The development of nomograms for stratification of men at risk of prostate cancer prior to prostate biopsy

Are prostate biopsies necessary for all patients 75years and older?

PURPOSE

To develop nomograms predicting prostate cancer (PCa) and high-grade PCa (HGPCa) in the elderly population.

METHODS

We reviewed the data of patients aged 75years and older who underwent first-time prostate biopsy and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). The nomograms were developed based on multivariate analysis and evaluated. We performed the external validation and calibration of the risk calculators from the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) and the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT).

RESULTS

The present study included 302 subjects with a median age of 78years (range: 75-91years). Overall, 225 and 129 subjects were diagnosed with PCa and HGPCa (Gleason score≥4+3), respectively. The ratio of free-to-total PSA, prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), and Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) were used to develop the PCa-predicting nomogram, and PSAD, TRUS, and PI-RADS were used to develop the HGPCa-predicting nomogram. The area under the curve (AUC) values of PCa-predicting and HGPCa-predicting nomograms were 0.90 and 0.87. The ERSPC calculator had acceptable external calibration and validation outcomes. We recommended a cut-off probability of 42% for PCa-predicting nomogram when used in healthy older men to achieve a sensitivity of 95.6%, and a cut-off probability of 73% for HGPCa-predicting nomogram when used in vulnerable older men to achieve a specificity of 98.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

The present nomograms could help discriminate patients with PCa from healthy elder adults for standard treatment, and discriminate patients with HGPCa from vulnerable elder adults for modified treatment. External validation is expected.

Inflammation and prostate cancer: friends or foe?

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy diagnosed in men. Moving from histological observations since a long time, it has been recognized that innate and adaptive immunity actively participates in the pathogenesis, surveillance, and progression of prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A PubMed and Web of Science databases search was performed for studies providing evidence on the roles of the innate and adaptive immunity during the development and progression of prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

There are growing evidences that chronic inflammation is involved in the regulation of cellular events in prostate carcinogenesis, including disruption of the immune response and regulation of the tumor microenvironment. This review discusses the role played by the innate and adaptive immune system in the local progression of prostate cancer, and the prognostic information that we can currently understand and exploit.