title: Residual disease after radical surgery or radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Clinical significance and therapeutic implications.
abstract: Radical treatment for prostate cancer aims at complete eradication of tumor. This review of published data makes clear that the goal is less frequently achieved than commonly presumed. Following radical prostatectomy extracapsular disease, carrying a significant risk of local recurrence, is found from 12-68% of the time depending on the clinical tumor stage. Local regrowth is associated with a poorer prognosis. A substantial proportion of patients whose prostate glands are rebiopsied more than 18 months after radiation therapy also have residual tumor. This again predicts for clinical relapse. The likelihood of a positive rebiopsy is dependent on original tumor size and current prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. Strategies for managing residual disease are critically discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zietman
authors.forename: W U
authors.initials: WU
authors.lastname: Shipley
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Willett
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000209:etiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen