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BACKGROUND Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time is relying on an exponential kinetic pattern. This pattern has never been validated in the setting of intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD). Objective is to analyze the prognostic significance for PCa of recurrent patterns in PSA kinetics in patients undergoing IAD. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on 377 patients treated with IAD. On-treatment period (ONTP) consisted of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist injections combined with oral androgen receptor antagonist. Off-treatment period (OFTP) began when PSA was lower than 4 ng/ml. ONTP resumed when PSA was higher than 20 ng/ml. PSA values of each OFTP were fitted with three basic patterns: exponential (PSA(t) = λ.eαt), linear (PSA(t) = a.t), and power law (PSA(t) = a.tc). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression model analyzed predictive factors for oncologic outcomes. RESULTS Only 45% of the analyzed OFTPs were exponential. Linear and power law PSA kinetics represented 7.5% and 7.7%, respectively. Remaining fraction of analyzed OFTPs (40%) exhibited complex kinetics. Exponential PSA kinetics during the first OFTP was significantly associated with worse oncologic outcome. The estimated 10-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) was 46% for exponential versus 80% for nonexponential PSA kinetics patterns. The corresponding 10-year probability of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was 69% and 31% for the two patterns, respectively. Limitations include retrospective design and mixed indications for IAD. CONCLUSION PSA kinetic fitted with exponential pattern in approximately half of the OFTPs. First OFTP exponential PSA kinetic was associated with a shorter time to CRPC and worse CSS. Prostate 76:13–21, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Objectives To assess oncological (biochemical and histological recurrence) and functional (urinary and potency) outcomes in patients with unilateral low-risk organ-confined prostate cancer (PCa) treated with focal cryoablation (FC). Patients and Methods From January 2009 to March 2012, patients with localized PCa who refused active surveillance were assigned to a FC protocol. This was a prospective, single-arm cohort study. Inclusion criteria were: unilateral disease, clinical stage T1c to T2a, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration

Objective To assess the prognostic significance of positive surgical margins (PSMs) after minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP) in interaction with other established prognosis factors. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analysed data prospectively collected between 1998 and 2010 for 4628 consecutive patients who underwent MIRP for clinically localized prostate cancer. The impact of PSM on biochemical recurrence (BCR), defined as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >0.2 ng/mL, was evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Estimates of BCR-free survival were generated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared among groups using the log-rank test. Results The median follow-up was 55 months. On multivariable analysis, PSM was an independent prognostic factor for BCR (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.14 for PSMs vs negative surgical margins (NSMs); 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86–2.45; P < 0.001). Other independent predictors for BCR were preoperative PSA, date of surgery, pT stage, Gleason score and lymph node involvement (all P < 0.001). The 5-year BCR-free probability was 80.6% (95% CI: 79–82.2) for NSMs vs 51% (95% CI: 47–55) for PSMs (log-rank P < 0.001). Patients with pT2 and pT3a PSMs had a similar prognosis to those with pT3a and pT3b NSMs, respectively (log-rank P ≥ 0.05). Conclusion A PSM after MIRP is associated with 2.14-fold increased risk of BCR. In patients with pT2 and pT3a disease, a PSM could be considered a pathological upstaging.

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE • To review and compare the rate, location and size of positive surgical margins (PSMs) after pure laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP). PATIENTS AND METHODS • The study comprised 200 patients who underwent RALP and 200 patients who underwent LRP up to January 2008. • We compared patient age, body mass index, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA), preoperative stage and grade, prostate size, pathological stage and grade and neurovascular bundle preservation, as well as PSM rate, size and location. • Continuous and categorical data were compared using Student’s t-test and Pearson’s chi-squared test. • Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify preoperative and intraoperative predictors of PSMs. RESULTS • Although the PSM rate was similar between the two groups (LRP: 12% vs RALP: 13.5%; P= 0.76), location and size were not. PSMs after LRP were mostly at the apex (58.3%; P= 0.038), while most PSMs after RALP were posterolateral ([PL] 48%; P= 0.046). • In addition, the median margin size after RALP was significantly smaller than after LRP (RALP: 2 mm vs LRP: 3.5 mm; P= 0.041). • In univariate and multivariate analyses, tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and preoperative PSA were the only independent preoperative predictors of PSMs (P= 0.044 and P= 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION • The PSM risk is dependent on TNM stage and preoperative PSA and not the surgical technique, when comparing LRP with RALP.

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of age and comorbidity on short-term complications, long-term continence and oncological outcome after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) for localized prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS In all, 2048 consecutive men underwent LRP for localized prostate cancer in one institution. Comorbidity was assessed using the Charlson index. Short-term postoperative complications, transfusion rate, duration of hospital stay, long-term continence and oncological outcome were analysed by age and comorbidity classes. RESULTS Of the 2048 men, 297 were aged ≥70 years and 281 had a Charlson index of >0 (mainly diabetes 31%, chronic pulmonary disease 26%, prior other nonmetastatic cancer 16%, prior myocardial infarction 12%). Compared with younger men, senior men had significantly higher pathological stages and tumor grades. Of those 297 men aged ≥70 years, 90 (30.3%) developed biochemical relapse, none died from prostate cancer and five (1.7%) died from another cause over a median follow-up of 5 years. The occurrence and severity of short-term postoperative complications were more strongly related to comorbidity than chronological age. Multivariate analysis with stepwise regression confirmed that most important predictors of short-term postoperative complications were a Charlson index of ≥2, prostate weight of >80 g, obesity and age of ≥70 years. Postoperative continence significantly declined with age (ranging from 87% in men aged