Biopsy core number represents one of foremost predictors of clinically significant gleason sum upgrading in patients with low-risk prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect the number of biopsy cores taken has on the rate of clinically significant Gleason sum upgrading (GSU) in patients with low-risk prostate cancer.


METHODS
We analyzed the data from 301 patients with low-risk prostate cancer (clinical Stage T1c-T2a, prostate-specific antigen <or=10 ng/mL, and biopsy Gleason sum <or=6) who underwent an extended (>or=10-core) prostate biopsy. Prostate-specific antigen level, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason sum, prostate volume, year of diagnosis, number of biopsy cores taken, and number of positive cores were used as predictors in logistic regression models addressing the rate of clinically significant GSU (defined as upgrading from biopsy Gleason sum 5-6 to radical prostatectomy Gleason sum of >or=7). Regression coefficients were used to estimate the predictive accuracy of individual variables, as well as their combined effect in the prediction of GSU.


RESULTS
The median number of biopsy cores taken was 18. Upgrading was recorded in 96 (31.9%). In men assessed with 10-12 cores, the rate of GSU was 47.9% compared with 23.5% if >18 cores were taken (P < .001). In multivariate analyses, the consideration of the variable defining the number of cores added 9.0% (P < .001) to the ability to predict GSU.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with low-risk prostate cancer assessed with fewer biopsy cores are at a substantially greater risk of GSU. The number of biopsy cores taken represents one of the foremost predictors of GSU and should be taken into consideration during clinical decision-making in patients who are candidates for watchful waiting, active surveillance, or brachytherapy.
Capitanio
Umberto
U
Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, University of Montreal Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Karakiewicz
Pierre I
PI
Valiquette
Luc
L
Perrotte
Paul
P
Jeldres
Claudio
C
Briganti
Alberto
A
Gallina
Andrea
A
Suardi
Nazareno
N
Cestari
Andrea
A
Guazzoni
Giorgio
G
Salonia
Andrea
A
Montorsi
Francesco
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen