The value of urinary prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) scores in predicting pathological features at radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE To assess correlations between Prostate CAncer gene 3 (PCA3) levels and pathological features of radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens, which define cancer aggressiveness. PATIENTS AND METHODS After digital rectal examination (DRE), first-catch urine was collected from 160 patients with localized prostate cancer. The PCA3 score was calculated using the Gene Probe Progensa (TM) assay. PCA3 scores were then correlated to the pathological features of the RP specimens. RESULTS PCA3 scores correlated signifi cantly with tumour volume (r = 0.34, P < 0.01). A PCA3 score of > 35 was an independent predictor in a multivariate analysis of a tumour volume > 0.5 mL (odds ratio [OR] 2.7, P = 0.04). It was also an independent predictor of positive surgical margins (OR 2.4, P = 0.04). Receiver-operator characteristic curves indicated PCA3 as the most accurate predictor of positive margins (area under the curve [AUC] 0.62), in addition to a positive biopsy percentage (AUC 0.52). There was also a signifi cant difference in the mean PCA3 score between Gleason score patient groups (6 vs >= 7) and pathological stage groups (pT0/2 vs pT3/4). CONCLUSIONS PCA3 scores correlate to numerous histoprognostic factors, specifically tumour volume and positive surgical margins. These results may have a clinical impact in the near future on the selection of patients eligible to undergo active surveillance and nerve-sparing surgery.