Cribriform pattern and intraductal carcinoma of the prostate can have a clinicopathological impact, regardless of their percentage and/or number of cores

Abstract

Cribriform pattern and intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) are widely accepted as poor prognostic factors in prostate cancer. However, it remains unclear to what extent the presence of these morphological features in prostate biopsy specimens, as diagnosed by hematoxylin-eosin-stained specimens only, affects the clinicopathological impact. In this study, we summarized the characteristics of the cribriform pattern and IDC-P in 850 prostate biopsy cases. The results showed a statistically significant increase in the incidence of cribriform pattern and IDC-P as grade group (GG) increased (especially in cases ≥ GG4, Chi-square test P < 0.001). The independent risk factors for cribriform pattern and IDC-P in biopsy specimens in the multivariate logistic regression analysis were the former GG, presence of IDC-P, lesion length of the highest GG core, latter GG, presence of the cribriform pattern, number of biopsies obtained, and number of highest GG core. Overall, 125 cases in which radical prostatectomy was conducted after biopsy were selected for further analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using biopsy and surgical specimens confirmed that the presence of the cribriform pattern and IDC-P in biopsy specimens were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis (odds ratios [95% confidence interval] were 6.54 [1.15-37.05] for the cribriform pattern and 23.71 [1.74-322.42] for IDC-P). The presence of the cribriform pattern and/or IDC-P in a biopsy specimen was a significant factor, even if only partially present, indicating lymph node metastasis. However, further validation is required to predict poor prognostic factors more accurately.