Tadalafil in Preventing Erectile Dysfunction in Patients With Prostate Cancer Treated With Radiation Therapy

Inclusion Criteria:

Clinical stage T1b-T2b (AJCC, 6th ed.) adenocarcinoma of the prostate within 6 months of registration
Clinically negative lymph nodes as established by imaging (pelvic ± abdominal CT or MR), nodal sampling, or dissection within 3 months prior to registration. Patients with lymph nodes equivocal or questionable by imaging are eligible if the nodes are ≤ 1.5 cm. Lymph node assessment is optional, and at investigator discretion, for patients with Gleason Score <7.
No evidence of bone metastases (M0) on bone scan within 3 months prior to registration. Equivocal bone scan findings are allowed if plain films are negative for metastasis. Bone metastases assessment is optional, and at investigator discretion, for patients with Gleason Score <7.

Baseline serum prostatic specific antigen (PSA) value performed with an FDA-approved assay (e.g., Abbott, Hybritech) within 3 months prior to registration.

-4.1 Any of the following combinations of factors (NOTE: tumor found in 1 or both lobes on biopsy, but not palpable, will not alter T stage):

T1b-T2b disease, Gleason Score <7 and serum total PSA that is <20 ng/ml or
T1b-T2b disease, Gleason Score ≥7 and PSA that is <15 ng/ml
Serum total testosterone level prior to the initiation of radiation therapy (RT) within normal range according to institutional guidelines
Zubrod Performance Status 0 or 1 (Appendix III)
Age ≥ 18 years
Treatment that will consist of either external beam RT alone to the prostate ± seminal vesicles only at a dose between 75 Gy and 79.2 Gy or brachytherapy alone (NOTE: treatment with combined external RT and brachytherapy excludes patient participation)

Pretreatment (before starting prostate cancer treatment) erectile function as measured by IIEF Question 1, "How often were you able to get an erection during sexual activity?" - with responses of:

"sometimes (about half the time)" [response 3] or
"most times (much more than half the time)" [response 4] or
"almost always/always" [response 5]
History of prior tadalafil use: Document usual dosage per sexual encounter, date of last dose, and patient's response (No; Yes-Unsatisfactory Response; Yes-Satisfactory Response). Regardless of past experience, the patient is eligible if he agrees to adhere to protocol and take only tadalafil or placebo prescribed on study.
Although patients with partners are targeted for recruitment, patients without partners or without partners willing to participate are eligible. Patients (and spouses/partners, if willing to participate) must be able to provide study-specific informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

The patient's participation in another medical research study that involves the treatment of ED
Previous or concomitant invasive cancer (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] Stage >0), other than localized basal cell or squamous cell skin carcinoma (AJCC Stage 0-II), or a hematological malignancy (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma) unless continually disease free for at least 5 years
History of myocardial infarction within the last year
Heart failure in the last 6 months
Uncontrolled arrhythmias, hypotension (<90/50mm Hg), or uncontrolled hypertension (>170/100 mm Hg)
Stroke within the last 6 months
Use of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist androgen suppression (e.g., Lupron, Zoladex), anti-androgen (e.g., Casodex, Eulexin, Nilandron), or estrogenic (e.g., diethylstilbestrol) agents within the last 6 months
Current use of any organic nitrate or as needed nitrates (e.g., use of nitroglycerin)
Current use of cimetidine, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, or ritonavir
Known moderate to severe renal insufficiency or end-stage renal disease
Known severe hepatic impairment
Use of mechanical (vacuum) devices, intracorporeal, intraurethral, topical, or oral (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) agents as therapy for ED or supplements to enhance sexual function within 5-7 days prior to the start of RT. Patients who discontinue these therapies remain eligible if they can meet eligibility criteria

Pretreatment (before starting prostate cancer treatment) ED as measured by IIEF Question 1, "How often were you able to get an erection during sexual activity?" - with responses of:

"no sexual activity" [response 0] or
"almost never/never" [response 1] or
"a few times (much less than half the time)" [response 2]
Prior penile implant or history of bilateral orchiectomy
Prior prostatectomy, prostatic cryosurgery or high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), radionuclide prostate brachytherapy, or chemotherapy for prostate cancer
Prior or anticipated combined external RT and brachytherapy
Prior or anticipated external RT to the pelvic ± para-aortic lymph nodes
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) based upon current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition; note, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this protocol. The need to exclude patients with AIDS from this protocol is necessary because the treatments involved in this protocol may be significantly immunosuppressive. Protocol-specific requirements may also exclude immunocompromised patients.
Anatomical genital abnormalities or concurrent conditions that in the estimation of the physician would prohibit sexual intercourse or prevent study completion
Major medical or psychiatric illness which, in the opinion of the investigator, would prevent completion of treatment or would interfere with follow-up