Abstract
The PCPT has demonstrated a higher incidence of high grade (Gleason pattern 4 or greater) prostate cancers among men randomized to finasteride. One plausible explanation for this finding is that tumor grade as assigned by TRUS guided biopsy is artifactually associated with prostate volume. We evaluated our institutional data set of TRUS guided biopsies in the last 3 years and identified 369 cases of prostate cancer that fit the criteria of PSA less than 10 ng/ml, biopsy at our center and RP at our center. We identified risk factors for Gleason pattern 4 or greater on biopsy and then on RP specimens from the same patients using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. Assessed covariates included patient age, PSA and TRUS volume. Risk factors for Gleason pattern 4 or greater in the biopsy specimens included age (p = 0.01), hypoechoic lesions on TRUS (p <0.001) and TRUS volume (p = 0.008). However, among RP specimens TRUS volume (p = 0.60) became nonsignificant of Gleason pattern 4 or greater on multivariable analysis. Although prostate volume was a predictor for biopsy derived high grade disease it was not predictive of true histological grade. These data suggest that simply having a larger prostate results in fewer high grade cancers diagnosed at biopsy. Prostatectomy results in the same men suggest sampling artifact, as the distribution of cancer grade is not associated with prostate volume. These findings provide evidence that the increase in higher grade tumors among men in the finasteride arm of PCPT may simply result from prostate volume reduction.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.