Performance of a Region of Interest-based Algorithm in Diagnosing International Society of Urological Pathology Grade Group ≥2 Prostate Cancer on the MRI-FIRST Database-CAD-FIRST Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Prostate multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows high sensitivity for International Society of Urological Pathology grade group (GG) ≥2 cancers. Many artificial intelligence algorithms have shown promising results in diagnosing clinically significant prostate cancer on MRI. To assess a region-of-interest-based machine-learning algorithm aimed at characterising GG ≥2 prostate cancer on multiparametric MRI. METHODS: The lesions targeted at biopsy in the MRI-FIRST dataset were retrospectively delineated and assessed using a previously developed algorithm. The Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADSv2) score assigned prospectively before biopsy and the algorithm score calculated retrospectively in the regions of interest were compared for diagnosing GG ≥2 cancer, using the areas under the curve (AUCs), and sensitivities and specificities calculated with predefined thresholds (PIRADSv2 scores ≥3 and ≥4; algorithm scores yielding 90% sensitivity in the training database). Ten predefined biopsy strategies were assessed retrospectively. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: After excluding 19 patients, we analysed 232 patients imaged on 16 different scanners; 85 had GG ≥2 cancer at biopsy. At patient level, AUCs of the algorithm and PI-RADSv2 were 77% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 70-82) and 80% (CI: 74-85; p = 0.36), respectively. The algorithm's sensitivity and specificity were 86% (CI: 76-93) and 65% (CI: 54-73), respectively. PI-RADSv2 sensitivities and specificities were 95% (CI: 89-100) and 38% (CI: 26-47), and 89% (CI: 79-96) and 47% (CI: 35-57) for thresholds of ≥3 and ≥4, respectively. Using the PI-RADSv2 score to trigger a biopsy would have avoided 26-34% of biopsies while missing 5-11% of GG ≥2 cancers. Combining prostate-specific antigen density, the PI-RADSv2 and algorithm's scores would have avoided 44-47% of biopsies while missing 6-9% of GG ≥2 cancers. Limitations include the retrospective nature of the study and a lack of PI-RADS version 2.1 assessment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The algorithm provided robust results in the multicentre multiscanner MRI-FIRST database and could help select patients for biopsy. PATIENT SUMMARY: An artificial intelligence-based algorithm aimed at diagnosing aggressive cancers on prostate magnetic resonance imaging showed results similar to expert human assessment in a prospectively acquired multicentre test database.

Transperineal Versus Transrectal Magnetic Resonance Imaging-targeted Biopsies for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Final Results of the Randomized PERFECT trial (CCAFU-PR1).

BACKGROUND: Recent guidelines favor transperineal (TP) prostate biopsies over the transrectal (TR) approach due to a reduced sepsis risk. Yet, evidence from controlled trial comparing both approaches within the MRI-targeted pathway for significant prostate cancer (PCa) detection is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To compare the significant PCa detection rate between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted TR and TP approaches in biopsy-naïve patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this noninferiority controlled trial, we randomized (ratio 1:1) 270 MRI-positive biopsy-naïve patients. INTERVENTION: MRI-targeted TP versus TR biopsy. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSES: The primary outcome was the detection rate of significant PCa (International Society of Urological Pathology [ISUP] ≥2) in MRI-targeted biopsies. Secondary outcomes were any-grade PCa detection, detection on concomitant systematic biopsy, complications, and functional outcomes. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Targeted biopsies identified significant PCa in 47.2% of TP and 54.2% of TR participants (-7%, p = 0.6235). On a per-lesion analysis, posterior lesions yielded higher detection rates via TR (59.0% vs 44.3%, p = 0.0443), while anterior lesions were more frequently detected via TP (40.6% vs 26.5%, p = 0.2228). The overall (any grade) cancer detection rate in targeted biopsies was comparable between groups: 71.3% (TP) versus 64.1% (TR; p = 0.2209) with significantly more ISUP 1 cases detected in the TP arm. Adverse events of grade ≥2 were not different between TP (35.7%) and TR (40.5%, p = 0.4256). One TR patient (0.8%) experienced grade 3 sepsis. Quality of life, and urinary and sexual function, as well as pain scores, were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a comparable overall detection rate for any-grade PCa, noninferiority of TP over TR for MRI-targeted biopsies for significant PCa detection was not demonstrated. However, MRI lesion location influenced biopsy route performance, suggesting that a pragmatic approach based on lesion location might enhance significant PCa assessment. PATIENT SUMMARY: This trial compared the efficacy and safety of two biopsy approaches for prostate cancer diagnosis. Both approaches seem complementary according to the lesion location.

Psoas muscle index is not representative of skeletal muscle index for evaluating cancer sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: A common method for diagnosing sarcopenia involves estimating the muscle mass by computed tomography (CT) via measurements of the cross-sectional muscle area (CSMA) of all muscles at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) level. Recently, single-muscle measurements of the psoas major muscle at L3 have emerged as a surrogate for sarcopenia detection, but its reliability and accuracy remain to be demonstrated. METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study involved 29 healthcare establishments and recruited patients with metastatic cancers. The correlation between skeletal muscle index (SMI = CSMA of all muscles at L3/height2 , cm2 /m2 ) and psoas muscle index (PMI = CSMA of psoas at L3/height2 , cm2 /m2 ) was determined (Pearson's r). ROC curves were prepared based on SMI data from a development population (n = 488) to estimate suitable PMI thresholds. International low SMI cut-offs according to gender were studied for males (<55cm2 /m2 ) and for females (<39 cm2 /m2 ). Youden's index (J) and Cohen's kappa (κ) were calculated to estimate the test's accuracy and reliability. PMI cut-offs were validated in a validation population (n = 243) by estimating the percentage concordance of sarcopenia diagnoses with the SMI thresholds. RESULTS: Seven hundred and sixty-six patients were analysed (mean age 65.0 ± 11.8 years, 50.1% female). Low SMI prevalence was 69.1%. Correlation between the SMI and PMI for the entire population was 0.69 (n = 731, P < 0.01). PMI cut-offs for sarcopenia were estimated in the development population at <6.6cm2 /m2 in males and at <4.8 cm2 /m2 for females. The J and κ coefficients for PMI diagnostic tests were weak. The PMI cut-offs were tested in the validation population where 33.3% of the PMI measurements were dichotomously discordant. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnostic test employing single-muscle measurements of the psoas major muscle as a surrogate for sarcopenia detection was evaluated but found to be unreliable. The CSMA of all muscles must be considered for evaluating cancer sarcopenia at L3.

Systemic treatment with or without ablative therapies in oligometastatic breast cancer: A single institution analysis of patient outcomes.

PURPOSE: Local ablative treatment (LAT) is increasingly combined with systemic therapy in oligometastatic breast cancer (OMBC), without a high-level evidence to support this strategy. We evaluated the addition of LAT to systemic treatment in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were local control (LC) and toxicity. We sought to identify prognostic factors associated with longer OS and PFS. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We identified consecutive patients treated between 2014 and 2018 for synchronous or metachronous OMBC (defined as ≤ 5 metastases). LAT included stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), surgery, cryotherapy and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRA). PFS and OS were calculated, and Cox regression models analyzed for potential predictors of survival. RESULTS: One hundred two patients were included (no-LAT, n = 62; LAT, n = 40). Sixty-four metastases received LAT. Median follow-up was 50.4 months (95% CI [44.4; 53.4]). One patient experienced grade 3 toxicity in the LAT group. Five-year PFS and OS were 34.75% (95% CI [24.42-45.26]) and 63.21% (95% CI [50.69-73.37]) respectively. Patients receiving both LAT and systemic therapy had longer PFS and OS than those with no-LAT ([HR 0.39, p = 0.002]) and ([HR 0.31, p = 0.01]). The use of LAT, HER2-positive status and hormone-receptor positivity were associated with longer PFS and OS whereas liver metastases led to worse PFS. CONCLUSIONS: LAT was associated with improved outcomes in OMBC when added to systemic treatment, without significantly increasing toxicity. The prognostic factors identified to extend PFS and OS may help guide clinicians in selecting patients for LAT.

Managing Discordant Findings Between Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Transrectal Magnetic Resonance Imaging-directed Prostate Biopsy-The Key Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-directed Transperineal Biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Discordant findings between multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and transrectal image-guided biopsies of the prostate (TRUS-P) may result in inadequate risk stratification of localized prostate cancer. OBJECTIVE: To assess transperineal image-guided biopsies of the index target (TPER-IT) in terms of disease reclassification and treatment recommendations. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cases referred for suspicion or treatment of localized prostate cancer were reviewed in a multidisciplinary setting, and discordance was characterized into three scenarios: type I-negative biopsies or International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade 1 cancer in Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) ≥4 index target (IT); type II-negative biopsies or ISUP grade 1 cancer in anterior IT; and type III-<3 mm stretch of cancer in PI-RADS ≥3 IT. Discordant findings were characterized in 132/558 (23.7%) patients after TRUS-P. Of these patients, 102 received reassessment TPER-IT. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary objective was to report changes in treatment recommendations after TPER-IT. Therefore, cores obtained by primary TRUS-P and TPER-IT were analyzed in terms of cancer detection, ISUP grade, and Cambridge Prognostic Group classification using descriptive statistics. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: TPER-IT biopsies that consisted of fewer cores than the initial TRUS-P (seven vs 14, p < 0.0001) resulted in more cancer tissue materials for analysis (56 vs 42.5 mm, p = 0.0003). As a result, 40% of patients initially considered for follow-up (12/30) and 49% for active surveillance (30/61) were reassigned after TPER-IT to surgery or intensity-modulated radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Nonconcordance between pathology and imaging was observed in a significant proportion of patients receiving TRUS-P. TPER-IT better informed the presence and grade of cancer, resulting in a significant impact on treatment recommendations. A multidisciplinary review of mpMRI and TRUS-P findings and reassessment TPER-IT in type I-II discordances is recommended. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report, patients with suspicious imaging of the prostate, but no or well-differentiated cancer on transrectal image-guided -biopsies, were offered transperineal image-guided biopsies for reassessment. We found that a large share of these had a more aggressive cancer than initially suspected. We conclude that discordant results warrant reassessment transperineal image-guided biopsies as these may impact disease risk classification and treatment recommendations.

Diagnosis, biology and epidemiology of oligometastatic breast cancer.

Does oligometastatic breast cancer (OMBC) deserve a dedicated treatment? Although some authors recommend multidisciplinary management of OMBC with a curative intent, there is no evidence proving this strategy beneficial in the absence of a randomized trial. The existing literature sheds little light on OMBC. Incidence is unknown; data available are either obsolete or biased; there is no consensus on the definition of OMBC and metastatic sites, nor on necessary imaging techniques. However, certain proposals merit consideration. Knowledge of eventual specific OMBC biological characteristics is limited to circulating tumor cell (CTC) counts. Given the data available for other cancers, studies on microRNAs (miRNAs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and genomic alterations should be developed Finally, safe and effective therapies do exist, but results of randomized trials will not be available for many years. Prospective observational cohort studies need to be implemented.

MRI Characteristics Accurately Predict Biochemical Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: After radical prostatectomy (RP), biochemical recurrence (BCR) is associated with an increased risk of developing distant metastasis and prostate cancer specific and overall mortality. METHODS: The two-centre study included 521 consecutive patients undergoing RP for positive pre-biopsy magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathologically proven prostate cancer (PCa), after which a combination scheme of fusion-targeted biopsy (TB) and systematic biopsy was performed. We assessed correlations between MRI characteristics, International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group in TB, and outcomes after RP. We developed an imaging-based risk classification for improving BCR prediction. RESULTS: Higher Prostate Imaging and Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score (p = 0.013), higher ISUP grade group in TB, and extracapsular extension (ECE) on the MRI were significantly associated with more advanced disease (pTstage), higher ISUP grade group (p = 0.001), regional lymph nodes metastasis in RP specimens (p < 0.001), and an increased risk of recurrence after surgery. A positive margin status was significantly associated with ECE-MRI (p < 0.001). Our imaging-based classification included ECE on MRI, ISUP grade group on TB, and PI-RADS accurately predicted BCR (AUC = 0.714, p < 0.001). This classification had more improved area under the curve (AUC) than the standard d'Amico classification in our population. Validation was performed in a two-centre cohort. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, PI-RADS score, MRI stage, and ISUP grade group in MRI-TB were significantly predictive for disease features and recurrence after RP. Imaging-based risk classification integrating these three factors competed with d'Amico classification for predicting BCR.

Intercenter reproducibility of software-based fusion biopsies for grade group prediction when targeting suspicious MRI lesions.

PURPOSE: To assess the intercenter reproducibility of software-based fusion targeted biopsy (TB) for grade-group assessment and pretherapeutic evaluation of highly suspicious MRI lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, were included 380 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) after prostate cancer diagnosis and a prebiopsy MRI showing Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) score 4 or 5 lesions. All patients underwent systematic biopsies (SB) combined with software-based fusion TB in the 2 centers. Biopsies were only performed by expert urologists or radiologists in a contemporary time frame. The primary endpoint was the center difference of concordance/upgrading rates between biopsy and RP specimens. RESULTS: Pathological features on biopsy and RP specimens were significantly different among centers with more unfavourable disease in center 1. The rate of TB upgrading was 33.6% in center 1 vs. 35.4% (P = 0.860) in center 2. Grading concordance was also comparable among centers (50.0% vs. 47.1%) as well as the SB upgrading rate. Regression analysis did not find any baseline characteristics (Age, prostate-specific antigen, MRI lesions, center) predictive for TB upgrading. These findings were achieved by using fewer TB per lesion in center 1 (2.3 vs. 5.0, P < 0.001), at the expense of more SB cores (14.4 vs. 8.5, P < 0.001). The influence of MRI characteristics (lesion size and number, PIRADS score) on upgrading rates was consistent among centers. CONCLUSIONS: Software-based fusion TB technique leads to comparable outcomes in terms of grade group prediction accuracy in PIRADS 4 to 5 lesions, insignificant between centers, in spite of different non imaging-based aggressiveness features.