Radical retropubic prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for high-stage cancer of the prostate.

A series of 340 patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated by bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy was reviewed to determine the factors that influence survival and time to progression of disease. Follow-up ranged from 1-12 1/2 years. Factors evaluated were grade, stage, and bulk of tumor; influence of seminal vesical involvement and number of pelvic nodes involved; age of patient; and year of surgery. Tumor grade was the only factor related significantly to patient survival. However, grade, stage, and bulk of tumor were all significantly associated with interval between surgery and disease progression. Furthermore, in Stage C disease, seminal vesical involvement (C+) was an adverse factor for disease progression, particularly among patients with low-grade tumor. This is in contrast to the finding that, among patients with Stage D1 disease, those with seminal vesical involvement experienced more favorable survival times and times to progression of disease when compared with patients without seminal vesical involvement. Overall, patient survival compared favorably with an age-matched control group for all stages, A through D1. Patients with few pelvic nodes involved had a survival experience nearly comparable with that of an age-matched control group. This suggests that pelvic lymphadenectomy might have a therapeutic value and that patients with pelvic nodal disease only, without evidence for metastatic disease, should not be denied radical surgery. The influence of concomitant hormonal manipulation or radiotherapy (or both) on patient survival and disease progression is not conclusively answered in this report.