Relationship between grade and stage of adenocarcinoma of the prostate and regional pelvic lymph node metastases.

The relationship of grade and local tumor extent to pelvic nodal involvement was assessed surgically in 469 patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Grade and local stage alone and combined score were associated in a linear fashion with nodal involvement. Gleason sum and Mayo grade alone were not predictive of nodal metastases. Some patients with a Gleason score of 4 had positive nodes and some with a score of 8 to 10 had negative nodes. Mayo sum (grade plus stage) consistently was related to negative nodal involvement.