A recent cohort study evaluated the relationship between persistent prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels following radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer and mortality risk.

The study included 43,298 patients treated with RP between 1992 and 2020 at two academic centers. The findings indicated that a higher pre-RP PSA level was significantly associated with reduced all-cause mortality and prostate cancer-specific mortality risk among patients with persistent PSA levels, underscoring the importance of ongoing PSA monitoring after RP. The study also suggested that extending the monitoring period for PSA levels beyond the conventional timeframe may help avoid premature treatment decisions that may not align with the patient's actual prognosis.

Source:  JAMA Oncology