T1c prostate cancer detection rate and pathologic characteristics: comparison between patients with serum prostate-specific antigen range of 3.0 to 4.0 ng/mL and 4.1 to 10.0 ng/mL in Korean population.

OBJECTIVES

To prospectively evaluate the Stage T1c prostate cancer detection rate and pathologic characteristics of patients with a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 3.0 to 4.0 ng/mL and compare this with the rate of patients who had a PSA level of 4.1 to 10.0 ng/mL.

METHODS

We analyzed the data of patients who had PSA levels of 3.0 to 10.0 ng/mL, benign findings on digital rectal examination, and no specific lesion identified on transrectal ultrasonography. The clinical characteristics, cancer detection rate, and pathologic findings of the biopsy and prostatectomy specimen were compared between the low (3.0 to 4.0 ng/mL) and intermediate (4.1 to 10.0 ng/mL) PSA groups.

RESULTS

A total of 450 patients met our criteria. Of these 450 patients, 85 and 365 had a low or an intermediate PSA level, respectively. Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 26% of the low and 19% of the intermediate PSA group. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the pathologic biopsy findings, including the mean Gleason score and percentage of patients with a Gleason score of 7 or more. The pathologic findings of the prostatectomy specimens also showed no significant differences between the two groups, including the mean Gleason score, pathologic stage, and percentage of insignificant prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of Stage T1c prostate cancer or pathologic characteristics in comparison between the low and intermediate PSA groups. These results suggest that a lower PSA cutoff should be considered as an indication for prostate biopsy in the Korean population.