Prediction of tumor recurrence after radical prostatectomy using elimination kinetics of prostate-specific antigen.

The serum half-life of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) calculated subsequent to radical prostatectomy can serve to predict which patients are at high risk of bearing residual prostatic carcinoma despite their initial attainment of undetectable PSA serum levels. This report updates previous results to a mean follow-up period of 37 months. The initial results are essentially confirmed in that a mean PSA elimination half-life of 1.6 days in patients considered to be cured at least 24 months after prostatectomy provides additional useful information for predicting outcome in patients with potentially curable prostate cancer.