Predictors of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer

Abstract

Aim. To study the role of postoperative parameters in predicting the probability of development of biochemical recurrence in patients with prostate cancer with low pre-operative risk of its progression. Methods. 95 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, were included in the study, the average age being 59.5±0.7 (44-76) years. The average levels of total and free prostate-specific antigen were 5.8±0.2 (1.71-9.9) and 1.03±0.07 (0.2-3.6) ng/ml respectively. Biochemical recurrence was defined as the level of prostate-specific antigen higher than 0.2 ng/ml after radical prostatectomy. Results. 8 (8.4%) patients during the follow-up period were diagnosed with biochemical recurrence. The average period to biochemical recurrence development was 45.8±6.7 (24-84) months. Pathomorphological examination revealed presence of tumor cells at surgical margin in 18 (18.9%) cases. Biochemical recurrence was diagnosed in 5 out of 77 (6.5%) patients with negative surgical margins and in 3 out of 18 (1.7%) patients with positive surgical margins. In our study, no correlation between the state of surgical margin and biochemical recurrence development was revealed (χ2=1.958; р=0.162). In the study group postoperative Gleason score was not prognostically significant as well (р=0.294). The average tumor volume in resected material was 11.8±1.0% (1-55%) of prostate volume (мм3). Extraprostatic extension was diagnosed in 10 (10.5%) cases. Results of univariate dispersion analysis of postoperative parameters revealed prognostic significance of tumor volume in removed specimen (р=0.007) and extracapsular extension (р=0.027). Conclusion. In our study we determined that tumor volume and extracapsular extention are independent risk factors for biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer patients with low pre-operative risk of disease progression.