Prognosis of prostate cancer with initial prostate-specific antigen >1,000 ng/mL at diagnosis

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer patients with surprisingly high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) are encountered clinically. However, descriptions of this group of patients are extremely rare in the published literature. This study reports treatment outcome and long-term prognosis for this group of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2007 and December 2012, 2,064 patients with PCa diagnosed at a tertiary medical center were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 90 PCa cases were identified with initial PSA (iPSA) >1,000 ng/mL at diagnosis. A retrospective study was conducted in this cohort, with comparison among stratified patient age groups, PSA, treatment options, and overall survival. RESULTS: The mean PSA at PCa diagnosis in this cohort was 3,323 ng/mL (1,003–23,126, median: 2,050 ng/mL). Most patients were in the age group 65–79 years (55/90, 61%). Males older than 80 years had a poor prognosis (P<0.001). Forty-six patients (51%) underwent orchiectomy with a median follow-up period of 16.2 (1.3–72.7) months, compared to 44 patients treated with medical castration and a median follow-up of 9.1 (0.3–70.5) months. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed survival benefit from treatment with orchiectomy (P<0.001). PSA reduction >90% of iPSA following primary androgen deprivation therapy (reaching true nadir) could be a predictor of longer survival (P<0.001). Cox regression revealed the hazard ratio (HR) of variables were age (HR: 4.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45–14.37, P=0.009), reaching true nadir (HR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03–0.58, P=0.008), and the treatment option with orchiectomy (HR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.65–0.76, P=0.016). CONCLUSION: Age ≥80 years indicated poor overall survival in PCa patients with iPSA >1,000 ng/mL. Reaching a true nadir of PSA following primary androgen deprivation therapy could be a predictor of longer survival. Bilateral orchiectomy is recommended for this group of patients.