Surgical outcome of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: summary of early multiinstitutional experience in Japan

Because laparoscopic radical prostatectomy requires significant laparoscopic expertise, it needs to be evaluated critically before being accepted as a standard therapeutic option for localized prostate cancer.

A total of 148 men diagnosed as having clinically resectable prostate cancer underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at seven different institutions in Japan. Early biochemical and oncological outcomes were investigated.

Policies underlying the selection of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy did not appear to be consistent among the participating institutions. Pathologically organ-confined disease was found in 64.0% of the patients who had undergone neoadjuvant therapy and in 77.2% of those who had not. Positive surgical margins were found in 36.0% and 34.1%, respectively, of the specimens. The most common site was the apex, which accounted for 77.8% of positive margins in patients who had undergone neoadjuvant therapy and 50.0% in those who had not. Seven patients have experienced biochemical failure at a median follow-up of 9.0 months. No clinical progression has been reported.

Continuing improvements in each step of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, especially apical dissection, should be sought as we pursue the goal of still better oncological outcomes. A systematic approach and therapeutic guidelines should help to reduce the learning curve for competent performance of this procedure.