Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Radical prostatectomy for the patient with locally advanced prostate cancer

  • Published:
Current Urology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The proper management of patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate has been contentious and too frequently based on antiquated misconceptions. Nonextirpative treatments, even when combined with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, are inferior to the surgical removal of the prostate for controlling local progression and distant dissemination of the cancer. Radical prostatectomy combined with early adjunctive hormonal therapy for patients with nodal metastasis is superior to all other forms of therapy and should be considered the standard of care. This approach provides survival rates comparable with patients with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Stanford J, Stephenson R, Coyle L, et al.: Prostate Cancer Trends, 1973–1995. Bethesda: NIH Pub No 99-4543; 1999.

  2. Stephenson RA: Prostate cancer trends in the era of prostatespecific antigen: an update of incidence, mortality, and clinical factors from the SEER database. Urol Clin North Am 2002, 29:173–181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Cheng L, Zincke H, Blute ML, et al.: Risk of prostate carcinoma death in patients with lymph node metastasis. Cancer 2001, 91:66–73. Combination radical prostatectomy and immediate hormonal therapy in patients with micrometastatic lymph node involvement provides progression-free and cancer-specific survival rates statistically similar to patients without lymph node involvement in a multivariate setting, which controls for other pathologic variables. Micrometastatic disease within the lymph nodes on frozen section examination during planned radical prostatectomy should not be the reason for abandoning prostate extirpation.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Zincke H, Fleming TR, Furlow WL, et al.: Radical retropubic prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for high-stage cancer of the prostate. Cancer 1981, 47:1901–1910.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Zincke H, Utz DC, Taylor WF: Bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical prostatectomy for clinical stage C prostatic cancer: role of adjuvant treatment for residual cancer and in disease progression. J Urol 1986, 135:1199–1205.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Morgan WR, Bergstralh EJ, Zincke H: Long-term evaluation of radical prostatectomy as treatment for clinical stage C (T3) prostate cancer [comment]. Urology 1993, 41:113–120.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lerner SE, Blute ML, Zincke H: Extended experience with radical prostatectomy for clinical stage T3 prostate cancer: outcome and contemporary morbidity. J Urol 1995, 154:1447–1452.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Amling CL, Leibovich BC, Lerner SE, et al.: Primary surgical therapy for clinical stage T3 adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Semin Urol Oncol 1997, 15:215–221.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Barry MJ, Albertsen PC, Bagshaw MA, et al.: Outcomes for men with clinically nonmetastatic prostate carcinoma managed with radical prostactectomy, external beam radiotherapy, or expectant management: a retrospective analysis. Cancer 2001, 91:2302–2314. A retrospective study of the outcomes in men with prostate cancer treated with watchful waiting, radiation therapy, or radical prostatectomy. Using case-control matching and multivariate analysis, this study is the closest we have come to a randomized trial of treatment outcome for men with prostate cancer.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Amling CL, Blute ML, Lerner SE, et al.: Influence of prostate-specific antigen testing on the spectrum of patients with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy at a large referral practice [comment]. Mayo Clin Proc 1998, 73:401–406.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Thompson IM: Clinical stage C carcinoma of the prostate. AUA Update 1993, 12:82–87.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Meltzer D, Egleston B, Abdalla I: Patterns of prostate cancer treatment by clinical stage and age. Am J Public Health 2001, 91:126–128. Distinct patterns of treatment for newly diagnosed prostate cancer are present within medical practice. Some of these patterns may be based on antiquated ideas regarding the proper management of advanced prostate disease.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Catalona WJ: Radical surgery for advanced prostate cancer and for radiation failures [comment]. J Urol 1992, 147:916.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Steinberg GD, Walsh PC: Expanding role in the management of patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Prob Urol 1990, 4:408–419.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Moul JW: The role of radical surgery in the management of radiation recurrent and large volume prostate cancer. Cancer 1991, 68:1265–1271.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Boxer RJ, Kaufman JJ, Goodwin WE: Radical prostatectomy for carcinoma of the prostate 1951–1976: a review of 329 patients. J Urol 1977, 117:208–213.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Elder JS, Jewett HJ, Walsh PC: Radical perineal prostatectomy for clinical stage B2 carcinoma of the prostate. J Urol 1982, 127:704–706.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Fuks Z, Leibel SA, Wallner KE, et al.: The effect of local control on metastatic dissemination in carcinoma of the prostate: long-term results in patients treated with 125I implantation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1991, 21:537–547.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zagars GK, von Eschenbach AC, Ayala AG, et al.: The influence of local control on metastatic dissemination of prostate cancer treated by external beam megavoltage radiation therapy. Cancer 1991, 68:2370–2377.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kuban DA, el-Mahdi AM, Schellhammer PF: Effect of local tumor control on distant metastasis and survival in prostatic adenocarcinoma. Urology 1987, 30:420–426.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tomlinson RL, Currie DP, Boyce WH: Radical prostatectomy: palliation for stage C carcinoma of the prostate. J Urol 1977, 117:85–87.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Paulson DF, Hodge GB Jr, Hinshaw W: Radiation therapy versus delayed androgen deprivation for stage C carcinoma of the prostate. J Urol 1984, 131:901–902.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. de Vere White R, Paulson DF, Glenn JF: The clinical spectrum of prostate cancer. J Urol 1977, 117:323–327.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Pavone-Macaluso M, de Voogt HJ, Viggiano G, et al.:Comparison of diethylstilbestrol, cyproterone acetate, and medroxyprogesterone acetate in the treatment of advanced prostatic cancer: final analysis of a randomized phase III trial of the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Urological Group. J Urol 1986, 136:624–631.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Bagshaw MA, Cox RS, Ray GR: Status of radiation treatment of prostate cancer at Stanford University. NCI Monogr 1988, 7:47–60.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Leibel SA, Fuks Z, Zelefsky MJ, Whitmore WF Jr: The effects of local and regional treatment on the metastatic outcome in prostatic carcinoma with pelvic lymph node involvement [comment]. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1994, 28:7–16.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kaplan ID, Prestidge BR, Bagshaw MA, Cox RS: The importance of local control in the treatment of prostatic cancer. J Urol 1992, 147:917–921.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Coen JJ, Zietman AL, Thakral H, Shipley WU: Radical radiation for localized prostate cancer: local persistence of disease results in a late wave of metastases [see comments]. J Clin Oncol 2002, 20:3199–3205. Examined 1469 patients who were receiving external beam radiotherapy with a curative intent for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Failure to control the cancer locally was the strongest predictor of distant metastasis. More than two thirds of the patients with clinical locally advanced prostate cancer at treatment fail locally and progress more rapidly distally. There is danger in failing to control the locally advanced prostate cancer with radiotherapy.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Zietman AL, Westgeest JC, Shipley WU: Radiation-based approaches to the management of T3 prostate cancer. Semin Urol Oncol 1997, 15:230–238.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Crook JM, Perry GA, Robertson S, Esche BA: Routine prostate biopsies following radiotherapy for prostate cancer: results for 226 patients [comment]. Urology 1995, 45:624–631.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Dugan TC, Shipley WU, Young RH, et al.: Biopsy after external beam radiation therapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate: correlation with original histological grade and current prostate specific antigen levels [comment]. J Urol 1991, 146:1313–1316.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Laverdiere J, Gomez JL, Cusan L, et al.: Beneficial effect of combination hormonal therapy administered prior and following external beam radiation therapy in localized prostate cancer [comment]. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1997, 37:247–252.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Bolla M, Gonzalez D, Warde P, et al.: Improved survival in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy and goserelin. N Engl J Med 1997, 337:295–300.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Zincke H, Bergstralh EJ, Blute ML, et al.: Radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer: long-term results of 1,143 patients from a single institution [comment]. J Clin Oncol 1994, 12:2254–2263.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Padula GD, Zelefsky MJ, Venkatraman ES, et al.: Normalization of serum testosterone levels in patients treated with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer [comment]. International J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2002, 52:439–443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Pilepich MV, Winter K, John MJ, et al.: Phase III radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) trial 86-10 of androgen deprivation adjuvant to definitive radiotherapy in locally advanced carcinoma of the prostate. International J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2001, 50:1243–1252. Combination radiotherapy and hormonal therapy does not effectively control high-grade/high-volume prostate cancer locally or at distant sites. Few patients with cT3 prostate cancer have low-grade/ low-volume prostate cancer, which appears to respond to this form of multimodality therapy.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kuban DA, el-Mahdi AM, Schellhammer PF: Prognosis in patients with local recurrence after definitive irradiation for prostatic carcinoma. Cancer 1989, 63:2421–2425.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Koprowski CD, Berkenstock KG, Borofski AM, et al.: External beam irradiation versus 125 iodine implant in the definitive treatment of prostate carcinoma [comment]. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1991, 21:955–960.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Scardino PT: Is radiotherapy effective for locally advanced (stage C or T3) prostate cancer? Prog Clin Biol Res 1989, 303:223–239.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Whitmore WF Jr, Hilaris B, Sogani P, et al.: Interstitial irradiation using I-125 seeds. Prog Clin Biol Res 1987, 243B:177–195.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Holzman M, Carlton CE Jr, Scardino PT: The frequency and morbidity of local tumor recurrence after definitive radiotherapy for stage C prostate cancer. J Urol 1991, 146:1578–1582.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Partin AW, Kattan MW, Subong EN, et al.: Combination of prostate-specific antigen, clinical stage, and Gleason score to predict pathological stage of localized prostate cancer: a multi-institutional update [erratum appears in JAMA 1997, 278:118]. JAMA 1997, 277:1445–1451.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Yamada AH, Lieskovsky G, Petrovich Z, et al.: Results of radical prostatectomy and adjuvant therapy in the management of locally advanced, clinical stage TC, prostate cancer. Am J Clin Oncol 1994, 17:277–285.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. van den Ouden D, Hop WC, Schroder FH: Progression in and survival of patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (T3) treated with radical prostatectomy as monotherapy. J Urol 1998, 160:1392–1397. Radical prostatectomy as monotherapy in patients with locally advanced nonmetastatic prostate cancer (T3) produces acceptable results in those with well or moderately differentiated tumors. The results of progression and survival are not significantly different from those in patients with locally confined prostate cancer. However, patients with poorly differentiated tumors (T3G3) have early progression and need adjuvant treatment after surgery.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Zincke H, Lau W, Bergstralh E, Blute ML: Role of early adjuvant hormonal therapy after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. J Urol 2001, 166:2208–2215. Early adjuvant hormonal therapy has a significant impact on time to progression and cause-specific survival in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. This improvement continues to be observed, even in the very high-risk categories of seinal vesical invasion or limited lymph node metastasis.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Morgan WR, Zincke H, Rainwater LM, et al.: Prostate-specific antigen values after radical retropubic prostatectomy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate: impact of adjuvant treatment (hormonal and radiation)[comment]. J Urol 1991, 145:319–323.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Stein A, deKernion JB, Dorey F, Smith RB: Adjuvant radiotherapy in patients post-radical prostatectomy with tumor extending through capsule or positive seminal vesicles. Urology 1992, 39:59–62.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Schild SE, Wong WW, Grado GL, et al.: The result of radical retropubic prostatectomy and adjuvant therapy for pathologic stage C prostate cancer [comment]. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1996, 34:535–541. Low-dose adjuvant radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy improves freedom from recurrence rates for patients with direct local extension of the cancer. When the seminal vesicles are involved with prostate cancer, radiotherapy does not seem to alter disease outcome.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Oesterling JE, Andrews PE, Suman VJ, et al.: Preoperative androgen deprivation therapy: artificial lowering of serum prostate-specific antigen without downstaging the tumor. J Urol 1993, 149:779–782.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Van Poppel H, De Ridder D, Elgamal AA, et al.: Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy before radical prostatectomy decreases the number of positive surgical margins in stage T2 prostate cancer: interim results of a prospective randomized trial: The Belgian Uro-Oncological Study Group. J Urol 1995, 154:429–434.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Andros EA, Danesghari F, Crawford ED: Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy in stage C adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Clin Invest Med 1993, 16:510–515.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Aprikian AG, Fair WR, Reuter VE, et al.: Experience with neoadjuvant diethylstilboestrol and radical prostatectomy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. Br J Urol 1994, 74:630–636.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Armas OA, Aprikian AG, Melamed J, et al.: Clinical and pathobiological effects of neoadjuvant total androgen ablation therapy on clinically localized prostatic adenocarcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol 1994, 18:979–991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Sassine AM, Schulman CC: Neoadjuvant hormonal deprivation before radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol 1993, 24(suppl 2):46–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Schulman CC, Debruyne FM, Forster G, et al.: 4-Year follow-up results of a European prospective randomized study on neoadjuvant hormonal therapy prior to radical prostatectomy in T2-3N0M0 prostate cancer: European Study Group on Neoadjuvant Treatment of Prostate Cancer. Eur Urol 2000, 38:706–713. A prospective, randomized trial of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy followed by radical prostatectomy in all patients (cT2 and cT3) with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. There is no substantial benefit received from neoadjuvant therapy in achieving complete tumor excision, decreased positive surgical margins, or a long-term disease-free interval.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Amling CL, Blute ML, Bergstralh EJ, et al.: Preoperative androgen-deprivation therapy for clinical stage T3 prostate cancer. Semin Urol Oncol 1997, 15:222–229.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Petrovich Z, Lieskovsky G, Langholz B, et al.: Comparison of outcomes of radical prostatectomy with and without adjuvant pelvic irradiation in patients with pathologic stage C (T3N0) adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Am J Clin Oncol 1999, 22:323–331. Low-dose postoperative radiotherapy is of low toxicity and it did not increase the incidence of incontinence after radical prostatectomy. In multivariate analysis, patients receiving surgery plus radiotherapy had a significantly lower rate of recurrence than patients undergoing surgery alone, especially for patients with poor prognostic factors.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Petrovich Z, Lieskovsky G, Langholz B, et al.: Radical prostatectomy and postoperative irradiation in patients with pathological stage C (T3) carcinoma of the prostate. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1998, 40:139–147.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Stromberg J, Martinez A, Benson R, et al.: Improved local control and survival for surgically staged patients with locally advanced prostate cancer treated with up-front low dose rate iridium-192 prostate implantation and external beam irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1994, 28:67–75.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Zincke H: Combined surgery and immediate adjuvant hormonal treatment for stage D1 adenocarcinoma of the prostate: Mayo Clinic experience. Semin Urol 1990, 8:175–183.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Zincke H, Utz DC, Thule PM, Taylor WF: Treatment options for patients with stage D1 (T0-3,N1-2,M0) adenocarcinoma of prostate. Urology 1987, 30:307–315.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Iocca A, Zincke H: Management of clinical T3 prostate cancer. AUA Update Series 1999, 18:250–255.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ward, J.F., Zincke, H. Radical prostatectomy for the patient with locally advanced prostate cancer. Curr Urol Rep 4, 196–204 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-003-0069-0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-003-0069-0

Keywords

Navigation