The Initial Application of MRI Based Prostate Volume-Adjusted Prostate-Specific Antigen In The Diagonosis of MRI-Positive Prostate Cancer Patients

Purpose: To identify the value of prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) and prostate-specific antigen density of the transition zone (PSADTZ) in improving the sensitivity and specificity of the prostate multiparameter magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI), for the purpose of predicting prostate cancer (PCa) and grade reclassification in men with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) between 4 and 20 ng/mL to reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies. Patients and Methods: Between 2018 and 2020, we retrospectively identified 283 consecutive men in Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital who had mp-MRI and PSA test within 3 months before prostate biopsies. Total prostate volume (TPV) and transition zone volume (TZV) were measured on mp-MRI. PSA, PSAD, and PSADTZ were compared to improve the sensitivity and specificity of positive biopsy cores and pathological stage by univariate analyses and through the receiver operating curve (ROC). We were focused primarily on the MRI-positive patients with PSA levels of 4-20ng/ml who were most likely subjected to unnecessary repeated prostate biopsies. Results: Of the 283 patients, 138 (48.8%) had PCa and in 145 (51.2%) a benign prostate disease was diagnosed. PSA, PSAD, and PSADTZ were significantly related to biopsy, and equally able to predict higher pathological stage. The receiver operating curve (AUC) for predicting the presence of PCa in all patients was 58.06 for PSA, 72.13 for PSAD and 78.28 for PSADTZ. In addition, the AUC for predicting higher pathological stage in PCa patients was 65.71 for PSA, 65.46 for PSAD and 69.81 for PSADTZ. For 228 MRI-positive patients, the AUC for predicting the presence of PCa was 61.31 for PSA, 74.00 for PSAD and 80.13 for PSADTZ. No difference among the PSA, PSAD, and PSADTZ was found in 55 MRI-negative patients. Conclusion: The determination of PSADTZ had higher diagnostic accuracy for PCa than that based on PSA or PSAD. For MRI-positive patients, PSADTZ promote a more effective and simple method for PCa detection, and may be useful for decreasing the burden of surveillance prostate biopsies.

Endogenous testosterone density as ratio of endogenous testosterone levels on prostate volume predicts tumor upgrading in low-risk prostate cancer

Objectives To evaluate preoperative endogenous testosterone (ET) density (ETD), defined as the ratio of ET on prostate volume, and tumor upgrading risk in low-risk prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and methods From November 2014 to December 2019, 172 low-risk patients had ET (nmol/L) measured. ETD, prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) and the ratio of percentage of biopsy positive cores (BPC) to prostate volume (PV), defined as BPC density (BPCD), were evaluated. Associations with tumor upgrading in the surgical specimen were assessed by statistical methods. Results Overall, 121 patients (70.3%) had tumor upgrading, which was predicted by BPCD (odds ratio, OR = 4.640; 95% CI 1.903–11.316; p = 0.001; overall accuracy: 70.3%). On multivariate analysis, tumor upgrading and clinical density factors related to each other for BPCD being predicted by ETD (regression coefficient, b = 0.032; 95% CI 0.021–0.043; p < 0.0001), PSAD (b = 1.962; 95% CI 1.067–2.586; p < 0.0001) and tumor upgrading (b = 0.259; 95% CI 0.112–0.406; p = 0.001). According to the model, as BPCD increased, ETD and PSAD increased, but the increase was higher for upgraded cases who showed either higher tumor load but significantly lower mean levels of either ET or PSA. Conclusions As ETD increased, higher tumor loads were assessed; however, in upgraded patients, lower ET was also detected. ETD might stratify low-risk disease for tumor upgrading features.

The Role of PSA Density among PI-RADS v2.1 Categories to Avoid an Unnecessary Transition Zone Biopsy in Patients with PSA 4-20 ng/mL

Objective. To evaluate the role of prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) in different Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1) categories to avoid an unnecessary biopsy in transition zone (TZ) patients with PSA ranging from 4 to 20 ng/mL. Materials and Methods. In this retrospective and single-center study, 333 biopsy-naïve patients with TZ lesions who underwent biparametric magnetic resonance imaging (bp-MRI) were analyzed from January 2016 to March 2020. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of clinically significant prostate cancer (cs-PCa). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare diagnostic performance. Results. PI-RADS v2.1 and PSAD were the independent predictors for TZ cs-PCa in patients with PSA 4-20 ng/mL. 0.9% (2/213), 10.0% (7/70), and 48.0% (24/50) of PI-RADS v2.1 score 1-2, 3, and 4-5 had TZ cs-PCa. However, for patients with PI-RADS v2.1 score 1-2, there were no obvious changes in the detection of TZ cs-PCa (0.8% (1/129), 1.3% (1/75), and 0.0% (0/9)) combining with different PSAD stratification ( PSAD < 0.15 , 0.15-0.29, and ≥0.30 ng/mL/mL). For patients with PI-RADS v2.1 score ≥ 3 , the TZ cs-PCa detection rate significantly varied according to different PSAD stratification. A PI-RADS v2.1 score 3 and PSAD < 0.15 and 0.15-0.29 ng/mL/mL had 8.6% (3/35) and 3.7% (1/27) of TZ cs-PCa, while a PI-RADS v2.1 score 3 and PSAD ≥ 0.30 ng / mL / mL had a higher TZ cs-PCa detection rate (37.5% (3/8)). A PI-RADS v2.1 score 4-5 and PSAD <0.15 ng/mL/mL had no cs-PCa (0.0% (0/9)). In contrast, a PI-RADS v2.1 score 4-5 and PSAD 0.15-0.29 and ≥0.30 ng/mL/mL had the highest cs-PCa detection rate (50.0% (10/20), 66.7% (14/21)). It showed the highest AUC in the combination of PI-RADS v2.1 and PSAD (0.910), which was significantly higher than PI-RADS v2.1 (0.889, P = 0.039 ) or PSAD (0.803, P < 0.001 ). Conclusions. For TZ patients with PSA 4-20 ng/mL, PI-RADS v2.1 score ≤ 2 can avoid an unnecessary biopsy regardless of PSAD. PI-RADS v2.1 score ≥ 3 may avoid an unnecessary biopsy after combining with PSAD. PI-RADS v2.1 combined with PSAD could significantly improve diagnostic performance.

Endogenous testosterone density predicts unfavorable disease at final pathology in intermediate risk prostate cancer

Objective To test the hypothesis that endogenous testosterone (ET) density could be associated with tumor load (TL) in patients with intermediate risk (IR) prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and methods Endogenous testosterone density (ETD, ratio between ET and prostate volume [PV]), biopsy positive cores density (BPCD, the ratio between the number of positive cores and PV) and prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD, ratio between total PSA and PV) were retrospectively evaluated on a prospectively collected data on 430 patients with IR PCa submitted to radical prostatectomy (RP). Tumor load (TL) was measured as the percentage of prostatic volume occupied by cancer at final pathology. Unfavorable disease (UD) was defined as tumor upgrading (ISUP grading group 4, 5) and/or upstaging (pT3a or 3b) in prostate specimens. Associations were assessed by the logistic regression and linear regression models. Results Overall, UD, which was detected in 122 out of 430 IR patients (28.4%), was predicted by BPCD (odd ratio, OR = 1.356; 95% CI 1.048–1.754; p = 0.020) with a sensitivity 98.4% and overall accuracy 71.9%. On multivariate analysis, BPCD was independently predicted by PSAD (regression coefficient, b = 1.549; 95% CI 0.936–2.162; p < 0.0001), ETD (b = 0.032; 95% CI 0.023–0.040; p < 0.0001) and TL (b = 0.009; 95% CI 0.005–0.014; p < 0.0001). As BPCD increased, ETD and ET levels increased accordingly, but patients with BPCD > 1.0%/mL had significantly lower ET levels. Conclusions As ETD increased, BPCD and TL increased, accordingly; furthermore, patients with lower ET levels were more likely to have occult UD. The influence of tumor load, and unfavorable disease on ET and ETD needs to be addressed by further studies.

Predicting the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer with a Scoring System Based on Novel Biomarkers

Objective: To predict prostate cancer using novel biomarker ratios and create a predictive scoring system.Materials and Methods: Data of a total of 703 patients who consulted Urology Department of Selayang Hospital between January 2013 and December 2017 and underwent prostate biopsy were screened retrospectively. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, prostate volumes (PV), neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Prostate specific antigen density (PSAD)and histopathology were evaluated. Results: Ages ranged from43-89 years, divided into 2 groups as per biopsy results; positive for prostate cancer (n=290, 41.3%) and negative for malignancy (n=413; 58.7%). Intergroup comparative evaluations were performed. Independent variables with p<0.001 in the univariate analysis were age, DRE, PV, NLR, PSAD.A scoring system was modelled using NLR <0.9, PSAD >0.4, Age >70 and DRE. A score of 2 or more predicted prostate cancer with a Sensitivity of 83.8% and Specificityof 86.4%Conclusions: NLR is shown to be good predictor for prostate cancer its usage in this scoring system affords more disease specificity as compared to PSA alone.