Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are not associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in men 50-69 years with PSA ≥3 ng/ml

Reduction of lower urinary tract symptoms in prostate cancer patients treated with robot assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

PROBLEM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in LUTS in patients treated with RALP and to assess factors that may predict an improvement of LUTS.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

In our institutional prospective research registry, 1935 patients operated in the period between 2009 and 2021 with complete baseline- and 12-month EPIC-26 questionnaire were eligible for the study. Also SF-12 data estimating general quality of life (QoL) were analyzed. A LUTS summary score was constructed from the two questions concerning voiding stream/residual and frequency, and transformed linearly to a 0-100 scale with higher scores representing less symptoms  A change of 6 points or more were considered Meaningful Clinical Differences (MCD). Two summary scores were calculated from the SF-12 - a mental component score (MCS-12) and a physical component score (PCS-12). Multivariate regression was used to estimate covariates associated with postoperative MCD, MCS-12 and PCS-12.

RESULTS

Mean change of LUTS-score showed an increase of 10 points 12-months post-RALP.  52% of patients achieved MCD. In multivariate logistic regression, preoperative LUTS was statistically significant associated with MCD. Reduction of LUTS was associated improved mean score of MCS-12 and PCS-12.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Along with information about risk for urinary incontinence after RALP, patients with LUTS at baseline must be informed that these symptoms may be reduced after RALP. In our study, this LUTS reduction was associated with better general QoL.

Excess weight, weight gain, and prostate cancer risk and prognosis: the PROCA-life study

BACKGROUND

Studies of excess weight and weight changes throughout adult life for prostate cancer (PCa) risk and prognosis have shown inconsistent results.

METHODS

In a population-based cohort, the Prostate Cancer Study throughout life (PROCA-life), 16,960 healthy men from the prospective cohort Tromsø Study (1994-2016) were included. Body mass index (BMI) and weight were measured at all four attendings, and weight change was calculated as the difference between the first and last of either Tromsø4, Tromsø5 or Tromsø6. Overall, 904 men developed PCa during 16 years of follow-up, and Poisson regression with fractional polynomials was used to investigate trends in incidence. Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression models were used to study associations between measurements of BMI and weight change and PCa risk, severity, and mortality.

RESULTS

At study entry, 46% of the participants (median age 44 years) were overweight, and 14% were obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2). We observed a 127% increase in overall age adjusted PCa incidence in the cohort during 1995 through 2019. No overall associations between BMI or weight change and PCa risk were observed. However, in sub-group analysis, weight gain among obese men was associated with a three-fold higher PCa risk (HR 3.03, 95% CI 1.39-6.58) compared with obese men with stable weight. Overweight was associated with lower risk of metastatic cancer (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.30-0.75) at diagnosis. Men with obesity had higher risk of PCa-specific death (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.03-2.88), while nonsmoking obese PCa cases had two times higher PCa-specific mortality compared with normal weighted PCa cases (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.11-3.70).

INTERPRETATION

In our cohort, weight gain among obese men was associated with higher risk of PCa, and obesity was associated with higher PCa-specific mortality, especially among nonsmokers. The relationship between weight and risk for PCa remains complicated, and future studies are needed to determine clinical implications.

Urinary symptoms and prostate cancer-the misconception that may be preventing earlier presentation and better survival outcomes

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is an epidemic of the modern age, and despite efforts to improve awareness, it remains the case that mortality has hardly altered over the decades, driven largely by late presentation. There is a strong public perception that male urinary symptoms is one of the key indicators of prostate cancer, and this continues to be part of messaging from national guidelines and media health campaigns. This narrative, however, is not based on evidence and may be seriously hampering efforts to encourage early presentation.

DISCUSSION

Anatomically, prostate cancer most often arises in the peripheral zone, while urinary symptoms result from compression of the urethra by prostatic enlargement more centrally. Biopsy studies show that mean prostate volume is actually lower in men found to have (early) prostate cancer compared to those with benign biopsies. This inverse relationship between prostate size and the probability of cancer is so strong that PSA density (PSA corrected for prostate volume) is known to be significantly more accurate in predicting a positive biopsy than PSA alone. Thus, this disconnect between scientific evidence and the current perception is very striking. There is also evidence that using symptoms for investigating possible cancer may lead to higher proportions of men presenting with locally advanced or metastatic disease compared to PSA testing or screening programmes. Concerns about overwhelming health care services if men are encouraged to get tested without symptoms may also be overstated, with recent newer approaches to reduce over-investigation and treatment. In this article, we explore the link between urinary symptoms and prostate cancer and propose that public and professional messaging needs to change.

CONCLUSION

If rates of earlier diagnosis are to improve, we call for strong clear messaging that prostate cancer is a silent disease especially in the curable stages and men should come forward for testing regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. This should be done in parallel with other ongoing efforts to raise awareness including targeting men at highest risk due to racial ancestry or family history. While the current resurgence in interest and debate about prostate cancer screening is timely, change of this message by guideline bodies, charities and the media can be a first simple step to improving earlier presentation and hence cures rates.

Family history, obesity, urological factors and diabetic medications and their associations with risk of prostate cancer diagnosis in a large prospective study

Background

Prostate cancer (PC) aetiology is unclear. PC risk was examined in relation to several factors in a large population-based prospective study.

Methods

Male participants were from Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study (Australia) recruited between 2006 and 2009. Questionnaire and linked administrative health data from the Centre for Health Record Linkage and Services Australia were used to identify incident PC, healthcare utilisations, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing reimbursements and dispensing of metformin and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) prescriptions. Multivariable Cox and Joint Cox regression analyses were used to examine associations by cancer spread, adjusting for various confounders.

Results

Of 107,706 eligible men, 4257 developed incident PC up to end 2013. Risk of PC diagnosis increased with: PC family history (versus no family history of cancer; HR_adjusted = 1.36; 95% CI:1.21–1.52); father and brother(s) diagnosed with PC (versus cancer-free family history; HR_adjusted = 2.20; 95% CI:1.61–2.99); severe lower-urinary-tract symptoms (versus mild; HR_adjusted = 1.77; 95% CI:1.53–2.04) and vasectomy (versus none; HR_adjusted = 1.08; 95% CI:1.00–1.16). PC risk decreased with dispensed prescriptions (versus none) for BPH (HR_adjusted = 0.76; 95% CI:0.69–0.85) and metformin (HR_adjusted = 0.57; 95% CI:0.48–0.68). Advanced PC risk increased with vasectomy (HR_adjusted = 1.28; 95% CI:1.06–1.55) and being obese (versus normal weight; HR_adjusted = 1.31; 95% CI:1.01–1.69).

Conclusion

Vasectomy and obesity are associated with an increased risk of advanced PC. The reduced risk of localised and advanced PC associated with BPH, and diabetes prescriptions warrants investigation.

Machine Learning Prediction of Kidney Stone Composition Using Electronic Health Record-Derived Features

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of machine learning models in predicting kidney stone composition using variables extracted from the electronic health record (EHR). Materials and Methods: We identified kidney stone patients (n = 1296) with both stone composition and 24-hour (24H) urine testing. We trained machine learning models (XGBoost [XG] and logistic regression [LR]) to predict stone composition using 24H urine data and EHR-derived demographic and comorbidity data. Models predicted either binary (calcium vs noncalcium stone) or multiclass (calcium oxalate, uric acid, hydroxyapatite, or other) stone types. We evaluated performance using area under the receiver operating curve (ROC-AUC) and accuracy and identified predictors for each task. Results: For discriminating binary stone composition, XG outperformed LR with higher accuracy (91% vs 71%) with ROC-AUC of 0.80 for both models. Top predictors used by these models were supersaturations of uric acid and calcium phosphate, and urinary ammonium. For multiclass classification, LR outperformed XG with higher accuracy (0.64 vs 0.56) and ROC-AUC (0.79 vs 0.59), and urine pH had the highest predictive utility. Overall, 24H urine analyte data contributed more to the models' predictions of stone composition than EHR-derived variables. Conclusion: Machine learning models can predict calcium stone composition. LR outperforms XG in multiclass stone classification. Demographic and comorbidity data are predictive of stone composition; however, including 24H urine data improves performance. Further optimization of performance could lead to earlier directed medical therapy for kidney stone patients.

MicroRNAs in prostate cancer following radiotherapy: Towards predicting response to radiation treatment

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequently diagnosed male cancer worldwide. Early diagnosis of PCa, response to therapy and prognosis still represent a challenge. Nearly 60% of PCa patients undergo radiation therapy (RT) which might cause side effects. In spite of numerous researches in this field, predictive biomarkers for radiation toxicity are still not elucidated. MicroRNAs as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression are shown to be changed during and after irradiation. Manipulation with miRNA levels might be used to modulate response to RT-to reverse radioresistance-to induce radiosensitivity, or if needed, to reduce sensitivity to treatment to avoid side effects. In this review we have listed and described miRNAs involved in response to RT in PCa, and highlighted potential candidates for future biological tests predicting radiation response to RT, with the special focus on side effects of RT. Individual radiation response is a result of the interactions between physical characteristics of radiation treatment and biological background of each patient, and miRNA expression changes among others. According to described literature we concluded that let-7, miR-21, miR-34a, miR-146a, miR-155, and members of miR-17/92 cluster might be promising candidates for biological tests predicting radiosensitivity of PCa patients undergoing radiation treatment, and as future agents for modulation of radiation response. Predictive miRNA panels, especially for acute and late side effects of RT can serve as a starting point for decisions for individualized RT planning. We believe that this review might be one step closer to understanding molecular mechanisms underlying individual radiation response of patients with PCa.

Do the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Tests That Are Ordered in Clinical Practice Adhere to the Pertinent Guidelines?

Scientific societies have provided guidelines to reduce PSA-specific harms. We studied the potential non-compliance of PSA testing with current guidelines in general practice. A cross-sectional study of a random sample of 1291 patients with a PSA test was performed between January and April 2018 in primary health care. Patients with a previous prostate cancer diagnosis or those who were being followed-up for previous high PSA values were excluded. Two independent researchers classified whether each test was potentially non-compliant with recommendations. We estimated frequencies of potentially non-compliant PSA determinations and calculated prevalence ratios (PR) to assess their relationship with possible explanatory variables. A total of 66% (95% CI: 62-69%) of PSA requests in asymptomatic patients were potentially non-compliant with the current guideline. This was associated with having a previous diagnosis of neoplasm (PR adjusted by age and life expectancy: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02-1.37) as well as being a current consumer of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs (PR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67-0.97). Real world data shows that patients are still frequently exposed to overdiagnosis risk with a PSA potentially non-compliant with recommendations. Patients diagnosed with another neoplasm or non-consumers of toxic substances were more exposed, probably due to increased contact with doctors or health-seeking behaviour.

The presence of prostate-specific antigen checked more than 1 year before diagnostic biopsy is an independent prognostic factor in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE

In large scale prospective studies, prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-screening not only decreased prostate cancer mortality, but also reduced biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). We investigated the independent effect of the presence of PSA checked more than 1 year before diagnostic biopsy on the prognosis of patients undergoing RP in a real world setting without PSA-screening.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the database of patients undergoing RP at Ajou University Hospital from March 1999 to May 2018. Clinicopathological features assessed were age, presence of lower urinary tract symptoms at presentation, presence of PSA checked over 1 year before biopsy, presence of PSA checked within 4 to 1 years of biopsy, last pre-biopsy PSA (pPSA), biopsy grade group (bGG), cT, cN, percentage of positive biopsy cores (PPBC), pathological GG (pGG), pT, pN, surgical margin, and index tumor diameter. The primary endpoint was BCR-free survival (BCRFS).

RESULTS

Of 598 patients enrolled, 211 experienced BCR at the mean follow-up of 64±37 months. The 5-year and 10-year BCRFS were 62.8% and 53.9%, respectively. In multivariate analyses including clinical variables only, pPSA, bGG, cT, PPBC, and PSA within 4 to 1 years of biopsy independently affected BCRFS. In multivariate analyses including pathological variables only, pPSA, pGG, pT, pN, PSA checked over 1 year before biopsy and PSA checked within 4 to 1 years of biopsy independently affected BCRFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who has checked PSA at least once beyond 1 year before diagnosis of prostate cancer show better BCRFS regardless of other factors.

Identifying Prostate Cancer Among Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Background

In men aged above 50 yr, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), benign prostate hyperplasia, and prostate cancer are common urological conditions. Current guidelines for general practitioners frequently recommend prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in patients with LUTS for the detection of prostate cancer.

Objective

To assess the performance of PSA, PSA density, and the Stockholm3 blood test for identification of prostate cancer among men with LUTS.

Design, setting, and participants

In this post hoc analysis of a population-based diagnostic trial (STHLM3, n = 58 588), 4588 men aged 50–69 yr, without previous prostate cancer, with International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) data, and having PSA ≥ 3 ng/mL were identified. Men with at least moderate LUTS, defined as an IPSS score of ≥8, were included. PSA density and Stockholm3 scores were calculated.

Intervention

Participants underwent 10–12-core systematic prostate biopsies.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

The primary outcome was significant prostate cancer (sPCa) defined as International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade ≥2. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and previous biopsy status was performed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated, and decision curve analysis was performed.

Results and limitations

Out of 4588 men, 1544 (34%) reported at least moderate LUTS. The median age was 64 yr, and 11% had undergone a previous prostate biopsy. The Stockholm3 test showed superior discrimination for sPCa to PSA density, which in turn showed superior discrimination to PSA (AUC 0.77 vs 0.70 vs 0.61, p <  0.02). Calibration of the Stockholm3 test was adequate. Performing biopsy only in men with PSA ≥5 ng/mL saved 64% of biopsies, but resulted in missing 52% of detectable sPCa. Recommending biopsy for men with PSA density ≥0.07 resulted in sparing 26% of biopsy procedures and delaying the diagnosis of 12% of sPCa cases, with a 6.1% risk of sPCa among unbiopsied men. Recommending men with Stockholm3 ≥ 0.11 for biopsy resulted in sparing 53% of biopsy procedures and delaying the diagnosis of 20% of sPCa cases, with a 5.1% risk of finding sPCa in unbiopsied men.

Conclusions

PSA density and the Stockholm3 blood test were superior to PSA for the identification of prostate cancer among men with LUTS.

Patient summary

In this analysis of a large Swedish study, we find that the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density or the Stockholm3 blood test instead of only PSA might improve the detection of prostate cancer among men with lower urinary tract symptoms.