A new study published in JAMA Oncology reveals that many men diagnosed with “Grade Group 1” (GG1) prostate cancer — traditionally viewed as low risk — may actually face more serious health risks than biopsy results alone suggest.
Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland, and Case Western Reserve University found that one in six men with GG1 biopsy results were later found to have intermediate- or high-risk cancer when other clinical features were considered.
This discrepancy stems from the limitations of prostate biopsies, which examine only small tissue samples and can miss aggressive cancer cells. As a result, some patients may be mistakenly placed under active surveillance instead of receiving timely, definitive treatment like surgery or radiation.
The study, based on data from nearly 300,000 prostate cancer cases between 2010 and 2020, challenges the belief that low-grade equals low-risk. Experts caution against removing the “cancer” label from GG1 diagnoses, as it may downplay the need for proper risk assessment and potentially lead to undertreatment.
The findings emphasize the need for a more nuanced approach to diagnosing and counseling men with GG1 prostate cancer, considering both biopsy results and broader clinical indicators to avoid misclassification and improve long-term outcomes.
