High-Risk Prostate Cancer: From Definition to Contemporary Management

SIMBOSPROST: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy: A multicentre, cross-sectional study

AIM

To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and osteoporosis in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) treated with radical radiotherapy (RT) with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, the prevalence of MetS is estimated to range from 20% to 25% of the adult population. However, prevalence rates are much higher in PCa patients (pts) who undergo ADT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multicentre cross-sectional study of 270 pts in Spain with PCa. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the duration of ADT (6, 12-18, ≥24 months) and compared to a control group without ADT. MetS was defined according to NCEP ATP III criteria. Osteoporosis was assessed by DEXA.

RESULTS

A total of 270 pts, treated from November 2011 to October 2012, were included. Of these, 122 pts (47%) fulfilled the criteria for MetS. The median age of this group was significantly higher (71.3 vs. 69.38 years, p = 0.028). MetS prevalence was 50% in the control group. In pts who received ADT, prevalence was 44.8% after 6 months of ADT, 45.3% after 12-18 months, and 50% after ≥24 months (pns). Most pts (168/270; 62%) underwent DEXA. Of those tested, 78 (46.4%) had osteopenia and only 11 (6.5%) had osteoporosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of MetS in pts with PCa treated with radical RT was higher (47%) than in the general population. However, there were no significant differences in the duration of ADT administration. The prevalence of osteoporosis was low. These findings suggest that the prevalence of MetS in PCa patients may be higher than previously reported.

Lymph node staging in prostate cancer

Nodal staging is important in prostate cancer treatment. While surgical lymph node dissection is the classic method of determining whether lymph nodes harbor malignancy, this is a very invasive technique. Current noninvasive approaches to identifying malignant lymph nodes are limited. Conventional imaging methods rely on size and morphology of lymph nodes and have notoriously low sensitivity for detecting malignant nodes. New imaging techniques such as targeted positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and magnetic resonance lymphography (MRL) with iron oxide particles are promising for nodal staging of prostate cancer. In this review, the strengths and limitations of imaging techniques for lymph node staging of prostate cancer are discussed.

Clinical and genomic analysis of metastatic prostate cancer progression with a background of postoperative biochemical recurrence

OBJECTIVE

To better characterize the genomics of patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) who have metastatic disease progression in order to improve treatment decisions for prostate cancer.

METHODS

The expression profiles of three clinical outcome groups after radical prostatectomy (RP) were compared: those with no evidence of disease (NED; n = 108); those with BCR (rise in prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level without metastasis; n = 163); and those with metastasis (n = 192). The patients were profiled using Human Exon 1.0 ST microarrays, and outcomes were supported by a median 18 years of follow-up. A metastasis signature was defined and verified in an independent RP cohort to ensure the robustness of the signature. Furthermore, bioinformatics characterization of the signature was conducted to decipher its biology.

RESULTS

Minimal gene expression differences were observed between adjuvant treatment-naïve patients in the NED group and patients without metastasis in the BCR group. More than 95% of the differentially expressed genes (metastasis signature) were found in comparisons between primary tumours of metastasis patients and the two other outcome groups. The metastasis signature was validated in an independent cohort and was significantly associated with cell cycle genes, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, DNA repair, androgen, G-protein coupled and NOTCH signal transduction pathways.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that metastasis development after BCR is associated with a distinct transcriptional programme that can be detected in the primary tumour. Patients with NED and BCR have highly similar transcriptional profiles, suggesting that measurement of PSA on its own is a poor surrogate for lethal disease. Use of genomic testing in patients undergoing RP with an initial rise in PSA level may be useful to improve secondary therapy decision-making.

On the relationship between tumor structure and complexity of the spatial distribution of cancer cell nuclei: a fractal geometrical model of prostate carcinoma

BACKGROUND

A risk of the prostate cancer patient is defined by both the objective and subjective criteria, that is, PSA concentration, Gleason score, and pTNM-stage. The subjectivity of tumor grading influences the risk assessment owing to a large inter- and intra-observer variability. Pathologists propose a central prostate pathology review as a remedy for this problem; yet, the review cannot eliminate the subjectivity from the diagnostic algorithm. The spatial distribution of cancer cell nuclei changes during tumor progression. It implies changes in complexity measured by the capacity dimension D0, the information dimension D1, and the correlation dimension D2.

METHODS

The cornerstone of the approach is a model of prostate carcinomas composed of the circular fractals CF(4), CF(6 + 0), and CF(6 + 1). This model is both geometrical and analytical, that is, its structure is well-defined, the capacity fractal dimension D0 can be calculated for the infinite circular fractals, and the dimensions D0, D1, D2 can be computed for their finite counterparts representing distribution of cell nuclei. The model enabled both the calibration of the software and the validation of the measurements in 124 prostate carcinomas. The ROC analysis defined the cut-off D0 values for seven classes of complexity.

RESULTS

The Gleason classification matched in part with the classification based on the D0 values. The mean ROC sensitivity was 81.3% and the mean ROC specificity 75.2%. Prostate carcinomas were re-stratified into seven classes of complexity according to their D0 values. This increased both the mean ROC sensitivity and the mean ROC specificity to 100%. All homogeneous Gleason patterns were subordinated to the class C1, C4, or C7. D0 = 1.5820 was the cut-off D0 value between the complexity class C2 and C3 representing low-risk cancers and intermediate-risk cancers, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The global fractal dimensions eliminate the subjectivity in the diagnostic algorithm of prostate cancer. Those complexity measures enable the objective subordination of carcinomas to the well-defined complexity classes, and define subgroups of carcinomas with very low malignant potential (complexity class C1) or at a large risk of progression (complexity ass C7).

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the survival outcomes of first-line treatment options in high-risk prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-dermatologic cancer in the western countries in western countries. High-risk PCa accounts for 15% of the diagnosed cases. In this study, we compare the long-term survival outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP), radiation therapy (RT), brachytherapy (BT), androgen- deprivation therapy (ADT), and watchful waiting (WW) in high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). Overall, RP/(RT plus ADT) gave the best survival outcome in patients with high-risk PCa, whereas ADT/WW had the worst outcome. The overall priority for treatment strategy could be ranked as follows: RP/(RT plus ADT), RT, and ADT/WW. RP had significant better overall survival (OS) than RT or BT, and RP had significant lower cancer-specific mortality (CSM) than RT (0.51 [95% CI 0.30–0.73], P<0.001). ADT improved the cancer-specific survival (CSS) of RP based on a case-controlled study; added ADT to RT failed to challenge the position of RP but could improve the outcome of RT. In conclusions,RP/(RT plus adjuvant ADT) could both be used for the first-line therapy of high-risk PCa. When encountering an individual patient, urologists should consider various factors like tumors themselves, preferences of individuals, and so on.

Bone Scan Index as a prognostic imaging biomarker during androgen deprivation therapy

Background

Bone Scan Index (BSI) is a quantitative measurement of tumour burden in the skeleton calculated from bone scan images. When analysed at the time of diagnosis, it has been shown to provide prognostic information on survival in men with metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of BSI during androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

Methods

Prostate cancer patients who were at high risk of a poor outcome and who had undergone bone scan at the time of diagnosis and during ADT were recruited from two university hospitals for a retrospective study. BSI at baseline and follow-up were calculated using an automated software package (EXINIbone^bsi). Associations between BSI, other prognostic biomarkers and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results

One hundred forty-six PCa patients were included in the study. A total of 102 patient deaths were registered, with a median survival time after the follow-up bone scan of 2.4 years (interquartile range (IQR) =0.8 to 4.4). Both at baseline and during ADT, BSI was significantly associated with OS in univariate and multivariate analyses. When BSI was added to a prognostic base model including age, prostate-specific antigen, clinical tumour stage and Gleason score, the concordance index increased from 0.73 to 0.77 (p =0.0005) at baseline and from 0.77 to 0.82 (p <0.0001) during ADT.

Conclusions

Automated BSI during ADT is an independent prognostic indicator of OS in PCa patients with bone metastasis. It represents an emerging imaging biomarker that can be used in a prognostic model for risk stratification of PCa patients at the time of diagnosis and at later stages of the disease. BSI could then help physicians identify patients who could benefit from more aggressive therapies.

Current status of radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer

Despite the wide application of prostate-specific antigen-based screening leading to a profound stage migration in prostate cancer (PC), a significant percentage of men are still being diagnosed with clinically high-risk disease that requires aggressive treatment. Optimal management in these patients remains challenging, and strong advocates for radical prostatectomy (RP), radiotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, and, increasingly, a multimodal approach abound. Currently, surgery for high-risk PC is frequently applied. RP offers an attractive opportunity for tumor excision either as a definitive management or as a first step in multimodal therapy. Nevertheless, this approach is still controversial. In this review, we discuss the current evidence for the role of RP in this clinical setting, including surgical considerations and outcomes. The role of robot-assisted RP, which is increasingly utilized in Korea in this clinical scenario, is discussed.

Sexual bother in men with advanced prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy

INTRODUCTION

Men with advanced prostate cancer (APC) undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) often experience distressing sexual side effects. Sexual bother is an important component of adjustment. Factors associated with increased bother are not well understood.

AIMS

This study sought to describe sexual dysfunction and bother in APC patients undergoing ADT, identify socio-demographic and health/disease-related characteristics related to sexual bother, and evaluate associations between sexual bother and psychosocial well-being and quality of life (QOL).

METHODS

Baseline data of a larger psychosocial intervention study was used. Pearson's correlation and independent samples t-test tested bivariate relations. Multivariate regression analysis evaluated relations between sexual bother and psychosocial and QOL outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite sexual function and bother subscales, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy--General, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale were the main outcome measures.

RESULTS

Participants (N = 80) were 70 years old (standard deviation [SD] = 9.6) and reported 18.7 months (SD = 17.3) of ADT. Sexual dysfunction (mean = 10.1; SD = 18.0) was highly prevalent. Greater sexual bother (lower scores) was related to younger age (β = 0.25, P = 0.03) and fewer months of ADT (β = 0.22, P = 0.05). Controlling for age, months of ADT, current and precancer sexual function, sexual bother correlated with more depressive symptoms (β = -0.24, P  = 0.06) and lower QOL (β = 0.25, P = 0.05). Contrary to hypotheses, greater sexual bother was related to greater dyadic satisfaction (β = -0.35, P = 0.03) and cohesion (β = -0.42, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of APC patients undergoing ADT will experience sexual dysfunction, but there is variability in their degree of sexual bother. Psychosocial aspects of sexual functioning should be considered when evaluating men's adjustment to ADT effects. Assessment of sexual bother may help identify men at risk for more general distress and lowered QOL. Psychosocial interventions targeting sexual bother may complement medical treatments for sexual dysfunction and be clinically relevant, particularly for younger men and those first starting ADT.

Diffusion-weighted MRI in early assessment of tumour response to radiotherapy in high-risk prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) in monitoring response to radiotherapy in high-risk prostate cancer (PC).

METHODS

This retrospective study included 78 patients with high-risk PC undergoing 3.0-T MRI (supplemented by DWI) before and after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Based on follow-up clinical examinations, patients were divided into two groups: the recurrence group (patients who suffered biochemical/clinical recurrence within 3 years, n = 13) and the non-recurrence group (patients who were recurrence free for over 3 years, n = 65). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values before and after IMRT were compared between these two groups. The receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was carried out to investigate the discriminatory capability for pre- and post-IMRT ADC values.

RESULTS

The overall ADC values were 1.04 ± 0.18 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) for PCs before IMRT and 1.45 ± 0.15 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) after IMRT (p < 0.001). A statistically significant difference in post-IMRT ADC values was noted between patients with and without recurrence (1.27 ± 0.14 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) vs 1.49 ± 0.12 × 10(-3)mm(2) s(-1); p < 0.001), although there was no statistical difference between them in pre-IMRT ADC values (1.00 ± 0.17 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) vs 1.05 ± 0.18 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1); p = 0.31). The ROC curve analysis revealed that the post-IMRT ADC values could help identify patients suffering recurrences (area under the curve, 0.88; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Marked increase in ADC values was observed in PC after radiotherapy, especially in good responders. DWI is a valuable tool for monitoring the response to radiotherapy.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This study examined the relationship between ADC changes and tumour response to treatment of PC.

Influence of a genomic classifier on post-operative treatment decisions in high-risk prostate cancer patients: results from the PRO-ACT study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of an individualized genomic classifier (GC) test, for predicting metastasis following radical prostatectomy (RP), on urologists' adjuvant treatment decisions when caring for high-risk patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were submitted by US board-certified urologists in community practices (n = 15), who ordered the GC test for 146 prostate cancer patients with adverse pathologic features following RP (i.e., pathologic stage pT3 or positive surgical margins). Treatment recommendations were reported using an electronic data collection instrument, before and after reviewing the GC test report. Physicians also completed a Decision Conflict Scale (DCS), a decisional conflict measure, to assess their confidence with their treatment recommendations.

RESULTS

Over 60% of high-risk patients were re-classified as low risk after review of the GC test results. Overall, adjuvant treatment recommendations were modified for 30.8% (95% CI = 23-39%) of patients. With GC test results, 42.5% of patients who were initially recommended adjuvant therapy were subsequently recommended observation. Although the number of patients recommended adjuvant therapy remained the same before and after review of the GC test results, it did influence patient treatment strategies. Multivariable analysis confirmed GC risk was the only significant predictor of treatment recommendations (OR = 4.04; 95% CI = 2.36, 6.92; p < 0.0001). Decisional conflict with regard to adjuvant treatment decisions was significantly less with the use of the GC test (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Information on individualized metastasis risk based on a patient's tumor biology, with use of the GC test, significantly changed urologists' adjuvant treatment recommendations for post-operative patients with prostate cancer, who were at high risk of metastasis. Namely, the results of this study provide evidence for the utility of the GC test, and show it may guide use of adjuvant radiation.

Artificial urinary sphincter placement in compromised urethras and survival: a comparison of virgin, radiated and reoperative cases

PURPOSE

Although long-term outcomes after initial placement of artificial urinary sphincters are established, limited data exist comparing sphincter survival in patients with compromised urethras (prior radiation, artificial urinary sphincter placement or urethroplasty). We evaluated artificial urinary sphincter failure in patients with compromised and noncompromised urethras.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 86 sphincters placed at a single institution between December 1997 and September 2012. We assessed patient demographic, comorbid disease and surgical characteristics. All nonfunctioning, eroded or infected devices were considered failures.

RESULTS

Of the 86 patients reviewed 67 (78%) had compromised urethras and had higher failure rates than the noncompromised group (34% vs 21%, p=0.02). Compared to the noncompromised group, cases of prior radiation therapy (HR 4.78; 95% CI 1.27, 18.04), urethroplasty (HR 8.61; 95% CI 1.27, 58.51) and previous artificial urinary sphincter placement (HR 8.14; 95% CI 1.71, 38.82) had a significantly increased risk of failure. The risk of artificial urinary sphincter failure increased with more prior procedures. An increased risk of failure was observed after 3.5 cm cuff placement (HR 8.62; 95% CI 2.82, 26.36) but not transcorporal placement (HR 1.21; 95% CI 0.49, 2.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Artificial urinary sphincter placement in patients with compromised urethras from prior artificial urinary sphincter placement, radiation or urethroplasty had a statistically significant higher risk of failure than placement in patients with noncompromised urethras. Urethral mobilization and transection performed during posterior urethroplasty surgeries likely compromise urethral blood supply, predisposing patients to failure. Patients with severely compromised urethras from multiple prior procedures may have improved outcomes with transcorporal cuff placement rather than a 3.5 cm cuff.

Defining the radiobiology of prostate cancer progression: An important question in translational prostate cancer research

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies affecting men worldwide. High mortality rates from advanced and metastatic prostate cancer in the United States are contrasted by a relatively indolent course in the majority of cases. This gives hope for finding methods that could direct personalized diagnostic, preventative, and treatment approaches to patients with prostate cancer. Recent advances in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI) offer a noninvasive diagnostic intervention which allows correlation of prostate tumor image characteristics with underlying biologic evidence of tumor progression. The power of MP-MRI includes examination of both local invasion and nodal disease and might overcome the challenges of analyzing the multifocal nature of prostate cancer. Future directions include a careful analysis of the genomic signature of individual prostatic lesions utilizing image-guided biopsies. This review examines the diagnostic potential of MRI in prostate cancer.

High-risk prostate cancer-classification and therapy

Approximately 15% of patients with prostate cancer are diagnosed with high-risk disease. However, the current definitions of high-risk prostate cancer include a heterogeneous group of patients with a range of prognoses. Some have the potential to progress to a lethal phenotype that can be fatal, while others can be cured with treatment of the primary tumour alone. The optimal management of this patient subgroup is evolving. A refined classification scheme is needed to enable the early and accurate identification of high-risk disease so that more-effective treatment paradigms can be developed. We discuss several principles established from clinical trials, and highlight other questions that remain unanswered. This Review critically evaluates the existing literature focused on defining the high-risk population, the management of patients with high-risk prostate cancer, and future directions to optimize care.

One-step TNM staging of high-risk prostate cancer using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): toward an upfront simplified "all-in-one" imaging approach?

BACKGROUND

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is the standard for local prostate cancer (PCa) staging. Whole-body MRI (wbMRI) has shown capabilities for metastatic screening. This study assesses the feasibility and value of an all-in-one AJCC TNM staging of PCa during a unique MRI session combining mpMRI and wbMRI.

METHODS

Thirty consecutive patients with "high-risk" PCa prospectively underwent mpMRI of the prostate and wbMRI, in addition to (99m) Tc bone scan (BS), completed with standard X-rays (±TXR) and contrast enhanced CT for distant staging. For the statistical analysis, a "best valuable comparator" (BVC) combining a panel review of all available baseline and follow-up imaging, biological, and clinical data was used to adjudicate lymph node and bone metastatic status.

RESULTS

Prostate mpMRI was analyzed using ESUR guidelines. Sensitivity of BS ± TXR combined with CT and of wbMRI for detecting metastases (bones or nodes) was 85% and 100%, respectively, and specificity was 88% and 100%, respectively. For the overall staging of the patients as being either N0M0 or having disease extension beyond the prostate, wbMRI was superior to the combination of BS and CT (improvement in all ROC characteristics and of AUC by 13.6% (95% CI: +0.7% to +26.5%, P = 0.039)). The main limitation is the limited number of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

AJCC M and N staging using wbMRI is feasible during the same imaging session as mpMRI performed for T staging, in less then one hour. wbMRI outperforms BS ± TXR and abdomino-pelvic CT work up for discriminating subsets of patients with or without distant spread of the cancer.

Is robot-assisted radical prostatectomy safe in men with high-risk prostate cancer? Assessment of perioperative outcomes, positive surgical margins, and use of additional cancer treatments

INTRODUCTION

Despite a rapid dissemination of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) over open radical prostatectomy (ORP), to date no study has compared perioperative outcomes between the two approaches in patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of RARP in this setting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Overall, 1,512 patients with high-risk PCa within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End RESULTS (SEER) Medicare-linked database diagnosed between 2008 and 2009 were abstracted. Patients were treated with RARP or ORP. Postoperative complications, blood transfusions, prolonged length of stay (pLOS), positive surgical margins, and additional cancer therapy rates were compared. Propensity-score matched analyses and logistic regression models fitted with generalized estimating equations for clustering among hospitals were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 706 (46.7%) and 806 (53.3%) patients underwent ORP and RARP, respectively. Following propensity-matched analyses, 706 patients remained. No differences were observed in complications (P=0.6), positive surgical margins (P=0.4), or additional therapy after surgery (P=0.2) between patients treated with RARP and ORP; however, RARP was associated with lower rates of transfusions and shorter hospitalization (all P<0.001). In multivariable analyses, patients undergoing RARP were less likely to receive a blood transfusion (P=0.002) or to experience pLOS (P<0.001) compared with men treated with ORP.

CONCLUSIONS

RARP and ORP have comparable complications, positive surgical margins, and additional cancer therapy rates in high-risk PCa. RARP is associated with lower rates of blood transfusions and shorter hospital stays. These findings suggest that RARP is safe and feasible even in this clinical scenario.

The impact of pathologic staging on the long-term oncologic outcomes of patients with clinically high-risk prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

In the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening era, approximately 15% of US men still present with clinically high-risk prostate cancer (PC). However, high-risk PC may be downgraded/downstaged at radical prostatectomy (RP), making additional therapy unnecessary. The authors tested the oncologic outcomes in men with clinically high-risk disease stratified on RP pathology.

METHODS

A total of 611 men with high-risk PC (PSA level > 20 ng/mL, biopsy Gleason sum [bGS] ≥ 8, or clinical classification of ≥ T3) underwent RP and pelvic lymphadenectomy between 1998 and 2011. Outcomes included biochemical disease recurrence (BCR), receipt of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), metastases, and PC-specific and overall survival. RP pathology was classified as unfavorable (pathologic Gleason sum ≥ 8, pathologic classification of ≥ T3, or lymph node-positive disease), or favorable (no unfavorable features). Multivariable analyses tested oncologic outcomes stratified by pathologic classification.

RESULTS

Overall, 527 men had complete pathologic data and were included in the current analysis. Of the cohort, 206 of 527 men (39%) had favorable pathology. This finding was more common in men with only 1 clinical high-risk feature, and a lower body mass index, PSA level, bGS, and percentage positive biopsy cores. Favorable pathology was associated with decreased BCR (hazards ratio [HR], 0.34), metastases (HR, 0.17), and PC death (HR, 0.17). After a median follow-up of 82 months (range, 49 months-131 months), 193 of the 527 men (37%) received ADT, including only 35 of the 206 men with favorable pathology (17%). Unfavorable pathology was associated with early (≤ 5 years) but not late treatment with ADT.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large cohort of men with high-risk PC who were managed with RP, 39% had favorable pathology and superior oncologic outcomes.

Current trends for the use of androgen deprivation therapy in conjunction with radiotherapy for patients with unfavorable intermediate-risk, high-risk, localized, and locally advanced prostate cancer

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is now a well-established standard of care in combination with definitive radiotherapy for patients with unfavorable intermediate-risk to high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer. It is also well established that combination modality treatment with ADT and radiotherapy is superior to either of these modalities alone for the treatment of patients with high-risk locally advanced disease. Current treatment guidelines for prostate cancer in the United States are based on the estimated risk of recurrence and death. This review examines the clinical evidence underpinning the use of ADT and radiotherapy among patients with high-risk localized and locally advanced disease in the United States. This review also considers the rationale for moving from traditional luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists to more recently developed gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists.

[Radiation therapy in locally advanced and/or relapsed urological tumors]

Radiation therapy (RT) plays a fundamental role in the treatment of locally advanced and/or relapsed urological tumors, as well as in palliation, or as definitive treatment, and even where integrated into a multi-modal approach. In operated renal tumors, positive margins or extracapsular extension show a positive impact of postoperative RT, with a reduction of relapses between 100% and 30%, while, in the case of palliation, treatments with RT at high doses are preferred. In advanced cancers of the upper urinary tract, RT plays a limited role, even if it seems to increase the level of disease control locally and, with the combination of cisplatin, survival rates too. An important reduction in the recurrence is also observed in locally advanced tumors of the urethra, with a recurrence of 60% after surgery, 36% after RT and 25% after pairing of the two. In locally advanced tumors of the penis, RT shows poorer results than surgery, and the addition of postoperative RT does not seem to add any further outcome, except where, in the presence of a positive inguinal dissection, the postoperative RT reduces lymph node recurrences by 60%-11%. Interesting data for the preservation of the organ are reported with reference to the combination with chemotherapy. In the tumors of the testis, it is still disputable whether the treatment of residual masses after chemotherapy may be appropriate, with a view to a possible salvage radiotherapy. In the treatment of the prostate, the role of RT is consolidated and evolving with the progress of dose escalation, the association with hormonal therapy, new technologies, new possibilities of IMRT and proton therapy and various studies on multi-modal approaches (hormone therapy, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy). Cystectomy is the gold standard for the treatment of locally advanced bladder cancer, even though there is a revived interest in multimodal treatments (transurethral resection, chemotherapy, RT) that may allow the organ preservation. Postoperative radiotherapy, which can reduce by 50% to 20%-5% local recurrences that are highly correlated with distance failure and with survival, should be revised in the light of modern RT techniques that can further increase local control levels and reduce the toxicity significantly.

Multimodal treatment for high-risk prostate cancer with high-dose intensity-modulated radiation therapy preceded or not by radical prostatectomy, concurrent intensified-dose docetaxel and long-term androgen deprivation therapy: results of a prospective phase II trial

BACKGROUND

The optimal management of high-risk prostate cancer remains uncertain. In this study we assessed the safety and efficacy of a novel multimodal treatment paradigm for high-risk prostate cancer.

METHODS

This was a prospective phase II trial including 35 patients with newly diagnosed high-risk localized or locally advanced prostate cancer treated with high-dose intensity-modulated radiation therapy preceded or not by radical prostatectomy, concurrent intensified-dose docetaxel-based chemotherapy and long-term androgen deprivation therapy. Primary endpoint was acute and late toxicity evaluated with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Secondary endpoint was biochemical and clinical recurrence-free survival explored with the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Acute gastro-intestinal and genito-urinary toxicity was grade 2 in 23% and 20% of patients, and grade 3 in 9% and 3% of patients, respectively. Acute blood/bone marrow toxicity was grade 2 in 20% of patients. No acute grade ≥ 4 toxicity was observed. Late gastro-intestinal and genito-urinary toxicity was grade 2 in 9% of patients each. No late grade ≥ 3 toxicity was observed. Median follow-up was 63 months (interquartile range 31-79). Actuarial 5-year biochemical and clinical recurrence-free survival rate was 55% (95% confidence interval, 35-75%) and 70% (95% confidence interval, 52-88%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In our phase II trial testing a novel multimodal treatment paradigm for high-risk prostate cancer, toxicity was acceptably low and mid-term oncological outcome was good. This treatment paradigm, thus, may warrant further evaluation in phase III randomized trials.

External validation of nomogram predicting the probability of specimen-confined disease (pT2-3a, R0N0) in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection

INTRODUCTION

Before radical prostatectomy (RP), a nomogram [Briganti et al., Eur Urol 2012;61:584-592] permits to measure the probability of specimen-confined (SC) disease (pT2-pT3a, node negative with negative margins) in high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of our study was to perform an external validation of this nomogram.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 2007 and 2011, 623 patients with high-risk PCa (prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >20 ng/ml and/or biopsy Gleason score ≥8 and/or clinical stage T3) underwent RP and pelvic lymph node dissection at tertiary referral centers. Multivariable logistic regression models predicting the presence of SC disease were built in; we then used the area under curve of the receiver operating characteristic analysis to quantify accuracy of the nomogram to predict SC disease. The extent of over- or underestimation was evaluated within calibration plots.

RESULTS

29% (181/623) of men had SC disease at RP. Preoperative PSA, biopsy Gleason score and stage differed significantly (all p < 0.001) between men with SC disease and those without. External validation of the nomogram showed an acceptable accuracy (area under curve: 66.3, 95% CI 62.4-70%) and a perfect calibration plot.

CONCLUSIONS

The external cohort validates the original nomogram, with perfect calibration characteristics. The adequate although reduced accuracy may reflect the wide spectrum and behavior of the so-called high-risk PCa.

Validation of a genomic classifier that predicts metastasis following radical prostatectomy in an at risk patient population

PURPOSE

Patients with locally advanced prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy are candidates for secondary therapy. However, this higher risk population is heterogeneous. Many cases do not metastasize even when conservatively managed. Given the limited specificity of pathological features to predict metastasis, newer risk prediction models are needed. We report a validation study of a genomic classifier that predicts metastasis after radical prostatectomy in a high risk population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case-cohort design was used to sample 1,010 patients after radical prostatectomy at high risk for recurrence who were treated from 2000 to 2006. Patients had preoperative prostate specific antigen greater than 20 ng/ml, Gleason 8 or greater, pT3b or a Mayo Clinic nomogram score of 10 or greater. Patients with metastasis at diagnosis or any prior treatment for prostate cancer were excluded from analysis. A 20% random sampling created a subcohort that included all patients with metastasis. We generated 22-marker genomic classifier scores for 219 patients with available genomic data. ROC and decision curves, competing risk and weighted regression models were used to assess genomic classifier performance.

RESULTS

The genomic classifier AUC was 0.79 for predicting 5-year metastasis after radical prostatectomy. Decision curves showed that the genomic classifier net benefit exceeded that of clinical only models. The genomic classifier was the predominant predictor of metastasis on multivariable analysis. The cumulative incidence of metastasis 5 years after radical prostatectomy was 2.4%, 6.0% and 22.5% in patients with low (60%), intermediate (21%) and high (19%) genomic classifier scores, respectively (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that genomic information from the primary tumor can identify patients with adverse pathological features who are most at risk for metastasis and potentially lethal prostate cancer.

MiR-205 is progressively down-regulated in lymph node metastasis but fails as a prognostic biomarker in high-risk prostate cancer

The treatment of high-risk prostate cancer (HRPCa) is a tremendous challenge for uro-oncologists. The identification of predictive moleculobiological markers allowing risk assessment of lymph node metastasis and systemic progression is essential in establishing effective treatment. In the current study, we investigate the prognostic potential of miR-205 in HRPCa study and validation cohorts, setting defined clinical endpoints for both. We demonstrate miR-205 to be significantly down-regulated in over 70% of the HRPCa samples analysed and that reconstitution of miR-205 causes inhibition of proliferation and invasiveness in prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines. Additionally, miR-205 is increasingly down-regulated in lymph node metastases compared to the primary tumour indicating that miR-205 plays a role in migration of PCa cells from the original location into extraprostatic tissue. Nevertheless, down-regulation of miR-205 in primary PCa was not correlated to the synchronous presence of metastasis and failed to predict the outcome for HRPCa patients. Moreover, we found a tendency for miR-205 up-regulation to correlate with an adverse outcome of PCa patients suggesting a pivotal role of miR-205 in tumourigenesis. Overall, we showed that miR-205 is involved in the development and metastasis of PCa, but failed to work as a useful clinical biomarker in HRPCa. These findings might have implications for the use of miR-205 as a prognostic or therapeutic target in HRPCa.

The role of radical prostatectomy in high-risk prostate cancer

Because of the increase in prostate cancer patients, urologists can detect more clinically localized prostate cancer in patients before the disease has progressed to advanced stages. Nevertheless, some patients are still diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer. Even though several treatment options are available for high-risk prostate cancer patients, including radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy, used alone or in combination, the recurrence rate is high regardless of the type of treatment. Nevertheless, in the experience of many urologists, a substantial proportion of high-risk prostate cancer patients are cured by local definite therapy or multimodality treatment. Thus, several treatment combinations have been attempted as treatments in these patients. Among them, radical prostatectomy is regarded as the first step in high-risk prostate cancer patients, on a selective basis. In some high-risk prostate cancer patients, surgery is a one-step modality in treatment and has an excellent oncological prognosis. However, because of the lack of evidence and well-controlled comparative prospective studies, the best course of treatment can be unclear, and oncological outcomes often appear heterogeneous. We therefore review the current literature on clinical outcomes in high-risk prostate cancer.

The potential impact of adding genetic markers to clinical parameters in managing high-risk prostate cancer patients

Purpose

High-risk prostate cancer is a potentially lethal disease that is increasing in the diagnosis of prostate cancer patients. Compared to other prostate cancer patients (medium or low risk), management, diagnosis and treatment are not as successful among high-risk patients. Because the genetic characterization of prostate cancer patients is increasing, we aimed to determine whether genetic information in one of the primary associated genes, such as RNASEL (2', 5'-oligoadenylate-dependent RNase L), could be used as a biomarker to improve the quality of life and treatment among high-risk patients. The main objective is to identify genetic variants of RNASEL that could be associated with high-risk prostate cancer to improve the clinical managing of these patients.

Methods

A total of 231 prostate cancer patients were genotyped for 7 variants of RNASEL gene. Clinical information was obtained from medical examinations and genetic analysis (amplification and sequencing 7 variants of RNASEL gene) were performed by the researchers. Data were processed by statistical analysis (Chi square and logistic regression) using SPSS v.15.0.

Results

Comparisons between genotypes and clinical characteristics of patients revealed that individuals with GG in D541E, AA in R462Q and AG in I97L in RNASEL gene were high-risk patients according to the European Urology Guidelines.

Conclusions

Genotyping the RNASEL gene with routine diagnostic techniques could confer a more precise diagnosis of high-risk prostate cancer patients and increase the diagnostic accuracy above the current rate of 70% due to the relation between the genetic variants of RNASEL gene and the risk of this cancer.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-444) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Future prospects in the diagnosis and management of localized prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the commonest visceral cancer in men worldwide. Introduction of serum PSA as a highly specific biomarker for prostatic diseases has led to a dramatic increase in the diagnosis of early stage PCa in last decades. Guidelines underline that benefits as well as risks and squeals of early diagnosis and treatment should be discussed with patients. There are several new biomarkers (Pro-PSA, PCA-3 test, and TMPRSS2-ERG) available on the market but new ones are awaited in order to improve specificity and sensitivity. Investigators have also focused on identifying and isolating the gene, or genes, responsible for PCa. Current definitive treatment options for clinically localized PCa with functional and oncological success rates up to 95% include surgery (radical prostatectomy), external-beam radiation therapy, and interstitial radiation therapy (brachytherapy). Potential complications of overdiagnosis and overtreatment have resulted in arguments about screening and introduced a new management approach called "active surveillance." Improvements in diagnostic techniques, especially multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, significantly ameliorated the accuracy of tumor localization and local staging. These advances will further support focal therapies as emerging treatment alternatives for localized PCa. As a conclusion, revolutionary changes in the diagnosis and management of PCa are awaited in the near future.

Rationale for and review of neoadjuvant therapy prior to radical prostatectomy for patients with high-risk prostate cancer

Despite state of the art local therapy, a significant portion of men with high-risk prostate cancer develop progressive disease. Neoadjuvant systemic therapy prior to radical prostatectomy (RP) is an approach that can potentially maximize survival outcomes in patients with localized disease. This approach is under investigation with a wide array of agents and provides an opportunity to assess pathologic and biologic activity of novel treatments. The aim of this review is to explore the past and present role of neoadjuvant therapy prior to definitive therapy with RP in patients with high-risk localized or locally advanced disease. The results of neoadjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), including use of newer agents such as abiraterone, are promising. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, primarily with docetaxel, with or without ADT has also demonstrated efficacy in men with high-risk disease. Other novel agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), clusterin, and the immune system are currently under investigation and have led to variable results in early clinical trials. Despite optimistic data, approval of neoadjuvant therapy prior to RP in patients with high-risk prostate cancer will depend on positive results from well designed phase III trials.

Do positive surgical margins predict biochemical recurrence in all patients without adjuvant therapy after radical prostatectomy?

Purpose

The objective was to study whether positive surgical margins (PSMs) predict biochemical recurrence (BCR) in all patients without adjuvant therapy after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent RP for prostate cancer at Veterans Health Service Medical Center from 2005 to 2011. BCR was defined by a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value ≥0.2 ng/mL. The clinicopathological factors of the PSM group were compared with those of the negative surgical margin (NSM) group, and the predictive impact of a PSM for BCR-free survival were evaluated. In addition, we analyzed the prognostic difference for BCR-free survival between solitary and multiple PSMs.

Results

A PSM was noted in 167 patients (45.5%). BCR was reported in 101 men in total (27.5%). The BCR-free survival rate of the PSM group was lower than that of the NSM group (p<0.001). In a multivariate analysis for the total patients, PSM was significantly associated with BCR-free survival (p<0.001). After stratification by pathological T stage, Gleason score (GS), and preoperative PSA value, PSM was significantly predictive for BCR-free survival in men with pT2 and/or GS ≤6 or 7 and/or a PSA value <10 or 10-20 ng/mL (all p<0.05). Multiple PSMs were more predictive of BCR-free survival than was a solitary PSM (p=0.001).

Conclusions

A PSM is a significant predictor of postoperative BCR in patients with pT2 and/or GS ≤7 and/or preoperative PSA <20 ng/mL. Multiple PSMs are considered a stronger prognostic factor for prediction of BCR than is a solitary PSM.

Matching tumor risk with aggressiveness of treatment in men with multiple comorbidities and early-stage prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Men with multiple comorbidities are often overtreated for low-risk prostate cancer, but it is unclear whether they are undertreated for high-risk cancer, which has appreciable short-term prostate cancer-specific mortality. This study characterized the impact of comorbidity on treatment and survival in men with differing tumor risks.

METHODS

The researchers sampled 1482 men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer at 2 Veterans Affairs hospitals between 1998 and 2004, using multivariate probit regression to determine probabilities of aggressive treatment among men with differing Charlson comorbidity scores within D'Amico tumor risk strata. Using competing-risks regression, a comparison was made of 8-year cancer-specific mortality for men treated aggressively and nonaggressively among Charlson score-tumor risk pairs.

RESULTS

The study sample comprised 516 men (36%) with low-risk, 475 men (33%) with intermediate-risk, and 432 men (30%) with high-risk prostate cancer. Men with high-risk disease tended to have lower probability of aggressive treatment than other risk strata, regardless of comorbidity. Among men with Charlson scores 3+, probabilities of aggressive treatment did not increase with higher tumor risk (0.48, 0.61, 0.49 for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk disease, respectively). In competing-risks analysis, aggressive treatment was not associated with cancer-specific survival benefit in men with multiple comorbidities (Charlson scores of 2 or 3+) and low- and intermediate-risk disease, but there was a strong trend toward survival advantage in such men with high-risk disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Aggressiveness of treatment is poorly matched with tumor risk in men with significant comorbidity. Men with major comorbidities should consider conservative management for low- and intermediate-risk disease and aggressive treatment for high-risk disease.

Radical radiotherapy in high-risk prostate cancer patients with high or ultra-high initial PSA levels: a single institution analysis

PURPOSE

Purpose of this study is to analyze outcomes and pre-treatment prognostic factors in high-risk prostate cancer patients with initial PSA ≥ 20 ng/mL, treated with high-dose external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in a single institution.

METHODS

Between March 2003 and December 2011, 155 consecutive high-risk prostate cancer patients (a) presenting with pre-treatment PSA level ≥ 20 ng/mL, (b) treated with definitive EBRT, and (c) with a minimum follow-up of 24 months were included in this retrospective analysis. Phoenix definition was used to define biochemical control. Primary endpoints were as follows: biochemical disease-free survival (bDFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the independent prognostic impact of pre-treatment clinical factors [T stage, PSA, and Gleason score (GS)].

RESULTS

At a median follow-up time of 62 months, actuarial bDFS, DMFS, CSS, and OS at 5 years were 64.8, 85.2, 95.8, and 94.4 %, respectively. On multivariate analysis, only GS was significantly associated with three clinical endpoints (bDFS: HR 1.6; p = 0.022, CSS: HR 4.27, p = 0.044, OS: HR 2.6; p = 0.038). Pre-treatment zenith PSA was associated only with bDFS (HR 1.87; p = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with "high" PSA levels (≥ 20 ng/mL) showed favorable clinical outcomes, supporting the role of local radiotherapy as primary therapy in combination with long-term ADT in patients with high PSA levels at diagnosis. A GS of 8-10 is the strongest predictor of outcome.

Targeting GRPR in urological cancers--from basic research to clinical application

Gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) is a regulatory peptide that acts through its receptor (GRPR) to regulate physiological functions in various organs. GRPR is overexpressed in neoplastic cells of most prostate cancers and some renal cell cancers and in the tumoral vessels of urinary tract cancers. Thus, targeting these tumours with specifically designed GRP analogues has potential clinical application. Potent and specific radioactive, cytotoxic or nonradioactive GRP analogues have been designed and tested in various animal tumour models with the aim of receptor targeting for tumour diagnosis or therapy. All three categories of compound were found suitable for tumour targeting in animal models. The cytotoxic and nonradioactive GRP analogues have not yet shown convincing tumour-reducing effects in human trials; however, the first clinical studies of radioactive GRP analogues--both agonists and antagonists--suggest promising opportunities for both diagnostic tumour imaging and radiotherapy of prostate and other GRPR-expressing cancers.

Contemporaneous comparison of open vs minimally-invasive radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer

OBJECTIVES

To analyze pathological and short-term oncological outcomes in men undergoing open and minimally-invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP) for high-risk prostate cancer (HRPC; prostate-specific antigen level [PSA] >20 ng/mL, ≥ cT2c, Gleason score 8-10) in a contemporaneous series.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 913 patients with HRPC were identified in the Johns Hopkins Radical Prostatectomy Database subsequent to the inception of MIRP at this institution (2002-2011) Of these, 743 (81.4%) underwent open radical retropubic prostatectomy (ORRP), 105 (11.5%) underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) and 65 (7.1%) underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) for HRPC. Appropriate comparative tests were used to evaluate patient and prostate cancer characteristics. Proportional hazards regression models were used to predict biochemical recurrence.

RESULTS

Age, race, body mass index, preoperative PSA level, clinical stage, number of positive cores and Gleason score at final pathology were similar between ORRP and MIRP. On average, men undergoing MIRP had smaller prostates and more organ-confined (pT2) disease (P = 0.02). The number of surgeons and surgeon experience were greatest for the ORRP cohort. Overall surgical margin rate was 29.4%, 34.3% and 27.7% (P = 0.52) and 1.9%, 2.9% and 6.2% (P = 0.39) for pT2 disease in men undergoing ORRP, RALRP and LRP, respectively. Biochemical recurrence-free survival among ORRP, RALRP and LRP was 56.3%, 67.8% and 41.1%, respectively, at 3 years (P = 0.6) and the approach employed did not predict biochemical recurrence in regression models.

CONCLUSIONS

At an experienced centre, MIRP is comparable to open radical prostatectomy for HRPC with respect to surgical margin status and biochemical recurrence.