Adjuvant versus early Salvage radiation therapy for prostate cancer with adverse pathological features on radical prostatectomy—Do we finally have an answer?

Background: The presence of adverse pathological features like extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle involvement, or positive margins at radical prostatectomy incurs a high risk of postoperative recurrence. Currently, adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) is the standard of care in these patients, while early salvage radiotherapy (eSRT) is a potential alternative strategy. Aims: The purpose of this paper is to review the latest evidence comparing outcomes of adjuvant versus early SRT in this clinical scenario. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of Google Scholar, PubMed/Medline, and EMBASE was done to identify relevant studies published in the English language, regarding outcomes of adjuvant radiotherapy and early SRT in post radical prostatectomy patients. Twelve studies, including six randomized trials, four retrospective studies, one systematic review, and one metanalysis were included in the final analysis. Results: We found that initial randomized trials demonstrated better event?free survival with adjuvant radiotherapy when compared to observation alone. However, ART was associated with increased risk of overtreatment and thus increased radiation?related toxicity rates. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence from recently reported RCTs suggests that eSRT may provide equivalent oncological outcomes to ART in prostate cancer patients with adverse pathology on radical prostatectomy while decreasing unnecessary treatment and radiation?related toxicity in a significant proportion of patients. However, the final verdict would be delivered after the long?term metastasis?free survival and overall survival outcomes are available.

Influence of focal and diffuse extraprostatic extension and positive surgical margins on biochemical progression following radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE: The amount of extraprostatic extension and positive surgical margin correlates in most studies with biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy. We studied the influence of focal and diffuse extraprostatic extension and positive surgical margins on biochemical progression using a simple method for quantification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 360 prostates were step-sectioned and totally processed from 175 patients with stage T1c and 185 patients with clinical stage T2 submitted to radical retropubic prostatectomy. Extraprostatic extension was stratified into 2 groups: present up to 1 quadrant and/or section from the bladder neck or apex (Group 1, focal) and in more than 1 quadrant or section (Group 2, diffuse); and, positive surgical margin present up to 2 quadrants and/or sections (Group 1, focal) and in more than 2 quadrants or sections (Group 2, diffuse). The Kaplan-Meier product-limit analysis was used for the time to biochemical recurrence, and an univariate and multivariate Cox stepwise logistic regression model to identify significant predictors. RESULTS: Extraprostatic extension was found in 129/360 (35.8%) patients, 39/129 (30.2%) in Group 1 and 90/129 (69.8%) in Group 2. In univariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis, patients showing diffuse extraprostatic extension (Group 2) had a significant higher risk to develop biochemical recurrence in a shorter time. Positive surgical margin was present in 160/360 (44.4%) patients, 81/160 (50.6%) patients in Group 1 and 79/160 (49.4%) patients in Group 2. Patients with diffuse positive surgical margins (Group 2) had a significant higher risk in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Diffuse positive surgical margin was the strongest predictor on both analyses and an independent predictor on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Diffuse extraprostatic extension in univariate analysis and positive surgical margins on both univariate and multivariate analyses are significant predictors of shorter time to biochemical progression following radical prostatectomy.

Risk factors for positive surgical margins in extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To determine relative risk factors for positive surgical margins in extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy(LRP). Methods From February 2004 to September 2007,33 patients(mean age 70 years old)with prostate cancers underwent extraperitoneal LRP.All patients were diagnosed by pathology preoperatively.Gleason score:3+3 14 cases(43%),3+4 11 cases(33%),4+3 6 cases(18%),4+4 2 cases(6%).Clinical stage:T1a-T1b 4 cases(12%),T1c 14 cases(43%),T2a-T2b 5 cases(15%),T2c10 cases(30%).Logistic regression analyses were performed. Results LRP was successfully performed on 31 cases.There were 2 cases converted to open surgery.Nine cases(27%)had PSMs.There were 6 cases(67%)and 4 cases(17%)of clinical stage T2c in PSM and negative surgical margin(NSM)groups respectively(P=0.010).There were 3 cases(33%)and 0(0)with high Gleason score(higher than 7)in PSM and NSM cases(P=0.015).There were 4 cases(44%)and 5 cases(21%)with t-PSA higher than 20dg/ml in PSM and NSM cases respectively(P=0.178).In these 9 cases,there were 4 cases(44%)positive with DRE.However there were 9 in the 24 NSM cases(38%)(P=0.509).Clinical stage T2c was independently positively correlated with PSM(OR=24.69).High Gleason score(higher than 7)and t-PSA higher than 20 ng/ml were positively correlated with PSM. Conclusions Clinical stage is positively correlated with PSM.It is an independent factor.High Gleason score(higher than 7)and t-PSA higher than 20 ng/ml mignt be the risk factors in predicting PSM and should be used together with clinical stage.Positive DRE findings may be also useful to predict PSM.