Prostatic adenocarcinoma: relationship of grade and local extent to the pattern of metastases.

In 100 consecutive cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma treated by pelvic lymphadenectomy and interstitial implantation of 125I the relationship of tumor stage, size and grade was analyzed relative to the incidence and site of metastases, and the response of the primary tumor to irradiation. High stage, large size and poor histological differentiation were associated with a significantly higher probability of pelvic node metastases. The response of the primary tumor to irradiation was significantly higher among patients with small stage B tumors and/or those with negative pelvic lymph nodes. Important determinants of metastases subsequent to 125I implantation were the large size of the primary tumor, poor histological differentiation, seminal vesicle invasion, large (more than 3 cc) volume of lymph node metastases and absence of local prostatic response to irradiation.