Management of localized prostate cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic at a multidisciplinary cancer center in New York City, New York.

Abstract

213 Background: In March 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread across New York City. All non-emergent medical care was delayed, and healthcare resources were redirected to COVID-19 patients. Physicians managing prostate cancer faced unprecedented decisions to balance risks of the pandemic against risks of cancer progression. Here we review management of localized prostate cancer at an Urban Cancer Center in New York City during the height of the pandemic. Methods: We examined men with newly diagnosed, localized prostate cancer seen in initial consultation by Urology or Radiation Oncology between January 1 and June 30, 2020 (COVID-19 cohort). We reviewed cancer management, as well as the impact of the pandemic on treatment choice and patterns of care. Chi square and t-test analyses were performed to compare the COVID-19 cohort to a similar cohort managed before the pandemic from July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 (pre-COVID-19 cohort). Results: We identified 75 men in the COVID-19 cohort. NCCN risk profile: 20% low risk, 53.4% intermediate, and 26.7% high. During the height of the pandemic, there was 7 week pause in both new radiation therapy (RT) and radical prostatectomy. 11 patients continued previous RT, 1 of which developed a symptomatic covid infection and required a 2 week pause in treatment. During the operating room restart, 11 patients underwent radical prostatectomy including 8 with unfavorable-intermediate or high-risk disease. No surgical patients acquired COVID-19. Compared to the pre-COVID-19 cohort, the COVID-19 cohort had longer time from initial visit to treatment (92.1 days vs 71.0 days, p = 0.045) and a larger percentage of patients who were seen but did not return for management (25.3% vs 14%, p = 0.044). Conclusions: Our cancer center had a coordinated, 7-week cessation in primary RT and surgery for prostate cancer during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no severe COVID-19 infections among patients finishing RT, or the first cohort of men having surgery during the restart of treatments, suggesting that localized prostate cancer treatments can be safely delivered in the event of a second wave. We identified a substantial number of men who were seen, but did not return for management, highlighting a cohort who need to be reintegrated into the healthcare system. [Table: see text]