Repeat prostate‐specific antigen ( PSA ) test before prostate biopsy: a 20% decrease in PSA values is associated with a reduced risk of cancer and particularly of high‐grade cancer

Objectives To analyse the impact of repeating a prostate‐specific antigen ( PSA ) level assessment on prostate biopsy decision in a cohort of men undergoing prostate biopsy. Patients and Methods From 2015 onwards, we consecutively enrolled, at a single institution in Italy, men undergoing 12‐core transrectal ultrasonography‐guided prostate needle biopsy. Indication for prostate biopsy was a PSA level of ≥4 ng/mL. Demographic, clinical, and histopathological data were collected. The PSA level was tested at enrolment ( PSA 1 ) and 4 weeks later on the day before biopsy ( PSA 2 ). Variations in PSA level were defined as: stable PSA 2 within a 10% variation, stable PSA 2 within a 20% variation, PSA 2 decreased by ≥10%, PSA 2 decreased by ≥20%, PSA 2 increased by ≥10%, PSA 2 increased by ≥20%, and PSA 2 <4 ng/mL. Percentages and multinomial logistic regression were used to analyse biopsy outcomes. High‐grade cancer was defined as Grade group ≥3. Results Overall, 331 patients were enrolled. Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 153/331 (46%) patients and of them 80/153 (52%) had high‐grade disease. When compared to the rest of the population, patients with a stable PSA within 20% variation had a higher risk of prostate cancer (odds ratio [OR] 1.80, P < 0.05) and high grade disease (OR 2.56, P < 0.05), patients with a PSA2 decreased by ≥20% had a lower risk of prostate cancer (OR 0.37, P < 0.05) and high grade disease (OR 0.13, P < 0.05), whilst patients with a PSA2 increased by ≥10% had an increased risk of high‐grade prostate cancer (OR 1.93, P < 0.05). When PSA returned to normal values (<4 ng/mL) both risks of prostate cancer and high‐grade disease were reduced ( OR 0.33 and 0.01, respectively, P = 0.001). Conclusion In a cohort of Italian men undergoing prostate biopsy, a reduction of ≥20% in PSA levels significantly reduced the risk of high‐grade prostate cancer. Further multicentre studies should validate our present results.