Validation of the prostate health index in a predictive model of prostate cancer

Actas Urol Esp (Engl Ed). 2018 Jan-Feb;42(1):25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.acuro.2017.06.003. Epub 2017 Aug 12.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Objectives: To validate and analyse the clinical usefulness of a predictive model of prostate cancer that incorporates the biomarker «[-2] pro prostate-specific antigen» using the prostate health index (PHI) in decision making for performing prostate biopsies.

Material and methods: We isolated serum from 197 men with an indication for prostate biopsy to determine the total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA), the free PSA fraction (fPSA) and the [-2] proPSA (p2PSA). The PHI was calculated as p2PSA/fPSA×√tPSA. We created 2 predictive models that incorporated clinical variables along with tPSA or PHI. The performance of PHI was assessed with a discriminant analysis using receiver operating characteristic curves, internal calibration and decision curves.

Results: The areas under the curve for the tPSA and PHI models were 0.71 and 0.85, respectively. The PHI model showed a better ability to discriminate and better calibration for predicting prostate cancer but not for predicting a Gleason score in the biopsy ≥7. The decision curves showed a greater net benefit with the PHI model for diagnosing prostate cancer when the probability threshold was 15-35% and greater savings (20%) in the number of biopsies.

Conclusions: The incorporation of p2PSA through PHI in predictive models of prostate cancer improves the accuracy of the risk stratification and helps in the decision-making process for performing prostate biopsies.

Keywords: Biopsia de próstata; Curvas de decisión; Cáncer de próstata; Decision curve analysis; Modelos predictivos; Predictive models; Prostate biopsy; Prostate cancer; Prostate health index; Índice de salud prostática.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Area Under Curve
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Calibration
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Early Detection of Cancer
  • Humans
  • Kallikreins / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • ROC Curve
  • Severity of Illness Index*

Substances

  • KLK3 protein, human
  • Kallikreins
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen