ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation between prostate volume and aggressiveness and incidence of prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A chart review of a cohort of 448 consecutive prostate biopsy-naive men was performed. These men underwent at least a 12-core biopsy at our institution due to increased prostate-specific antigen serum levels (>4 ng/mL) and/or suspicious findings on digital rectal examination during the period between 2008 and 2013. Transrectal ultrasound was used to determine the prostate volume. RESULTS: The positive biopsy rate was 66% for patients with a prostate volume of ≤35 cc and 40% for patients with a prostate volume of ≥65 cc (P<0.001). Of the 110 patients testing positive on biopsy with a volume of ≤35 cc, 10 patients (9.1%) had a Gleason score of ≥8. Of the 27 patients testing positive on biopsy with a volume of ≥65 cc, only 1 patient (3.7%) had a Gleason score of ≥8. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there may be an association between prostate volume and the incidence and aggressiveness of PCa. The larger the prostate, the lower the positive biopsy rate for PCa and the lower the Gleason score.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To study the interaction between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: In this study, we performed a chart review of a cohort of 448 biopsy naive men. These men received a multi-core biopsy at our institution due to increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serum levels (>4 ng/ml) and/or suspicious findings on digital rectal examination in the years between 2008 and 2013. Utilizing PSA and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) prostate volume, we obtained the PSA density (PSAD) for each individual. PSAD was calculated by dividing serum PSA concentration by TRUS prostate volume. RESULTS: Large prostates >65 g may secrete enough PSA to have a PSAD above the suggested cutoff of 0.15, yet 50 % patients have no histologic evidence of PCa, whereas prostates <35 g and an elevated PSAD of above 0.15 will have histologic evidence of PCa 70 % of the time. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that BPH in large prostates may be protective of PCa. The interaction of the different prostate zones, in particular the transition zone and peripheral zone, may play a significant role in the phenomenon observed in this study. However, sampling error may introduce bias that 12-16 core biopsies in larger prostates may be more likely missing the cancer lesion.
