Factors associated with pathological up-staging in MRI cT3a prostate cancer - a retrospective study from a high-volume centre

INTRODUCTION

Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) parameters of pT3a prostate cancer have not been examined in large cohort studies. Therefore, we aimed to identify factors associated with up-staging of mpMRI cT3a in post-operative histopathological confirmation.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of a single UK cancer centre. Only cT3a cases who underwent robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) were included (N = 383). MRI and specimen histopathology was reviewed independently by expert uro-radiologists and uro-histopathologists, respectively. Factors included age, BMI, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, biopsy international society of urological pathology (ISUP) grade, Prostate Imaging Reporting & Data System (PI-RADS®) score, tumour size, tumour coverage of gland (%), gland weight and surgical margins were analysed as predictors of pT3a prostate cancer.

RESULTS

N = 383. Mean age 66 years (58-71), mean BMI 27.1 kg/m2 (25.0-30.0). 314 (82.0%) cases down- unchanged or down-staged, and 69 (18.0%) cases upstaged. PSA level (P = 0.002), PI-RADS score (P < 0.001) and ISUP grade (P < 0.001) are positively associated with upstage categories. ISUP grade ≥3 (OR 5.45, CI 1.88, 9.29, P < 0.002), PI-RADS score ≥4 (OR 3.92, CI 1.88-9.29, P < 0.001) and tumour coverage (OR 1.06, CI 1.05-1.08, P < 0.001) significantly positively associated with upstaging disease, with concurrent decreased probability of downstaging (OR 0.55, 0.14, 0.44, respectively, P < 0.05). Tumour coverage was positively correlated with increasing positive surgical margins (P < 0.05). Capsular contact > 15 mm was very unlikely to be upstaged (OR 0.36, CI 0.21-0.62, P < 0.001), aligning with published results past the widely accepted significant level for extracapsular disease on MRI.

CONCLUSION

The study has identified PSA level, ISUP, PI-RADS score, tumour volume and percentage coverage are key predictive factors in cT3a upstaging. This study uniquely shows tumour coverage percentage as a predictor of cT3a upstaging on mpMRI. ISUP is the strongest predictor, followed by PI-RADS score and tumour coverage of gland. Multi-institutional studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Pre-diagnosis urine exosomal RNA (ExoDx EPI score) is associated with post-prostatectomy pathology outcome

PURPOSE

ExoDx Prostate IntelliScore (EPI) is a non-invasive urine exosome RNA-based test for risk assessment of high-grade prostate cancer. We evaluated the association of pre-biopsy test results with post-radical prostatectomy (RP) outcomes to understand the potential utility of EPI to inform invasive treatment vs active surveillance (AS) decisions.

METHODS

Urine samples were collected from 2066 men scheduled for initial biopsy with PSA between 2 and 10 ng/mL, no history of prostate cancer, and ≥ 50 years across multiple clinical studies. 310 men proceeded to RP, of which 111 patients had Gleason group grade 1 (GG1) at biopsy and would have been potential candidates for AS. We compared pre-biopsy urine scores with ERSPC and PCPT multivariate risk calculator scores for men with GG1 at biopsy to post-RP pathology.

RESULTS

Urine EPI scores were significantly lower in men with GG1 at biopsy than in men with > GG1 (p = 0.04), while there were no differences in multivariate risk scores used in standard clinical practice (p > 0.05). Further, EPI scores were significantly lower in men with GG1 at biopsy who remained GG1 post-RP compared to men upgraded to ≥ GG3 post-RP (p < 0.001). In contrast, none of the multiparametric risk calculators showed significant differences (p > 0.05). Men with GG1 at biopsy and EPI score < 15.6 had zero rate of upgrading to ≥ GG3 post-RP compared to 16.0% for EPI scores ≥ 15.6.

CONCLUSIONS

The EPI urine biomarker outperformed the multivariate risk calculators in a homogenous risk group of pre-biopsy men. The EPI score was associated with low-risk pathology post-RP, with potential implications on informing AS decisions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02702856, NCT03031418, NCT03235687, NCT04720599.

The impact of age on pathological insignificant prostate cancer rates in contemporary robot-assisted prostatectomy patients despite active surveillance eligibility

BACKGROUND

To assess insignificant prostate cancer(iPCa) rates after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in contemporary patients who were preoperatively eligible for active surveillance(AS). IPCa indicates no risk of PCa progression.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 2,837 RARP patients (2010-2019) who fulfilled at least one AS entry criteria set - Prostate Cancer Research International - Active Surveillance(PRIAS), University of California San Francisco(UCSF), National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN) or University of Toronto. We utilized four different iPCa definitions, (1) based on pT2 and Gleason score ≤6 and also cumulative tumor-volume (2) ≤2.5mL, (3) ≤0.7mL or (4) ≤0.5mL. For each AS set we tested the rates of iPCa and compared between age <70 vs. ≥70 yrs. This was complemented by multivariable logistic regression(LRM) predicting iPCa, adjusted for age and clinical AS variables. Finally, within the subgroup, who had iPCa, we tested rate of those, who were deemed preoperatively AS ineligible.

RESULTS

Between most(PRIAS) and least stringent(TORONTO) AS sets, iPCa(1) was correctly predicted in 70-57%. Similarly, for iPCa definitions 2-4, rates were (2)59-42%, (3)34-19% and (4)27-14%. Senior patients harbored decreased proportions of iPCa. LRM confirmed that advanced age is associated with a lower chance of iPCa. More stringent AS sets lead to higher rates of AS ineligibility, e.g. 53% for PRIAS, despite iPCa.

CONCLUSIONS

AS sets show limited accuracy for stricter iPCa definitions, which further declined with advanced age. Greater AS stringency resulted in more AS ineligible patients despite harboring iPCa. In consequence, patients are at risk for overtreatment. Clinicians must consider age and different AS sets that result in highly variable detection rates of iPCa.

Attitudes and perceptions towards multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate: A national survey among Italian urologists

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the attitudes and perceptions towards multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate among Italian urologists.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A national, web-based survey was performed. A questionnaire composed of 18 multiple choice questions was e-mailed to 941 currently active urologists, members of the Italian Society of Urology. Preserving anonymity, respondents' demographics were collected (e.g. geographic region, type of workplace, prostate procedures performed) as well as data concerning their attitudes and perceptions towards mpMRI (e.g. indications deemed appropriate, degree of confidence in mpMRI results). Data were expressed as raw numbers and percentages of survey answers.

RESULTS

In total, 98 responses were received (participation rate = 10.4%). Respondents mostly worked in urban areas (96%) and primarily in hospital settings (89%), while 48% of them worked in southern Italy. 97% of respondents considered mpMRI useful to detect Prostate Cancer (PCa) in patients with prior negative biopsy, 64% in biopsy-naïve patients and 60% for PCa pre-operatory staging. About half (42%) of the participants declared that mpMRI results frequently lead them to change PCa management strategy. Standardization of mpMRI acquisition and reporting was partially unsatisfactory. Reported waiting time for mpMRI scans was longer than 4 weeks for 51% of respondents. The major limitation of this survey includes the small number of participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Prostate mpMRI is used by Italian urologists mainly for detection and for pre-operative staging of PCa. Further improvements in terms of mpMRI availability and report standardization are required.

Interventional therapy in malignant conditions of the prostate

Interventional therapies are emerging modalities for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Their aim is to reduce the morbidity associated with radical therapies (rT) by minimizing damage to non-cancerous tissue, with priority given to sparing key structures such as the neurovascular bundles, external sphincter, bladder neck, and rectum, while maintaining local cancer control. Interventional ablative technologies deliver energy in different ways to destroy cancer cells. The most widely investigated techniques are brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy, cryotherapy, and high-intensity focused ultrasound. Although functional outcomes of focal therapies have been encouraging, with generally low rates of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, robust medium- and long-term oncological outcomes are not available for all techniques. To date, major controversies in focal therapy concern appropriate patient selection, efficacy of focal therapies, as well as treatment paradigms based on the dominant index lesion hypothesis. This review articles discusses the current status of interventional therapies and the oncological and functional outcomes.