Quantification of prostate cancer Gleason pattern 4 to predict oncological outcome

To determine if quantifying Gleason pattern 4 (GP4) is superior to Grade Group (GG) in predicting any and distant metastatic recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer, and compare various GP4 quantification methods for predicting metastatic recurrence using preoperative targeted biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.

We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent MRI-guided biopsies and RP from 2009 to 2018. Patients with GG 2-4 without GP5 disease on biopsy and/or RP specimen were included. The predictors compared were biopsy GG, percentage of GP4 in biopsy cores, millimetres of GP4 in biopsy cores, and volume of GP4 based on MRI lesion volume. These methods were also compared to the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA), International Staging Collaboration for Cancer of the Prostate (STAR-CAP), European Association of Urology (EAU), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk classifications. The C-index for each model was calculated to evaluate discrimination performance.

A total of 446 patients were analysed, with a median follow-up of 6.9 years for patients without an event; 46 patients developed any metastasis. For any metastatic recurrence based on biopsy findings, the CAPRA score (C-Index = 0.72) showed the highest discrimination among risk scores, surpassing biopsy GG (C-Index = 0.70), but was outperformed by percentage GP4 (C-Index = 0.74), millimetres GP4 (C-Index = 0.77), and volume of GP4 (C-Index = 0.80).

For patients with GG 2-4 prostate cancer containing GP4, preoperative GP4 volume estimation using MRI and targeted biopsy outperforms Gleason scoring classification and standard risk scores in predicting any and distant metastatic recurrence. Further research is warranted on the best methods to quantify GP4 before incorporation in treatment decision-making.