A Four-Group Urine Risk Classifier for Predicting Outcome in Prostate Cancer Patients

OBJECTIVES: To develop a risk classifier using urine-derived extracellular vesicle RNA (UEV-RNA) capable of providing diagnostic information of disease status prior to biopsy, and prognostic information for men on active surveillance (AS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Post-digital rectal examination UEV-RNA expression profiles from urine (n = 535, multiple centres) were interrogated with a curated NanoString panel. A LASSO-based Continuation-Ratio model was built to generate four Prostate-Urine-Risk (PUR) signatures for predicting the probability of normal tissue (PUR-1), D'Amico Low-risk (PUR-2), Intermediate-risk (PUR-3), and High-risk (PUR-4) PCa. This model was applied to a test cohort (n = 177) for diagnostic evaluation, and to an AS sub-cohort (n = 87) for prognostic evaluation.

RESULTS: Each PUR signature was significantly associated with its corresponding clinical category (p<0.001). PUR-4 status predicted the presence of clinically significant Intermediate or High-risk disease, AUC = 0.77 (95% CI: 0.70-0.84). Application of PUR provided a net benefit over current clinical practice. In an AS sub-cohort (n=87), groups defined by PUR status and proportion of PUR-4 had a significant association with time to progression (p<0.001; IQR HR = 2.86, 95% CI:1.83-4.47). PUR-4, when utilised continuously, dichotomised patient groups with differential progression rates of 10% and 60% five years post-urine collection (p<0.001, HR = 8.23, 95% CI:3.26-20.81).

CONCLUSION: UEV-RNA can provide diagnostic information of aggressive PCa prior to biopsy, and prognostic information for men on AS. PUR represents a new & versatile biomarker that could result in substantial alterations to current treatment of PCa patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.