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Purpose

Both the performance characteristics of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography and insurance approval improves with increasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, causing some physicians to delay post-radical prostatectomy salvage radiation therapy (sRT) after PSA failure. Yet, it is unknown for men with at most one high-risk factor (i.e., pT3/4 or prostatectomy [p] Gleason score 8-10) whether a PSA level exists above which initiating sRT is associated with increased all-cause mortality (ACM)-risk and was investigated.

Methods

Using a multinational database of 25,551 patients with pT2-4N0 or NXM0 prostate cancer, multivariable Cox regression analysis evaluated whether an association with a significant increase in ACM-risk existed when sRT was delivered above a prespecified PSA level beginning at 0.10 ng/mL and in 0.05 increments up to 0.50 ng/mL versus at or below that level. The model was adjusted for age at and year of radical prostatectomy, established prostate cancer prognostic factors, institution, and the time-dependent use of androgen deprivation therapy.

Results

After a median follow-up of 6.00 years, patients who received sRT at a PSA level >0.25 ng/mL had a significantly higher ACM-risk (AHR 1.49, 95% CI 1.11-2.00, P=0.008) compared with men who received sRT when the PSA was ≤0.25 mg/mL. This elevated ACM-risk remained significant for all PSA cutpoints up to 0.50 ng/mL but was not significant at PSA cutpoint values below 0.25 ng/mL.

Conclusion

Among patients with at most one high-risk factor, initiating sRT above a PSA level of 0.25 ng/mL was associated with increased ACM-risk.

Read an interview about the study here.