Wang, Michael K.

ABSTRACT Background Prior studies in the pre‐MRI era suggest that patients with NCCN Intermediate and High Risk Grade Group 1 prostate cancer (GG1 PCa) on biopsy have increased risk for adverse oncologic outcomes. However, prostate MRI has altered patient selection for biopsy and improved prostate sampling. Herein, we examined factors associated with adverse pathologic features (APF) at radical prostatectomy (RP) and biochemical recurrence (BCR) among patients with GG1 in the MRI era. Methods A prospectively maintained institutional prostate cancer registry identified patients with GG1 PCa on biopsy who underwent RP from 2000 to 2023, stratified by MRI use. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox regression identified factors associated with APF at RP (GG3‐5, ≥ pT3a, or pN1) and BCR free survival (two consecutive PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/mL), respectively. Results Among patients without MRI ( n = 6732), NCCN risk group was associated with APF, BCR, and distant metastasis. Among 302 patients with GG1 and pre‐operative MRI, NCCN risk group was associated with neither APF nor BCR. Age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.14, p = 0.01), PIRADS ( p = 0.01), and % core positivity (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.03, p = 0.04) were associated with APF. Age (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13, p = 0.03), APF (HR 4.36, 95% CI 2.14–8.86, p < 0.001), and positive margins (HR 4.88, 95% CI 2.39–9.98, p < 0.001) were associated with BCR. Conclusions Prior to prostate MRI, NCCN risk groups offered meaningful prognostication among patients with GG1 PCa. However, the utility of NCCN risk groups for GG1 in the MRI era appears limited. Contemporary risk stratification for GG1 should focus on biopsy and MRI characteristics rather than NCCN criteria.

ABSTRACT Background While guidelines state that patients with NCCN favorable intermediate risk (FIR) prostate cancer (PCa) may consider active surveillance (AS), there is a relative lack of longer term follow up data informing AS inclusion criteria of patients with Grade Group (GG) 2 prostate cancer in the MRI era. Here we evaluate patient outcomes from a MRI‐screened AS‐eligible cohort of FIR GG2 PCa receiving radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods Patients with prostate MRI, NCCN FIR GG2 PCa (PSA < 10 ng/mL, ≤ cT2a, < 50% core positivity), and no prior treatments who underwent RP from 2015 to 2023 were included from a prospectively maintained prostatectomy registry. Primary outcomes were adverse pathologic features (APF) at RP (GG3‐5, ≥ pT3a, or pN1) and biochemical recurrence (BCR). Logistic regression and Cox regression identified factors associated with APF at RP and time to BCR, respectively. Results Of 522 patients, 110 (21%) had APF at RP and 45 (9%) developed BCR with median follow up 2.4 years (IQR 1.3–2.8). On multivariable logistic regression, % Gleason pattern 4 (%GP4, %GP4 > 25% OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.28–3.58, p = 0.004) was independently associated with APF. On multivariable Cox regression for time to BCR, PSAD (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.09, p < 0.001) and positive surgical margins (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.09–3.78, p = 0.03) were independently associated with BCR. PIRADS, % core positivity, and specimen involvement were associated with neither APF nor BCR. Conclusions % Gleason pattern 4 > 25% and PSAD are the primary factors associated with adverse outcomes and should be considered for patients with FIR GG2 PCa considering active surveillance. PIRADS and measures of biopsy cancer volume were not associated with APF or BCR. These results may inform patient selection for active surveillance among patients with FIR GG2 PCa.