The influence of the presence of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate on the grade group system's prognostic performance

Ductal, intraductal, and cribriform carcinoma of the prostate: Molecular characteristics and clinical management

Prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma accounts for approximately 95% of prostate cancer (CaP) cases. The remaining 5% of histologic subtypes of CaP are known to be more aggressive and have recently garnered substantial attention. These histologic subtypes - namely, prostatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P), and cribriform carcinoma of the prostate (CC-P) - typically exhibit distinct growth characteristics, genomic features, and unique oncologic outcomes. For example, PTEN mutations, which cause uncontrolled cell growth, are frequently present in IDC-P and CC-P. Germline mutations in homologous DNA recombination repair (HRR) genes (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, PALB2, and CHEK2) are discovered in 40% of patients with IDC-P, while only 9% of patients without ductal involvement had a germline mutation. CC-P is associated with deletions in common tumor suppressor genes, including PTEN, TP53, NKX3-1, MAP3K7, RB1, and CHD1. Evidence suggests abiraterone may be superior to docetaxel as a first-line treatment for patients with IDC-P. To address these and other critical pathological attributes, this review examines the molecular pathology, genetics, treatments, and oncologic outcomes associated with CC-P, PDA, and IDC-P with the objective of creating a comprehensive resource with a centralized repository of information on PDA, IDC-P, and CC-P.

Addition of cribriform pattern 4 and intraductal prostatic carcinoma into the CAPRA-S tool improves post-radical prostatectomy patient stratification in a multi-institutional cohort

AIMS

Pre-surgical risk classification tools for prostate cancer have shown better patient stratification with the addition of cribriform pattern 4 (CC) and intraductal prostatic carcinoma (IDC) identified in biopsies. Here, we analyse the additional prognostic impact of CC/IDC observed in prostatectomies using Cancer of Prostate Risk Assessment post-surgical (CAPRA-S) stratification.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort of treatment-naïve radical prostatectomy specimens from three North American academic institutions (2010-2018) was assessed for the presence of CC/IDC. Patients were classified, after calculating the CAPRA-S scores, into low-risk (0-2), intermediate-risk (3-5) and high-risk (6-12) groups. Kaplan-Meier curves were created to estimate biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival. Prognostic performance was examined using Harrell's concordance index, and the effects of CC/IDC within each risk group were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Our cohort included 825 prostatectomies (grade group (GG)1, n=94; GG2, n=475; GG3, n=185; GG4, n=13; GG5, n=58). CC/IDC was present in 341 (41%) prostatectomies. With a median follow-up of 4.2 years (range 2.9-6.4), 166 (20%) patients experienced BCR. The CAPRA-S low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk groups comprised 357 (43%), 328 (40%) and 140 (17%) patients, and discriminated for BCR-free survival (p<0.0001). For CAPRA-S scores 3-5, the addition of CC/IDC status improved stratification for BCR (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.66, p<0.001) and improved the overall c-index (0.689 vs 0.667, analysis of variance p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The addition of CC/IDC into the CAPRA-S classification significantly improved post-radical prostatectomy patient stratification for BCR among the intermediate-risk group (CAPRA-S scores 3-5). The reporting of CC and IDC should be included in future prostate cancer stratification tools for improved outcome prediction.

Recent insights on the clinical, pathological, and molecular features of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate, a unique histopathologic entity that is often observed (especially in advanced prostate cancer), is characterized by the proliferation of malignant cells within normal acini or ducts surrounded by a basement membrane. Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate is almost invariably associated with an adjacent high-grade carcinoma and is occasionally observed as an isolated subtype. Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate has been demonstrated to be an independent poor prognostic factor for all stages of cancer, whether localized, de novo metastatic, or castration-resistant. It also has a characteristic genetic profile, including high genomic instability. Recognizing and differentiating it from other pathologies is therefore important in patient management, and morphological diagnostic criteria for intraductal carcinoma of the prostate have been established. This review summarizes and outlines the clinical and pathological features, differential diagnosis, molecular aspects, and management of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate, as described in previous studies. We also present a discussion and future perspectives regarding intraductal carcinoma of the prostate.

Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate: To Grade or Not to Grade

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) is a distinct tumor type characterized by an expansile growth of atypical glandular epithelial cells within pre-existing prostate glands and ducts and has significant implications on clinical outcomes and patient management. There is an agreement that isolated IDC-P should not be graded, and IDC-P should be reported with a comment on its clinical significance. However, whether IDC-P should be factored into Grade Group (GG) in the presence of concurrent prostate cancer (PCa) has been debated vigorously. The contradicting opinions were promulgated when the Genitourinary Pathology Society (GUPS) and the International Society of Urological Pathologists (ISUP) published their recommendations for this issue. When IDC-P is present with PCa, the ISUP recommends incorporating it in the GG for the entire case, whereas the GUPS recommends excluding it from the final GG. Consequently, pathologists and clinicians are faced with the conundrum of conflicting recommendations. In this review article, the authors evaluate the magnitude of discrepant GG between the two grading methods, explore the rationales behind the differing views of the two urological societies, present the current reporting practices for IDC-P, and propose a provisional and pragmatic guide to alleviate the dilemma of which recommendation to follow.

Detection of intraductal carcinoma in prostate cancer patients with small tumor volume

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (intraductal carcinoma) and significant cancer (SC) in patients with small tumor volume (<0.5 cm³ ) in prostatectomy specimens.

METHODS

Data from 639 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy between April 2006 and December 2017 at Chiba University Hospital and 2 affiliated institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Tumor volume in prostatectomy specimens was measured, and with a tumor volume of less than 0.5 cm³ , the presence of intraductal carcinoma and SC was examined. SC was defined as one that did not meet the definition of pathological insignificant cancer (organ-confined cancer, Grade Group 1, tumor volume < 0.5 cm³ ). The number of patients who met four active surveillance (AS) protocols was also examined.

RESULTS

A total of 83 patients with tumor volume < 0.5 cm³ were identified in this study population (SC: 43 patients [52%], intraductal carcinoma: 5 patients [6%]). The median follow-up was 34.6 months (range: 18-57 months). Four (5%) developed biochemical recurrence. The number of positive biopsy cores ≥ 2 was an independent predictor of SC in patients with tumor volume < 0.5 cm³ (hazard ratio: 4.39; 95% confidence interval: 1.67-11.56; p = 0.003). In tumor volume < 0.5 cm³ , tumor volume was significantly correlated with the International Society of Urological Pathology Grade Group (1 vs. 4-5, p = 0.002) and the presence of intraductal carcinoma (p = 0.004). In intraductal carcinoma-positive cases, four of five patients (80%) had the predictor of SC, which was two or more positive biopsy cores. Of the four AS protocols, the criteria for Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance were met most frequently in 46 cases (55%) of tumor volume less than 0.5 cm³ if targeted biopsy by magnetic resonance imaging was available.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study suggest that intraductal carcinoma was present even in cases with small tumor volumes. Grade Group and intraductal carcinoma showed a positive correlation with tumor volume.

Impact of Epithelial Histological Types, Subtypes, and Growth Patterns on Oncological Outcomes for Patients with Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer Treated with Curative Intent: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

The optimal management for men with prostate cancer (PCa) with unconventional histology (UH) is unknown. The outcome for these cancers might be worse than for conventional PCa and so different approaches may be needed.

OBJECTIVE

To compare oncological outcomes for conventional and UH PCa in men with localized disease treated with curative intent.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review adhering to the Referred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022296013) was performed in July 2021.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

We screened 3651 manuscripts and identified 46 eligible studies (reporting on 1 871 814 men with conventional PCa and 6929 men with 10 different PCa UHs). Extraprostatic extension and lymph node metastases, but not positive margin rates, were more common with UH PCa than with conventional tumors. PCa cases with cribriform pattern, intraductal carcinoma, or ductal adenocarcinoma had higher rates of biochemical recurrence and metastases after radical prostatectomy than for conventional PCa cases. Lower cancer-specific survival rates were observed for mixed cribriform/intraductal and cribriform PCa. By contrast, pathological findings and oncological outcomes for mucinous and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN)-like PCa were similar to those for conventional PCa. Limitations of this review include low-quality studies, a risk of reporting bias, and a scarcity of studies that included radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraductal, cribriform, and ductal UHs may have worse oncological outcomes than for conventional and mucinous or PIN-like PCa. Alternative treatment approaches need to be evaluated in men with these cancers.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We reviewed the literature to explore whether prostate cancers with unconventional growth patterns behave differently to conventional prostate cancers. We found that some unconventional growth patterns have worse outcomes, so we need to investigate if they need different treatments. Urologists should be aware of these growth patterns and their clinical impact.

Prostate Cancer Morphologies: Cribriform Pattern and Intraductal Carcinoma Relations to Adverse Pathological and Clinical Outcomes-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The present study aimed to assess the association between the cribriform pattern (CP)/intraductal carcinoma (IDC) and the adverse pathological and clinical outcomes in the radical prostatectomy (RP) cohort. A systematic search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis statement (PRISMA). The protocol from this review was registered on the PROSPERO platform. We searched PubMed^®, the Cochrane Library and EM-BASE^® up to the 30th of April 2022. The outcomes of interest were the extraprostatic extension (EPE), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), lymph node metastasis (LNS met), risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR), distant metastasis (MET) and disease-specific death (DSD). As a result, we identified 16 studies with 164 296 patients. A total of 13 studies containing 3254 RP patients were eligible for the meta-analysis. The CP/IDC was associated with adverse outcomes, including EPE (pooled OR = 2.55, 95%CI 1.23-5.26), SVI (pooled OR = 4.27, 95%CI 1.90-9.64), LNs met (pooled OR = 6.47, 95%CI 3.76-11.14), BCR (pooled OR = 5.09, 95%CI 2.23-11.62) and MET/DSD (pooled OR = 9.84, 95%CI 2.75-35.20, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the CP/IDC belong to highly malignant prostate cancer patterns which have a negative impact on both the pathological and clinical outcomes. The presence of the CP/IDC should be included in the surgical planning and postoperative treatment guidance.

The 2022 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Urinary System and Male Genital Organs-Part B: Prostate and Urinary Tract Tumors

The 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of the urinary and male genital tumors was recently published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This fifth edition of the WHO "Blue Book" offers a comprehensive update on the terminology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, histopathology, diagnostic molecular pathology, and prognostic and predictive progress in genitourinary tumors. In this review, the editors of the fifth series volume on urologic and male genital neoplasms present a summary of the salient changes introduced to the classification of tumors of the prostate and the urinary tract.

WHO Classification of Tumours fifth edition: evolving issues in the classification, diagnosis, and prognostication of prostate cancer

The fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Urinary and Male Genital Systems encompasses several updates to the classification and diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma as well as incorporating advancements in the assessment of its prognosis, including recent grading modifications. Some of the salient aspects include: (1) recognition that prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN)-like carcinoma is not synonymous with a pattern of ductal carcinoma, but better classified as a subtype of acinar adenocarcinoma; (2) a specific section on treatment-related neuroendocrine prostatic carcinoma in view of the tight correlation between androgen deprivation therapy and the development of prostatic carcinoma with neuroendocrine morphology, and the emerging data on lineage plasticity; (3) a terminology change of basal cell carcinoma to "adenoid cystic (basal cell) cell carcinoma" given the presence of an underlying MYB::NFIB gene fusion in many cases; (4) discussion of the current issues in the grading of acinar adenocarcinoma and the prognostic significance of cribriform growth patterns; and (5) more detailed coverage of intraductal carcinoma of prostate (IDC-P) reflecting our increased knowledge of this entity, while recommending the descriptive term atypical intraductal proliferation (AIP) for lesions falling short of IDC-P but containing more atypia than typically seen in high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN). Lesions previously regarded as cribriform patterns of HGPIN are now included in the AIP category. This review discusses these developments, summarising the existing literature, as well as the emerging morphological and molecular data that underpins the classification and prognostication of prostatic carcinoma.

Analysis of separate training and validation radical prostatectomy cohorts identifies 0.25 mm diameter as an optimal definition for "large" cribriform prostatic adenocarcinoma

Cribriform growth pattern is well-established as an adverse pathologic feature in prostate cancer. The literature suggests "large" cribriform glands associate with aggressive behavior; however, published studies use varying definitions for "large". We aimed to identify an outcome-based quantitative cut-off for "large" vs "small" cribriform glands. We conducted an initial training phase using the tissue microarray based Canary retrospective radical prostatectomy cohort. Of 1287 patients analyzed, cribriform growth was observed in 307 (24%). Using Kaplan-Meier estimates of recurrence-free survival curves (RFS) that were stratified by cribriform gland size, we identified 0.25 mm as the optimal cutoff to identify more aggressive disease. In univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses, size >0.25 mm was a significant predictor of worse RFS compared to patients with cribriform glands ≤0.25 mm, independent of pre-operative PSA, grade, stage and margin status (p < 0.001). In addition, two different subset analyses of low-intermediate risk cases (cases with Gleason score ≤ 3 + 4 = 7; and cases with Gleason score = 3 + 4 = 7/4 + 3 = 7) likewise demonstrated patients with largest cribriform diameter >0.25 mm had a significantly lower RFS relative to patients with cribriform glands ≤0.25 mm (each subset p = 0.004). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in outcomes between patients with cribriform glands ≤ 0.25 mm and patients without cribriform glands. The >0.25 mm cut-off was validated as statistically significant in a separate 419 patient, completely embedded whole-section radical prostatectomy cohort by biochemical recurrence, metastasis-free survival, and disease specific death, even when cases with admixed Gleason pattern 5 carcinoma were excluded. In summary, our findings support reporting cribriform gland size and identify 0.25 mm as an optimal outcome-based quantitative measure for defining "large" cribriform glands. Moreover, cribriform glands >0.25 mm are associated with potential for metastatic disease independent of Gleason pattern 5 adenocarcinoma.

Cribriform Patterned Lesions in the Prostate Gland with Emphasis on Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Significance

Simple Summary

A cribriform structure is defined as a continuous proliferation of cells with intermingled lumina. Various entities may have a cribriform morphology within the prostate gland, ranging from normal, to benign, to borderline and even to malignant lesions. This review summarizes the morphologic features of entities that have a cribriform morphology within the prostate gland, with an emphasis on their differential diagnosis, molecular profile and clinical significance. The basic aim is to assist the pathologist with challenging and controversial cases and inform the clinician on the clinical implications of cribriform morphology.

Abstract

Cribriform glandular formations are characterized by a continuous proliferation of cells with intermingled lumina and can constitute a major or minor part of physiologic (normal central zone glands), benign (clear cell cribriform hyperplasia and basal cell hyperplasia), premalignant (high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia), borderline (atypical intraductal cribriform proliferation) or clearly malignant (intraductal, acinar, ductal and basal cell carcinoma) lesions. Each displays a different clinical course and variability in clinical management and prognosis. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the morphological features, differential diagnosis, molecular profile and clinical significance of the cribriform-patterned entities of the prostate gland. Areas of controversy regarding their management, i.e., the grading of Intaductal Carcinoma, will also be discussed. Understanding the distinct nature of each cribriform lesion leads to the correct diagnosis and ensures accuracy in clinical decision-making, prognosis prediction and personalized risk stratification of patients.

Application Effect of Bladder Function Training Combined with Kangaiping Pills on Permanent Bladder Stoma after Radical Prostatectomy

Objective

To investigate the application effect of bladder function training combined with Kangaiping pills on permanent bladder stoma after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods

The clinical data of 80 patients with a permanent bladder stoma after RP in our hospital from December 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were equally split into the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) according to the odd and even hospitalization numbers. EG received bladder function training combined with Kangaiping pills while CG received routine nursing for permanent bladder stomas to compare the urodynamic indexes and quality of life (QOL) scores after intervention between the two groups.

Results

Compared with CG, EG after intervention achieved an obviously higher number of patients with bladder function grade I (∗), higher urodynamic indexes (P < 0.001), a higher SF-36 score (P < 0.001), a lower LUTS score (P < 0.001), and a lower total incidence of postoperative adverse reactions (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Bladder function training combined with Kangaiping pills is a reliable method to improve the bladder function of patients with a permanent bladder stoma after RP. This intervention method greatly enhances the QOL of patients and reduces the risk of postoperative adverse reactions, which is recommended for clinical application.

Contemporary Grading of Prostate Cancer: The Impact of Grading Criteria and the Significance of the Amount of Intraductal Carcinoma

(1) Background: Prognostic grade group (PGG) is an important prognostic parameter in prostate cancer that guides therapeutic decisions. The cribriform pattern and intraductal carcinoma (IDC) are two histological patterns, that have additional prognostic significance. However, discrepancies exist regarding the handling of IDC according to the guidelines published by two international genitourinary pathology societies. Furthermore, whether, in addition to its presence, the amount of IDC is also of importance has not been studied before. Lastly, the handling of tertiary patterns has also been a matter of debate in the literature. (2) Methods: A total of 129 prostatectomy cases were retrieved and a detailed histopathologic analysis was performed. (3) Results: Two cases (1.6%) upgraded their PGG, when IDC was incorporated in the grading system. The presence and the amount of IDC, as well as the presence of cribriform carcinoma were associated with adverse pathologic characteristics. Interestingly, in six cases (4.7%) there was a difference in PGG when using the different guidelines regarding the handling of tertiary patterns. In total, 6.2% of the cases would be assigned a different grade depending on the guidelines followed. (4) Conclusions: These findings highlight a potential area of confusion among pathologists and clinicians and underscore the need for a consensus grading system.

Subpathologies and genomic classifier for treatment individualization of post-prostatectomy radiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

Risk-stratification for post-prostatectomy radiotherapy (PORT) using conventional clinicopathologic indexes leads to substantial over- and under-treatment. Better patient selection could spare unnecessary toxicities and improve outcomes. We investigated the prognostic utility of unfavorable subpathologies intraductal carcinoma and cribriform architecture (IDC/CA), and a 22-gene Decipher genomic classifier (GC) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients receiving PORT.

MATERIAL/METHODS

A cohort of 302 men who received PORT at 2 academic institutions was pooled. PORT was predominately delivered as salvage (62% of cases); 20% received HT+PORT. Specimens were centrally reviewed for IDC/CA presence. In 104 cases, GC scores were determined. Endpoints were biochemical relapse-free (bRFR) and metastasis-free (mFR) rates.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 6.49-years, 135 (45%) and 40 (13%) men experienced biochemical relapse and metastasis, respectively. IDC/CA were identified in 160 (53%) of cases. Men harboring IDC/CA experienced inferior bRFR (HR 2.6, 95%CI 1.8-3.2, P<0.001) and mFR (HR 3.1, 95%CI 1.5-6.4, P = 0.0014). Patients with GC scores, 22 (21%) were stratified low-, 30 (29%) intermediate-, and 52 (50%) high-risk. GC low-risk was associated with superior bRFR (HR 0.25, 95%CI 0.1-0.5, P<0.001) and mFR (HR 0.15, 95%CI 0.03-0.8, P = 0.025). On multivariable analyses, IDC/CA and GC independently predicted for bRFR, corresponding to improved discrimination (C-index = 0.737 (95%CI 0.662-0.813)).

CONCLUSIONS

IDC/CA subpathologies and GC predict for biochemical relapse and metastasis beyond conventional clinicopathologic indexes in the PORT setting. Patients harboring IDC/CA are at higher risk of relapse after maximal local therapies, thus warranting consideration for treatment intensification strategies. Conversely, for men with absence of IDC/CA and low GC scores, de-intensification strategies could be explored.

Prognostic value of intraductal carcinoma for adjuvant radiotherapy candidates after radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prognostic significance of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens and predictive value of IDC-P for biochemical recurrence and adjuvant therapy decision.

METHOD

We retrospectively evaluated patients who were performed RP between 2000 and 2014. Among, 67 patients who had stage pT3a tumour with negative surgical margin (Group 1, n = 35) and who had stage pT2 tumour with positive surgical margin (Group 2, n = 32) were included in the study. RP specimens were re-evaluated for the presence of IDC-P component and other prognostic factors. In both the groups, prognostic factors were compared according to the presence of IDC-P and biochemical recurrence status.

RESULTS

In Group 1, IDC-P was detected in five cases and biochemical recurrence was detected in three cases. Patients with IDC-P showed significantly higher biochemical recurrence than those without IDC-P (P = .002). In univariate analysis, IDC-P was found to be significantly associated with worse progression-free survival (P < .001). In Group 2, IDC-P was detected in four cases and biochemical recurrence was detected in 10 cases. Also, tumour volume was significantly higher in patients with IDC-P than those without IDC-P (P = .02). IDC-P was also significantly associated with worse progression-free survival in Group 2 (P = .033).

CONCLUSIONS

In both the groups, IDC-P was a prognostic factor for progression-free survival and/or biochemical recurrence. Especially in these patients, the presence of IDC-P might be helpful for postoperative adjuvant therapy management decision.

The 2019 Genitourinary Pathology Society (GUPS) White Paper on Contemporary Grading of Prostate Cancer

CONTEXT.—

Controversies and uncertainty persist in prostate cancer grading.

OBJECTIVE.—

To update grading recommendations.

DATA SOURCES.—

Critical review of the literature along with pathology and clinician surveys.

CONCLUSIONS.—

Percent Gleason pattern 4 (%GP4) is as follows: (1) report %GP4 in needle biopsy with Grade Groups (GrGp) 2 and 3, and in needle biopsy on other parts (jars) of lower grade in cases with at least 1 part showing Gleason score (GS) 4 + 4 = 8; and (2) report %GP4: less than 5% or less than 10% and 10% increments thereafter. Tertiary grade patterns are as follows: (1) replace "tertiary grade pattern" in radical prostatectomy (RP) with "minor tertiary pattern 5 (TP5)," and only use in RP with GrGp 2 or 3 with less than 5% Gleason pattern 5; and (2) minor TP5 is noted along with the GS, with the GrGp based on the GS. Global score and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted biopsies are as follows: (1) when multiple undesignated cores are taken from a single MRI-targeted lesion, an overall grade for that lesion is given as if all the involved cores were one long core; and (2) if providing a global score, when different scores are found in the standard and the MRI-targeted biopsy, give a single global score (factoring both the systematic standard and the MRI-targeted positive cores). Grade Groups are as follows: (1) Grade Groups (GrGp) is the terminology adopted by major world organizations; and (2) retain GS 3 + 5 = 8 in GrGp 4. Cribriform carcinoma is as follows: (1) report the presence or absence of cribriform glands in biopsy and RP with Gleason pattern 4 carcinoma. Intraductal carcinoma (IDC-P) is as follows: (1) report IDC-P in biopsy and RP; (2) use criteria based on dense cribriform glands (>50% of the gland is composed of epithelium relative to luminal spaces) and/or solid nests and/or marked pleomorphism/necrosis; (3) it is not necessary to perform basal cell immunostains on biopsy and RP to identify IDC-P if the results would not change the overall (highest) GS/GrGp part per case; (4) do not include IDC-P in determining the final GS/GrGp on biopsy and/or RP; and (5) "atypical intraductal proliferation (AIP)" is preferred for an intraductal proliferation of prostatic secretory cells which shows a greater degree of architectural complexity and/or cytological atypia than typical high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, yet falling short of the strict diagnostic threshold for IDC-P. Molecular testing is as follows: (1) Ki67 is not ready for routine clinical use; (2) additional studies of active surveillance cohorts are needed to establish the utility of PTEN in this setting; and (3) dedicated studies of RNA-based assays in active surveillance populations are needed to substantiate the utility of these expensive tests in this setting. Artificial intelligence and novel grading schema are as follows: (1) incorporating reactive stromal grade, percent GP4, minor tertiary GP5, and cribriform/intraductal carcinoma are not ready for adoption in current practice.

Grade group 2 (10% ≥ GP4) patients have very similar malignant potential with grade group 1 patients, given the risk of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate

BACKGROUND

It has been argued that grade group 2 (GG2) with a low Gleason pattern 4 (GP4) proportion should be an indication for active surveillance (AS) of prostate cancer (PCa). However, the cut-off GP4 proportion for AS remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the effect of GP4 proportion and IDC-P on cancer recurrence following radical prostatectomy (RP) in GG1 and GG2 patients, and identified candidates for AS.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 646 patients with PCa who underwent RP between 2005 and 2014, and whose specimens were of GG1 or GG2 status.

RESULTS

The GGs were as follows: GG1, 25.2% (n = 163); GG2 (5% ≥ GP4), 11.4% (n = 74); GG2 (5% < GP4 ≤ 10%), 25.9% (n = 167); and GG2 (20% ≤ GP4), 37.5% (n = 242). IDC-P was detected in 26 patients (4%), i.e., in 2/167 GG2 (5% < GP4 ≤ 10%; 1%) cases and 24/242 GG2 (20% ≤ GP4; 10%) cases. GG2 patients with IDC-P exhibited a significantly poorer prognosis than did those without IDC-P (P < 0.0001), as did GG2 (20% ≤ GP4) patients without IDC-P (P < 0.05). The GG2 (5% ≥ GP4) and (5% < GP4 ≤ 10%) groups exhibited prognoses similar to those of the GG1 patients. In multivariate analysis, GG2 (20% ≤ GP4) without IDC-P, the presence of IDC-P, and the prostate-specific antigen level at diagnosis significantly predicted prognosis (P < 0.05, < 0.0001, and < 0.0001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that GG2 (GP4 ≤ 10%) patients could be indicated for AS, similar to GG1 patients, given the risk of IDC-P tumors.

The presence of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate is closely associated with poor prognosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

We aimed to confirm the predictive ability of the presence of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) for prognosis and the associations between IDC-P and clinicopathological parameters. Studies were identified in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and SCOPUS up to December 1, 2019. Hazard ratios (HRs) for survival data and odds ratios for clinicopathological data with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted. Heterogeneity was evaluated by the I² value, and quality was assessed by the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale criteria. A total of 4179 patients from 13 studies were included. The results showed that IDC-P presence was significantly associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS; HR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.96–2.73), cancer-specific survival (HR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.28–2.77), and overall survival (HR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.53–3.01). In the subgroup analysis, IDC-P presence was significantly associated with poor PFS in prostate cancer treated by radical prostatectomy (HR = 2.48; 95% CI: 2.05–3.00) and treated by radiotherapy (HR = 2.83; 95% CI: 1.65–4.85). Regarding clinicopathological characteristics, patients with IDC-P presence had significantly higher tumor clinical stages, Gleason scores, probabilities of lymph node invasion, positive surgical margins, and positive extraprostatic extension. Our meta-analysis indicates that the presence of IDC-P is closely associated with poor prognosis and adverse clinicopathological characteristics. Our data support the value and clinical utility of the routine detection of IDC-P by pathological examination. These conclusions need further validation, and prospective studies are needed to find better treatment modalities other than traditional first-line therapy for patients with IDC-P.

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) is a diagnostic entity characterized by architecturally or cytologically malignant-appearing prostatic glandular epithelium confined to prostatic ducts. Despite its apparent in situ nature, this lesion is associated with aggressive prostatic adenocarcinoma and is a predictor for poor prognosis when identified on biopsy or radical prostatectomy. This review discusses diagnosis, clinical features, histogenesis, and management of IDC-P, as well as current research and controversies surrounding this entity.

Effect of core needle biopsy number on intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) diagnosis in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

The number of core needle biopsies in metastatic prostate cancer cases are sometimes reduced to avoid various complications. We analyzed whether core needle biopsy number influence IDC-P detection rate in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated data from 150 patients diagnosed with mHSPC. Subjects were allocated to three groups according to the number of core biopsies performed: ≤ 5, 6-9, and ≥ 10. The study endpoints were the cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) rates.

RESULTS

For patients who underwent ≥ 10 core biopsies, a significant difference on CSS was detected between with or without IDC-P (P = 0.016). On the other hand, the difference decreased as the number of core biopsies became smaller (6-9; P = 0.322 and ≤ 5; P = 0.815). A similar trend was identified for the OS outcome. A significant difference on OS was also found between with or without IDC-P in patients who underwent ≥ 10 and 6-9 core needle biopsies (P = 0.0002 and 0.017, respectively), but not in those who underwent ≤ 5 core biopsies (P = 0.341). IDC-P served as a stronger prognostic marker for CSS and OS than did the other factors included in the multivariate analysis for patients had ≥ 10 core biopsies (P = 0.016, and P = 0.0014, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Given the IDC-P detection and its value as a prognostic marker, we propose the performance of ≥ 10 core biopsy procedures in patients diagnosed with mHSPC to minimize the sampling error of the IDC-P.

Grading of prostate cancer: the impact of including intraductal carcinoma on the overall Grade Group assigned in diagnostic biopsies

AIMS

The Gleason score/Grade Group (GrG) is a key parameter for clinical decision-making in prostate cancer. The World Health Organization currently recommends that intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDCP) should not be factored into the GrG; however, grading of IDCP is controversial, with variability among genitourinary pathologists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of grading of the IDCP component on the final GrG in prostate biopsies.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study included 123 prostate biopsies (12 cores +/- additional MRI-targeted cores) with GrG1-GrG4 invasive carcinoma and IDCP. All cases were graded by a genitourinary pathologist using two different methods: (i) grading of invasive carcinoma only; and (ii) grading of both invasive carcinoma and IDCP. The overall GrG, excluding the IDCP component, was GrG1 in 3% (n = 4) of cases, GrG2 in 37% (n = 45), GrG3 in 52% (n = 64), and GrG4 in 8% (n = 10). When the IDCP component was included in grading, the overall GrG changed in 28 cases (23%). The GrG increased by one grade in 15 of 28 cases (54%), and by two or more grades in 13 of 28 cases (46%). Upgrading was due to comedonecrosis (39%, 11/28), solid growth (4%, 1/28), or an increased proportion of Gleason grade 4 (57%, 16/28).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the GrG was unchanged in the majority of cases, grading of IDCP altered the final GrG in a significant minority of biopsies in this series, and often by more than one grade, which may have important implications for risk categorisation of individual patients. These findings highlight the need for consensus on grading of IDCP in routine practice, and the optimal method of incorporating IDCP into clinical risk models for patient management.

Automated approach for estimation of grade groups for prostate cancer based on histological image feature analysis

BACKGROUND

There is a low reproducibility of the Gleason scores that determine the grade group of prostate cancer given the intra- and interobserver variability among pathologists. This study aimed to develop an automated approach for estimating prostate cancer grade groups based on features obtained from histological image analysis.

METHODS

Fifty-nine patients who underwent radical prostatectomy were selected under the approval of the institutional review board of our university hospital. For estimation, we followed the grade group criteria provided by the International Society of Urological Pathology in 2014. One hundred eight specimen slides obtained from the patients were digitized to extract 110 regions of interest (ROI) from hematoxylin and eosin-stained histological images using a digital whole slide scanner at ×20 magnification with a pixel size of 0.4 μm. Each color pixel value in the ROI was decomposed into six intensities corresponding to the RGB (red, green, and blue) and HSV (hue, saturation, and value) color models. Image features were extracted by histological image analysis, obtaining 54 features from the ROI based on histogram and texture analyses in the six types of decomposed histological images. Then, 40 representative features were selected from the 324 histological image features based on statistically significant differences (P < .05) between the mean image feature values for high (≥3, Gleason score ≥4 + 3) and low (≤2, Gleason score ≤3 + 4) grade groups. The relationship between grade groups and the most representative image feature (ie, complexity) was approximated using regression to estimate real-number grade groups defined by continuous numerical grading. Finally, the grade groups were expressed as the conventional grade groups (ie, integers from 1 to 5) using a piecewise step function.

RESULTS

The grade groups were correctly estimated by the proposed approach without errors on training (70 ROIs) and validation (40 ROIs) data.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the proposed approach may support pathologists during the evaluation of grade groups for prostate cancer, thus mitigating intra- and interobserver variability.

Response of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate to androgen deprivation therapy predicts prostate cancer prognosis in radical prostatectomy patients

BACKGROUND

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) has a poor prognosis and is thought to be completely resistant to current therapies, including androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, to date, there are no data showing direct evidence of such resistance.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 145 patients with high-risk prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) with neoadjuvant ADT between 1991 and 2005. All patient data were collected from slides prepared from needle biopsy (NB) samples of prostate tissue and RP specimens. Data were analyzed in terms of serum level of prostate specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score of NB samples, clinical T stage, the positive cancer core rate, maximum cancer extension rate, presence of Gleason pattern 5, and presence of IDC-P in both NB samples and RP specimens.

RESULTS

The median initial PSA was 33.2 ng/mL (range, 2.4-296 ng/mL), and the median follow-up period was 109 months (range, 11-257 months). The preoperative median ADT period was 4 months (range, 1-20 months). IDC-P was present in 53 patients (37%) in NB samples and 65 (45%) in RP. The patients were divided into three groups based on the presence or absence of IDC-P in NB/RP samples (IDC-P-negative at biopsy: 92 cases, IDC-P-positive at biopsy with IDC-P disappearance: 15 cases, and IDC-P-positive at biopsy with IDC-P persistence: 38 cases). Overall, 28% of IDC-P-positive cases in NB samples showed the disappearance of IDC-P at RP. IDC-P persistence cases showed the poorest prognosis, while IDC-P disappearance cases had a similar prognosis to that of IDC-P-negative at biopsy cases in terms of disease-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival (P = .0018, P = .0087, and P = .0034, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Some cases with IDC-P responded to ADT and demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes similar to those of cases without IDC-P. These findings indicate that cases with IDC-P are heterogeneous.

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate is an aggressive form of invasive carcinoma and should be graded

Infiltration of the prostatic ducts by prostatic adenocarcinoma occurs relatively frequently, being most commonly associated with high grade disease. It is now recognised that intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDCP) has an associated poor prognosis and this is reflected in its histological, molecular and immunohistochemical features. The current recommendation of the World Health Organization is that IDCP not be taken into consideration when grading prostate adenocarcinoma. It is apparent that Gleason did not differentiate between IDCP and stromal invasive carcinoma when developing and validating his grading system, and recent studies suggest that the incorporation of IDCP grading into the overall grading of the specimen provides additional prognostic information.

Prognostic significance of the presence of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate and bone metastasis in needle biopsy for prostate carcinoma patients with Grade Group 5

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) and bone metastasis have been both identified to associate with unfavorable clinical outcome of the prostate carcinoma (PCa). Our objective is to examine whether IDC-P or bone metastasis at diagnostic biopsies was associated with each other and whether they were linked with overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) of Grade Group 5 patients. We retrospectively selected the prostate biopsy specimens of 120 PCa patients with Grade Group 5 from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between 2012 and 2016. There were 12 patients with IDC-P only, 52 patients with bone metastasis only and 10 patients with both IDC-P and bone metastasis. Overall, there was a significant correlation between the presences of the IDC-P and bone metastasis (P = 0.003). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that the presence of IDC-P and bone metastasis in diagnostic needle biopsy both conferred unfavorable CSS of Grade Group 5 patients. In addition, the presence of bone metastasis was a poor predictor of OS. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that bone metastasis was an independent prognostic factor for OS of Grade Group 5 patients, but IDC-P failed to be significant for either OS or CSS. Collectively, our study suggested that bone metastasis is an important prognostic factor and superior than the presence of the IDC-P for PCa patients with Grade Group 5.