Utility of PSA Density in Predicting Upgraded Gleason Score in Men on Active Surveillance With Negative MRI

Urology. 2021 Sep:155:96-100. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2021.05.035. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether PSA density (PSAD), can sub-stratify risk of biopsy upgrade among men on active surveillance (AS) with normal baseline MRI.

Methods: We identified a cohort of patients with low and favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer on AS at two large academic centers from February 2013 - December 2017. Analysis was restricted to patients with GG1 cancer on initial biopsy and a negative baseline or surveillance mpMRI, defined by the absence of PI-RADS 2 or greater lesions. We assessed ability of PSA, prostate volume and PSAD to predict upgrading on confirmatory biopsy.

Results: We identified 98 patients on AS with negative baseline or surveillance mpMRI. Median PSA at diagnosis was 5.8 ng/mL and median PSAD was 0.08 ng/mL/mL. Fourteen men (14.3%) experienced Gleason upgrade at confirmatory biopsy. Patients who were upgraded had higher PSA (7.9 vs 5.4 ng/mL, P = .04), PSAD (0.20 vs 0.07 ng/mL/mL, P < .001), and lower prostate volumes (42.5 vs 65.8 mL, P = .01). On multivariate analysis, PSAD was associated with pathologic upgrade (OR 2.23 per 0.1-increase, P = .007). A PSAD cutoff at 0.08 generated a NPV of 98% for detection of pathologic upgrade.

Conclusion: PSAD reliably discriminated the risk of Gleason upgrade at confirmatory biopsy among men with low-grade prostate cancer with negative MRI. PSAD could be clinically implemented to reduce the intensity of surveillance for a subset of patients.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Cohort Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Prostate / diagnostic imaging
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Watchful Waiting

Substances

  • Prostate-Specific Antigen