To assess the upstaging/upgrading rates of low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) according to the biopsy scheme used (systematic (SB), targeted biopsies (TB), or both) in the setting of positive pre-biopsy MRI.

We included 143 consecutive men fulfilling the Toronto University active surveillance (AS) criteria who underwent a pre-biopsy positive MRI, a combination of SB and software-based fusion TB, and a radical prostatectomy, in two expert centres. The primary endpoints were the pathological upgrading and upstaging rates. Overall unfavourable disease (OUD) was defined by any pT3-4 and/or pN1 and/or ≥ GG 3.

Using TB alone would have missed 21.7% of cancers including 16.7% of ≥ GG 3. The use of TB was significantly associated with a lower risk of ≥ Grade Group (GG) 3 disease (p < 0.006) in RP specimens. Combination of SB and TB lowered this risk by 39%, compared with TB alone. The biopsy scheme did not affect the upstaging rates which were substantial even in case of combination scheme (from 37 to 46%). OUD was detected in approximately 50% of cases. The presence of high grade on TB was the only independent predictive factor for both ≥ GG 2 (p = 0.015) and ≥ GG 3 (p = 0.023) in RP specimens.

High grade on TB biopsies represented the major predictor of upgrading. Combination of SB and TB better defined the sub-group of patients having the lowest risk of reclassification, compared with TB or SB alone. The risk of non-organ-confined disease remained high, and could not be accurately predicted by MRI or systematic/targeted biopsy features.

World journal of urology. 2019 Jun 13 [Epub ahead of print]

Guillaume Ploussard, Jean-Baptiste Beauval, Marine Lesourd, Christophe Almeras, Jacques Assoun, Richard Aziza, Jean-Romain Gautier, Guillaume Loison, Daniel Portalez, Ambroise Salin, Christophe Tollon, Michel Soulié, Bernard Malavaud, Mathieu Roumiguié

Department of Urology, La Croix du Sud Hospital, IUCT-O, Toulouse, 52, chemin de Ribaute, 31130, Quint Fonsegrives, France. ., Department of Urology, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France., Department of Urology, Institut Universitaire du Cancer Toulouse, Oncopole, Toulouse, France., Department of Urology, La Croix du Sud Hospital, IUCT-O, Toulouse, 52, chemin de Ribaute, 31130, Quint Fonsegrives, France., Department of Radiology, La Croix du Sud Hospital, Quint Fonsegrives, France., Department of Radiology, Institut Universitaire du Cancer Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France.

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