Got central prostate pathology review? A cross-sectional audit of 2009 versus 2003 outcomes

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Background: Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer in Canadian men; over 24,000 will be newly diagnosed and 4,300 will die from it in 2010. Estimating an individual's risk of disease spreading across the capsule and probability of recurrence with different treatment modalities is common practice in prostate cancer management and often drive the choice or extent of treatment options. A strong predictor of recurrence and organ confined disease is tumor grade. The literature recognizes differences in grading prostate cancer between genitourinary and non-specialized pathologists; we previously reported a 30% change in risk category (Low, GS 2-6; Int., GS 7; High, GS 8-10). However, this report was based on data from 2003/2004. A repeat audit was necessary given Gleason grading practice changes following the 2005 ISUP Consensus Conference.

Methods: Log books from 2009/10 where our Genitourinary Pathologists (GUP) reviewed prostate needle core biopsies were used to identify cases; a retrospective chart review was completed. The following variables were extracted: 1° Gleason score; 2° Gleason score; number of sites; % Gleason 4/5 pattern (overall); perineural invasion (present/absent); extracapsular extension (present/absent). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results.

Results: The charts of 132 patients having a GUP biopsy review were extracted. Seventeen percent (22/132) of cases changed risk category. Of the 47 low risk cases, 23% (11/47) were up-graded in risk category (21% by 1 category; 2% by 2 categories). Of the 46 intermediate risk cases, 15% (7/46) were up-graded and 2% (1/46) were down-graded. Of the 39 high risk cases, only 8% (3/39) were down-graded by 1 risk category. Comparatively, there was a 43% reduction in risk category change between 2003/04 (30%) and 2009/10 (17%).

Conclusions: Despite this reduction, a clinically significant proportion of patients changed pathologic risk category upon GUP review. Thus, it is recommended that prostate cancer pathology be routinely reviewed by a GUP as a best practice to optimize management and quality of care. Strategies are still needed to address disparities in pathologic grading and represent a potential area for further investigation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Three-dimensional ultrasound-based spectroscopic imaging for detection of prostate cancer in men

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Background: The objective of this translational research was to investigate the use of real-time novel three-dimension, quantitative ultrasound-based spectroscopic imaging of the prostate as a means of cancer detection.

Methods: Ten patients with T2-3 prostate cancer underwent a 6-9 MHz trans-rectal ultrasound scan of the prostate prior to radical prostatectomy. Equally spaced axial ultrasound images (0.5 cm separation) corresponding elasticity and spectroscopy data were collected in each patient. Colour-coded spectroscopic parametric maps of 0-Mhz intercept (0-Mhz), mid-band fit (MBF) and slope of line of best fit (slope) were generated indicating where the disease in the prostate gland is hypothetically located. Quantitative data (% volume of cancer over the prostate gland) were compared to whole-mount radical prostatectomy histopathology maps to determine the sensitivity and accuracy in parametrically delineating prostate cancer.

Results: Representative data indicate spectral changes were associated with the presence of co-incident disease as located on correlative histopathology whole mount sections. Of the 10 patients enrolled, 7 have been analyzed and presented here. The mean % difference between 0-MHz and MBF, with H&E, was 14% (SD 38%) and 21% (SD 24%), respectively. Gross areas of disease were readily visualized in ultrasound parametric maps and corresponded to a maximum 10dB decrease in 0-MHz or MBF. Parametric maps generated from the spectral slope offered no discrimination of disease.

Conclusions: Initial results suggest that there is good correlation between spectroscopic maps with disease on whole-mount specimens. This method may ultimately permit ultrasound-guided targeted biopsies to improve detection rates and non-invasive assessment of disease for radiotherapy planning.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A review of radical prostatectomy outcomes in active surveillance patients—The Sunnybrook experience

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Background: Prostate cancer is the most prevalent non-cutaneous cancer among North American men. Approximately 50% of these are favorable risk cancers; the NCCN guideline recommends active surveillance for these patients. Patients are generally followed by serial PSAs, DREs and/or TRUS-guided biopsies with triggers identified for each test. Consequently, about 30% of these cancers will be reclassified to a higher risk and require definitive treatment. Cases treated with radical prostatectomy (rP) give important insights into the biology of these cancers.

Methods: The ASURE database of active surveillance patients was used to identify cases; a retrospective chart review was completed. The following variables were extracted: primary reason for rP; % biochemical failure; % of patients requiring salvage radiation or hormone therapy; Gleason score (GS), tumor size staging and nodal status in the rP specimen; cause and rate of mortality; proportion of patients treated for PSA-doubling times less then 3 years presenting with a GS greater than 7. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results.

Results: Of 566 patients in the ASURE database, the charts of 26 patients having an rP were extracted. The primary cause for an rP was a PSA-doubling times less than 3 years (57% of patients) followed by a biopsy indicating a GS of 4+3 or greater (19%). 7% of patients (2/26) were not reclassified but preferred to be treated with rP. 4 patients had biochemical failure (15%) all 4 had salvage therapy. There was 1 cause-specific death. 85% of rP specimens had GS 7, while the remaining had GS 6. Half of these GS 7 individuals had PSA doubling times of less than 3 years.

Conclusions: Radical prostatectomy appears to be an effective deferred treatment for patients who are reclassified on active surveillance as evidenced by low prostate-cancer mortality, low rates of biochemical failure acceptable use of salvage therapy. Of interest is that the majority patients with PSAdt < 3 y have Gleason 7 disease on specimen.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Prostate cancer genes associated with TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion and prognostic of biochemical recurrence in multiple cohorts

Background:

Recent studies have indicated that prostate cancer patients with the TMPRSS2–ERG gene fusion have a higher risk of recurrence. To identify markers associated with TMPRSS2–ERG fusion and prognostic of biochemical recurrence, we analysed a cohort of 139 men with prostate cancer for 502 molecular markers.

Methods:

RNA from radical prostatectomy tumour specimens was analysed using cDNA-mediated, annealing, selection, extension and ligation (DASL) to determine mRNAs associated with TMPRSS2–ERG T1/E4 fusion and prognostic of biochemical recurrence. Differentially expressed mRNAs in T1/E4-positive tumours were determined using significance analysis of microarrays (false discovery rate (FDR) <5%). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression determined genes, gene signatures and clinical factors prognostic of recurrence (P-value <0.05, log–rank test). Analysis of two prostate microarray studies (GSE1065 and GSE8402) validated the findings.

Results:

In the 139 patients from this study and from a 455-patient Swedish cohort, 15 genes in common were differentially regulated in T1/E4 fusion-positive tumours (FDR <0.05). The most significant mRNAs in both cohorts coded ERG. Nine genes were found prognostic of recurrence in this study and in a 596-patient Minnesota cohort. A molecular recurrence score was significant in prognosticating recurrence (P-value 0.000167) and remained significant in multivariate analysis of a mixed clinical model considering Gleason score and TMPRSS2–ERG fusion status.

Conclusions:

TMPRSS2–ERG T1/E4 fusion-positive tumours had differentially regulated mRNAs observed in multiple studies, the most significant one coded for ERG. Several mRNAs were consistently associated with biochemical recurrence and have potential clinical utility but will require further validation for successful translation.

Rapid progression of prostate cancer in men with a BRCA2 mutation

Men with BRCA2 mutations have been found to be at increased risk of developing prostate cancer. There is a recent report that BRCA2 carriers with prostate cancer have poorer survival than noncarrier prostate cancer patients. In this study, we compared survival of men with a BRCA2 mutation and prostate cancer with that of men with a BRCA1 mutation and prostate cancer. We obtained the age at diagnosis, age at death or current age from 182 men with prostate cancer from families with a BRCA2 mutation and from 119 men with prostate cancer from families with a BRCA1 mutation. The median survival from diagnosis was 4.0 years for men with a BRCA2 mutation vs 8.0 years for men with a BRCA1 mutation, and the difference was highly significant (P<0.01). It may be important to develop targeted chemotherapies to treat prostate cancer in men with a BRCA2 mutation.

Permanent flank bulge is a consequence of flank incision for radical nephrectomy in one half of patients

The objective of the study was to determine the incidence and predictors of post operative pain and flank bulging in patients undergoing nephrectomy for a renal tumor through a flank or thoracoabdominal incision. Only one previous retrospective study (1974) has directly addressed this issue in urologic patients. This reported a 3% incidence of flank bulging. This was at variance with our own experience. To determine the incidence of pain and post-operative flank bulge after flank or thoraco-abdominal incision, a cross sectional survey among in 70 patients, who had a nephrectomy for a renal tumor between 1996 and 2000, was assessed by telephone interview. Four surgeons contributed patients to the study. Thirty-four of seventy (49%) patients complained of a flank bulge persisting more than 1 yr after surgery. Durable flank pain was experienced by 24%. This was severe in 3% of patients. Median pain magnitude was 5/10. There was no difference in bulge incidence between surgeons (P = 0.49). Flank bulging occurred more frequently in left sided nephrectomy (P = 0.054) than right. Other parameters including gender, age, and tumor size had no correlation with the rate of either complication. In all patients who described a flank bulge, the deformity was durable; there were no cases of spontaneous resolution. Patients described a significant impact on QOL, particularly in those under 60 yrs. The overall rate of postoperative flank bulging is considerably higher than has been previously reported. This deformity affects quality of life. The observation that almost 50% of patients experience a flank bulge following a flank incision supports the shift towards laparoscopic nephrectomy, and should be incorporated into decision making regarding the optimal surgical approach. This may be particularly relevant in the choice between open partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in a patient with a normal contralateral kidney.

Long-term followup of a randomized trial of 0 versus 3 months of neoadjuvant androgen ablation before radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE

In 1992 we initiated a national randomized prospective trial of 3 months of cyproterone acetate before radical prostatectomy compared to prostatectomy alone. Initial results indicated a 50% decrease in the rate of positive surgical margins. This decrease did not translate into a difference in prostate specific antigen (PSA) progression at 3 years. This report is on the long-term outcome (median followup 6 years) of this cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective, randomized, open label trial compared 100 mg cyproterone acetate 3 times daily for 3 months before surgery to surgery alone. Randomization occurred between January 1993 and April 1994. Patients were stratified according to clinical stage, baseline serum PSA and Gleason sum. A total of 213 patients were accrued. Biochemical progression was defined as 2 consecutive detectable PSAs (greater than 0.2 ng/ml) at least 4 weeks apart, re-treatment or death from prostate cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 34 (33.6%) patients undergoing surgery only and 42 (37.5%) patients given neoadjuvant hormone therapy (NHT) had biochemical recurrence during the median followup of 6 years. Despite the significant pathological down staging in this study, there was no significant difference in number of patients with no evidence of biochemical disease (bNED) survival (p = 0.732). A bNED survival benefit favoring NHT was seen in men with a baseline PSA greater than 20 (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

After 6 years of followup there was no overall benefit with 3 months of NHT. Improved bNED survival was seen in the highest risk PSA group (PSA greater than 20). The possibility that high risk patients may benefit from NHT warrants further investigation.

Levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF binding proteins 2 and 3 in serial postoperative serum samples and risk of prostate cancer recurrence

OBJECTIVES

To determine changes of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2), and IGFBP-3 levels in serial postoperative serum samples from prostate cancer patients with and without relapse and to evaluate the prognostic value of these molecules in the recurrence of prostate cancer.

METHODS

From a group of patients with prostate cancer who had been followed for disease recurrence for almost 5 years after radical prostatectomy, we selected 38 patients (cases) who developed recurrent disease and 40 patients (controls) who were in remission. Of these patients, 70 had 4 and 8 had 3 serial postoperative serum samples collected. The median times for serum collection after surgery were 1.5 years for the first serial samples, 2.6 years for the second, 3.5 years for the third, and 4.5 years for the fourth. Serum levels of IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, and IGF-I were measured, using commercial immunoassay kits.

RESULTS

The study showed lower serum levels of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 in the cases than in controls(P <0.05) but no difference in IGF-I levels between the two groups (P = 0.277). In the sequential samples, IGFBP-2 levels increased over time in the controls (P = 0.014) but did not change in the cases (P = 0.528). There were no increasing or decreasing trends for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in either case or control group(P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that IGFBP-2 may play a role in the progression of prostate cancer, but serum levels of IGFBP-2 as well as IGF-I and IGFBP-3 have no predictive values in the prognosis of prostate cancer.

Detection of prostate cancer relapse with prostate specific antigen monitoring at levels of 0.001 to 0.1 microG./L

PURPOSE

The development of prostate specific antigen (PSA) assays with detection limits of approximately 0.001 microgram./l. is technically feasible. We examined if serum PSA changes of 0.001 to 0.1 microgram./l. for up to 3 years after radical prostatectomy have any clinical value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 148 patients with a postoperative PSA of less than 0.1 microgram./l. by a conventional PSA assay. At least 3 serial serum samples were collected per patient along with detailed clinicopathological features. Serial serum samples were analyzed for PSA with the ultrasensitive method. Associations between increase in serum PSA and clinicopathological features were analyzed with the unconditional logistic regression model.

RESULTS

After establishing a set of interpretative criteria, we divided the patients into 51 with biochemical relapse, 93 who were free of relapse and 4 with equivocal status. Between the groups with and without relapse there was no difference in year of surgery, age at operation or length of followup. Compared to patients without relapse, those with biochemical relapse were likely to have positive surgical margins (p < 0.01), larger tumor volumes (p < 0.01), greater preoperative PSA (p = 0.03) and disease extending outside the prostate (p = 0.02). The relative risks for biochemical relapse estimated by a univariate logistic regression model were 3.1 (95% confidence interval 1.39 to 6.82, p < 0.01) for positive surgical margin, 3.4 (95% confidence interval 1.46 to 8.13, p < 0.01) for tumor volume, 2.3 (95% confidence interval 1.08 to 5.02, p = 0.03) for high preoperative PSA and 2.7 (95% confidence interval 1.12 to 6.26, p = 0.03) for extraprostatic tumor extension. At multivariate analysis with the same model the associations between positive surgical margins and biochemical relapse (relative risk 2.95, p = 0.04) and tumor volume (relative risk 3.36, p = 0.03) remained significant. These associations were still observed when we analyzed a subset of patients classified as having biochemical relapse based on PSA changes of 0.001 to 0.08 microgram./l.

CONCLUSIONS

Increases in postoperative serum PSA at levels of 0.001 to 0.1 microgram./l. after radical prostatectomy are associated with clinicopathological features of poor prognosis. Monitoring postoperative cases with a highly sensitive PSA assay (detection limit 0.001 microgram./l.) could offer a simple and effective means of detecting clinically important biochemical relapse early after radical prostatectomy. These patients may be suitable for early intervention when effective treatments for relapse become available.

Delayed rupture of the spleen and streptokinase therapy

Delayed rupture of the spleen is a rare but serious complication of blunt abdominal trauma. A 47-year-old woman with a history of fractured pelvis from a motor vehicle accident 6 months earlier presented with evidence of a myocardial infarction. Subsequent streptokinase administration was complicated by splenic rupture, which was managed by evacuation of the clotted blood and splenectomy. The patient made a complete recovery. The risk of splenic rupture and bleeding complications resulting from thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction is discussed, as are the controversy over whether delayed splenic rupture is a true diagnosis, the mechanism of rupture and the clues to impending rupture.

Liver resection by ultrasonic dissection and intraoperative ultrasonography

Ultrasonic dissection (USD) and intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) have shown encouraging results in a retrospective analysis of 109 patients with benign or malignant liver disease. Of 109 patients assessed between 1980 and 1993, 84 were resected: 27 by finger fracture technique (FFT) and 57 by USD. Hospital mortality was 4.8% (4/84) and 30-day mortality was 6.0% (5/84). Overall morbidity was 48.8% (41/84) and liver related morbidity (hepatic bleeding, sepsis, and bile leak) was 34.5% (29/84); of the 29 patients, 5 required re-operation. Liver complications occurred in 12/27 (44.4%) in the FFT group as opposed to 17/57 (29.8%) in the USD group. The incidence of postoperative hepatic bleeding was significantly less by USD than by FFT (p = 0.03). As well, intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.01) number of intraoperative blood units used (p = 0.002), and postoperative length of stay (p = 0.009) have been significantly reduced by USD. IOUS was used on 64 patients. Not only has it improved the sensitivity (99%) and specificity (98%) for detection of hepatic neoplasms, it has also helped increase the precision and accuracy of anatomical tumour localization. As a result, 11/64 patients (17.2%) had their preoperative plans changed: 8 were abandoned and 3 were revised. In summary, USD has significantly reduced intraoperative blood loss and hence reduced the number of intraoperative transfusions, incidence of postoperative complications and postoperative length of stay. IOUS should be routinely employed in patients undergoing liver resection since it provides critical information that could obviate oncologically useless resections.