Predictors of Biochemical Failure Following Radical Prostatectomy With Positive Surgical Margins

Background: Radical prostatectomy is an established treatment modality for prostate cancer. Following radical prostatectomy, patients with positive surgical margins have increased risk of biochemical, and subsequently, clinical relapse. However, not all patients with positive margins will suffer disease recurrence. The aim of this study was to assess the factors that might predict the higher risk of disease recurrence in prostate cancer patients with positive surgical margins. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the factors that might predict the higher risk of disease recurrence in prostate cancer patients with positive surgical margins. Patients and Methods: From March 2009 till October 2013, seventy seven patients who had pathologically proven positive surgical margins after radical prostatectomy were followed and serum PSA levels were measured every three months. In case of biochemical failure, they were treated with salvage radiotherapy. Apart from pre-op and serial post-op PSA levels, number of positive margins based on anatomical classification of prostate, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, Gleason score and T-stage of the cancer were documented accurately. Results: Fifty one patients (66.2%) had a single positive margin, while 26 (33.8%) had multiple positive margins. Among all 77 patients, 67 (87%) had biochemical failure. Cox regression analysis showed that among various parameters, only pre-op PSA > 20ng/ml and having more than one positive margins were able to predict the likelihood of biochemical failure in the patients; while Gleason score, perineural invasion and lymphovascular invasion did not seem to have an important role in this regard. Conclusions: Among patients with positive surgical margins after radical prostatectomy, those with pre-op PSA > 20ng/ml or more than one positive margins are at greater risk of biochemical or/and clinical failure. In these patients, starting salvage radiotherapy after surgery might be considered as a logic option.