title: Predictive models before and after radical prostatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the last 10 years, several user-friendly predictive tools have been developed to help clinicians in decision-making process before and after radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the most known and used predictive models in pre-operative and post-operative setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured, comprehensive literature review was performed using data retrieved from recent review articles, original articles, and abstracts. Used keywords were predictive models, nomograms, look-up tables, classification and regression-tree analysis, artificial neural networks, and radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A great amount of predictive models has been provided in oncology setting: nomograms, look-up tables, classification and regression-tree analysis, propensity scores, risk-group stratification models, and artificial neural networks. Pre-surgery predictive tools offer the opportunity of getting the most evidence-based and individualized selection of available treatment alternatives. Post-operative predictive models usually provide higher accuracy relative to the pre-surgery models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decisions and treatment should be tailored to each individual patient and to the specific characteristics of patients. A number of available predictive models represent a tool to provide accurate prediction of cancer natural history and to improve patients' care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hospital San Raffaele, University Vita-Salute, Milan, Italy. capitanio.umberto@hsr.it
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Capitanio
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallina
authors.forename: Nazareno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suardi
authors.forename: Pierre I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Karakiewicz
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montorsi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scattoni
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net; D049451:Nomograms; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results