Clinicopathological statistics on registered prostate cancer patients in Japan: 2000 report from the Japanese Urological Association

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the present paper was to investigate etiology, diagnosis, initial treatment, pathological findings and final outcomes for prostate cancer in Japan.

Methods: From 2001, the Japanese Urological Association initiated computer-based registration of prostate cancer patients in Japan to estimate etiology, diagnosis, initial planed treatment, pathological findings and final outcome.

Results: A total of 173 institutions responded and 4529 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000 were registered. In the first year, background factors, diagnostic procedures and initially planned treatment were recorded. The analysis of these registered cases is presented here. Nearly 30% of the cases demonstrated <10 ng/mL of prostate specific antigen. The six-core biopsy was the most commonly used procedure. The clinical T staging distribution was as follows: T1c, 20.3%; T2a, 21.8%; T2b, 17.3%; T3a, 15.8%; T3b, 11.0%; and T4, 8%. More than 70% of cases were diagnosed as M0. Hormone therapy alone was the initial treatment plan in more than half of the cases.

Conclusion: This is the first report on prostate cancer patients in Japan based on multi-institutional registration. Pathological findings and final outcome will be surveyed later by the Japanese Urological Association. After 5 years, adopted treatment, pathological results and final outcome will be registered.