Prostate-Specific Antigen Decline Rate in the First Month Is a Timely Predictive Factor for Biochemical Recurrence After Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Abstract

Objectives: We attempt to assess whether prostate-specific antigen decline rate in the first month (PSADR1M = postoperative PSA in the first month/initial PSA) acts as a predictor for biochemical recurrence (BCR) and to evaluate other preoperative and postoperative variables that may predict BCR following robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RARP). Method: Based on the D’Amico risk classification system, 777 patients who underwent RARP for localized prostate cancer were classified into a low/intermediate-risk group (n = 435) and a high-risk group (n = 342). The predictors of BCR were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The area under the curve (AUC) and optimal cutoff values of PSADR1M were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Kaplan–Meier curves for biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) rates were stratified by optimal cutoff values of PSADR1M. Results: Effective predictors of BCR in the entire cohort included pT3 (p < 0.001), pathological Grade Group (pGG3, pGG4+5) compared to pGG1+2 (p < 0.001, p = 0.017), positive surgical margins (PSM) (p < 0.001), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) (p = 0.006), and PSADR1M ≥ 0.62% (p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that PSADR1M as a predictor for BCR had an AUC of 0.762 for the whole cohort, and 0.821 for the high-risk group, respectively. The optimal cutoff values of PSADR1M were 0.62% in the whole cohort, and 0.68% in high-risk group. Conclusions: As an effective predictor of BCR, PSADR1M can assess the tumor status of prostate cancer patients intuitively and effectively after RARP, especially in the high-risk group.