A detailed analysis of the association between postoperative phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use and the risk of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy

A recent study reported a detrimental effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) on biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PCa). We tested the association between PDE5-I use, PDE5-I therapy scheme, number of PDE5-I pills taken, and BCR in 2579 patients treated with bilateral nerve-sparing RP for PCa between 2004 and 2013 at a single center. Patients were categorized according to PDE5-I use within 2 yr after surgery as on demand, rehabilitation schedule (daily PDE5-I use for at least 3 mo), and no PDE5-I use. Multivariable (MVA) Cox regression models tested the association between PDE5-I and BCR. The same analyses were repeated using the number of PDE5-I pills taken by each patient. Overall, 674 patients (26.1%) received PDE5-Is. At MVA analysis, PDE5-I use, type of administration schedule, and number of PDE5-I pills were not significantly associated with higher risk of BCR (all p ≥ 0.2) after accounting for multiple confounders including time from RP to PDE5-I use. While awaiting further studies, patients should not be denied PDE5-I treatment after RP. Patient summary Among patients treated with radical prostatectomy, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use was not associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence, regardless of the therapeutic regimen used.