title: Nomogram predicting the probability of early recurrence after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We developed a nomogram predicting the probability of early biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy because early recurrence predisposes to distant metastasis and prostate cancer related mortality. Identifying patients at risk for early recurrence may improve prognosis as early institution of adjuvant therapy may reduce the risk of progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1992 to December 2005, 2,911 patients underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. Cox regression models addressing biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy were used to identify significant predictors. Age, prostate specific antigen, pathological Gleason sum, surgical margin, extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node invasion were considered. A nomogram predicting the probability of biochemical recurrence-free survival within 2 years after radical prostatectomy was developed. Data from an independent center were used for external validation (2,875).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both cohorts combined during the first 2 years 11.0% (639) of all patients experienced relapse which accounted for 58.5% of all observed biochemical recurrence. In the development cohort except for age all covariates represented significant predictors of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Pathological Gleason sum 7 or greater, seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node invasion were the most powerful predictors of biochemical recurrence. The accuracy (c-index) of the nomogram predicting biochemical recurrence-free survival within 2 years after radical prostatectomy was 0.82 in the external validation cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two-thirds of all instances of relapse occur during the first 2 years after radical prostatectomy. Those patients can be highly accurately identified with our nomogram. They might benefit the most from adjuvant treatment and could be the ideal candidates for adjuvant treatment trials.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada. walzj@marseille.fnclcc.fr
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walz
authors.forename: Felix K-H
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Alwyn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reuther
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graefen
authors.forename: Hartwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huland
authors.forename: Pierre I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Karakiewicz
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049451:Nomograms; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors