Transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate: clinicopathologic study of 50 cases.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to identify clinical and histologic features most significant in predicting outcome in patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the prostate without invasive bladder carcinoma.

METHODS: The histologic and clinical material from 50 patients with prostatic TCC without invasive bladder carcinoma were studied. The tumors were divided into the following locoregional categories: 1) TCC in situ (CIS) of the prostatic urethra; 2) CIS of the prostatic ducts and acini; 3) TCC with stromal invasion; 4) TCC with extraprostatic extension and/or seminal vesicle involvement; and 5) lymph node metastases. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate survival distributions for the locoregional categories, and comparison of survival curves was accomplished with the log rank test.

RESULTS: The 5-year disease specific survival rate was 52%. The 5-year disease specific survival rates for the locoregional categories were as follows: CIS of the prostatic urethra and prostatic ducts and acini (n = 19), 100%; TCC with stromal invasion (n = 21), 45%; TCC with extraprostatic extension and seminal vesicle involvement (n = 3), 0%; and lymph node metastases (n = 7), 30%. There was a significant difference in disease specific survival when patients with CIS were compared with patients with stromal invasion, extraprostatic extension and seminal vesicle involvement, and lymph node metastases (P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that patients with prostatic TCC involving prostatic stroma, extraprostatic tissues, seminal vesicles, and lymph nodes have a significantly poorer 5-year disease specific survival than patients with CIS.