Early prostate cancer detection and potential for surgical cure in men with poorly differentiated tumors

Long-term cure after radical prostatectomy has been reported for men with organ-confined poorly differentiated prostate cancer. However, organ-confined rates have been disappointingly low, ranging from 8% to 18% in earlier series, which have consisted primarily of patients not screened for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Recently, it has been our impression that a greater number of patients with poorly differentiated tumors have had organ-confined disease than earlier reports would have led us to predict.

To test this hypothesis, we reviewed the results of surgical staging in men with poorly differentiated tumors (Gleason score 8 to 10) entered into our prospective data base between August 1992 and June 1996.

Of 109 men undergoing operation during the study period, 64 underwent exploration for planned radical prostatectomy with no previous therapy and comprise the study cohort. In 92%, the initial presentation was an elevated PSA level (median 10.8 ng/mL). We observed an organ-confined rate of 30% and found preoperative PSA levels of 10 ng/mL or less to be a significant predictor of organ-confined disease (45% versus 17%, P = 0.016, chi-square test). On preliminary follow-up (median 31 months), 84% of men with organ-confined tumors are free of PSA relapse, similar to that seen in 233 men with organ-confined moderately differentiated tumors undergoing operation during the study period (P = 0.12, log-rank test).

Early prostate cancer detection, as reflected by PSA levels of 10 ng/mL or less, is associated with a higher organ-confined rate in men with poorly differentiated tumors. On preliminary follow-up, PSA relapse rates were lower in men with pathologically confirmed, organ-confined, poorly differentiated disease.