Radical Prostatectomy for Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer: Current Status

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Historically, prostate cancer (PC) diagnosis was often delayed, leading to advanced disease at presentation.
• Advances like prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enable earlier PC detection.
• Optimal treatment for locally advanced PC remains a subject of debate, despite improvements in surgery and radiation therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the latest evidence regarding radical prostatectomy for locally advanced prostate cancer (PC).
• To provide a surgeon's perspective on the role of radical prostatectomy in managing advanced PC.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent evidence on radical prostatectomy for locally advanced prostate cancer.
• Analysis of surgical and radiation therapy outcomes in advanced PC treatment.

Main Results:

• Recent refinements in surgical and radiation therapy have improved outcomes for locally advanced PC.
• No definitive comparative study has yet established the superiority of surgery over radiation therapy or vice versa.
• Radical prostatectomy is presented as a viable surgical option for selected cases of locally advanced PC.

Conclusions:

• Radical prostatectomy remains an important treatment consideration for locally advanced prostate cancer.
• Further comparative studies are needed to definitively establish treatment superiority.
• This review offers insights from a surgical viewpoint on managing locally advanced PC.