TITLE:
Nomograms as Predictive Tools for Prostate Cancer Patients Who Had Radical Prostatectomy
AUTHORS:
Saadettin Eskicorapci, Cenk Acar, Zafer Sinik, Zafer Aybek, Michael Kattanb
KEYWORDS:
Nomogram, Prediction, Prostate Cancer, Prognosis, Radical Prostatectomy
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Urology,
Vol.1 No.3,
August
9,
2011
ABSTRACT: Prostate cancer is the most common solid cancer for men in the developed countries. Radical prostatectomy is the most preferred treatment modality for localized prostate cancer. Individual decision making is necessary for each patient because of the diversities in the biological characteristics of the prostate cancer. The prediction of pathologic stage, prognosis and cancer specific mortality after curative therapy and quality of life issues are essential for counseling and tailoring treatment in possible candidates of radical prostatectomy. Several studies demonstrated that nomograms are the best predictive tools regarding the other prediction models. For better understanding the nomograms in radical prostatectomy patients, they should be classified according to categories for their use. PSA, Gleason grade and clinical stage are seemed to be the most important prognostic factors in patients who are candidates for radical prostatectomy. Additionally, the pathological parameters are remarkable prognostic criteria. The Partin tables for predicting the radical prostatectomy pathology and Kattan nomograms for predicting the biochemical recurrences free survival rates are the most frequently used nomograms. Today, these nomograms should not replace the clinical decisions but they give significant information for the patients’ prognosis, treatment selection and follow up.