Trend and variation in treatment of localized prostate cancer in the southern part of The Netherlands, 1988-1996. Regional Study Group for Urological Oncology IKZ, Eindhoven.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the large increase in the incidence of early prostate cancer has led to subsequent increased application of curative treatment and whether similar patterns of treatment were observed in the various hospitals in the area of this investigation. METHODS: Using the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, all patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1988 and 1996 in the southern part of The Netherlands were included in the study. Initial treatment was analyzed for 4,073 patients, of whom the proportion with clinically localized prostate cancer (T1-T3, M0-Mx) increased from 52% in 1988-1990 to 74% in 1994-1996. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy increased from 11 to 34% among patients under age 70. Especially in 1994-1996, a group of smaller hospitals (n = 11) with a rather low proportion of patients treated by radical prostatectomy (5-52%) could be distinguished from a group of larger hospitals (n = 5) with a large proportion of patients treated by radical prostatectomy (35-67%). Radiotherapy was a more frequent option in hospitals with low radical prostatectomy rates. The proportion of patients aged 70-74 years undergoing radiotherapy increased from 31 to 41%. Over 80% of the patients aged 75 years or older were treated conservatively during the whole study period. CONCLUSION: Increased detection of localized prostate cancer resulted in increased application of curative treatment for patients under 70 years of age, but a substantial variation was observed between hospitals in the application of radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy.     

Quality of life after treatment for localized prostate cancer: differences based on treatment modality

PURPOSE: Brachytherapy with 103palladium (103Pd) is an increasingly administered treatment modality for localized prostate cancer. We compared general and disease specific health related quality of life after 103Pd treatment, radical prostatectomy and external beam radiation therapy given during the same time frame. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional survey study of patients treated at a single community medical center between 1995 and 1999. We mailed 5 validated health related quality of life survey instruments to 269, 142 and 222 men who underwent radical prostatectomy, 103Pd treatment and external beam radiation therapy, respectively, with a response rate of greater than 80% in all groups. RESULTS: General health related quality of life assessed by the SF-36 showed the same scores in patients who underwent prostatectomy and 103Pd treatment. The University of California-Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index was used to assess bowel, urinary and sexual function/bothersomeness. External beam radiation therapy reported was associated with worse bowel function and greater bowel bothersomeness. Prostatectomy was associated with worse urinary function compared to 103Pd and external beam radiation therapy. Prostatectomy was associated with worse sexual function than 103Pd or external beam radiation therapy, although nerve sparing surgery and erectile aids minimized the difference. American Urological Association symptom scores were initially higher for 103Pd but became equal to those in the other groups in patients treated greater than 12 months from survey time. Disease-free men who underwent prostatectomy and 103Pd brachytherapy were equally confident that cancer would not recur in the future. Satisfaction rates were equivalent and biochemical failure significantly decreased satisfaction in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: While general health related quality of life was mostly unaffected by the 3 most common treatments for prostate cancer, there were differences in bowel, urinary and sexual function. This information may aid patients in the decision making process.     

Failure after primary radiation or surgery for prostate cancer: differences in response to androgen ablation

PURPOSE: Androgen ablation is the standard treatment for recurrent and metastatic prostate cancer. Surprisingly few studies have documented the specific results for local and distant failure in patients treated primarily with radiation or radical prostatectomy. We report the long-term outcome of a series of those patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We followed until death 94 patients in whom primary radiation therapy failed and 67 in whom radical prostatectomy failed. All patients received androgen ablation. RESULTS: Statistically (p = 0.04) more patients in the radiation group (78%) died of prostate cancer than in the radical prostatectomy group (63%). Of the radiation group with local failure alone 63%, died of prostate cancer at a median of 5.03 years. Of the surgery group with isolated local failure 50% died of cancer at a median of 9.83 years. Of the patients treated with radiation with distant metastasis 93% died of cancer with a median time to death of 2.34 years. Of the patients treated with surgery 69% died of prostate cancer at a median of 3.27 years. The differences in survival between the 2 groups was significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study is unique in providing followup until death of patients treated with radical prostatectomy and radiation who had clinical failure and were treated with androgen ablation. Compelling is the finding that survival after androgen ablation after surgical failure is superior to that for radiation. If confirmed, this would be a significant consideration for future studies of patients in whom primary therapy fails.     

The changing pattern of prostate cancer at the time of diagnosis: characteristics of screen detected prostate cancer in a population based screening study

PURPOSE: We describe the clinical and pathological features of prostate cancer diagnosed through serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography in a population based randomized screening study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 1993 and June 1997, 20,632 volunteers 55 to 76 years old were included in the study. In the screening arm 9,776 men underwent digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound and serum PSA determination. Biopsies were taken if the digital rectal examination and/or transrectal ultrasound findings were abnormal or if PSA was 4 ng/ml or greater. A total of 2,262 men underwent biopsy and 474 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed. RESULTS: The pretreatment data were complete in 459 men, of whom 78% had clinically organ confined disease. Bone or lymph node metastases were seen in 8 cases (1.7%). Of 172 men who underwent radical prostatectomy 2 had lymph node metastases. Overall 66.3% of men treated with radical prostatectomy had organ confined disease. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of the characteristics of prostate cancer detected through screening of the general population with those in a population based cohort of men in which there was no organized screening revealed stage reduction, primarily with regard to number of metastatic cases. Whether this stage reduction will lead to a decrease in disease specific mortality remains unknown until the study is completed and the end point of prostate cancer specific mortality is evaluated.     

Survival results in patients with screen-detected prostate cancer versus physician-referred patients treated with radical prostatectomy: early results

OBJECTIVE: Screening using a standardized protocol may improve outcomes of patients undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. We compared the 7- year progression-free survival rates after radical retropubic prostatectomy in patients whose prostate cancer was detected through a formal screening program with those of patients referred for treatment by other physicians who did not use a standardized screening/referral protocol. METHODS: A single surgeon (W.J.C.) performed radical retropubic prostatectomy in 3,177 consecutive patients between 1989 and 2003. Of these patients, 464 had cancer detected in a screening study, and 2,713 were referred from outside institutions. We compared the screened and referred cohorts for age at surgery, clinical stage, pathologic stage, Gleason sum, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and adjuvant radiation therapy. Kaplan-Meier product limit estimates were used to calculate 7-year progression-free probabilities, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the clinical and pathologic parameters associated with cancer progression in each group. RESULTS: The overall 7-year progression-free survival rates were 83% for the screened patients compared with 77% for the referred patients (P = 0.002). Preoperative PSA, Gleason sum, clinical stage, pathologic stage, and adjuvant radiotherapy were all significantly associated with cancer progression. There was a significantly higher proportion of referred patients with a preoperative PSA > or =10, Gleason sum > or =7, and nonorgan-confined disease. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with screened-detected prostate cancer have more favorable clinical and pathologic features, and 7-year progression-free survival rates than referred patients. On multivariate analysis, including other clinical variables, screening status was a significant independent predictor of biochemical outcome.     

Patient-reported quality of life after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: Increasingly, quality of life (QOL) assessments are receiving greater attention in the management of malignancies, including prostate cancer. We evaluated the impact of radical prostatectomy on patient QOL 12 months or longer after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the impact of radical prostatectomy on QOL in 60 patients with prostate cancer. The patients comprised two groups: the first group (n = 32) was evaluated 12 months or longer after radical prostatectomy; the second group (n = 28) was evaluated while awaiting radical prostatectomy. General health-related QOL was measured with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Prostate Cancer QOL Questionnaire. Sexual function was assessed with the Sapporo Medical University Sexual Function Questionnaire. A newly developed instrument assessing urinary function was prepared only for the postoperative group. RESULTS: No differences between the two groups were seen in comparisons of general health-related QOL subscales. Men who underwent surgery reported significant deterioration in sexual function (decreased quality of erection, decreased sexual activity and decreased satisfaction with sex life) than those awaiting surgery. Of the 32 postoperative patients, 26 (81%) did not use pads at all, five (16%) used one or fewer pads per day due to occasional spotting and only one patient (3%) used two to four pads per day to deal with urine dripping. Twenty-six postoperative patients (81%) stated that, given the choice, they would undergo radical prostatectomy again. CONCLUSIONS: General health-related QOL does not appear to be compromised following radical prostatectomy. Patients are willing to accept some morbidity for a perceived survival benefit. Although minimal urinary dysfunction was reported, most patients were dissatisfied with postoperative sexual function. In preoperative counselling, greater emphasis should be placed on the risk of postoperative impotence.     

Radical retropubic prostatectomy reduces symptom scores and improves quality of life in men with moderate and severe lower urinary tract symptoms

PURPOSE: We determine the impact of radical retropubic prostatectomy on lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life due to urinary problems in men with clinically localized prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index, a symptom problem index and a quality of life due to urinary problems question were administered to 104 men before and 12 months after radical prostatectomy. Urinary continence and satisfaction with the decision to undergo radical prostatectomy were also examined. RESULTS: In men with moderate or severe baseline urinary symptoms (AUA score 8 or greater) the total AUA symptom, symptom problem and quality of life question scores decreased by 51 (-6.39), 57 (-4.22) and 25% (-0.65), respectively, after radical prostatectomy. Except for nocturia statistically significant improvements were observed for all questions captured by the AUA symptom index. Radical prostatectomy did not significantly change mean AUA symptom score or symptom problem index in men with mild urinary symptoms (AUA score less than 8). In men with moderate or severe urinary symptoms radical prostatectomy significantly improved quality of life due to urinary problems. Although 10% of men exhibited some degree of clinically relevant stress incontinence, 98% were very satisfied or satisfied with the decision to undergo radical prostatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: In men with moderate or severe urinary symptoms radical prostatectomy improves lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life due to urinary problems. The overall beneficial impact on voiding makes radical prostatectomy an attractive treatment option for clinically localized prostate cancer.     

Radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer provides durable cancer control with excellent quality of life: a structured debate

PURPOSE: To cure localized prostate cancer, the entire prostate must be eliminated, which is what all forms of treatment must achieve. Although there is no better way to cure localized disease than total surgical removal, the challenge is whether this can be accomplished with acceptable morbidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate quality of life following radical retropubic prostatectomy, patient reported outcomes of 62 men who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy at this institution were recorded during the first 18 months of followup. By 18 months 93% of the patients were dry (wearing no pads) and 93% to 98% characterized urinary bothersomeness as none or small. Potency, defined as the ability to achieve unassisted intercourse with or without the use of sildenafil, improved gradually and by 18 months 86% of the patients were potent and 84% considered sexual bothersomeness as none or small. In an effort to improve the outcome of radical prostatectomy, the surgical procedures on these 62 patients were videotaped prospectively. The videotapes were reviewed 18 months after the study was initiated and 4 specific steps in the surgical procedure were correlated with patient reported outcomes. Surgeons who wish to improve their outcomes should consider using this technique to identify in their own hands other important arbitrary variations that may improve results. RESULTS: The probability of maintaining an undetectable prostate specific antigen was evaluated in men with similar pathological stages of disease who were or were not potent following surgery. Men who were potent had the same outcome as those who were impotent, supporting the premise that preservation of sexual function does not compromise cancer control. Cancer control and quality of life following brachytherapy were analyzed and the following conclusions were made: 1) high dose intensification is necessary if radiation therapy is expected to cure prostate cancer but I doubt that any form of radiotherapy will produce durable cancer control for 20 to 30 years; 2) although brachytherapy is rarely adequate as monotherapy, I am not certain that brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy is any better than 3-dimensional conformal therapy alone and the side effects are uncertain, and 3) I believe that a prostate specific antigen nadir of less than 0.2 ng./ml. is necessary to confirm an adequate response to radiation. CONCLUSIONS: I believe that there is no better way to cure organ confined cancer than total surgical removal. Today continence and potency rates should be high. If not, a review of intraoperative videotapes of successful and unsuccessful cases can improve results. In men treated with radiotherapy stringent criteria for treatment response and quality of life outcomes are needed.     

The development of erectile dysfunction in men treated for prostate cancer

PURPOSE: Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect in men treated for prostate cancer. Previously published studies document the incidence of erectile dysfunction in men treated for prostate cancer to be between 20% and 88%. To our knowledge a prospective evaluation focused on the development of erectile dysfunction in men treated for prostate cancer has not elucidated components of its chronology or risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A centralized prospective database of 2,956 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer at a single institution was studied in regard to pretreatment and posttreatment erectile dysfunction. Of these 2,956 patients 802 had sufficient information regarding erectile function and comprise our study population. Factors analyzed in regard to treatment and erectile dysfunction include treatment modality, that is radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation therapy and watchful waiting, and ethnicity, patient age, clinical stage and tumor histological grade. RESULTS: No significant difference was noted in the posttreatment erectile function between patients treated with radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation (10% versus 15%). Patients selecting watchful waiting had the lowest risk of erectile dysfunction. Clinical stage and race were significant predictors for the development of erectile dysfunction in the watchful waiting and external beam radiation treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Erectile dysfunction develops in greater than 80% of patients treated for prostate cancer. External beam radiation has the same risk for erectile dysfunction as radical prostatectomy.     

Clinical features of prostate cancer patients younger than 50 years: Report of seven cases

BACKGROUND: The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age and latent cancer is common in older men. But clinical prostate cancer is rare in men aged < 50 years. METHODS: Between 1988 and 2000, we studied seven cases of prostate cancer in men aged under 50 years. The clinicopathological results included: the first sign or symptom; prostate-specific antigen (PSA) at the time of diagnosis; existence of abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE); the differentiation of the cancer and Gleason score; and the outcome of treatment. RESULTS: Six cases were diagnosed as stage D2. One case was diagnosed as stage B2 and the patient underwent radical prostatectomy. None of the cases were detected by mass screening. The PSA at diagnosis was < 10 ng/mL in only one case and that patient underwent radical prostatectomy. Six cases were diagnosed pathologically as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The only patient who survived more than 5 years underwent radical prostatectomy. CONCLUSION: Six of seven cases of prostate cancer were detected at advanced stage. Only one case was thought to be curable and this patient's cancer was detected by chance occult blood test. Because young prostate cancer patients are potential candidates for radical prostatectomy and the sensitivity of PSA might be higher in young men, high-risk groups could be screened by PSA.     

Serendipity in detecting disease in low prostate-specific antigen ranges

OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of prostate cancer detection by serendipity (the coincidental detection of prostate cancer during the evaluation of an abnormal screening test result) when a digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) are used as initial screening tests for prostate cancer in men with low levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA; 0.0-3.9 ng/mL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 117 participants of a population-based screening study were diagnosed with prostate cancer after a standard evaluation of an abnormal screening test result; 49 underwent radical prostatectomy. Serendipity was defined as either: (i) the presence of prostate cancer opposite to the side that raised suspicion for cancer on DRE and/or TRUS; (ii) a negative lesion-directed biopsy while cancer was present in one or more of the cores of the sextant biopsy; (iii) a tumour volume of < 0.5 mL on radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: Depending on the definition, 27-63% of prostate cancers detected at low PSA values were detected coincidentally and not as a result of a true-positive test result. The proportion of cancers detected by serendipity was inversely correlated with serum PSA level. CONCLUSION: A relatively high proportion of prostate cancers diagnosed in men with low PSA levels, and in which a biopsy was prompted by a suspicious DRE and/or TRUS, are considered to be detected by chance only. As these cancers are mostly small (< 0.5 mL), with potentially low biological aggressiveness, relying on serendipity seems disadvantageous in prostate-cancer screening. The level of serendipity in prostate cancer detection, the poor performance of the screening test, and high inter-observer variability, casts further doubt on the utility of DRE (and TRUS) as initial screening tests for prostate cancer in population-based screening.     

Poorly differentiated prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy: long-term outcome and incidence of pathological downgrading

PURPOSE: Patients with high grade (Gleason score 8 to 10) prostate cancer on biopsy are at high risk for cancer recurrence after local treatment, such as radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy. We examined long-term outcomes in patients with high grade prostate cancer on biopsy who were treated with radical prostatectomy alone. We also investigated the impact on outcomes of changes in the radical prostatectomy Gleason score. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 5,662 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy during 20 years 238 had a biopsy Gleason score of 8 to 10. We analyzed the rate of biochemical recurrence in this subgroup according to the Gleason grade of cancer in the radical prostatectomy specimen. RESULTS: Ten-year biochemical recurrence-free probability in the cohort was 39%. However, 45% of patients (95% CI 38 to 51%) with Gleason score 8 to 10 cancer on biopsy had a Gleason score of 7 or less in the radical prostatectomy specimen. These patients had a 10-year biochemical recurrence-free probability of 56% compared to 27% in those with a final Gleason score that remained 8 to 10 (p = 0.0004). On multivariate analysis neither prostate specific antigen nor biopsy features, including total number of cores, number of cores with cancer and percent of cancer in the cores, was a significant predictor of downgrading. However, clinical stage and biopsy Gleason score were significant with 58% of cT1c and 51% of biopsy Gleason score 8 cancers downgraded. Almost 65% of cT1c Gleason score 8 cancers were downgraded compared to 11% of cT3 Gleason score 9 cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Patients diagnosed with poorly differentiated prostate cancer (Gleason score 8 to 10) on biopsy do not uniformly have a poor prognosis. Of the patients 39% remain free of cancer recurrence 10 years after radical prostatectomy. Of these cancers 45% have a lower Gleason score in the radical prostatectomy specimen and a correspondingly more favorable long-term outcome. Predictors of downgrading are lower clinical stage (cT1c) and Gleason score 8 in the biopsy specimen.     

Early detection of prostate cancer with low PSA cut-off values leads to significant stage migration in radical prostatectomy specimens

BACKGROUND: The introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) contributed to a shift in tumor stage at diagnosis in patients with prostate cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PSA screening with low PSA cut-off values on mean total and percent-free PSA levels in patients with prostate cancers at the time of diagnosis as well as on pathologic stage and mean Gleason scores in positive biopsies and radical prostatectomy specimens. METHODS: Data of 875 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancers between 1996 and 2001 were analyzed. Patients were stratified into six groups according to the year of biopsy. Annual changes in total and percent-free PSA values, in Gleason scores of biopsies and radical prostatectomy specimens, and in pathologic stages of radical prostatectomy specimens were assessed. RESULTS: Mean PSA of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer decreased from 13.11 ng/ml (percent-free PSA: 11.89%) in 1996 to 7.33 ng/ml (percent-free PSA: 12.58%) in 2001 (P < 0.05). The percentage of organ-confined prostatectomy specimens increased from 64.3% in 1996 to 81.5% in 2001 (P < 0.05). However, mean Gleason scores increased from 5.23 to 6.33 over the 6 years (P < 0.05). The percentage of patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancers and PSA values below 4 ng/ml increased from 14.0% in 1996 to 39.2% in 2001. In the group with PSA values below 4 ng/ml organ-confined cancers were found in 80.0-95.2% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: PSAg screening with low cut-off levels has led to a significant reduction of mean baseline PSA levels in prostate cancer patients and to a significant increase in the percentage of organ-confined radical prostatectomy specimens, whereas mean Gleason scores have remained relatively constant.     

Long-term outcome following radical prostatectomy in men with clinical stage T3 prostate cancer

PURPOSE: We evaluated patients at our institution who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinical stage T3 prostate cancer to determine their long-term clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed our prospective surgical database and identified 176 men who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy for clinical stage T3 prostate cancer from 1983 to 2003. Clinical and pathological data were reviewed and evaluated in a Cox proportional hazards model to determine preoperative predictors of biochemical recurrence. Clinical progression following biochemical recurrence was evaluated and clinical failure was defined as the development of clinical metastases or progression to hormone refractory prostate cancer. RESULTS: Of the 176 patients with cT3 prostate cancer 64 (36%) received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. At a mean followup of 6.4 years 84 (48%) patients had disease recurrence with a median time to biochemical recurrence of 4.6 years. The actuarial 10-year probability of freedom from recurrence was 44%. On multivariate analysis biopsy Gleason score, pretreatment serum prostate specific antigen and year of surgery were independent predictors of biochemical recurrence. Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy was not a significant predictor of biochemical recurrence. Following biochemical recurrence clinical failure developed in 30 of 84 (36%) men with a median time of 11 years. Overall the 5, 10 and 15-year probabilities of death from prostate cancer were 6%, 15% and 24%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: More than half (52%) of our patients remained free of disease recurrence following radical prostatectomy. In our series neoadjuvant hormonal therapy offered no advantage with respect to disease recurrence. Radical prostatectomy remains an integral component in the treatment of select patients with clinical stage T3 prostate cancer.     

The impact of prostatectomy and brachytherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer

PURPOSE: to compare urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction symptoms reflecting quality of life and the willingness to undergo treatment again in patients treated by radical retropubic prostatectomy and low dose radiation (LDR) brachytherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: from July 1992 to November 2001, 158 patients with clinical localized prostate cancer were treated by radical retropubic prostatectomy with or without nerve sparring or LDR brachytherapy. To all the 158 patients we mailed a self-reporting questionnaire with 5 questions to access sexual function, 4 questions for urinary continence, and 2 for the satisfaction with the treatment and willingness to undergo treatment again. Patients had no form of adjuvant radiation therapy, or neoadjuvant or adjuvant androgen suppression therapy. A total of 56 patients (43%), 34 of the prostatectomy and 22 patients of the brachytherapy group answered the questionnaire. Questionnaire results were independently analyzed by someone else not involved with patients' treatment. RESULTS: patients self-reported some degree of erectile dysfunction in 84.8% (p = 0.01) in the group treated by prostatectomy and 23.07% (p = 0.86) in the brachytherapy group. Urinary incontinence occurred in 17.6% in the group treated by prostatectomy (p = 0.01) and in 9.5% (p = 0.52) in the brachytherapy group. Urinary incontinence and impotence significantly affected treatment satisfaction. However, considering satisfaction with the treatment and willingness to undergo treatment again, 88.2% of patients would elect surgery again and 95.5% brachytherapy again.     

11C-choline positron emission tomography for the evaluation after treatment of localized prostate cancer

RATIONALE: The evaluation of the efficacy of the treatment of men with prostate cancer is largely based on post treatment levels of PSA. An increase in PSA or biochemical recurrence is the first sign of recurrent disease and precedes a clinically detectable recurrence by months to years. Digital rectal examination and conventional imaging techniques are not sensitive to detect a local recurrence. A metabolic imaging technique, which is not dependent on anatomical distortions, could be of use. In this study we investigated 11C-choline positron emission tomography (PET) for the evaluation after treatment of localized prostate cancer. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with localized prostate cancer, treated by either radical prostatectomy (n=20) or by external beam radiotherapy (n=16) were studied with 11C-choline PET. The results of PET were compared with the results of histology and with clinical follow up. RESULTS: Fourteen patients had no biochemical failure after therapy. 11C-choline PET was true negative in 14/14 patients. Twenty-two patients had a biochemical failure. In the radical prostatectomy patients 11C-choline PET was true positive in 5/13 (38%) cases. In the external beam radiotherapy patients 11C-choline PET was true positive in 7/9 (78%). The recurrent tumor was confirmed by biopsy or by bone scan in eleven of the twelve true positive patients. In ten patients with a negative 11C-choline PET scan, no recurrent tumor could be proven yet clinically, by biopsy or during follow up. CONCLUSION: 11C-choline PET is a feasible technique for evaluation of treatment for localized prostate cancer. The site of recurrence was detected correctly in 78% of the patients after external beam radiotherapy compared to 38% of the patients after radical prostatectomy. No positive PET scans were observed sofar in patients with a serum PSA <5ng/ml. Confirmatory studies and longer follow up are needed to determine the efficacy of 11C-choline PET compared to other imaging techniques.     

Distribution of clinically significant small cancer of the prostate in radical prostatectomy specimens

BACKGROUND: In patients with prostate cancel, radical prostatectomy specimen frequently exhibits non-organ confined disease. We should detect clinically significant small cancer to cure the patients, because tumor volume is one of factors with respect to progression of prostate cancer. The distribution of clinically significant small cancer foci of the prostate was studied to determine an adequate sampling portion in needle biopsy using the maps of radical prostatectomy specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven cases with less than 1.5 cc tumor volume in the main cancer focus who underwent radical prostatectomy were pathologically evaluated using step-sectioned specimens. RESULTS: Seventy three clinically significant cancer foci with less than 1.5 cc tumor volume were recognized. Forty six of 73 foci (63.0%) existed only in the lateral aspect of the prostate compared to 14 foci (19.2%) only in the mid-lobe aspect. The remaining 13 foci (17.8%) existed in both aspects. Moreover, 53 of 73 foci (72.6%) were detected in lateral aspect of the middle and apex of the prostate. CONCLUSION: Systematic biopsy including sampling of lateral aspect in the apex and middle portion of the prostate may improve the detection of clinically significant cancer with small tumor volume.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SYSTEMATIC BIOPSIES AND HISTOLOGICAL FEATURES OF 222 RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY SPECIMENS: LACK OF PREDICTION OF TUMOR SIGNIFICANCE FOR MEN WITH NONPALPABLE PROSTATE CANCER

PURPOSE: Because of the recent increase in nonpalpable prostate cancer (clinical stage T1c) in men, preoperative needle biopsy findings have had an important role for treatment decisions. We examine the correlation among histopathological features of 6 systematic biopsies and radical prostatectomy specimens in which 1 investigator reviewed all histological sections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied a total of 450 men with clinical stage T1c prostate cancer from whom needle biopsies were matched with radical prostatectomy specimens, and selected 222 patient biopsies that were obtained from 6 or more separate regions of the prostate. The pretreatment parameters of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), PSA density, number of positive needle biopsies, distribution of positive cores, linear cancer length, and percent Gleason grade 4/5 on the biopsy were determined and compared with histopathological features of prostate cancer in the radical prostatectomy specimens. All biopsies and radical prostatectomies were evaluated morphologically at the department of urology. RESULTS: Of the 222 men the largest cancer was clinically insignificant in 23 (10%), as measured by a cancer volume of less than 0.5 cc. Cancer volume in the prostatectomy specimen was significantly related to all parameters in the biopsy, with the surprising exception of cancer distribution in the positive biopsies. However, all of these correlations with cancer volume were weak, with Pearson's correlation squared (R(2)) multiplied by 100 less than 10%. Unfortunately, tumor grade on the biopsy agreed with the prostatectomy specimen in only 81 of 222 (36%) cases. Grade assessment with needle biopsy underestimated the tumor grade in 102 (46%) cases and overestimated it in 39 (18%). No single parameter in the biopsy was a predictor of tumor significance, as measured by a cancer volume of greater than 0.5 cc. However, the best model to predict a tumor less than 0.5 cc in volume was the combination of a single positive core with cancer length less than 3 mm. that contained no Gleason grade 4/5. The use of PSA or PSA density in combination with needle biopsy findings did not enhance prediction of tumor significance. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a weak and disappointing correlation among all pathological features of 6 systematic biopsies and radical prostatectomy specimens. The combination of 1 positive core with cancer length less than 3 mm. that contains no Gleason grade 4/5 is probably the best predictor of prostate cancer less than 0.5 cc in men with nonpalpable tumors, a cancer volume that occurred in only 10% of the 222 (23) men.     

Impact of anatomical radical prostatectomy on urinary continence

Urinary continence following an anatomical approach to radical prostatectomy was evaluated in 593 consecutive patients, 547 (92%) of whom achieved complete urinary control. Stress incontinence was present in 46 patients (8%), of whom 34 (6%) wore 1 or fewer pads per day and 2 (0.3%) required placement of an artificial sphincter. No patient was totally incontinent. Age, weight of the prostate, prior transurethral resection of the prostate, pathological stage and preservation or wide excision of the neurovascular bundles had no significant influence on preservation of urinary control. These data suggest that anatomical factors rather than preservation of autonomic innervation may be responsible for the improved urinary control associated with an anatomical approach to radical prostatectomy.