The presence of cribriform pattern in prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy is associated with negative postoperative pathological features.

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the second most common male cancer worldwide. Its rising incidence and high overtreatment rate drive the search for new prognostic factors. Histopathological variants, such as cribriform pattern (CP), are associated with poorer oncologic outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between CP in prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy (RP) and postoperative pathological features.

Material and methods: In this retrospective, single-centre study we analysed the reviewed medical records of 100 men who underwent minimally invasive RP in the years 2017-2019. RP histopathological examination was performed by a single expert pathologist, and preoperative biopsies were assessed by various professionals from different referral centres.

Results: 48% of men underwent endoscopic RP with limited lymphadenectomy, whereas 52% underwent laparoscopic RP with extended lymphadenectomy. CP in biopsy was present in 6 patients: 3 in each of both groups (6.3% and 5.8%, respectively). Lymph node metastases were present in 50% and 10% of patients with and without CP in biopsy, respectively (p = 0.028). Postoperative histopathological examination revealed CP in 65%. CP in RP was associated with higher International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) (p < 0.001), extraprostatic extension (EPE) (p = 0.001), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) (p = 0.001), and positive surgical margin (PSM) (p = 0.004). Thirteen (20%) of the patients with CP in the RP specimen had lymph node metastasis, and none of the patients without CP in the RP specimen had regional LN metastasis.

Conclusions: The presence of CP in a biopsy specimen and RP is associated with negative postoperative features. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase CP reporting in biopsies because its identification could trigger a more radical surgical approach with extended lymphadenectomy.