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Updated: Mar 10, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Prostate Cancer Research Through Improved Tissue Sampling and Biobanking
Published on: November 17, 2023
Application of a Prognostic Gleason Grade Grouping System to Assess Distant Prostate Cancer Outcomes
Michael S Leapman1, Janet E Cowan2, Jeffry Simko3
1Department of Urology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Urology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Background:
There is growing enthusiasm for the adoption of a novel grade grouping system to better represent Gleason scores.
Objective:
To evaluate the ability of prognostic Gleason grade groups to predict prostate cancer (PCa)-specific mortality (PCSM) and bone metastatic progression.
Design, Setting, And Participants:
We identified patients with PCa enrolled in the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE) registry across treatment strategies, including conservative and nondefinitive therapy.
Outcome Measurements And Statistical Analysis:
We examined the prognostic ability of Gleason grade groups to predict risk of PCSM and bone metastasis using the Kaplan-Meier method and unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models.
Results And Limitations:
We identified 10529 men with PCa followed for a median of 81 mo (interquartile range 40-127), including 64% in group I (< 3 + 4); 17% in group II (3+4); 9% in group III (4+3); 6% in group IV (4+4); and 4% in group V (≥ 4 + 5). Relative to grade group I, the unadjusted risks of PCSM and bone metastasis were significantly associated with prognostic grade groupings for both biopsy and prostatectomy samples (all p<0.01). Pairwise comparisons within Gleason sums collapsed within grade group V were not significant; however, this analysis was limited by a small representation of men with Gleason pattern ≥ 4 + 5.
Conclusions:
The prognostic grade grouping system is associated with risk of PCSM and metastasis across management strategies, including definitive therapy, conservative management, and primary androgen deprivation.
Patient Summary:
A five-level reporting system for prostate cancer pathology is associated with the risk of late prostate cancer endpoints.
