PSA-related markers in the detection of prostate cancer and high-grade disease in the contemporary era with extended biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship of total PSA (tPSA), percent free PSA (%fPSA), and complexed PSA (cPSA) with prostate cancer detection and the diagnosis of poorly-differentiated cancers in the contemporary era.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and pathological records of 292 men who met the following inclusion criteria: (1) tPSA 2.5 to 10 ng/ml; (2) initial biopsy only; (3) extended biopsy scheme (>or=10 peripheral zone cores); (4) no previous prostate surgeries. The ability of PSA-related markers to detect cancer was determined by area under the receiver operating characteristics curve analysis (AUC-ROC). Various clinically relevant % fPSA cutoffs and cPSA ranges were analyzed to determine the association with poorly-differentiated cancers.


RESULTS
Cancer was detected in 126 (43%) men, with mean Gleason score of 7. The cancer detection rates for various cutoffs of tPSA, cPSA and % fPSA were very similar. On ROC analysis for cancer diagnosis, the AUCs for tPSA, % fPSA, and cPSA were 0.53, 0.54, and 0.52, respectively. Men with % fPSA <15 were more likely to have poorly-differentiated cancer than those with % fPSA >or=15 (66% vs. 41%, P < 0.005). Similarly, cPSA ranges (2-4, 4.1-6, and >6) were associated with the detection of poorly-differentiated cancers (37%, 57%, and 80% P < 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
With the use of extended prostate sampling in the contemporary screening population, the addition of cPSA and % fPSA does not enhance the diagnostic performance of tPSA. However, the significant association between cPSA and poorly-differentiated cancers suggests that this may be a more useful initial test for prostate cancer screening.
Bratslavsky
Gennady
G
Division of Urology, Albany Medical College and Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
Fisher
Hugh A G
HA
Kaufman
Ronald P
RP
Voskoboynik
Diana
D
Nazeer
Tipu
T
Mian
Badar M
BM
D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen