Statin use and risk of prostate cancer and high-grade prostate cancer: results from the REDUCE study.

BACKGROUND: Statins are associated with lower PSA levels. As PSA is the primary method for prostate cancer (PC) screening, this confounds any associations between statins and risk of being diagnosed with PC. Thus, we examined the association between statins and cancer and high-grade cancer in REDUCE, where biopsies were largely PSA-independent. METHODS: Post-hoc secondary analysis of REDUCE, which was a prospective multinational randomized controlled trial of dutasteride vs placebo for 4 years among men aged 50-75 years with PSA of 2.5-10.0 ng ml(-1) and a negative biopsy at baseline, and included PSA-independent biopsies mandated at 2- and 4-years. Analyses were limited to men who underwent at least one biopsy while under study (n=6729). The association between baseline statin use and risk of overall, high-grade (Gleason ≥ 7) or low-grade (Gleason ≤ 6) PC vs no cancer was examined using multinomial logistic regression adjusting for age, race, baseline PSA, prostate volume, rectal examination findings, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, smoking, alcohol intake and treatment arm. RESULTS: Of 6729 men who had at least one biopsy while on study, 1174 (17.5%) were taking a statin at baseline. Men taking statins were older, had lower PSA levels, higher BMI values and lower serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels, though differences, were slight. Statin use was not associated with overall PC diagnosis (multivariable OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.89-1.24, P=0.54). When stratified by grade, statin use was not associated with low-grade (multivariable OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.85-1.25, P=0.75) or high-grade cancer (multivariable OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.85-1.45, P=0.46). The major limitation is the inclusion of only men with a negative baseline biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Among men with a negative baseline biopsy and follow-up biopsies largely independent of PSA, statins were not associated with cancer or high-grade cancer.

Sexual bother and function after radical prostatectomy: predictors of sexual bother recovery in men despite persistent post-operative sexual dysfunction.

Changes in sexual bother (SB) following radical prostatectomy (RP) negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of prostate cancer survivors. However, post-operative SB tends to be neglected whereas sexual function (SF) is thoroughly assessed in clinical practice and few studies have focused on and evaluated patients' SB. We retrospectively reviewed 2 345 consecutive patients who underwent RP between 2001 and 2009 at a single institution. SF and SB were assessed using Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaires. We stratified our cohort by SB recovery and post-operative SF status, including a subset of men who recovered SB despite persistent post-RP sexual dysfunction. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors for men who have SB recovery. Of 319 eligible patients, 133 (41.7%) recovered their SB at a mean of 20 months after RP. Among the 133 men who demonstrated SB recovery, 109 had post-operative sexual dysfunction. Patients with SB recovery despite post-RP sexual dysfunction were more likely to be old (p = 0.004), to have higher clinical T stage (p < 0.001), to have more non-nerve-sparing RP (p < 0.001), to have lower pre-operative EPIC-SF/SB scores (p < 0.001), to have more extracapsular extension (p = 0.031) and to be PDE5i non-users after surgery (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, predictors for this subset were lower comorbidity (OR 0.62, p = 0.043), higher clinical cancer stage (OR 2.35, p = 0.026), worse pre-operative SF (OR 0.98, p = 0.010), SB (OR 0.98, p < 0.010) and no PDE5i use (OR 0.37, p = 0.002); age was not related (OR 0.99, p = 0.555). As SB can influence patients' overall HRQoL, expectations of SB recovery should be provided to patients in the same way that SF recovery is presented. This study may help clinicians to discuss SB with patients and assess their potential for SB recovery following RP.

African-American men with low-grade prostate cancer have higher tumor burdens: results from the Duke Prostate Center.

BACKGROUND: To investigate racial differences in tumor burden (cancer volume, cancer percentage and cancer to PSA ratios) in a large cohort of men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS: Demographic, clinical and pathological data of patients undergoing RP between 1993-2010 were reviewed and compared between African-American (AA) and non African-American (nAA) men. Further assessments of pathological tumor burden (estimated tumor volume, percent of cancer involvement, and estimated tumor volume/PSA ratios) were performed across Gleason score categories. RESULTS: Of 4157 patients in the analysis, 604 (14.5%) were AA. Overall, AA patients were younger, had higher Gleason scores, PSA levels and incidence of palpable disease (all P < 0.001). Despite comparable prostate weights (39.4 vs. 39.6 g), AA men had higher percent cancer involvement and estimated tumor volume (all P < 0.001) but similar estimated tumor volume/PSA ratios ( P> 0.05). When stratified by Gleason scores, prostate weights were comparable; however, estimated tumor volume, percent cancer involvement and estimated tumor volume/PSA ratios were higher in AA men with low grade (≤ 6) prostate cancer (PCa), similar in intermediate grade (7-8) and lower in high grade (9-10) PCa compared to nAA men. CONCLUSIONS: In this large series, AA patients had higher disease burden (estimated tumor volume, percent cancer involvement, estimated tumor volume/PSA ratios) compared to nAA but this association was especially pronounced in low grade (Gleason ≤ 6) cancers. These data depict a complex picture of relations between race and tumor burden across the spectrum of PCa aggressiveness. Further investigation is warranted to understand the mechanisms of racial disparities in PCa.

Race is associated with discontinuation of active surveillance of low-risk prostate cancer: results from the Duke Prostate Center.

BACKGROUND: Active surveillance (AS) is increasingly utilized in low-risk prostate cancer (PC) patients. Although black race has traditionally been associated with adverse PC characteristics, its prognostic value for patients managed with AS is unclear. METHODS: A retrospective review identified 145 patients managed with AS at the Duke Prostate Center from January 2005 to September 2011. Race was patient-reported and categorized as black, white or other. Inclusion criteria included PSA <10 ng ml(-1), Gleason sum ≤ 6, and ≤ 33% of cores with cancer on diagnostic biopsy. The primary outcome was discontinuation of AS for treatment due to PC progression. In men who proceeded to treatment after AS, the trigger for treatment, follow-up PSA and biopsy characteristics were analyzed. Time to treatment was analyzed with univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and also stratified by race. RESULTS: In our AS cohort, 105 (72%) were white, 32 (22%) black and 8 (6%) another race. Median follow-up was 23.0 months, during which 23% percent of men proceeded to treatment. The demographic, clinical and follow-up characteristics did not differ by race. There was a trend toward more uninsured black men (15.6% black, 3.8% white, 0% other, P = 0.06). Black race was associated with treatment (hazard ratio (HR) 2.93, P = 0.01) as compared with white. When the analysis was adjusted for socioeconomic and clinical parameters at the time of PC diagnosis, black race remained the sole predictor of treatment (HR 3.08, P = 0.01). Among men undergoing treatment, the trigger was less often patient driven in black men (8 black, 33 white, 67% other, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Black race was associated with discontinuation of AS for treatment. This relationship persisted when adjusted for socioeconomic and clinical parameters.

Prostate cancer risk in men with prostate and breast cancer family history: results from the REDUCE study (R1).

BACKGROUND: To what degree the associations between PCa risk and family history of prostate cancer (PCa) and/or breast cancer (BCa) are attributable to screening biases is unclear. We examined these questions within the REDUCE study, where biopsies were largely independent of prostate specific antigen (PSA) minimizing screening biases. METHODS: Data were from REDUCE, which tested dutasteride 0.5 mg daily for PCa risk reduction in men with PSA 2.5-10.0 ng mL(-1) and a negative prestudy biopsy. Among men undergoing at least one on-study biopsy with complete data (n = 6415; 78.1%), the association between family history and PCa risk was tested using multivariate logistic regression adjusting for clinicodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: A family history of PCa alone was associated with increased PCa diagnosis (OR: 1.47, 95%CI: 1.22-1.77). In North America, PCa family history was not related to PCa diagnosis (OR: 1.02, 95%CI: 0.73-1.44), whereas outside North America, PCa family history was significantly related to diagnosis (OR: 1.72, 95%CI: 1.38-2.15) (P-interaction = 0.01). A family history of both PCa and BCa (OR: 2.54, 95%CI: 1.72-3.75) but not BCa alone (OR: 1.04, 95%CI: 0.84-1.29) was associated with increased PCa risk versus no family history and irrespective of geographical region. CONCLUSIONS: In REDUCE, PCa family history was significantly related to PCa diagnosis, although only for men outside North America. The presence of both PCa and BCa family history significantly increased risk versus PCa family history alone, irrespective of geographical region. Ultimately, our observations may support the need for changes in how we address family history in terms of both risk of PCa diagnosis and general risk stratification.

Predictive value of digital rectal examination for prostate cancer detection is modified by obesity.

The American Cancer Society's updated screening guidelines for prostate cancer (CaP) render digital rectal examination (DRE) optional. We investigated the impact of DRE on CaP detection among obese men. Data from 2794 men undergoing initial prostate biopsy at three centers were analyzed to assess CaP risk attributed to abnormal DRE across body mass index (BMI) categories. Predictive accuracies of a combination of PSA, age, race, center and biopsy year including or excluding DRE findings were compared by areas under the receiver-operating characteristics curves. In all cohorts, obese men were less likely to have abnormal DREs diagnosed than non-obese men. As BMI category increased, abnormal DREs became stronger predictors for overall CaP in individual (P-trends ≤ 0.05) and combined (P-trend<0.001) cohorts, and for high-grade CaP in the Italian (P-trend=0.03) and combined (P-trend=0.03) cohorts. DRE inclusion improved the predictive accuracy for overall and high-grade CaP detection among all obese men (P ≤ 0.032) but not normal-weight men (P ≥ 0.198). DRE inclusion also near-significantly improved overall CaP detection in obese men with PSA<4 ng ml(-1) (P=0.081). In conclusion, the predictive value of DRE is dependent on obesity and is significantly higher among obese men than normal-weight men.

Prostate biopsies from black men express higher levels of aggressive disease biomarkers than prostate biopsies from white men.

A wide array of biomarkers is being investigated as predictors of prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and recurrence. We compared the expression of a small panel of these biomarkers as a function of race among men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). Prostate needle biopsy specimens from 131 patients treated with RP at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center were hematoxylin and eosin stained and immunofluorescent assayed for α-methylacyl CoA racemase (AMACR), androgen receptor (AR) and Ki67. Proprietary image analysis was used to identify six biometric feature combinations that were significantly associated with progression in a previous study. Analysis of population characteristics, stratified by race, was performed using rank-sum and χ(2)-test. The effect of race on expression of these biomarker profiles was analyzed using multivariate linear regression. All six biomarker features were expressed at higher levels in black men than white men, with Norm AR (P=0.006) and Ki67 (P=0.02) attaining statistical significance. On multivariate analysis, all markers were expressed at higher levels in black men, with Norm AR (P=0.001), Ki67 (P=0.007) and Ki67/lum (P=0.022) reaching significance. These data support the hypothesis that PCa may be biologically more aggressive among black men.

The influence of hepatic function on prostate cancer outcomes after radical prostatectomy.

Prostate growth is dependent on circulating androgens, which can be influenced by hepatic function. Liver disease has been suggested to influence prostate cancer (CaP) incidence. However, the effect of hepatic function on CaP outcomes has not been investigated. A total of 1181 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) between 1988 and 2008 at four Veterans Affairs hospitals that comprise the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital database and had available liver function test (LFT) data were included in the study. Independent associations of LFTs with unfavorable pathological features and biochemical recurrence were determined using logistic and Cox regression analyses. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels were elevated in 8.2 and 4.4% of patients, respectively. After controlling for CaP features, logistic regression revealed a significant association between SGOT levels and pathological Gleason sum > or =7(4+3) cancer (odds ratio=2.12; 95% confidence interval=1.11-4.05; P=0.02). Mild hepatic dysfunction was significantly associated with adverse CaP grade, but was not significantly associated with other adverse pathological features or biochemical recurrence in a cohort of men undergoing RP. The effect of moderate-to-severe liver disease on disease outcomes in CaP patients managed non-surgically remains to be investigated.

Obese men have higher-grade and larger tumors: an analysis of the duke prostate center database.

Obesity is associated with increased risk of positive surgical margins and prostate specific antigen (PSA) recurrence among men undergoing radical prostatectomy. To what degree positive margins contribute to poorer outcome is unclear. Thus, we sought to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and more objective measures of tumor aggressiveness, tumor grade and size. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 2302 patients treated with radical prostatectomy at the Duke Prostate Center from 1988-2007. Tumor volume was calculated by multiplying prostate weight by percent of specimen involved with cancer. Associations between BMI and tumor volume and high-grade disease (Gleason >or=4+3) independent of pre-operative clinical characteristics of age, race, PSA, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason sum, and year of surgery were assessed using linear and logistic regression, respectively. Mean and median BMI among all subjects was 28.1 and 27.6 kg m(-2), respectively. Increased BMI was significantly associated with younger age (P<0.001), black race (P<0.001), more recent year of surgery (P<0.001), and positive surgical margins (P<0.001). After adjusting for multiple clinical pre-operative characteristics, higher BMI was associated with a greater percent of the prostate involved with cancer (P=0.003), increased tumor volume (P<0.001), and high-grade disease (P=0.007). Men with a BMI >or=35 kg m(2) had nearly 40% larger mean tumor volumes than normal weight men (5.1 versus 3.7 cc), after adjustment for multiple clinical characteristics. In this study, obese men undergoing radical prostatectomy had higher-grade and larger tumors, providing further evidence that obese men undergoing radical prostatectomy have more aggressive prostate cancers.

Preoperative predictors of blood loss at the time of radical prostatectomy: results from the SEARCH database.

The literature contains conflicting data on preoperative predictors of estimated blood loss (EBL) at radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). We sought to examine preoperative predictors of EBL at the time of RRP among patients from the SEARCH database to lend clarity to this issue. A total of 1154 patients were identified in the SEARCH database who underwent RRP between 1988 and 2008 and had EBL data available. We examined multiple preoperative factors for their ability to predict EBL using multivariate linear regression analysis. Median EBL was 900 ml (s.d. 1032). The 25th and 75th percentile for EBL were 600 and 1500 ml, respectively. EBL increased significantly with increasing body mass index (BMI) and increasing prostate size and decreased with more recent year of RRP (all P<0.001). The mean-adjusted EBL in normal-weight men (BMI<25 kg/m(2)) was 807 ml compared to 1067 ml among severely obese men (BM I>or=35 kg/m(2)). Predicted EBL for men with the smallest prostates (<20 g) was 721 ml, compared to 1326 ml for men with prostates >or=100 g. Finally, statistically significant differences between centers were observed, with mean-adjusted EBL ranging from 844 to 1094 ml. Both BMI and prostate size are predictors of increased EBL. Prostate size is of particular note, as a nearly twofold increased EBL was seen from the smallest (<20 g) to the largest prostates (>or=100 g). Over time, average EBL significantly decreased. Finally, significant differences in EBL were observed between centers. Patients with multiple risk factors should be forewarned they are at increased risk for higher EBL, which may translate into a greater need for blood transfusion.