Serial prostate specific antigen measurements and progression in untreated confined (stages T0 to 3NxM0, grades 1 to 3) carcinoma of the prostate.
OBJECTIVE
The contribution of serial prostate specific antigen (PSA) determinations was studied to obtain better understanding of the natural history of clinically confined prostate carcinoma.


METHODS
Serial PSA determinations in 29 patients with untreated confined prostate carcinoma were correlated to the clinical course for a mean of 39 months.


RESULTS
Disease progressed locally in 13 patients after a mean of 31 months. Metastatic progression was not observed. Neither grade, stage, PSA changes nor initial PSA showed significant differences with respect to interval of progression between patients with and without progression.


CONCLUSIONS
PSA does not parallel clinical progression in patients selected for watchful waiting.
Bangma
C H
CH
Department of Urology, Erasmus University and Academic Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
HOP WCJ
Schröder
F H
FH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen