Oncologic outcome after radical prostatectomy in men with PSA values above 20 ng/ml: a monocentric experience

To assess the cancer control afforded by radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values above 20 ng/ml.

We performed a retrospective review of prostate cancer patients who had initial PSA values above 20 ng/ml and were treated with surgery between 1995 and 2006. Biochemical recurrence was defined as a single rise in PSA levels over 0.2 ng/ml after surgery.

Overall, 41 patients were included. The mean age was 62 +/- 6.43 years. The mean PSA was 27.39 +/- 13.57 ng/ml (range 20.3-80). After pathological analysis, prostate cancer was organ-confined in 21 cases (51.2%) and locally advanced in 20 cases (48.8%). Positive surgical margins were detected in 36.5% of cases (n = 15). Five patients had lymph node involvement (12%). The mean prostate volume was 58 +/- 28.9 cc. The mean length of follow-up after surgery was 94 +/- 37 months. Median time to biochemical recurrence was 44.6 +/- 22 months. The 5-year PSA-free survival rate was 53%. Through univariate analysis, the pathologic stage (p = 0.016), biopsy and pathological Gleason scores (p = 0.013; p = 0.02) and positive margin (p = 0.04) were associated with recurrence. Overall, 24 patients (58.5%) experienced a biochemical recurrence. Only margin status and pathological Gleason were significant in multivariate analysis (p < 0.05).

RP can be recommended as a viable primary treatment option in selected cases of the high-risk cohort of patients with pre-operative PSA values above 20 ng/ml. However, the modalities of adjuvant treatments following RP remain to be defined in patients who are likely to evolve unfavourably.