Research and Reports in Urology (Oct 2022)
Correlation Between Long-Term Acetylsalicylic Acid Use and Prostate Cancer Screening with PSA. Should We Reduce the PSA Cut-off for Patients in Chronic Therapy? A Multicenter Study
Abstract
Guglielmo Mantica,1 Francesco Chierigo,1,2 Farzana Cassim,3 Francesca Ambrosini,1,2 Stefano Tappero,1,2 Rafaela Malinaric,1,2 Stefano Parodi,1,2 Andrea Benelli,4 Federico Dotta,4 Marco Ennas,4 Martina Beverini,1,2 Chiara Vaccaro,5 Salvatore Smelzo,6 Giovanni Guano,1,2 Federico Mariano,1,2 Calogero Paola,1,2 Giorgia Granelli,1,2 Virginia Varca,5 Carlo Introini,4 Salvatore Dioguardi,7 Alchiede Simonato,7 Andrea Gregori,8 Franco Gaboardi,6 Carlo Terrone,1,2 André Van der Merwe3 1IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, U.O. Urologia, Genova, Italy; 2Department of Surgical and Diagnostic Integrated Sciences (DISC), University of Genova, Genova, Italy; 3Department of Urology, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; 4Department of Urology, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy; 5Department of Urology, ASST Rhodense, G. Salvini Hospital, Milan, Italy; 6Department of Urology, San Raffaele Turro Hospital, Milan, Italy; 7Department of Surgical, Oncological, and Oral Sciences, Section of Urology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; 8Urology Unit, Ospedale Sacco, Milan, ItalyCorrespondence: Guglielmo Mantica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, Genoa, 16132, Italy, Tel +390105552815, Email [email protected]: To evaluate the prostate cancer (PCa) detection rate in men with chronic use of Aspirin and to compare it with the detection rate of non-users.Patients and Methods: Prospectively maintained database regarding patients undergoing prostate biopsy over the last 10 years in five institutions. Patients were divided into two groups according to their exposure to Aspirin. We relied on multivariable linear and logistic regression models to test whether Aspirin administration was associated with lower PSA values at prostate biopsy, higher PCa diagnosis, and higher Gleason Grade Grouping (GGG) at biopsy.Results: Were identified 1059 patients, of whom 803 (76%) did not take Aspirin vs 256 (24%) were taking it. In multivariable log-linear regression analysis, Aspirin administration was associated with lower PSA levels (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71– 0.97, p = 0.01), after controlling for age, prostate volume, smoking history, associated inflammation at prostate biopsy, presence of PCa at biopsy, and GGG. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, Aspirin administration was not found to be a predictor of PCa at prostate biopsy (OR 1.40, 95% CI 0.82– 2.40, p = 0.21) after controlling for age, PSA, smoking history, prostate volume, findings at digital rectal examination and the number of biopsy cores. In patients with PCa at prostate biopsy (n = 516), Aspirin administration was found to predict higher GGG (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.01– 4.87, p = 0.04).Conclusion: Aspirin administration was found to be a predictor of more aggressive GGG. These findings suggest that a lower PSA threshold should be considered in patients taking Aspirin, as, despite low PSA levels, they might harbour aggressive PCa.Keywords: prostate-specific antigen, aspirin, inflammation, prostate cancer, prostate biopsy