title: Evaluation of serum prostate-specific antigen velocity after radical prostatectomy to distinguish local recurrence from distant metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values are most useful for prediction of disease recurrence after surgery. It is unknown whether a detectable PSA level after surgery indicates a local recurrence potentially benefiting from pelvic irradiation or distant metastases requiring hormonal treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed postoperative rate of change of serum PSA levels as a predictor of local versus distant disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Between 1982 and 1991, 1,058 men underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer and follow-up consisted of determining serum PSA levels and digital rectal examinations. Clinical follow-up of 542 men for four or more years and 78 men for eight or more years yielded ten-year actuarial disease recurrence rates of 4 percent for local recurrence, 8 percent for distant metastases, and 23 percent for an isolated elevation of serum PSA level only. Fifty-one patients with isolated elevations of PSA levels only were followed expectantly until they were diagnosed with either local or distant metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A linear mixed effects regression analysis was used to model these data. Using these models, the time to a serum PSA level of 0.5 ng/mL, the PSA level one year following surgery, pathologic stage, Gleason sum, and the rate of change of PSA (PSA velocity [PSAV]) were tested as predictors of local versus distant metastases. A combination of PSAV, pathologic stage, and Gleason grade best distinguished local from distant metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that PSAV in men with an isolated elevation of PSA levels following radical prostatectomy might aid in clinical decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Partin
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pound
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Clemens
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen