Proteins in the prostate gland can help predict disease recurrence after surgery

This study examined if the collections of proteins in the prostate can predict prostate surgery outcomes. Authors found that protein analysis was a significant predictor of disease recurrence and metastasis (cancer spread) after surgery.

Prostate surgery is a first-line treatment option for prostate cancer. It has been estimated that up to 30% of men experience disease recurrence after surgery. Additional therapy, such as radiation therapy, is often required. Identifying reliable predictors of disease recurrence after surgery is important to help select men that may benefit from additional therapy early on. Standard risk factors include blood tests, Gleason score (indicating the aggressiveness of cancer cells), and tumor stage. It has been suggested that the proteins found in the prostate gland may help predict prostate surgery outcomes.

The aim of this study was to examine whether proteins in the prostate glands can predict disease recurrence after prostate surgery.

The records of 288 men treated with prostate surgery were analyzed. 282 of the men had undergone a biopsy (tissue sample) of the prostate gland before treatment. The authors recorded the collection of proteins found in the biopsy results. These were then used to classify patients into those at low, intermediate, or at high risk of recurrence. Patients were followed for an average of 68.5 months.

55% of patients had a Gleason score of 6 or less (indicating less aggressive cancer cells). The rest had a Gleason score of 7 or higher. Based on standard guidelines, 30% of men were at low risk, 47% were at intermediate risk, and 5% were at high risk.

Disease recurrence (based on blood tests) was observed in 47 men (16.3%) during the study period. 5 men (1.7%) showed signs of cancer spread (metastases).

Men grouped into the intermediate-risk group based on protein analysis were 2.34 times more likely to experience recurrence compared to those in the low-risk group. This was 4.65 for men in the high-risk group. When the protein analysis results were added to standard risk factors, the accuracy in predicting recurrence increased significantly compared to standard risk factors alone.

The authors concluded that protein analysis based on prostate biopsy results can predict disease recurrence after surgery. Protein analysis may be useful at the diagnostic stage to identify prostate cancer that is likely more biologically aggressive.