Pharmacological Penile Rehabilitation in the Preservation of Erectile Function Following Bilateral Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00955929 |
Recruitment Status
:
Active, not recruiting
First Posted
: August 10, 2009
Last Update Posted
: September 6, 2017
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- No Results Posted
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When a bilateral nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (RP) is performed, recovery of erectile function (rigid erections) is reported for up to 80% of patients, who are less than 60 years old. Erectile function recovery is also impacted by patient age, erectile function before surgery, and the length of time after surgery.
Current evidence from studies suggests that developing erections is important, however, these studies have been small, and the evidence is not definite. Animal studies suggest that erection medication (Viagra, Levitra, Cialis) may protect erection tissue, even in the absence of erections. However, the correct treatment plan is unknown. For example, how often does a man need to take sildenafil (Viagra®) to protect his erectile function or to maximize his erectile function recovery? Is only using erection medication enough for erectile function recovery? Would penile injections, which almost ensure production of an erection, be better than using sildenafil (Viagra®), or might a combination be even better at helping recovery of erections? These are types of questions this study might answer.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Penile Cancer Erectile Dysfunction Radical Prostatectomy | Drug: Placebo QHS and sildenafil and questionnaires Drug: Sildenafil and questionnaire Drug: Trimix combination (Papavarine 30mg/mL Phentholamine 1mg/mL Prostaglandin E1 10 mcg/mmL) and questionnaires | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 100 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Randomized Trial of Pharmacological Penile Rehabilitation in the Preservation of Erectile Function Following Bilateral Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy |
Study Start Date : | August 2009 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | August 2018 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | August 2018 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: PRN Sildenafil
Placebo QHS (blinded) and sildenafil 100mgs (open-label) as required for sexual relations. The placebo will be omitted on nights that 100mgs is used. Placebo will start within 24-48 hours post-surgery.
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Drug: Placebo QHS and sildenafil and questionnaires
Pts will be offered sildenafil 100 mg to be used before intercourse on an as-required basis. They will be given six 100 mg doses, per month, for a 12-month duration. Each patient in this group will use a placebo pill (blinded) each night, except on a nights that 100mg is taken for the purpose of sexual relations. Patients will be evaluated in the clinic and will complete the questionnaires at baseline (pre-treatment evaluation), 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months after the operation. At 12 months postoperatively, all patients will stop treatment. Visits 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months will have ±2 week window.
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Experimental: Nightly Sildenafil Arm
Patients will be instructed to take sildenafil 50 mg QHS (blinded) except on nights that they are interested in sexual relations, they will then be instructed to use sildenafil 100mgs (open-label) and skip the 50mg dose. Sildenafil treatment will start within 24-48 hours post-surgery.
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Drug: Sildenafil and questionnaire
Patients will be instructed to take sildenafil 50 mg QHS (blinded) except on nights that they are interested in sexual relations, they will then be instructed to use sildenafil 100mgs (open-label) and skip the 50mg dose. Sildenafil treatment will start within 24-48 hours post-surgery. Patients will be evaluated in the clinic and will complete the questionnaires at baseline (pre-treatment evaluation), 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months after the operation. At 12 months postoperatively, all patients will stop treatment. Visits 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months will have ±2 week window
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Experimental: Combination Therapy Arm
Trimix combination (Papavarine 30mg/mL Phentholamine 1mg/mL Prostaglandin E1 10 mcg/mL), at initial dose of 5 units (0.05ml) will be given; the first 2 injections will be done in the MSKCC urology outpatient clinic (if needed, the investigator can determine appropriate amount of injections for patient training).
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Drug: Trimix combination (Papavarine 30mg/mL Phentholamine 1mg/mL Prostaglandin E1 10 mcg/mmL) and questionnaires
Intracavernous injections of a trimix combination (Papaverine 30mg/mL Phentholamine 1mg/mL Prostaglandin E1 10 mcg/mL) will be injected three times a week, and sildenafil 50mg taken on the other four (non-injection) nights. Injection therapy can be used for the purpose of sexual relations. Patients will be evaluated in the clinic and will complete the questionnaires at baseline (pre-treatment evaluation), 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months after the operation. At 12 months postoperatively, all patients will stop treatment. Visits 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months will have ±2 week window.
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- Difference in the erectile function (EF) domain score of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) between the 3 groups at 24 months. [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
- The time to return of spontaneous functional erections. [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
- The time for patients to respond to oral erectogenic therapy. [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
- The proportion of patients who have normalization of their erectile function (normalization of the EF domain of the IIEF). [ Time Frame: 2 years ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Senior) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Male |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male, must be ≥ 18 years of age, with histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma, that is clinically localized to the prostate gland
- Stable sexual relationship for ≥ 6 months
- Open or laparoscopic bilateral nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy
- Baseline score of ≥ 22 on the International Index of Erectile Function Domain (Appendix A)
- Able to speak, read and write in the English language
- Calculated creatinine clearance using the 4 variable MDRD equation based on serum creatinine, age, race, and gender of > 60 cc/min
- Patient is able to walk up two flights of stairs briskly without chest pain
- Patient needs to have their baseline sitting AND standing blood pressure and pulse done at the time of consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Preoperative or planned postoperative pelvic radiation therapy
- Preoperative or planned postoperative androgen deprivation
- Presence of Peyronie's disease at baseline
- Presence of a penile prosthesis at baseline
- Resection of one or both nerve bundles at surgery
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Any contraindications to sildenafil:
- Patient is currently using nitrates;
- Presence of retinitis pigmentosa;
- Presence macular degeneration;
- MI or CVA within 3 months;
- Patient is currently using MAOI medications
- Patient is currently using penile self injection medication (Trimix, Bimix, or PGE-1)
- Patient requiring sildenafil for penetration
- Use of sildenafil within 30 days of consent

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00955929
United States, New York | |
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | |
New York, New York, United States, 10065 |
Principal Investigator: | John Mulhall, MD | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
Additional Information:
Responsible Party: | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00955929 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
09-005 |
First Posted: | August 10, 2009 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | September 6, 2017 |
Last Verified: | September 2017 |
Keywords provided by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center:
Penis PLACEBO SILDENAFIL CITRATE TRIMIX |
Bimix Viagra 09-005 Erectile Dysfunction following Bilateral Nerve-Sparing |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Erectile Dysfunction Penile Neoplasms Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological Genital Diseases, Male Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological Mental Disorders Genital Neoplasms, Male Urogenital Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms |
Penile Diseases Sildenafil Citrate Alprostadil Vasodilator Agents Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Urological Agents Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors |