Validating the Association of Adverse Pathology with Distant Metastasis and Prostate Cancer Mortality 20-Years After Radical Prostatectomy

Purpose: To assess the association of adverse pathology (AP), defined as high-grade (≥ Gleason Grade Group 3) and/or non-organ confined disease, with long-term oncologic outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Materials and Methods: Using a stratified cohort sampling design, we evaluated the association of AP with the risk of distant metastasis (DM) and prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) up to 20 years after RP in 428 patients treated between 1987 to 2004. Cox regression of cause-specific hazards was used to estimate the absolute risk of both endpoints, with death from other causes treated as a competing risk. Additionally, subgroup analysis in patients with low and/or intermediate-risk disease, who are potentially eligible for active surveillance (AS), was performed.

Results: Within the cohort sample, 53% of men exhibited AP at time of RP, with median follow up of 15.5 years (IQR 14.6-16.6 years) thereafter. Adverse pathology was highly associated with DM and PCSM in the overall cohort (HR 12.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.30-28.55, and HR 10.03, 95% CI 3.42-29.47, respectively, both P < 0.001). Adverse pathology was also highly associated with DM and PCSM in the low/intermediate-risk subgroup (HR 10.48, 95% CI 4.18-26.28, and 8.60, 95% CI 2.40-30.48, respectively, both P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Adverse pathology at the time of RP is highly associated with future development of DM and PCSM. Accurate prediction of AP may thus be useful for individualizing risk-based surveillance and treatment strategies.

Michael A. Brooks M.D.1 Lewis Thomas M.D.2 Cristina Magi-Galluzzi M.D., Ph.D.3 Jianbo Li Ph.D.4 Michael R. Crager Ph.D.5 Ruixiao Lu Ph.D.5 Frederick L. Baehner M.D.5 John Abran M.D., Ph.D.5 Tamer Aboushwareb M.D., Ph.D.5 Eric A. Klein M.D.6

  1. Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
  2. Division of Urologic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
  3. Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
  4. Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
  5. Exact Sciences Corporation, Redwood City, CA
  6. Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Source: Brooks M., Thomas L., Magi-Galluzzi C., et al. "Validating the Association of Adverse Pathology with Distant Metastasis and Prostate Cancer Mortality 20-Years After Radical Prostatectomy." Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations. 2021. ISSN 1078-1439.