Effect of age on biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between patient's age and biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). Data from RRP applied to 305 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer were included in the study. Patients were divided into the three age groups, < 60 years, 60-70 years, and > 70 years. The groups were compared regarding adverse pathological findings on RRP specimen, BCR, and biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS) rates. The rates of positive surgical margin, seminal vesicle invasion, lymph node involvement, RRP specimens' Gleason score, and BCR were not significantly different among the three age groups. bRFS rates were not different either. Nonorgan-confined disease and extracapsular extension (ECE) rates were significantly higher in the group of 60-70 years group than in the other two age groups. Factors associated with BCR in multivariate Cox regression analysis were ECE, seminal vesicle invasion, positive surgical margin, and RRP specimens' Gleason score of ≥ 4 + 3. Patient age and preoperative prostate specific antigen levels were not identified to be associated with BCR. Post-RRP nonorgan-confined disease and ECE are more frequently seen in patients of 60-70 years of age group than in other age groups. However, patient age is not an independent prognostic factor associated with bRFS.