OBJECTIVES

We evaluated long-term cancer control outcomes of radical prostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection (RP) for pT3bN0M0 prostate cancer in the era of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the University of Southern California Prostate Cancer Database was performed. Between 1987 and 2008, 229 men underwent open RP for pT3bN0M0 prostate cancer. The cohort was divided into early (1987-1997) and contemporary (1998-2008) PSA eras. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional regression models were used to analyze clinical recurrence (CR) and biochemical recurrence (BCR).

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 14.5 years (range, 0.2-21.1y). The predicted 10-year freedom from CR and BCR rates for men treated in the early and contemporary PSA eras were 73% and 95% (Log-rank P = 0.001) and 65% and 73% (Log-rank P = 0.055), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that pathologic Gleason grade 8-10 (CR: hazard ratio [HR] = 5.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.72-15.20; P = 0.003; BCR: HR = 3.47; 95% CI = 1.60-7.48; P = 0.002) and contemporary PSA era (CR: HR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.06-0.41; P<0.001; BCR: HR = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.28-0.86; P = 0.013) were independently associated with cancer control. Adjuvant radiation therapy and positive surgical margins were not independently associated with outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

RP conferred long-term cancer control in men with pT3bN0M0 prostate cancer treated in the PSA era. Pathologic Gleason grade 8-10 and treatment in the early PSA era were independently associated with poorer cancer control outcomes.