Early detection of prostate cancer with low PSA cut-off values leads to significant stage migration in radical prostatectomy specimens

BACKGROUND. The introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) contributed to a shift in tumor stage at diagnosis in patients with prostate cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PSA screening with low PSA cut-off values on mean total and percent-free PSA levels in patients with prostate cancers at the time of diagnosis as well as on pathologic stage and mean Gleason scores in positive biopsies and radical prostatectomy specimens. METHODS. Data of 875 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancers between 1996 and 2001 were analyzed. Patients were stratified into six groups according to the year of biopsy. Annual changes in total and percent-free PSA values, in Gleason scores of biopsies and radical prostatectomy specimens, and in pathologic stages of radical prostatectomy specimens were assessed. RESULTS. Mean PSA of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer decreased from 13.11 ng/ml (percent-free PSA: 11.89%) in 1996 to 7.33 ng/ml (percent-free PSA: 12.58%) in 2001 (P < 0.05). The percentage of organ-confined prostatectomy specimens increased from 64.3% in 1996 to 81.5% in 2001 (P < 0.05). However, mean Gleason scores increased from 5.23 to 6.33 over the 6 years (P < 0.05). The percentage of patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancers and PSA values below 4 ng/ml increased from 14.0% in 1996 to 39.2% in 2001. In the group with PSA values below 4 ng/ml organ-confined cancers were found in 80.0-95.2% of patients. CONCLUSIONS. PSA screening with low cut-off levels has led to a significant reduction of mean baseline PSA levels in prostate cancer patients and to a significant increase in the percentage of organ-confined radical prostatectomy specimens, whereas mean Gleason scores have remained relatively constant. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.