Comparison of T1c versus T2 prostate cancers in Japanese patients undergoing radical prostatectomy

In order to examine the characteristics of patients with nonpalpable prostate cancer (T1c cancer) in Japan, patients treated with radical prostatectomy were compared with those with palpable (T2) cancer. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level in patients with T2b disease was significantly higher than those with T1c and T2a tumors. At the time of radical prostatectomy, 78%, 71% and 31% of patients with T1c, T2a, and T2b, respectively, had organ-confined disease. When insignificant cancer was defined as volume 0.5 ml or less and Gleason score less than 5, only 2 of 34 (5.9%) with clinical T1c disease were clinically insignificant. T1c cancers were clinically significant and clinicopathological features of Tlc tumors were similar to T2a tumors. PSA measurement could detect potentially curable prostate cancer.