Long-term oncological outcomes after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

To investigate long-term oncological outcomes after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). To identify parameters influencing recurrence-free survival in a single-institution series.

All patients underwent LRP using the transperitoneal retrograde Heilbronn technique. High-risk patients received adjuvant treatment according to an institutional algorithm based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, tumour-node-metastasis stage, margin status and tumour volume. Data were collected prospectively on operative and postoperative parameters beginning in 1999. Complete follow-up data of 370 of the first 500 consecutive patients are available. Biochemical recurrence was defined as two consecutive PSA levels <0.2 ng/mL within the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression were applied to examine recurrence-free survival times.

The estimated biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS) rates 10 years after LRP were 80.2% in patients staged pT2, 47.4% in those staged pT3a and 49.8% in those staged pT3b/4, confirming a better prognosis in patients with organ-confined disease (P < 0.001). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, only Gleason score and pT stage significantly influenced BCRFS. The 10-year clinical progression-free survival rates were 97.2% (pT2), 84.4% (pT3a) and 78.1% (pT3b/4), and prostate cancer-specific survival estimates were 100% (pT2), 97.3% (pT3a) and 90.6% (pT3b/4).

The 10-year biochemical and clinical progression-free survival after LRP combined with a risk-adapted concept of adjuvant therapy is high, while prostate-cancer specific mortality is low. Our data shows no negative impact of laparoscopic techniques on oncologic outcomes compared to large series after retropubic radical prostatectomy. In a multivariate Cox regression, only Gleason score and pT stage had significant impact on BCRFS.