Telomere DNA content in prostate biopsies predicts early rise in prostate-specific antigen after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether measurement of telomere DNA content (TC) in prostate biopsy tissue predicts prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence in men after undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.


METHODS
Slot blot titration assay was used to quantitate TC in archived diagnostic prostate needle biopsy specimens for subjects (n = 103) diagnosed with prostate cancer and who subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy between 1993 and 1997. TC was compared to the clinical outcome measure; PSA recurrence, defined as an increase in PSA > or = 0.2 ng/mL on 2 or more consecutive measurements post-prostatectomy, was observed retrospectively, for a mean follow-up period of 114 months (range, 1-165).


RESULTS
In the cohort, 46 subjects had a PSA recurrence. In a univariate Cox proportional hazards model, low TC (< 0.3 of standard) demonstrated a significant risk for PSA recurrence (HR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.02-3.69, P = .04). In a subset analysis of men with biopsy Gleason sum < or = 6 (n = 63; 25 recurrences), a univariate Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that low TC had a greater risk of PSA recurrence (HR = 4.53; 95% CI: 2.00-10.2, P < .01). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, low TC was also significantly associated with PSA recurrence in this subset after controlling for preoperative PSA levels (HR = 6.62; 95% CI: 2.69-16.3, P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Low TC measured in prostate biopsy tissue predicts early likelihood of post-prostatectomy PSA recurrence in a retrospective analysis, and in men with biopsy Gleason sum < or = 6 disease it is also independent of preoperative PSA level.
Treat
Eric G
EG
Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Heaphy
Christopher M
CM
Massie
Larry W
LW
Bisoffi
Marco
M
Smith
Anthony Y
AY
Davis
Michael S
MS
Griffith
Jeffrey K
JK
D000368:Aged; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors
D004247:DNA; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen