Developing a follow-up strategy for patients with PSA ranging from 4 to 10 ng/ml via a new model to reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop a follow-up strategy based on the new model to reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies in patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) ranging from 4 to 10 ng/ml.

METHODS

A total of 436 patients with PSA ranging from 4 to 10 ng/ml who had undergone transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy were evaluated during the first stage. Age, PSA, free PSA (fPSA), digital rectal examination (DRE) findings, ultrasonic hypoechoic mass, ultrasonic microcalcifications, prostate volume (PV) and PSA density (PSAD) were considered as predictive factors. A multiple logistic regression analysis involving a backward elimination selection procedure was applied to select independent predictors. After a comprehensive analysis of all results, we developed a new model to assess the risk of prostate cancer and an effective follow-up strategy.

RESULTS

Age, PSA, PV, fPSA, rate of abnormal DRE findings and rate of hypoechoic masses detected by TRUS were included in our model. A significantly greater area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was obtained in our model when compared with using PSA alone (0.782 vs. 0.566). Patients were grouped according to the value of prostate cancer risk (PCaR). In the second stage of our study, patients with PCaR>0.52 were recommended to undergo biopsies immediately while the rest of the patients continued close follow-up observation. Compared with the first stage, the detection rate of PCa in the second stage was significantly increased (33.0% vs 21.1%, p = 0.012). There was no significant difference between the two stages in distribution of the Gleason score (p = 0.808).

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a follow-up strategy based on the new model, which reduced unnecessary prostate biopsies without delaying patients' diagnoses and treatments.