Analysis of the origin and invasion of prostate cancer from autopsy and radical prostatectomy specimens

Background: Without a pseudocapsule, prostate cancer is invasive in volume growth and has some regularity in spatial distribution. Our study aims to explore the specific origin location, invasive characteristics, and morphology of prostate cancer. Methods: Ninety-eight clinical specimens with tumor volume equal to or less than one-third of the organ volume and 111 autopsy specimens were retrospectively analyzed. The origin location and invasion of prostate cancer in four horizontal quadrants and 11 vertical slides were demonstrated. In addition, the median maximum anteroposterior, left -right, horizontal, and vertical diameters of lesions were compared, and the spatial morphology of lesions was described. Results: There were 335 lesions in the autopsy and clinical specimens. There was no significant difference in the distribution of lesions confined to the horizontal quarter quadrant (P=0.064). The number of lesions with a single positive slide above the apex 0.5-1.4 cm was 75 (49.7%). No significant difference was found when compared with the maximum vertical and horizontal diameters (P=0.421). However, the maximum left -right and horizontal diameters were longer than the maximum anteroposterior diameter (P=0.046 and P<0.001). The number of lesions with a tumor area that decreased from the center to both sides was 85 (46.2%) and decreased from the center to one side was 81 (44.0%). Conclusions: Approximately 50% of the lesions originated from the apex above 0.5-1.4 cm. The invasive tendency of prostate cancer was consistent in the horizontal and vertical dimensions but less so in the anteroposterior direction. About ninety percent of lesions with tumor area decreased from the center to both sides or one side.