Oncologic Outcomes of Total Length Gleason Pattern 4 on Biopsy in Men with Grade Group 2 Prostate Cancer.

Gleason Score 7 prostate cancer comprises a wide spectrum of disease risk, and precise sub-stratification is paramount. Our group previously demonstrated that the total length of Gleason pattern 4 (GP4) is a better predictor than %GP4 for adverse pathologic outcomes at radical prostatectomy. We aimed to determine the association of GP4 length on prostate biopsy with post-prostatectomy oncologic outcomes.

We compared four GP4 quantification methods including: maximum %GP4 in any single core, overall %GP4, total length GP4 (mm) across all cores, and length GP4 (mm) in the highest volume core, for prediction of biochemical recurrence-free survival after radical prostatectomy using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression.

A total of 457 men with Grade Group 2 prostate cancer on biopsy subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy. The 3-year biochemical recurrence-free survival probability was 85% (95% CI 81-88%). On multivariable analysis, all four GP4 quantification methods were associated with BCR -maximum %GP4 (HR=1.30; 95% CI 1.07-1.59; p=0.009), overall %GP4 (HR=1.61; 95% CI 1.21-2.15; p=0.001), total length GP4 (HR=2.48; 95% CI 1.36-4.52; p=0.003), and length GP4 in highest core (HR=1.32; 95% CI 1.11-1.57; p=0.001). However, we were unable to identify differences between methods of quantification with a relatively low event rate.

These findings support further studies on GP4 quantification in addition to the ratio of GP3 and GP4 to classify prostate cancer risk. Research should also be conducted on whether GP4 quantification could provide a surrogate endpoint for disease progression for trials in active surveillance.

The Journal of urology. 2022 Apr 01 [Epub ahead of print]

Marlon Perera, Melissa J Assel, Nicole E Benfante, Andrew J Vickers, Victor E Reuter, Sigrid Carlsson, Vincent Laudone, Karim A Touijer, James A Eastham, Peter T Scardino, Samson W Fine, Behfar Ehdaie

Urology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York., Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.