Use of the Prostate Health Index for the Detection of Aggressive Prostate Cancer at Radical Prostatectomy

In current study, we compared the accuracy of the PSA isoform p2PSA and its derivatives, the percentage of p2PSA to free PSA (%p2PSA) and the Prostate Health Index (PHI) in the detection of prostate cancer (PC) characteristics at the final pathology with respect to reference standards. Materials and Methods: This was an observational prospective study evaluating 43 consecutive PC patients treated with laparoscopic/robotic radical prostatectomy (RP). Logistic regression models were fitted to test the predictors of pT3 stage, pathologic Gleason score ≥ 8 or Gleason score upgrading, margin status, lymph node invasion, and the presence of high-risk disease (pT3 disease and/or Gleason score ≥ 8 and/or positive lymph node). The comparative base model included tPSA, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason score, and percentage of positive core. Results: Seventeen patients (39.5%) were affected by pT3 disease or had a pathologic Gleason score ≥ 8; positive margins were detected in 12 patients (27.9%), lymph node invasion was found in 2 patients (4.7%), and 15 patients (34.8%) harbored high-risk disease. In the univariate analysis, p2PSA, %p2PSA, and PHI were significant predictors of pT3 disease, pathologic Gleason score, and the presence of high-risk disease (all p < 0.05), whereas only PHI was an independent predictor of pT3 disease, margin status, and presence of high-risk disease, increasing the accuracy of a base multivariable model by 6.3% (p < 0.05) and 4.2% (p < 0.05) for the prediction of pT3 and high-risk disease, respectively. Conclusions: p2PSA and its derivatives, primarily PHI, were significant predictors of unfavorable PC characteristics as detected at the final pathology, thus improving the clinical performance of standard prognostic factors for aggressive disease.