PRAGMATIC PRostate cancer diAGnosis and MAnagement Triage In the Clinical care pathway.

Abstract

Background: It is important to investigate, diagnose and commence treatment for locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer quickly to optimise treatment outcomes. Since the introduction of national 2-week wait and 31/62-day targets in the United Kingdom for investigation of suspected prostate cancer over 2 decades ago, the clinical pathway has become increasingly complex. This may lead to some patients with the most clinically significant disease having the rapidity of their diagnosis and commencement of treatment compromised by resource use in diagnosing less significant, or clinically insignificant, disease. Methods: We will conduct a retrospective review of timelines for diagnosis and commencement of treatment for all men referred to a tertiary unit for investigation of suspected prostate cancer on the 2-week wait pathway in a 3-month period in 2023. In parallel, we will introduce triaging of all new 2-week wait referrals in a prospective 3-month period, with a dedicated nurse navigator streamlining patients for the most rapid investigation and treatment, based on pre-specified risk criteria including PSA, pre-biopsy mpMRI findings including TNM staging, and histology results. We hypothesise that this bespoke triaging system, above and beyond the 2-week wait and 2022 Faster Diagnostic Pathway guidance issued by NHS England, will improve timings for investigation and commencement of treatment for the most clinically significant prostate cancer cases. Conclusions: The use of in-house criteria for triaging and stratification of the most clinically urgent and significant prostate cancer cases, identified by a nurse specialist navigator, may improve clinical outcomes for patients with greatest need for rapid prostate cancer imaging, diagnosis and treatment.