Prognostic value of the CAPRA clinical prediction rule: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: Prostate cancer is a significant cause of mortality among men. A number of prognostic instruments exist to predict the risk of recurrence among patients with localised prostate cancer. This systematic review examines the totality of evidence in relation to the predictive value of the CAPRA clinical predication rule by combining all studies that validate the rule. OBJECTIVES: To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis that assesses the 3- and 5-year predictive value of the CAPRA rule, a clinical prediction rule derived to predict biochemical-recurrence-free survival in men with localized prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. To examine the predictive value of the CAPRA rule at 3 and 5 years stratified by risk group (0-2 low risk, 3-5 intermediate risk, 6-10 high risk). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed to retrieve papers that validated the CAPRA score. The original derivation study was used as a predictive model and applied to all validation studies with observed and predicted biochemical-recurrence-free survival at 3 and 5 years stratified by risk group (0-2 low, 3-5 intermediate, 6-10 high). Pooled results are presented as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals, in terms of over-prediction (RR > 1) or under-prediction (RR < 1) of biochemical-recurrence-free survival at 3 and 5 years. A chi-squared test for trend was computed to determine if there was a decreasing trend in survival across the three CAPRA risk categories. RESULTS: Seven validation studies (n = 12 693) predict recurrence-free survival at 5 years after radical prostatectomy. The CAPRA score significantly under-predicts recurrence-free survival across all three risk strata (low risk, RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.98; intermediate risk, RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.99; high risk, RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.85). Data on six studies (n = 6082) are pooled to predict 3-year recurrence-free survival. The CAPRA score correctly predicts recurrence-free survival in all three groups (low risk, RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-1.00; intermediate risk, RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.99-1.08; high risk, RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.73-1.05). The chi-squared trend analysis indicates that, as the trichotomized CAPRA score increases, the probability of survival decreases (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pooled analysis confirm the ability of the CAPRA rule to correctly predict biochemical-recurrence-free survival at 3 years after radical prostatectomy. The rule under-predicts recurrence-free survival 5 years after radical prostatectomy across all three strata of risk.

The identification and internal validation of a preoperative serum biomarker panel to determine extracapsular extension in patients with prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Accurate preoperative staging of prostate cancer (PCa) is important but current diagnostic methods cannot accurately determine extracapsular extension (ECE), resulting in the possible triage of patients towards a less appropriate arm of therapy. This has consequences to patient care and better methods of preoperatively determining ECE are required. METHODS: We followed a biomarker development pathway and compared the preoperative serum expressions of VEGF-D, PEDF, IGF-I, IGFBP3, and CD14 in patients from the Irish Prostate Cancer Research Consortium (PCRC) with radical prostatectomy determined ECE against patients with nonECE. RESULTS: The expression measurements of five proteins were fitted into a logistic regression model and backwards variable elimination methods were applied which resulted in a model with IGFBP3 and CD14 as the best combination biomarker panel. This panel was tested in an independent cohort of patients using an optimized multiplex electrochemiluminescence assay. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated and the areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated as an estimation of prediction accuracy. The biomarker panel was validated with an AUC of 76.6%, and a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 75% was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first internally validated, preoperative serum biomarker panel that identifies ECE in patients with Gleason score 7 PCa with AUC 76.6%. The panel surpasses the routinely used diagnostic standards in accuracy and may help to improve preoperative cancer staging, better inform treatment options, and improve the referral patterns of patients with urgently treatable cancers towards more appropriate arms of therapy.

A rare case of paratesticular leiomyosarcoma.

Soft-tissue sarcomas of the genitourinary tract account for only 1-2% of urological malignancies and 2.1% of soft-tissue sarcomas in general. A 69-year-old male complained of a 4 month history of a painless right groin swelling during routine urological review for prostate cancer follow-up. Clinical examination revealed a non-tender, firm right inguinoscrotal mass. There was no discernible cough impulse. Computed tomography of abdomen and pelvis showed a non-obstructed right inguinal hernia. During elective hernia repair a solid mass involving the spermatic cord and extending into the proximal scrotum was seen. The mass was widely resected and a right orchidectomy was performed. Pathology revealed a paratesticular sarcoma. He proceeded to receive adjuvant radiotherapy. Only around 110 cases of leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord have been described in the literature. They commonly present as painless swellings in the groin. The majority of diagnoses are made on histology.

Management of a persistent ileo-ureteric anastomotic leak with bilateral ureteric occlusion using angioplasty balloon catheters.

The ileal conduit continues to be the most common form of urinary diversion performed worldwide. As a result of improved surgical technique the perioperative mortality and morbidity for patients undergoing ileal conduit urinary diversion has reduced remarkably. However, one early complication that may occur is that of urinary leak at the ileo-ureteric anastomosis. Urinary anastomotic leaks may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although a small initial leakage postoperatively is common, the problem arises in cases of continued urinary leakage from the ileo-ureteric anastomosis. We report the management of a persistent ileo-ureteric anastomotic leak using angioplasty balloons catheters to occlude both ureters.

Prostate cancer grading: the effect of stratification of needle biopsy Gleason Score 4 + 3 as high or intermediate grade.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the discrepancy between needle biopsy (NB) and radical prostatectomy (RP) Gleason score (GS) in Irish men, specifically the influence of the stratification of GS 4 + 3 on overall levels of agreement, levels of discrepancy and kappa coefficients, as the GS assigned to prostate cancer NBs affects clinical decision-making and influences future therapeutic strategies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively a database of the discrepancies between NB and RP Gleason grades (GG) from 2003 to 2008. All patients had clinically localized prostate cancer, and none had had neoadjuvant therapy. Grading of 206 NB specimens was compared with their corresponding RP specimens. The discrepancy rate between NB and RP GS was assessed for each combination of GG. Intermediate- (GS 7, defined as GS 3 + 4 alone vs GS 7) and high-grade (GS 4 + 3 and GS 8-10 vs GS 8-10) classifications were compared. The level of agreement and the kappa coefficient for each system was assessed. RESULTS: In NB, GS 6 was most frequently diagnosed (53%); after RP, GS 3 + 4 was most frequent (36%). In 42% of cases the exact GG remained unchanged after RP, increasing to 48% for GS 6 and GS 3 + 4. Overall 42% of cases showed an increase in their GG. In GS 6 NBs, the rate of increase in the primary GG or increase in the GS was 52%. Biopsy GS 6 and 3 + 4 showed the highest levels of agreement between NB and RP. Low-grade prostate cancer on NB was upgraded in 52% of cases; high-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma was downgraded in 27-77% of cases depending on the grading system used. CONCLUSIONS: Classification of high-grade prostate cancer as GS 4 + 3 and GS 8-10 results in higher levels of agreement between NB and RP GS. Reliable identification of well differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma in NB specimens represents an ongoing diagnostic challenge, necessitating careful preoperative consideration of the definitive grade of a patient's disease.