Role of prostate-specific antigen velocity in prediction of final pathologic stage in men with localized prostate cancer

Objectives. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) velocity prior to radical retropubic prostatectomy was evaluated to determine if men with a faster rate of rise in PSA have locally more extensive prostate cancer. Methods. Of 368 men who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy, 82 had two to seven PSA measurements between 1.3 and 6.7 years before prostate biopsy for evaluation of PSA velocity. PSA velocity and the pretreatment parameters of PSA, Gleason score, and T stage were evaluated as predictive parameters of pathologic stage. Results. In men with pathologically organ-confined disease, PSA velocity was 1.12 ng/mL/yr; in non-organ-confined cases, it was 1.88 ng/mL/yr. There was a statistically significant relationship between a Gleason score of 7 and above and the pathologic extent of disease. There was no statistically significant relationship between T stage, the PSA at diagnosis, and PSA velocity with respect to final pathologic stage. Conclusions. PSA velocity is not a strong predictor of pathologic stage in men with localized prostate cancer.