The effect of surgical margin features on oncologic outcomes after radical prostatectomy

Abstract Background Evaluation of the effect of additional surgical margin parameters on biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with positive surgical margins (PSM) after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods Clinicopathological and outcome data from 91 patients with PSM who underwent RP were retrospectively analyzed. Additional surgical margin parameters (PSM length, highest Gleason grade (GG), localization of PSM (apex, bladder neck, or posterolateral), and unifocality or multifocality) were examined and their effects on BCR were investigated. Results Fifty patients with PSM were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 63.6 ± 6.9 years. The laparoscopic approach was undertaken more frequently, used for 36 (72%) patients compared to open RP performed in 14 cases (28%). The median follow-up time was 57.0 months (24.0–125.0 months). BCR developed in 14 (28%) patients during the follow-up period. Although mean BCR-free survival was shorter in cases with PSM length ≥ 3 mm compared to those with PSM length < 3 mm (90.4 vs. 108.2 months), multifocality compared to those with unifocality (62 vs. 97.4 months) and surgical margin GG ≥ 4 compared to those with GG 3 (87.4 vs. 97.5 months), the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.251, p = 0.509 and p = 0.317, respectively). In addition, none of the PSM localizations affected BCR-free survival (p = 0.619). In univariate Cox regression analysis, PSM length affected BCR at a level close to statistical significance (HR = 1.16; p = 0.052). In multiple Cox regression analysis, main tumor Gleason score was determined to be a risk factor associated with BCR (HR = 4.75; p = 0.041). Conclusions Although BCR-free survival was shortened in the presence of poor prognostic features (multifocal PSM, PSM length ≥ 3 mm, surgical margin GG ≥ 4) at the surgical margin, none of these parameters affected BCR at a statistically significant level. Gleason score of the main tumor was found to be a better prognostic factor for BCR.