Radical cytoreductive prostatectomy in men with prostate cancer and oligometastatic disease

Local treatment of the primary by either radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy is discussed controversially. The role of cytoreductive radical prostatectomy has been evaluated in few retrospective clinical studies but data of prospective randomized clinical phase-III trials are lacking. It is the purpose of this review to reflect the current knowledge on indication, functional and oncological outcomes of cytoreductive radical prostatectomy to objectively highlight what can be expected from this approach.

Cytoreductive radical prostatectomy (cRP) is associated with a long overall survival of more than 7 years and it is associated with a clinical progression-free survival of more than 6 years. When compared with nonsurgical approaches it becomes evident that about one-third of the patients will develop symptomatic local progression within 3 years whereas none of the surgically treated patients will experience such symptoms. cRP is associated with a low rate of significant complications and good functional outcome in well selected patients which do not differ from the results of a radical prostatectomy in treatment-naïve patients.

Patients with low-volume/low-risk metastatic prostate cancer (mPCA), good response to neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy and a good Eastern Cooperative Onology Group performance status appear to be the best candidates for surgery. cRP might be an individualized treatment option in the multimodality management of mPCA. It is the purpose of the current to highlight the indication, surgical technique, treatment associated complications, functional and oncological outcome for cytoreductive radical prostatectomy.