01 Apr Does Cialis Work For Erectile Dysfunction in Men afer Prostate Cancer Radiation?

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Thomas M. Pisansky MD
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Pisansky: This patient-reported outcomes research did not identify a beneficial effect of once-daily tadalafil to prevent radiotherapy-related erectile dysfunction in men with prostate cancer.

MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr. Pisansky: Urologists often use tadalafil or other similar agents after prostatectomy for “penile rehabilitation”, and claimed that it helped. Previously available research on the mechanism of tadalafil action and its usefulness for erectile dysfunction provided sound reasoning to expect that its use would prevent erectile dysfunction in men undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer. It did not, which was not the anticipated result.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Pisansky: There is no indication to use tadalafil 5 mg once daily in men about to undergo radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Use of tadalafil should be reserved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction if and when it occurs, as established by another study done previously.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Pisansky: Different erectile aid medications or different doses or dose scheduling of tadalafil could be investigated, as could other types of agents – vasoprotectors or neuroprotectors. Further investigation into the exact cause of radiotherapy-related erectile dysfunction is warranted.

Citation:

Tadalafil for Prevention of Erectile Dysfunction After Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group [0831] Randomized Clinical Trial

Last Updated on December 21, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD