Biochemical recurrence rates are similar for pT2-positive surgical margins and pT3a

Integration of Multiparameter MRI into Conventional Pretreatment Risk Factors to Predict Positive Surgical Margins After Radical Prostatectomy

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

Positive surgical margins (PSMs) after radical prostatectomy (RP) can increase the risk of biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. However, the prediction of the likelihood of PSMs in patients undergoing similar surgical procedures remains a challenge. We aim to develop a predictive model for PSMs in patients undergoing non-nerve-sparing RP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from PCa patients who underwent minimally invasive non-nerve-sparing RP at our hospital between June 2017 and June 2021. We identified independent risk factors associated with PSMs using clinical and MRI-based parameters in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyzes. These factors were then used to develop a nomogram for predicting the probability of PSMs. The predictive performance was validated using calibration and receiver operating characteristic curve, area under the curve ,and decision curve analysis.

RESULTS

Multivariate analyzes revealed prostate-specific antigen density, tumor size, tumor location at the apex, tumor contact length, extracapsular extension (ECE) level, and apparent diffusion coefficient value as independent risk factors. A nomogram was developed and validated with high accuracy (C-index = 0.78). Furthermore, we found that 44.2% of patients diagnosed with organ-confined disease had ECE after surgery, and 29.1% of patients with Gleason scores ≤7 had higher pathological scores. Interestingly, the tumor burden calculated from PCa biopsy cores was overestimated when compared to postoperative PCa specimens.

CONCLUSION

We developed a reliable nomogram for predicting the risk of PSMs in PCa patients undergoing non-nerve-sparing RP. The study highlights the importance of incorporating these parameters in personalized surgical management.

Aumento da Incidência de Recidiva Bioquímica após Prostatectomia Radical em Centro de Formação em Urologia Oncológica no Brasil: Doenças mais Avançadas estão sendo submetidas à Cirurgia?

Introdução: O câncer de próstata e a neoplasia maligna mais incidente em homens, representando 29% dos diagnósticos da doença no Brasil, segundo o Instituto Nacional de câncer Jose Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA). Esse câncer e suspeito em alterações do toque retal e/ou do nível sérico do antígeno prostático especifico (PSA) total, sendo o diagnóstico definitivo feito por estudo histopatológico. Objetivo: Verificar a associação entre parâmetros clínicos e anatomopatológicos após prostatectómica radical com recidiva bioquímica ao longo do seguimento. Método: Estudo retrospectivo observacional dos parâmetros clínicos (idade, PSA inicial, toque retal, classificação histopatológica da International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP), escala de D’Amico e estádio clínico) e anatomopatológicos (grau ISUP da peça cirúrgica, margens cirúrgicas, extensão extracapsular tumoral e presença de linfonodos acometidos), de 177 pacientes submetidos a prostatectomia radical em serviço de uro-oncologia de junho/2010-maio/2018. Resultados: A recidiva bioquímica ocorreu em 44,1% dos casos no tempo de seguimento médio de 34,9 meses. A análise univariada demonstrou PSA inicial >9 ng/mL, toque retal alterado, classificação patológica ISUP 4 e 5, risco D’Amico alto e estagio clinico TNM T3 como fatores diretamente associados a recidiva bioquímica. As margens cirúrgicas foram positivas em 46,3%; em 47,7%, identificou-se extensão extraprostática tumoral. Linfonodos positivos em 10,9% e vesículas seminais comprometidas ocorreram em 21,8%. Conclusão: Fatores clinico-patológicos podem ser preditores de recidiva bioquímica. Nesses casos, foi identificado padrão clinico pré-tratamento supostamente mais agressivo em comparação a literatura em geral. Além disso, deve-se considerar a curva de aprendizado dos cirurgiões em formação no serviço, o que pode resultar em maiores taxas de margens cirúrgicas positivas.

Biochemical recurrence of pathological T2+ localized prostate cancer after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: A 10-year surveillance

BACKGROUND

pT2+ prostate cancer (PCa), a term first used in 2004, refers to organ-confined PCa characterized by a positive surgical margin (PSM) without extracapsular extension. Patients with a PSM are vulnerable to biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP); however, whether adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) is imperative to PSM after RP remains controversial. This study had the longest follow-up on pT2+ PCa after robotic-assisted RP since 2004. Moreover, we discussed our viewpoints on pT2+ PCa based on real-world experiences.

AIM

To conclude a 10-year surveillance on pT2+ PCa and compare our results with those of the published literature.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients who underwent robotic-assisted RP between 2008 and 2011 were enrolled. Two serial tests of prostate specific antigen (PSA) ≥ 0.2 ng/mL were defined as BCR. Various designed factors were analyzed using statistical tools for BCR risk. SAS 9.4 was applied and significance was defined as P < 0.05. Univariate, multivariate, linear regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up period of 9 years, 25 (52%) patients had BCR (BCR group), and the remaining 23 (48%) patients did not (non-BCR group). The median time for BCR test was 4 years from the first postoperative PSA nadir. Preoperative PSA was significantly different between the BCR and non-BCR groups (P < 0.001), and ROC curve analysis of preoperative PSA suggested a cut-off value of 19.09 ng/mL (sensitivity, 0.600; specificity: 0.739). The linear regression analysis showed no correlation between time to BCR and preoperative PSA (Pearson’s correlation, 0.13; adjusted R² = 0.026).

CONCLUSION

Robotic-assisted RP in pT2+ PCa of worse conditions can provide better BCR-free survival. A surgical technique limiting the PSM in favorable situations is warranted to lower the pT2+ PCa BCR rate. Preoperative PSA cut-off value of 19.09 ng/mL is a predictive factor for BCR. Based on our experiences and review of the literature, we do not recommend routine aRT for pT2+ PCa.

The impact of single positive surgical margin features on biochemical recurrence after robotic radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

Parameters predictive of biochemical or clinical recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy (RP) were determined as pre-treatment PSA value, pathologic tumor stage, tumor grade and presence of Positive Surgical Margin (PSM), extracapsular extension and seminal vesicle invasion and the status of pelvic lymph nodes. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of additional features in patients undergoing RP in our clinic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 556 RP operations performed between 2009 and 2016 for prostate cancer at this clinic. Preoperative and postoperative data of the patients were retrospectively reviewed. RP specimens were examined by two pathologists specialized in this subject. Of these patients, 78 (14.02%) patients with PSM were included in the study. The pathology slides of these patients were reassessed. The length of PSM (mm), localization (apex, basis and posterolateral) and Gleason pattern at this margin was determined and statistical correlations with BCR were calculated.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up after the RP of 41 patients included in the study was 37.4 ± 13.2 months. During the follow-up period of the patients, BCR was observed in 16 patients (39.02%). No statistically significant difference was observed in age and prostate volume between the groups with and without BCR development (p > 0.05). Preoperative PSA level was found to be statistically significantly higher in the group with BCR development compared to the group without recurrence (p = 0.004). In-group comparisons in each aforementioned Gleason score groups were performed in terms of BCR development and the preoperative Gleason score in the group with development of recurrence was found to be statistically significantly higher compared to the group without recurrence (p = 0.007). The length of the surgical margin was measured as 7.4 ± 4.4 mm in the BCR-developing group and 4.7 ± 3.8 mm in the no-BCR- developing group; it was statistically significantly higher in the group with development of recurrence (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Length and location of the PSM and the Gleason score detected in the PSM region could not predict biochemical recurrence according to the results of this present study. However high preoperative PSA value is an independent prognostic factor for biochemical recurrence.

Positive surgical margins after radical prostatectomy: What should we care about?

PURPOSE

Positive surgical margins (PSMs) after radical prostatectomy (RP) are a known factor associated with biochemical recurrence (BCR) and raise the issue of adjuvant treatment by radiotherapy versus salvage treatment at recurrence. To help this choice, our study aimed to analyze BCR-free survival and factors associated with BCR in patients with PSM and undetectable postoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

METHODS

Between 2005 and 2008, 630 patients had RP for localized prostate cancer in our center. We included patients with PSM, uninvaded nods, undetectable postoperative PSA and no adjuvant treatment. The 5-year BCR-free survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. Logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with BCR in univariate and multivariate analyses (Cox model).

RESULTS

The PSM rate was 32.7 % (n = 206 patients), and 110 patients corresponded to the inclusion criteria. The median follow-up was 72 months. The BCR rate was 30 % with a 5-year BCR-free survival of 83.9 %. The factors significantly associated with BCR were preoperative PSA, predominance and percentage of Gleason 4, tumor volume, PSM length and predominance of Gleason 4 at the margin. In the multivariate analysis, the remaining two significant factors were PSM length [OR 4.35, 95 % CI (1.011-1.421), p = 0.037] and tumor volume [OR 4.29, 95 % CI (1.011-1.483), p = 0.038].

CONCLUSION

Over a 5-year follow-up, only one-third of patients experienced BCR. It might be reasonable to postpone adjuvant radiotherapy for patients with PSM and undetectable PSA after RP. Tumor volume and PSM length were associated with BCR and should be taken into account in the postoperative treatment management.