BACKGROUND: At present, biopsy is essential for the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) before radical prostatectomy (RP). However, with the development of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), it might be feasible to avoid biopsy before RP. Herein, we aimed to explore the feasibility of avoiding biopsy before RP in patients highly suspected of having PCa after assessment of PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI. METHODS: Between December 2017 and April 2022, 56 patients with maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of ≥4 and Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) ≥4 lesions who received RP without preoperative biopsy were enrolled from two tertiary hospitals. The consistency between clinical and pathological diagnoses was evaluated. Preoperative characteristics were compared among patients with different pathological types, T stages, International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grades, and European Association of Urology (EAU) risk groups. RESULTS: Fifty-five (98%) patients were confirmed with PCa by pathology, including 49 (89%) with clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa, defined as ISUP grade ≥2 malignancy). One patient was diagnosed with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN). CsPCa patients, compared with clinically insignificant prostate cancer (cisPCa) and HGPIN patients, were associated with a higher level of prostate-specific antigen (22.9 ng/mL vs . 10.0 ng/mL, P = 0.032), a lower median prostate volume (32.2 mL vs . 65.0 mL, P = 0.001), and a higher median SUVmax (13.3 vs . 5.6, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS It might be feasible to avoid biopsy before RP for patients with a high probability of PCa based on PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI. However, the diagnostic efficacy of csPCa with PI-RADS ≥4 and SUVmax of ≥4 is inadequate for performing a procedure such as RP. Further prospective multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm our perspectives and establish predictive models with PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatectomy/methods* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography/methods* ; Biopsy ; Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the effect of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) on biochemical recurrence in patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP).Methods:From June 2012 to November 2020, 403 cases treated with RP in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. Median age was 67 (range 47-81) years old. Median prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 18.0 (range 1.9-813.0) ng/ml. All patients received prostate biopsy and were confirmed with prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma according to pathology. The Gleason score of 44 (10.9%) cases were 6, 65 (16.1%) cases were 3+ 4, 62 (15.4%) cases were 4+ 3, and 232 (57.5%) cases were ≥8. 73 (18.1%) patients received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. RP and pelvic lymph node dissection were carried out in all patients including 10 open surgery, 144 laparoscopic surgery and 249 robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The χ 2 test was used to analyze the correlation between LVI and clinicopathological characteristics. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to summarize time-to-biochemical recurrence end point and compare biochemical recurrence-free survival between LVI positive and negative groups. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to test the possible factors of biochemical recurrence with Cox proportional-hazard model. Results:Of all 403 patients treated with RP, the final Gleason score of 68 (16.9%) cases were≤6, 87 (21.6%) cases were 3+ 4, 89 (22.1%) cases were 4+ 3, and 159 (39.5%) cases were≥8. 179 (44.4%) patients had positive surgical margins. The rate of seminal vesicle invasion was 23.6% (95 patients). There were 167 (41.4%) cases with T 1~2 and 236 (58.6%) cases with T 3~4 pathological stage. 39 (9.7%) patients had lymph node metastasis. 62 (15.4%) patients were LVI positive and 341 (84.6%) patients were LVI negative. There were statistically significant differences in biopsy and final Gleason score, pathological stage, rates of seminal vesicle invasion and rates of positive lymph node between LVI positive and negative patients ( P<0.05). 259 (64.3%) patients received adjuvant hormonal therapy and 70 (17.4%) patients received adjuvant hormonal plus radiation therapy. Median follow-up time was 22 (range 6-89) months. 23 (37.1%) occurred biochemical recurrence in LVI positive cases and median biochemical recurrence-free survival was 41 months. Meanwhile, 71 (20.8%) occurred biochemical recurrence in LVI negative cases and median biochemical recurrence-free survival was not reached, significantly longer than LVI positive cases ( P<0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that PSA level, biopsy gleason score, neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, pathological stage, positive surgical margins, seminal vesicle invasion, lymph node metastasis and LVI were significantly associated with prognostic prediction of biochemical recurrence. Conclusions:LVI implies shorter biochemical recurrence-free survival and could be an independent predictor on biochemical recurrence in patients treated with RP.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus hormone therapy in metastatic prostate cancer.Methods:From April 2016 to April 2019, 204 cases with bone metastatic prostate cancer in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. There were 97 patients responded to hormone therapy including 92 cases with high-burden metastasis (more than 4 bone metastases with one or more beyond the axial skeleton) and 5 cases with low-burden metastasis, with average age of 70 years (range 42-87 years) and median prostate specific antigen (PSA) of 74.1 ng/ml (range 11.0-145.0 ng/ml). Among them, there were 35 patients (36.1%) with a Gleason score of 7 or lower, and 62 patients (63.9%) with a Gleason score of 8 or higher. There were 26 patients suffering from bone pain, with average numerical rating scales(NRS) score of 3.7. In addition, there were 107 patients being resistant to hormone therapy, with average age of 73 years (range 56-83 years), and median PSA of 84.5 ng/ml (range 12.4-490.2 ng/ml), including 32 patients (29.9%) with a Gleason score of 7 or lower, and 75 patients (70.1%) with a Gleason score of 8 or higher. Among them, there were 75 patients suffering from bone pain, with average NRS score of 5.4. All patients received continuous hormone therapy combined with docetaxel (at a dose of 75 mg per square meter of body-surface area every 3w, plus prednisone 5 mg twice a day), and PSA progression-free survival (PSA-PFS), NRS score, pain relief, and adverse events were analyzed. Additional analysis of the correlation between PSA-PFS and subgroups with age, PSA level and Gleason score were performed.Results:For patients with metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), 6 (6.2%) cases only received 1-2 cycles of chemotherapy due to different reasons, and the others received 3-6 cycles(average 4.7)with the median follow-up of 15 months. Of patients who received ≥3 cycles, there were 36 cases presenting PSA progression, with the median PSA-PFS of 22 months, average NRS score decline from 3.9 to 3.0, and pain relief rate of 72.0%(18/25). For patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), 9 (8.4%)cases only received 1-2 cycles of chemotherapy, and the others received 3-14 cycles (average 5.6). Of patients who received≥3 cycles, there were 51 cases with PSA progression, with the median PSA-PFS of 11 months, average NRS score decline from 5.6 to 4.4, and pain relief rate of 48.6%(35/72). Subgroup analysis showed a significant correlation between PSA level and PSA-PFS for patients with mCRPC( P=0.026). Age or Gleason score was not significantly correlated to PSA-PFS in mHSPC or mCRPC( P>0.05). For patients with mHSPC, grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 17 cases(17.5%), nausea and vomiting in 27 cases(27.8%), and fatigue in 25 cases(25.8%). For patients with mCRPC, grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 24 cases (22.4%), nausea and vomiting in 34 cases(31.8%), and fatigue in 26 cases(24.3%). Allergic reaction and sensory neuropathy toxicity were occasional. Conclusion:Efficacy of docetaxel plus hormone therapy was confirmed in metastatic prostate cancer and adverse events were tolerable.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of radical prostatectomy without biopsy for patients with highly suspected localized prostate cancer diagnosed by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. Methods:Patients were enrolled in this single-arm prospective study from March 2019 to January 2022 in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University. Eligible patients were aged ≤80 years with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance-status score of 0 or 1. Based on mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT, patients were diagnosed with highly suspected localized prostate cancer with no evidence of distant lymphatic, bone or visceral metastases. Patients were excluded if they had obvious important organs dysfunction, suspected metastatic lesions or history of other malignant tumor. After fully informed of the surgical risks and possibilities of final pathology, patients received laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. According to final pathological results, the diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT was evaluated. Pathological features were compared between low 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) group (SUV max<10) and high SUV max group (SUV max≥10). Baseline characteristics were compared between clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPCa) and clinically insignificant prostate cancer (cisPCa) + high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) patients. Additional analysis of the correlation between baseline parameters and different subgroups including pathological stage, ISUP grades and risk groups were performed in CsPCa patients. Results:31 patients were enrolled. Median age was 68 (ranging 48-79)years old. Median BMI was 25.6(ranging 21.9-31.4)kg/m 2. Median prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 23.5 (ranging 5.6-94.7)ng/ml. Median prostate volume was 37.6(ranging 16.2-127.9)ml. Median PSA density (PSAD) was 0.56(ranging 0.11-2.86)ng/ml 2. Fifteen cases were scored prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) 4 and 16 cases were scored PI-RADS 5. Median 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUV max was 13.3 (ranging 4.6-36.7). All surgeries were successfully accomplished without open conversion. Median postoperative hospitalization time was 5 (ranging 4-7)d. No major complication occurred perioperatively. Recovery of urinary continence was within 6 months in all patients. According to the final pathological results, 1(3.2%) patient was confirmed with HGPIN. 30 (96.8%) patients were confirmed with adenocarcinoma, including 26 (86.7%) patients with CsPCa and 4(13.3%) patients with cisPCa. Among prostate cancer cases, the pathological stage of 11(36.7%) was T 2 and 19(63.3%) was T 3. Four(13.3%) cases were with ISUP grade 1, 7(23.3%) cases were with ISUP grade 2, 7(23.3%) cases were with ISUP grade 3 and 12 (40.0%) cases were with ISUP grade≥4.Two(6.7%) cases were in low risk group, 3(10.0%) cases were in intermediate risk group and 25 (83.3%) cases were in high risk group. Twelve(40.0%) patients had positive surgical margins. Standard pelvic lymph node dissection was carried out in 18 (17 prostate cancer and 1 HGPIN) cases. Sixty-two lymph nodes were dissected and none of them was positive. The diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT was 96.8%(30/31) in prostate cancer. Compared to low SUV max group, patients in high SUV max group had higher ISUP grade ( P=0.003) but there was no significant difference in positive surgical margin, seminal vesical invasion or pathological stage ( P>0.05). Among CsPCa patients, 10 (38.5%) cases were scored PI-RADS 4 and 16(61.5%) cases were scored PI-RADS 5. Median 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUV max was 14.3 (range 6.1-36.7). Compared to cisPCa and HGPIN patients, a smaller median prostate volume (34.3 vs. 73.0 ml, P=0.006), higher median PSAD (0.70 vs. 0.13 ng/ml 2, P=0.001), higher rates of PI-RADS 5 patients (61.5% vs. 0, P=0.018) and higher 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT SUV max (14.3 vs. 6.1, P=0.001) were found in CsPCa patients. Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference between SUV max and pathological stage (25.5 vs. 13.9), ISUP grades (15.4 vs. 14.4 vs. 14.0) and risk groups (9.7 vs. 14.9) in CsPCa patients ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The diagnostic accuracy of mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT is high in prostate cancer. With efficient communication, radical prostatectomy without biopsy for patients with highly suspected localized prostate cancer diagnosed by mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT is safe.