PROGNOSTIC FACTORS OF PROSTATIC-CARCINOMA - A SURVEY

Beyond the tumor stage prognostic factors are useful for decision - ma king in patients with prostatic carcinoma. In multivariate studies the tumor volume has been ranked highest as a prognostic factor, followed by DNS ploidy. Both are thought to be independent factors. Prognostic factors based on the primary tumor are of little value in advanced ca ncer. Symptoms (e.g. pain) or performance scores are related to progno sis, but in two multivariate studies was the ranking different. Furthe rmore, subjective prognosticators are adversely influenced by the regr ession-dilution bias. PSA is a recognized time-dependent factor, but i s also useful as an objective predictor of prognosis. Before a paramet er is used for prognostic purposes, ist is necessary to determine whet her it has true prognostic value or merely indicates that patients wit h a short survival time are more likely to have an unfavorable prognos ticator than those with a longer survival time.