Clinical utility of endorectal MRI in determining PSA outcome for patients with biopsy Gleason score 7, PSA <or=10, and clinically localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE

Although the optimal management for patients with high-grade clinically localized prostate cancer is undefined, radical prostatectomy (RP) or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is performed. The clinical utility of the pretreatment prostrate-specific antigen (PSA) level (<or=10 and >10 ng/mL) and endorectal MRI (erMRI) stage (T3 vs. T2) to stratify PSA outcome after RP in these patients was evaluated.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

erMRI was performed in 147 men with biopsy Gleason score >or=7 and 1992 AJCC clinical Stage T1c or T2a disease before RP. Enumerations of the biopsy and prostatectomy Gleason scores, pathologic stage, and margin status were performed for each pretreatment group on the basis of erMRI findings and PSA level. Comparisons were made using a chi-square metric. The median follow-up was 4.5 years (range 1-10 years). Comparisons of the actuarial freedom from PSA failure (bNED) were made using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

erMRI Stage T2 and T3 disease was found in 132 and 15 patients, respectively. On stratification by PSA level, patients with erMRI T3 disease had similar bNED outcomes (p = 0.46), regardless of the PSA level. The 3-year bNED rate was 82%, 64%, and 25% (p <0.0001) for Group 1 (erMRI T2 and PSA <or=10 ng/mL), Group 2 (erMRI T2 and PSA >10 ng/mL), and Group 3 (erMRI T3 with any PSA level), respectively. The rates of prostatectomy T3 disease, biopsy and prostatectomy Gleason score 8-10, and positive surgical margins were significantly higher (p <or=0.007) in Group 3, followed by Group 2 and were lowest in Group 1. When considering only the patients with biopsy Gleason score 7 (n = 110), the 3-year bNED rate was 83%, 63%, and 28% (p trend <0.0001) for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectivel.

CONCLUSION

In the setting of biopsy Gleason score >or=7, PSA <or=10 ng/mL, and clinically localized disease, local therapy alone may be adequate for patients with erMRI T2 disease. On the other hand, these data suggest that more aggressive therapy may be warranted in patients with erMRI T3 disease. Given the survival benefit established for patients with locally advanced prostate cancer treated with EBRT and androgen suppression therapy compared with EBRT alone, erMRI staging may help identify patients with high biopsy Gleason score and clinically localized disease who may benefit most from treatment with EBRT and hormonal therapy as opposed to EBRT alone.