Prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion in radical prostatectomy specimens

To synthesize the results of studies including lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in the multivariate analyses of potential prostate cancer prognostic factors. To determine the role of LVI as an independent prognostic factor for biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer.

We performed a comprehensive systematic literature review of studies examining the association between LVI in prostatectomy specimens and prostate cancer recurrence. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Review of Effects (DARE) and Google Scholar were searched from January 2000 to February 2009. The primary outcome of interest was biochemical recurrence measured by serum prostate specific antigen (PSA).

One thousand two hundred and forty-eight papers met our search criteria. Of these, 19 articles meeting our selection criteria reported results of a multivariate analysis to evaluate LVI as an independent prognostic factor of biochemical recurrence. Eleven (58%) of these studies concluded that LVI was an independent prognostic factor. Significant heterogeneity in the study population, disease characteristics and quality of the studies prevented meta-analysis of the results. In the nine studies in which the magnitude of independent association of LVI with recurrence was reported, it ranged from an odds ratio or relative risk of 1.37 to 4.39.

The existing literature is conflicting and of insufficient homogeneity to definitively establish LVI as an important independent prognostic factor of biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer prostatectomy specimens. Additional adequately powered studies are required to determine the clinical value of reports of LVI involvement. In the meantime, the use of LVI status as an independent prognostic factor for clinical prognostication and medical decision making is not recommended.