but studies have also shown that the adverse side effects of PCa may also contribute to 
an increase in anxiety and depression levels for men undergoing AS1. 
 
Some data suggest PCa patients undergoing AS may benefit from psychological interventions 
such as behavioral therapy, group therapy, or mindfulness-based stress reduction5. In one 
study, AS PCa patients who participated in a mindfulness training program for 8-weeks 
demonstrated significant decrease in PCa-related anxiety. These patients also reported 
significant increases in global mental health, posttraumatic growth, and mindfulness5. Other 
studies have yielded similar results, demonstrating that educating patients about PCa and how 
to manage the adverse side effects through cognitive-behavioral interventions may also reduce 
disease-related anxiety in patients undergoing AS3.  
 
 
III STUDY DESIGN  
 
Patients who are diagnosed with PCa will be given the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate 
Cancer (MAX-PC) which is a highly internally consistent, and concurrently and discriminately 
valid questionnaire used to identify levels of anxiety related to prostate cancer6,7 as well as the 
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, which is a valid, reliable, and efficient 7 item 
scale used to identify patients with generalized anxiety disorder and has also been effectively 
used in a population of men with prostate cancer8,9. 
 
Those PCa patients who have elected AS, obtain a score of ≥16 on the MAX-PC, and who meet 
other inclusion criteria, will be randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. Patients 
assigned to the treatment group will receive 12 weekly 1-hour sessions of structured group 
therapy intervention led by a licensed psychologist, in addition to AS educational material. 
Patients assigned to the control group will receive the standard AS educational material only.  
The research coordinator, who will be responsible for disseminating the educational material 
and answering patient questions regarding AS, will be blinded to the randomization outcome the 
the study subjects. 
 
Patients in both the treatment group and control group will be monitored using MAX-PC, GAD-7, 
and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) questionnaires at various 
time points, as described below. We hypothesize that those patients who undergo group 
therapy will have a significant reduction in their disease-related anxiety, as reflected by a 
reduction in their MAX-PC score by the end of their 12-week group therapy intervention. 
Furthermore, we expect to see an improvement in their quality of life, as measured by the 
scores obtained on the FACT-P. In addition, results of the program intervention will be 
correlated with PSA level changes. 
 
 
 
Interventions 

 
12 1-hour group therapy sessions, occurring once a week 
 
Facilitated by licensed psychologist 
 
Group therapy will be conducted using a manualized CBT treatment for anxiety, modified 
to focus on disease-related anxiety, and incorporating mindfulness-based stress 
reduction exercises. 
 
Participants will complete the MAX-PC, GAD, and FACT-P during the 4th and 12th weeks 
of therapy. Those who are absent during the 4th week and/or 12th week will be given the 
questionnaires to fill out during the next session or within 7 days. 
 
Any participant in the study who presents with suicidal/homicidal ideations will be 
assessed for suicidality/homicidality and referred to Winthrop-University Hospital’s ED 
for treatment if he is deemed to be at imminent risk of harm to himself or others. 
 
Participants will be asked to consult with the psychologist or treating physician before 
taking psychotropic medications as they may affect the results of the study. 
 
IV RESEARCH METHODS  
 
1. Method of Subject Identification and Recruitment. Subjects will be identified by their 
physicians based on their primary diagnosis of prostate cancer.  No advertising or 
outside recruitment will be employed.    
 
2. Process of Consent. Physicians treating the patient for prostate cancer at WUH will be 
responsible for obtaining consent from potential participants.  The consent form and the 
process will be fully explained, and patients will have a chance to review the form before 
signing.  This will allow the process to be conducive to rational and thoughtful decision 
making by the subject or the subject’s legally authorized representative.  
 
The following details are directly from the Institutional Review Board policies at WUH 
and slightly edited to fit the format of this research: The individual who signs the 
informed consent form as the “person obtaining consent” is responsible for conducting 
the entire consent process. This means: 
 
a. All aspects of the study, as described in the informed consent form, are first 
discussed with the potential participant. 
 
b. The informed consent form is thoroughly reviewed with the potential participant 
answers to the potential participant's questions are provided. 
 
c. While reviewing the informed consent form, the person obtaining consent asks 
questions designed to assess the potential participant's understanding of the 
material. The person will specifically state this intent to the potential participant 
(i.e., the person is making sure the potential participant appreciates what the 
participant is being asked to do, and why). 
 
d. The potential participant is given ample opportunity to decide, without coercion or 
undue influence, whether or not the participant wants to be in the study. 
 
e. The consent process does not end with the formal signing of the consent 
document. Rather, it is an ongoing process that continues throughout the 
participant's participation in the research study. The Principal Investigator is 
responsible for continued assessments of the participant's understanding of what 

is happening to the participant, his/her willingness to continue participating and 
for providing the participant with any new information that may affect the 
willingness to participate. 
 
3. Subject Capacity. All subjects to be included in this study must possess the capacity to 
sign a consent form independently. 
 
4. Subject/Representative Comprehension. The investigator is responsible for ensuring that 
the subject participating in this research is fully aware of the nature of the study.  
 
5. Debriefing Procedures. No debriefing procedures are deemed necessary in support of 
this research. 
 
6. Consent Forms. A consent form must be signed by every subject participating in this 
study. 
 
7. Documentation of Consent. The Principal Investigator is responsible for ensuring that 
valid consent is obtained and documented for all subjects. 
 
8. Costs to the Subject. There are no foreseen additional costs to the patients who choose 
to participate in this research aside from the time that it takes to complete the 
questionnaires. 
 
9. Payment for Participation. There will be no payment offered as compensation for 
participation in this study.   
 
10. Data Analysis and Data Monitoring. We will compare the baseline and outcome MAX-PC 
and FACT-P scores by the end of the group therapy intervention (week 12).  Monitoring 
and reporting unanticipated problems will be handled by the lead investigator and/or the 
head of the Urology Department.  If a patient wishes to be withdrawn from the study, 
they may opt out at any time.  Considering the minimal invasiveness of our approach, we 
predict this situation to be unlikely.   
 
11.  Data Storage and Confidentiality. Subjects' names and any personal identifying data will 
be excluded from any public access and protected based on the privacy standards at 
WUH.  Data will be stored in a secure computer in the office of the lead investigator, Dr. 
Aaron Pinkhasov.  Access to this information will only be allowed to authorized 
investigators participating in the study.  There is no expected expiration date to this 
study as it is intended to be an ongoing database.    
 
V  SUBJECT SELECTION AND STUDY ENTRY  
 
1. Number of subjects: 48 
 
2. Gender of Subjects: All subjects to be included in this study will be male.   
 
3. Age of Subjects: The subjects of this study will be over the age of 40.   
 
4. Racial and Ethnic Origin: No discrimination will be made based on race or ethnic origin 
of subjects.   

 
5. Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion requirements for this study are men above the age of 40 with 
a primary diagnosis of Prostate Cancer, and initial MAX-PC score of ≥16. In order to 
participate, patients must sign a consent form allowing related information to be included 
in this research. This form will be written in simple terms clearly stating the voluntary 
nature of their participation.  
 
6. Exclusion Criteria: Subjects will be excluded from the study if prostate cancer is not their 
primary diagnosis. Subjects who, in the judgment of the investigator, cannot 
appropriately fill out the questionnaires will also be excluded from the study. Subjects will 
be excluded if they have pre-existing diagnosed psychiatric conditions, are currently 
taking psychotropic medications (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers), or 
have been diagnosed with cancer other than prostate cancer (and non-melanoma skin 
cancer), and/or evidence of active substance abuse. Participants in the treatment group 
who are absent from more than 3 therapy sessions will be excluded. 
 
7. Vulnerable Subjects: Elderly subjects being treated for prostate cancer may have 
diminished decisional capacity.  Subjects deemed in the judgment of the investigator to 
be unable to sign consent will be excluded from the study.   
 
VI   RISKS AND BENEFITS 
 
1. The risks to the patient are: 
 
a. The potential for unforeseen exposure of information and breach of 
confidentiality.   
b. The possibility that a patient may feel uncomfortable answering certain questions 
regarding sexual and urinary function.   
 
2. Protection against Risks. 
 
a. In order to protect private patient information and confidentiality, the data will be 
password protected and encrypted.   
b. If a subject feels uncomfortable with answering questions, they will be allowed to 
opt out of responding to those questions.   
 
3. Potential Benefits to the Subjects. Potential benefits include patient treatment for anxiety 
and therefore possible quality of life improvement.   
 
VII STATISTICAL ANALYSIS  
 
Statistical methods:  The investigators will perform all data analysis.  Two groups, the 
experimental (recipients of group therapy) and the control (literature only) will be compared for 
anxiety based on their MAX-PC and FACT-P questionnaire scores.  PSA anxiety scores will be 
summarized via descriptive statistics (mean, median, standard deviation, range) at baseline, 4 
weeks, and 12 weeks for each treatment arm.  Average pre/post changes (12 weeks – baseline) 
will also be computed for each treatment arm, along with 95% confidence intervals.  Analysis of 
covariance will be used to examine our primary hypothesis that 12-week anxiety scores will be 
lower in patients receiving group therapy by regressing 12-week PSA anxiety scores onto 
baseline PSA scores and an indicator variable for treatment arm (12 weeks of group therapy vs. 

standard follow-up).   The estimate, 95% confidence interval and statistical significance of the 
treatment effect are the main statistics of interest.  In secondary analysis, a mixed effects model 
will be used when the outcome vector consists of all three measurements (baseline, 4 and 12 
weeks) and via statistical contrasts will examine whether the relationship between PSA anxiety 
scores and time is linear or if the effect of intervention on anxiety scores is fully observed by 
week 4.   Two-sided p-values ≤ 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.  All analyses will 
be conducted using SAS/STAT version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC).   
Power and Sample size:  Power and sample size will be computed via simulation.  Normally 
distributed anxiety scores were assumed such that pre-intervention scores are distributed with 
mean of 18 (SD=4.0); post-intervention (at 12 weeks) distributed with a mean of 14 (SD=4.0) for 
a 20% reduction.  Pre/post score correlation (rho) was assumed to be 0.40.  The final analysis 
set in each simulated data set consisted of n patients with baseline (score >= 16) and 12-week 
PSA anxiety score data, where n corresponds to the specified sample size per arm.   A total of 
n=48 patients will be recruited for the study, for a total of 24 in each study arm.  
Assuming an attrition rate of 25% (n=18 per treatment arm at 12 weeks for analysis), we 
will have >85% power at the 0.05 level of significance to detect a 20% reduction in PSA 
anxiety scores from baseline.   
 
VIII ANTICIPATED RESULTS AND POTENTIAL PITFALLS 
 
We anticipate that our study will reveal important characteristics of patients with the diagnosis of 
prostate cancer, and test a CBT therapeutic approach to reducing the anxiety in these patients. 
We predict that an anxiety reduction in prostate cancer patients undergoing AHS will improve 
quality of life, delay radical, elective treatment, and potentially improve disease progression. 
 
We have carefully designed our study so as to minimize the potential for pitfalls.  For example, 
based on the current literature and our clinical experience, the chosen MAX-PC cutoff of 16 will 
identify a sufficient number of patients from our AHS cohort to enroll in group therapy.  In an 
ongoing study, approximately 50% of our AHS patients exhibited a MAX-PC score of 16+.  The 
risk of patient attrition due to lack of interest in the group-therapy intervention remains, but 
because we are fully implementing the group therapy into the AHS protocol, we anticipate that 
the attrition rate will be low, as this has been our experience in our ongoing AHS cohort.  
 
We do not foresee any potential pitfalls that would alter or increase the risk level of the study 
subjects.  The appropriate confidentiality safeguards are already implemented.  
 
 
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