Relationship between serum markers and volume of liver metastases in castration-resistant prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer patients with liver metastases have a poor prognosis. To date, no study exists investigating the relationship between liver tumor burden and clinical laboratory markers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients with radiographic evidence of liver metastases were selected for this study. Volumetric measurements of liver metastases were ascertained for all available patients. Prostate specific antigen (PSA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), total bilirubin and hemoglobin (HGB) levels were then assessed to coincide with the scan dates. Univariate and multivariate mixed-model regression analysis were performed to evaluate the relationship between laboratory markers and liver lesion volume. Data sets with non-normal distribution were logarithmically transformed. Akaike information criteria (AIC) was used to identify the most reliable multivariate model.

RESULTS

In our heavily pretreated liver-metastatic patient population, univariate analysis demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation between PSA (p = 0.0002), ALP (p = 0.0305), AST (p < 0.0001), ALT (p = 0.0049), and LDH (p = 0.0019) and liver lesion volume. Additionally, ALB (p = 0.0006) and HGB (p = 0.0103) had statistically significant negative correlation. Multivariate analysis identified AST and hemoglobin assessments as the best predictors of increasing liver lesion burden. Preliminary data on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) mutational and amplification findings are also reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis identified AST and hemoglobin as optimal predictors of liver lesion volume. These patients have a heavy burden of ctDNA abnormalities. Further studies with a larger patient population are needed to verify these results. Micro Abstract: This study investigates the association between liver lesion burden and clinical laboratory markers in castrate-resistant prostate cancer patients with hepatic metastases. Our univariate analysis identified multiple laboratory markers as significant indicators of worsening hepatic disease. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that AST and hemoglobin were the most effective predictors of change in liver lesion volume.

Liver metastases in mCRPC patients post-therapy with abiraterone (Abi) and/or abiraterone/enzalutamide (Enza)

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Background: Liver metastases (mets) are a particularly poor prognostic group among mCRPC patients. The objective of this study is to characterize mCRPC patients who have had treatment with Abi or Enza to identify risk factors that may be associated with subsequent development of liver mets. Methods: A sample of 67 patients (n = 17 liver mets and 50 non-liver met patients matched by treatment history) seen at Tulane Cancer Center were selected for analysis. All patients had prior Abi and or Abi/Enza. Race, age at PCa diagnosis and Gleason Score at PCa diagnosis were assessed. For patients with liver mets, total liver metastatic volume was measured using CT scans and correlated against PSA, LDH and AST values at the time of the scan. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were run analyzing PSA, LDH and AST at the start of Abi treatment, end of Abi treatment as well the duration of Abi treatment, and the nadir PSA for these patients. Results: Patients were predominantly Caucasian, had a median Gleason Score of 8 at diagnosis and were at a median age of 57 for those with liver mets and 62 for non-liver met at PCa diagnosis. Pearson correlation analysis of the total liver lesion volume and lab values revealed a significant correlation for LDH (R = 0.491, < 0.01) and AST (R = 0.368, p < 0.05), but not for PSA. Further evaluation of PSA and AST values at the start and end of Abi treatment as well as at nadir PSA revealed no statistically significant differences between liver met patients and non-liver met patients. However, there was a significant difference (p = 0.015) between LDH levels at the end of Abi treatment with a median of 347 U/L for liver met and 238 U/L for non-liver met patients. Conclusions: LDH and AST levels correlate with extent of liver metastases. Additionally, elevated LDH at the end of Abi treatment is indicative of an increased risk for developing liver metastases. Larger sample sizes and molecular characterization of these tumors are required to gain more insights into this important patient population.

Radiology Case of the Month: Rising Creatinine in an Elderly Woman

To assess an elevated creatinine, a 67-year old woman underwent renal ultrasound which incidentally revealed an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Radiology case of the month. 49-year-old female with an anterior mediastinal mass

Castleman's disease is an uncommon benign lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by hypervascular lymphoid hyperplasia. Two distinct histologic variants of Castleman's disease exist - hyaline vascular type and plasma cell type. The etiology is uncertain; however, it is thought to be inflammatory or hamartomatous in nature. Castleman's disease can occur at any age with a peak incidence in the third to fourth decade. This article presents a case of Castleman's disease in a female patient and aims to educate about the natural history, diagnosis, and management of the disease.