Good Outcome for Patients with Few Lymph Node Metastases After Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide allow for the detection of metastases in normal sized pelvic lymph nodes of patients with bladder and/or prostate cancer

AIM

Lymph node metastases influence prognosis and outcome in patients with bladder and prostate cancer. Cross sectional imaging criteria are limited in detecting metastases in normal sized lymph nodes. This prospective study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of metastases in normal sized lymph nodes using extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) and histopathology as the reference standard.

METHODS

Seventy-five patients (bladder cancer, n=19, prostate cancer n=48, both, n=8) were examined using 3T MR before and after USPIO-administration. A preoperative reading with two readers in consensus and a second postoperative reading with three independent blinded readers were performed. Results were correlated with histopathology and diagnostic accuracies were calculated for all readings.

RESULTS

A total of 2993 lymph nodes were examined histopathologically. Fifty-four metastatic nodes were found in 20/75 patients (26.7%). The first reading had a sensitivity of 55.0%, specificity of 85.5%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 57.9%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 83.9%, and diagnostic accuracy (DA) of 77.3% on a per patient level. The second reading had a mean sensitivity of 58.3%, specificity of 83.0%, PPV of 58.0%, NPV of 84.4% and DA of 76.4% on a per patient level. The majority of missed metastases were smaller than 5mm in short axis diameter.

CONCLUSIONS

USPIO-enhanced MRI in bladder and prostate cancer patients allows detection of metastases in normal sized lymph nodes and might guide the surgeon to remove suspicious lymph nodes not included in standard PLND.

Assessment of rates of lymph nodes and lymph node metastases in periprostatic fat pads in a consecutive cohort treated with retropubic radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To determine the rates of lymph nodes and lymph node metastases in periprostatic fat pads yielded during exposure of the anterior surface of the dorsal vein complex, puboprostatic ligaments, and endopelvic fascia during radical prostatectomy.

METHODS

Histopathologic examination was performed in 356 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between July 2010 and September 2010 at a single institution. Separate histologic work-up of the periprostatic fat pads addressed the presence of lymph nodes and possible metastatic invasion of lymph nodes within this area. Descriptive analyses and multivariable analyses to predict the presence of lymph node metastases within these fat pads were performed.

RESULTS

Lymph nodes within periprostatic fat pads were detected in 19 (5.5%) patients. Among these patients, tumor infiltration was found in 4 (1.2%). Three of these 4 patients harbored lymph node metastases without any other lymph node metastasis during standard lymphadenectomy. No relationship was detected between the total number of lymph nodes removed and the detection of lymph nodes within periprostatic fat pads (P = .6).

CONCLUSION

Our analysis demonstrates that periprostatic fat pads harbor lymph nodes. No relationship between the presence of lymph node metastases in periprostatic fat pads and the presence of lymph node metastases in other areas was found. Similarly, no relationship exists between the presence of lymph nodes in this area and the total number of lymph nodes yielded in other lymphatic fields. Therefore, for guaranteeing precise lymph node staging, implementing routinely pathologic work-up of periprostatic fat pads yielded during radical prostatectomy should be considered.

[Intraoperative frozen section diagnosis of the genitourinary tract]

Up to now intraoperative frozen section, diagnosis has been of limited utility in urologic oncology. In the future, it may become more important due to a significant increase in the number of nerve-sparing operations performed for prostate cancer. Accuracy and benefit of intraoperative frozen sections depend both on a good communication between surgeons and pathologists as well as on a strict assessment of the need for surgery in the individual patient. In order to optimize cost-efficiency and to reduce the associated risks the indications for intraoperative frozen sections must be rigorously appraised. This report outlines clinically relevant indications for intraoperative frozen section diagnosis in tumors of the urinary tract, kidneys, prostate, testis and penis according to the most recent guidelines. The diagnostic scope and problems of this method are also discussed.

Mapping of pelvic lymph node metastases in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Opinions about the optimal lymph node dissection (LND) template in prostate cancer differ. Drainage and dissemination patterns are not necessarily identical.

OBJECTIVE

To present a precise overview of the lymphatic drainage pattern and to correlate those findings with dissemination patterns. We also investigated the relationship between the number of positive lymph nodes (LN+) and resected lymph nodes (LNs) per region.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Seventy-four patients with localized prostate adenocarcinoma were prospectively enrolled. Patients did not show suspect LNs on computed tomography scan and had an LN involvement risk of ≥ 10% but ≤ 35% (Partin tables) or a cT3 tumor.

INTERVENTION

After intraprostatic technetium-99m nanocolloid injection, patients underwent planar scintigraphy and single-photon emission computed tomography imaging. Then surgery was performed, starting with a sentinel node (SN) procedure and a superextended lymphadenectomy followed by radical prostatectomy.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Distribution of scintigraphically detected SNs and removed SNs per region were registered. The number of LN+, as well as the percentage LN+ of the total number of removed LNs per region, was demonstrated in combining data of all patients. The impact of the extent of LND on N-staging and on the number of LN+ removed was calculated.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

A total of 470 SNs were scintigraphically detected (median: 6; interquartile range [IQR]: 3-9), of which 371 SNs were removed (median: 4; IQR: 2.25-6). In total, 91 LN+ (median: 2; IQR: 1-3) were found in 34 of 74 patients. The predominant site for LN+ was the internal iliac region. An extended LND (eLND) would have correctly staged 32 of 34 patients but would have adequately removed all LN+ in only 26 of 34 patients. When adding the presacral region, these numbers increased to 33 of 34 and 30 of 34 patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Standard eLND would have correctly staged the majority of LN+ patients, but 13% of the LN+ would have been missed. Adding the presacral LNs to the template should be considered to obtain a minimal template with maximal gain. NOTE: This manuscript was invited based on the 2011 European Association of Urology meeting in Vienna.

Outcomes after radical prostatectomy for patients with clinical stages T1-T2 prostate cancer with pathologically positive lymph nodes in the prostate-specific antigen era

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) for clinically organ confined prostate cancer (CaP) with regional lymph node metastases (pN1) treated in the era of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A single institution cohort of 2,487 men with cT1-T2 CaP treated with open radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection between 1988 and 2008 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional regression models were used to analyze overall survival (OS), clinical recurrence-free survival (cRFS), and biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS).

RESULTS

Overall, 150 out of 2,487 patients (6%) had pN1 disease, with a median follow-up of 10.4 years. The predicted 10-year OS, cRFS, and bRFS rates for patients with pN0 and pN1 were 86% and 74% (Log rank P < 0.001), 97% and 84% (Log rank P < 0.001), and 88% and 57% (Log rank P < 0.001), respectively. In the subset of pN1 patients treated with surgery only (n = 49), the predicted 10-year OS, cRFS, and bRFS rates were 81%, 80%, and 59%, respectively. Exploratory univariate regression analysis showed that age (P = 0.003), total number of lymph nodes identified (P = 0.040), and total number of positive lymph nodes identified (P = 0.004) were associated with OS. Total number of positive lymph nodes (LNs) identified was also significantly associated with cRFS (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of pN1 in patients with cT1-T2 CaP treated with surgery in the era of PSA screening was low. RP and PLND demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in a subset of pN1 patients treated with surgery alone.

Lymphatic spread of nodal metastases in high-risk prostate cancer: The ascending pathway from the pelvis to the retroperitoneum

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to map the nodal metastases distribution in patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) treated with extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (rLND) at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective mapping study included 19 patients with high-risk PCa (sharing at least two out of the three following parameters: PSA >20 ng/ml, cT3, biopsy Gleason score ≥8). All patients were treated with RP, ePLND (removal of the obturator, hypogastric, external iliac, presacral, and common iliac lymph nodes) and rLND (removal of para-aortal/para-caval and inter-aorto-caval lymph nodes) by a single surgeon. All patients signed an informed consent highlighting the absence of clinical data supporting the benefit of this surgical approach.

RESULTS

Overall, 18 out of 19 patients (94.7%) had pelvic lymph node invasion. The most commonly affected pelvic nodal landing site was obturator (88.8%), followed by external iliac (83.3%), common iliac (77%), hypogastric (44.4%), and presacral (33.3%). Moreover, 14 (77.8%) patients also had involvement of retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Only patients with positive common iliac lymph nodes having at least five positive lower pelvic lymph nodes (n = 14), also had invariably positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes. No patients with negative common iliac lymph nodes had positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

PCa lymphatic spread ascends from the pelvis up to the retroperitoneum invariably through common iliac lymph nodes. PCa lymphatic spread can be divided in two main levels: pelvic and common iliac plus retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

Performance characteristics of computed tomography in detecting lymph node metastases in contemporary patients with prostate cancer treated with extended pelvic lymph node dissection

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography (CT) is a commonly used noninvasive procedure for prostate cancer (PCa) staging. All previous studies addressing the ability of CT scan to predict lymph node invasion (LNI) were based on historical patients treated with limited pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND).

OBJECTIVE

Assess the value of CT in predicting LNI in contemporary PCa patients treated with extended PLND (ePLND).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We evaluated 1541 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and ePLND between 2003 and 2010 at a single center. All patients were preoperatively staged using abdominopelvic CT scan. All lymph nodes with a short axis diameter ≥ 10 mm were considered suspicious for metastatic involvement.

INTERVENTION

All patients underwent preoperative CT scan, radical retropubic prostatectomy, and ePLND, regardless of PCa features at diagnosis.

MEASUREMENTS

The performance characteristics of CT scan were tested in the overall patient population, as well as according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) classification and according to the risk of LNI derived from a nomogram developed on an ePLND series. Logistic regression models tested the relationship between CT scan findings and LNI. Discrimination accuracy was quantified with the area under the curve.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Overall, a CT scan that suggested LNI was found in 73 patients (4.7%). Of them, only 24 patients (32.8%) had histologically proven LNI at ePLND. Overall, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT scan were 13%, 96.0%, and 54.6%, respectively. In patients with low-, intermediate-, or high-risk PCa according to NCCN classification, sensitivity was 8.3%, 96.3%, and 52.3%, respectively; specificity was 3.6%, 97.3%, and 50.5%, respectively; and accuracy was 17.9%, 94.3%, and 56.1%, respectively. Similarly, in patients with a nomogram-derived LNI risk ≥ 50%, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were only 23.9%, 94.7%, and 59.3%, respectively. At multivariable analyses, inclusion of CT scan findings did not improve the accuracy of LNI prediction (81.4% compared with 81.3%; p=0.8). Lack of a central scan review represents the main limitation of our study.

CONCLUSIONS

In contemporary patients with PCa, the accuracy of CT scan as a preoperative nodal-staging procedure is poor, even in patients with high LNI risk. Therefore, the need for and the extent of PLND should not be based on the results obtained by CT scan.

Updated nomogram predicting lymph node invasion in patients with prostate cancer undergoing extended pelvic lymph node dissection: the essential importance of percentage of positive cores

BACKGROUND

Few predictive models aimed at predicting the presence of lymph node invasion (LNI) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) treated with extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) are available to date.

OBJECTIVE

Update a nomogram predicting the presence of LNI in patients treated with ePLND at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The study included 588 patients with clinically localised PCa treated between September 2006 and October 2010 at a single tertiary referral centre.

INTERVENTION

All patients underwent RP and ePLND invariably including removal of obturator, external iliac, and hypogastric nodes.

MEASUREMENTS

Prostate-specific antigen, clinical stage, and primary and secondary biopsy Gleason grade as well as percentage of positive cores were included in univariable (UVA) and multivariable (MVA) logistic regression models predicting LNI and formed the basis for the regression coefficient-based nomogram. The area under the curve (AUC) method was used to quantify the predictive accuracy (PA) of the model.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

The mean number of lymph nodes removed and examined was 20.8 (median: 19; range: 10-52). LNI was found in 49 of 588 patients (8.3%). All preoperative PCa characteristics differed significantly between LNI-positive and LNI-negative patients (all p<0.001). In UVA predictive accuracy analyses, percentage of positive cores was the most accurate predictor of LNI (AUC: 79.5%). At MVA, clinical stage, primary biopsy Gleason grade, and percentage of positive cores were independent predictors of LNI (all p≤0.006). The updated nomogram demonstrated a bootstrap-corrected PA of 87.6%. Using a 5% nomogram cut-off, 385 of 588 patients (65.5%) would be spared ePLND. and LNI would be missed in only 6 patients (1.5%). The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value associated with the 5% cut-off were 87.8%, 70.3%, and 98.4%, respectively. The relatively low number of patients included as well as the lack of an external validation represent the main limitations of our study.

CONCLUSIONS

We report the first update of a nomogram predicting the presence of LNI in patients treated with ePLND. The nomogram maintained high accuracy, even in more contemporary patients (87.6%). Because percentage of positive cores represents the foremost predictor of LNI, its inclusion should be mandatory in any LNI prediction model. Based on our model, those patients with a LNI risk<5% might be safely spared ePLND.

Sense and nonsense of an extended pelvic lymph node dissection in prostate cancer

Lymph node metastases associated with prostate cancer (PCa) has been shown to be a poor prognostic factor. The role of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) itself in relation to survival remains unclear, however. A Medline search was conducted to address this issue. The following conclusions were drawn. Only recently, improved survival due to completion of radical prostatectomy (RP) (compared to abandoning RP) in known or presumed lymph-node-positive patients has been shown. Lymph node sampling can only be considered representative if an adequate number of nodes is removed. While several authors have suggested that a therapeutic benefit in patients undergoing RP is not provided by PLND, the reliability of these studies is uncertain. Contrary to this, several studies have indicated the possibility of long-term survival even in the presence of limited lymph node metastases. The role and timing of initiation of adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients who have node-positive disease after RP is controversial. Recent studies suggest that delaying ADT may not adversely impact survival.

The extent of pelvic lymph node dissection correlates with the biochemical recurrence rate in patients with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

• To assess the impact of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) and of the number of lymph nodes (LNs) retrieved during radical prostatectomy (RP) on biochemical relapse (BCR) in pNX/0/1 patients with prostate cancer according to the clinical risk of lymph node invasion (LNI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• We evaluated 872 pT2-4 NX/0/1 consecutive patients submitted to RP between October 1995 and June 2009, with the following inclusion criteria: (i) a follow-up period ≥12 months; (ii) the avoidance of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy or adjuvant hormonal and/or adjuvant radiotherapy; (iii) the availability of complete follow-up data; (iv) no pathological T0 disease; (v) complete data regarding the clinical stage and Gleason score (Gs), the preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and the pathological stage. • The patients were stratified as having low risk (cT1a-T2a and cGs ≤6 and PSA level < 10 ng/mL), intermediate risk (cT2b-T2c or cGs = 7 or PSA level = 10-19.9) or high risk of LNI (cT3 or cGs = 8-10 or PSA level ≥ 20). • The 872 patients were divided into two LN groups according to the number of LNs retrieved: group 1 had no LN or one to nine LNs removed; group 2 had 10 or more LNs. • The variables analysed were LN group, age, PSA level, clinical and pathological stage and Gs, surgical margin status, LN status and number of LN metastases; the primary endpoint was the BCR-free survival.

RESULTS

• The mean follow-up was 55.8 months. • Of all the patients, 305 (35%) were pNx and 567 (65.0%) were pN0/1. • Of the 567 patients submitted to PLND, the mean number of LNs obtained was 10.9, and 49 (8.6%) were pN1. • In the 402 patients at low risk of LNI, LN group was not a significant predictor of BCR at univariate analysis, while in the 470 patients at intermediate and high risk of LNI, patients with ≥ 10 LNs removed had a significantly lower BCR-free survival at univariate and multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

• In our study population, a more extensive PLND positively affects the BCR-free survival regardless of the nodal status in intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer.

Potential and limitations of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in kidney, prostate, and bladder cancer including pelvic lymph node staging: a critical analysis of the literature

CONTEXT

Diagnosis, staging, and treatment monitoring are still suboptimal for most genitourinary tumours. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) has already shown promise as a noninvasive imaging modality in the early detection of microstructural and functional changes in several pathologies of various organs.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the potential and limitations of DW-MRI in the management of patients with kidney, prostate, and bladder cancer.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A nonsystematic literature search using the Medline/PubMed and Embase databases for full-length papers reporting on DW-MRI for kidney, prostate, and bladder cancer was performed up to August 1, 2011. Only those articles with complete data reporting on DW-MRI applications with potential implications in solving commonly encountered clinical challenges relating to tumour detection, staging, and treatment monitoring were finally examined.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

For kidney tumours DW-MRI is a reasonable alternative to conventional cross-sectional imaging to detect and characterise focal renal lesions, especially in patients with impaired renal function. For prostate cancer, DW-MRI applied in addition to conventional T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves tumour detection and localisation. In addition, it has shown promise for the assessment of tumour aggressiveness and for treatment monitoring during active surveillance, radiation therapy, and focal therapy. For bladder cancer, DW-MRI may improve the performance of conventional T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced MRI in the work-up of bladder cancer, helping to differentiate non-muscle-invasive from muscle-invasive tumours. For pelvic lymph nodes, initial results showed the potential to improve nodal staging of prostate and bladder cancer compared with conventional cross-sectional imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

DW-MRI holds promise to ameliorate the management of patients with kidney, prostate, and bladder cancer including pelvic lymph node staging. Current limitations include the lack of standardisation of the technique across multiple centres and the still limited expertise.

Feasibility of minimally invasive lymphadenectomy in bladder and prostate cancer surgery

With the rapid and widespread adoption of minimally invasive procedures (laparoscopic and robotic) for the treatment of prostate and bladder cancers in the last decade, concerns have been raised regarding whether the technique can emulate the time-tested gold standard open procedures. This article briefly reviews the indications for lymph node dissection for bladder and prostate cancer, and reviews the role of extended lymphadenectomy in each procedure. Much of the focus of this review is on minimally invasive approaches and the technical aspects of the procedures, the feasibility of the robotic technique, and early oncologic outcomes.

Role of lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer: indications and controversies

Pelvic lymph node dissection is the only reliable technique to detect low-volume lymph node involvement in prostate cancer. Extended lymph node dissections that include the internal iliac chain in addition to the external iliac and obturator packets have shown a significantly higher proportion of patients to have lymphatic involvement than previously recognized. The improved staging afforded by a more extended dissection raises several questions. Addressing these questions is the focus of this review.

Pelvic/retroperitoneal salvage lymph node dissection for patients treated with radical prostatectomy with biochemical recurrence and nodal recurrence detected by [11C]choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography

BACKGROUND

The management of patients with clinical recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy (RP) remains challenging.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the removal of positive lymph nodes at [11C]choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan may have an impact on the prognosis of patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) and nodal recurrence after RP.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Prospective analysis of 72 patients affected by BCR after RP associated with a nodal pathologic [11C]choline PET/CT scan.

INTERVENTION

Patients underwent salvage lymph node dissection (LND).

MEASUREMENTS

Biochemical response (BR) to treatment was defined as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) <0.2 ng/ml at 40 d after salvage LND. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses addressed time to and predictors of clinical recurrence (CR) after salvage LND, respectively.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Overall, 56.9% of patients achieved BR. Mean and median follow-up after LND were 39.4 and 39.8 mo, respectively. The 5-yr BCR-free survival rate was 19%. Preoperative PSA <4 ng/ml (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.12; p = 0.005), time to BCR <24 mo (HR: 7.52; p = 0.005), and negative lymph nodes at previous RP (HR: 0.19; p=0.04) represented independent predictors of BR. Overall, 5-yr CR-free and cancer-specific survival were 34% and 75%, respectively. At multivariable analyses, only PSA >4 ng/ml (HR: 2.13; p=0.03) and the presence of retroperitoneal uptake at PET/CT scan (HR=2.92; p=0.004) represented independent preoperative predictors of CR. Similarly, the presence of pathologic nodes in the retroperitoneum (HR: 2.78; p=0.02), higher number of positive lymph nodes (HR: 1.04; p=0.006), and complete BR to salvage LND (HR: 0.31; p=0.002) represented postoperative independent predictors of CR. Main limitations consisted of the lack of a control group and the heterogeneity of patients included in the analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Salvage LND is feasible in patients with BCR after RP and nodal pathologic uptake at [11C]choline PET/CT scan. Biochemical response after surgery can be achieved in a consistent proportion of patients. Although most patients invariably progressed to BCR after surgery at longer follow-up, 35% of patients showed the absence of CR at 5 yr.

Clinical importance of lymph node density in predicting outcome of prostate cancer patients

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the prognostic role of lymph node density (LND) in patients affected by prostate cancer (PCa) and treated with radical prostatectomy (RP), pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND), and adjuvant hormonal blockade.

METHODS

A total of 124 consecutive patients with lymph node positive PCa formed the basis of this report. Clinical and pathological parameters were collected. All patients were stratified in two groups according to LND: Group A (LND ≤ 32%) and Group B (LND ≥ 33%). Time to the first biochemical recurrence (BCR) was the main measure of outcome.

RESULTS

Mean number of lymph nodes removed was 5.2 (range 1-17). The mean number of positive lymph nodes was 1.6 (range 1-5). At a mean follow-up of 84.3 mo, 22 patients in Group A (43.1%) and 40 in Group B (54.7%) had BCR. The mean overall BCR-free survival was 46.2 mo (range 8-90). No significant correlation was found between the number of positive lymph nodes and BCR-free survival (P = 0.68). In addition, the patients with LND ≥ 33% had a poor prognosis with significantly decreased disease-specific and BCR-free survival rates (hazard ratio: 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28-0.78; P = 0.0039). At multivariate and artificial neural network (ANN) analyses, LND, Gleason score, and stage were identified as independent prognostic factors of BCR-free survival (P = 0.002; P = 0.003; P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study highlights the role of LND in predicting BCR-free survival in patients with lymph node positive PCa after prostatectomy. It also reinforces the need for a stratification of patients with nodal metastasis.

Extended lymphadenectomy "step by step" in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVES

To describe a surgical technique of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in prostate cancer patients. The idea was to standardize the procedure of PLND and to increase the significance of lymphadenectomy as a part of radical prostatectomy (RP). The best ways to achieve this are (1) to describe the surgical procedure in detail, (2) to improve the knowledge of metastatic spread, and (3) to improve the management of complications.

METHODS

One-hundred six patients with localized prostate carcinoma were treated with RP, including extended PLND. The number of removed lymph nodes (LNs) was correlated with histology and compared with that reported in the literature. Our aim was to observe technical differences that probably accrue in clinical outcomes. We proposed a conceptual schema of PLND.

RESULTS

LN metastases were detected in 15 of 106 patients (14.15%). Positive sentinel LNs were detected in 11 of these 15 patients (73.3%). The average number of removed LNs was 20.5 (range +5). In 4 of 15 patients (26.5%), positive LNs were found in the fossa obturatoria; in 4 patients (26.5%) in the region of the external iliac artery; in 3 patients (20%) in the internal LN region; in 2 patients (13%) in the region of the common iliac artery; in 1 patient (7%) in the presciatic area; and in 1 patient (7%) in the sacral region.

CONCLUSIONS

The standard routine was: (1) dissection of LN tissue along the common iliac artery, (2) dissection of LN tissue in the presciatic area, (3) dissection of LN tissue parasacral, and (4) peritoneal fenestration.

Prospective evaluation of 11C-choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the nodal staging of prostate cancer with a high risk of lymph node metastases

BACKGROUND

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for lymph node (LN) staging of prostate cancer (PCa) are largely inadequate.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to assess prospectively the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the LN staging by (11)C-choline positron emission tomography (PET)-CT and MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the pelvis before retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) with extended pelvic LN dissection (PLND).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

From February 2008 to August 2009, 36 patients with histologically proven PCa and no pelvic LN involvement on contrast-enhanced CT with a risk ≥ 10% but ≤ 35% at LN metastasis according to the Partin tables were enrolled in this study.

INTERVENTION

Patients preoperatively underwent (11)C-choline PET-CT and DWI. Subsequently all patients underwent a wide RRP and an extended PLND.

MEASUREMENTS

Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) for LN status of (11)C-choline PET-CT and DWI were calculated with the final histopathology of the LNs as comparator.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Seventeen patients (47%) had a pN1 stage, and 38 positive LNs were identified. On a LN region-based analysis, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and the number of correctly recognised cases at (11)C-choline PET-CT were 9.4%, 99.7%, 75.0%, 91.0%, and 7.9%, respectively, and at DWI these numbers were 18.8%, 97.6%, 46.2%, 91.7%, and 15.8%, respectively. Twelve LN regions containing macrometastases, of which 2 had capsular penetration, were not detected by (11)C-choline PET-CT; 11 LNs, of which 2 had capsular penetration, were not detected by DWI. This is a small study with 36 patients, but we intend to recruit more patients.

CONCLUSIONS

From this prospective histopathology-based evaluation of (11)C-choline PET-CT and DWI for LN staging in high-risk PCa patients, it is concluded that these techniques cannot be recommended at present to detect occult LN metastases before initial treatment.

Radical prostatectomy improves progression-free and cancer-specific survival in men with lymph node positive prostate cancer in the prostate-specific antigen era: a confirmatory study

STUDY TYPE

Therapy (outcomes research).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2b. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Historically, surgeons were reluctant to perform radical prostatectomy (RP) in LN positive disease. Nowadays, a shift towards multimodal treatment strategies in such patients, comprising RP with extended lymph node dissection followed by radiation and/or hormonal therapy can be detected. However, this change of paradigm is not supported by evidence derived from treatment guidelines. Retrospective studies on this topic, comprising small numbers of patients from the pre-PSA era in the US suggest a survival advantage, if RP is performed. Our analyses of cancer control rates between patients with discontinued vs. completed prostatectomy revealed a superior clinical progression free- and cancer specific-survival rate in those patients with completed prostatectomy. These results add knowledge on treatment outcome of a current patient population since previous retrospective studies include patients from the pre-PSA era.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prognostic role of radical prostatectomy (RP) in lymph node (LN) positive patients with prostate cancer (PCa) in a contemporary RP cohort.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1992 and 2004, 158 consecutive patients with clinically localized PCa and regional LN metastasis were identified. Fifty patients underwent LN dissection and discontinued RP, combined with early hormonal therapy (HT) (RP-), whereas, in 108 patients, RP was completed followed by adjunctive HT (RP+). Clinical progression-free- (CPFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were studied using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Disease characteristics and the impact of RP on CPFS and CSS were further assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. A matched pair analysis between RP- and RP+ patients was performed based on clinical and pathological factors.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 98 months (interquartile range, 88-113). Five- and 10-year CPFS was 77% and 61% for RP+ patients vs 61% and 31%, for RP- patients (P=0.005), respectively. A similar trend was observed for CSS (84% and 76% for RP+ vs 81% and 46% for RP-; P=0.001). Type of treatment (RP- vs RP+) and number of positive LN were multivariate predictors of CPFS and CSS (all P≤0.05). In the matched pair analyses, RP+ patients showed superior CPFS and CSS (P<0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

RP had a beneficial impact, resulting in the superior survival of patients with LN positive PCa after controlling for LN tumour burden in a contemporary RP series. The findings obtained in the present study support the role of RP as an important component of multimodal strategies of LN positive PCa.

How can we predict lymphorrhoea and clinically significant lymphocoeles after radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy? Clinical implications

OBJECTIVE

• To identify clinical and pathological variables that may help clinicians in predicting, preventing and managing lymphorrhoea and clinically significant lymphocoeles (CSL), which are reported complications after pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) and retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• We prospectively analysed 552 consecutive men with prostate cancer who underwent RRP and PLND (2006-2008). • All patients had detailed clinical and pathological data prospectively recorded in an electronic database. Drains were removed when the amount of lymph was < 20 mL in the previous 24 h. A CSL was defined as the presence of a symptomatic lymphocoele requiring treatment. Lymphorrhoea was defined as the total amount of lymph drained by the drains until their removal. • Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to test the association between all the predictors (age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, prostate volume, clinical stage, number of LNs removed, surgeon, pathological T and N stage) and the presence of CSL. • Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were also used to test the association between the available predictors and lymphorrhoea.

RESULTS

• The median (range) number of LNs removed was 20 (1-63). Both linear and logistic multivariable regression analysis showed that the number of removed LNs and age were the only two statistically significant predictors of total amount of lymphorrhoea and CSL after RRP and PLND (both P < 0.01). • Specifically, the risk of developing a CSL increased by 5% for every LN removed. Similarly, every year of age increased the risk of having CSL by 5%. • The most informative thresholds for predicting CSL were 65 years of age and 20 LNs removed. • External iliac lymphadenectomy resulted in a higher associated risk of lymphorrhoea and CLS relative to obturator LN removal (P= 0.001 vs P= 0.1, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

• There was a positive association between the number of LNs removed and age at RRP with the amount of lymphorrhoea and the risk of developing a CSL. • The most informative thresholds in predicting CSL were 65 years of age and 20 LNs removed. External iliac lymphadenectomy resulted in a higher risk of lymphorrhoea and CLS relative to obturator LN removal.

Quantification of tumor cell burden by analysis of single cell lymph node disaggregates in metastatic prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

The size of lymph node (LN) metastases in prostate cancer patients represents an important prognosticator, but histological work-up may not reflect the true extent of tumor invasion. We present a novel technique (1) to detect early tumor cell dissemination and (2) to quantify the true tumor burden.

METHODS

Prospectively 232 LN of 20 consecutive patients with prostate cancer after lymph node dissection were longitudinally bisected, one half was subjected to single cell immunocytochemistry for pancytokeratine (CK), the other half underwent routine histopathological work-up and step section analysis. In immunocytochemistry, tumor cell density (TCD) was quantified by calculating the number of CK-positive cells/million leucocytes and compared to routine histopathology and step section analysis.

RESULTS

Eight of 20 patients were positive in histopathology and step sectioning, but 14 of 20 patients were positive in single cell analysis. Twenty-five of 232 LN were positive in routine histopathology, whereas 52 of 232 LN were positive in single cell analysis. Median TCD in histopathologically positive LN was 3060.0 x 10(-6) and 9.9 x 10(-6) in histopathologically negative LN (P < 0.0001). Mean TCD of histopathologically negative LN of pN1 patients was significantly higher than the mean TCD of pN0 patients (P < 0.003). Mean TCD per patient correlated with serum-PSA (r(2) = 0.48, P < 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Single cell analysis has an increased detection rate compared to routine histopathology and even to serial step section analysis. The method can detect early tumor dissemination and enables quantification of the tumor burden. The subgroup of histopathologically negative LN with CK-positive cells represents tumor cell dissemination not depicted histologically.

Predicting biochemical recurrence-free survival for patients with positive pelvic lymph nodes at radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE

We evaluated predictors of freedom from biochemical recurrence in patients with pelvic lymph node metastasis at radical prostatectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Of 207 patients with lymph node metastasis treated with radical prostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection 45 received adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy and 162 did not. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to investigate predictors of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Recurrence probability was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

A median of 13 lymph nodes were removed. Of the patients 122 had 1, 44 had 2 and 41 had 3 or greater positive lymph nodes. Of patients without androgen deprivation therapy 103 had 1, 35 had 2 and 24 had 3 or greater positive lymph nodes while 69 experienced biochemical recurrence. Median time to recurrence in patients with 1, 2 and 3 or greater lymph nodes was 59, 13 and 3 months, respectively. Only specimen Gleason score and the number of positive lymph nodes were independent predictors of biochemical recurrence. Recurrence-free probability 2 years after prostatectomy in men without androgen deprivation with 1 positive lymph node and a prostatectomy Gleason score of 7 or less was 79% vs 29% in those with Gleason score 8 or greater and 2 or more positive lymph nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognosis in patients with lymph node metastasis depends on the number of positive lymph nodes and primary tumor Gleason grade. Of all patients with lymph node metastasis 80% had 1 or 2 positive nodes. A large subset of those patients had a favorable prognosis. Full bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection should be done in patients with intermediate and high risk cancer to identify those likely to benefit from metastatic node removal.

Survival benefit of radical prostatectomy in lymph node-positive patients with prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Positive lymph node (LN) status is considered a systemic disease state. In prostate cancer, LN-positive diagnosis during pelvic LN dissection (PLND) potentially leads to the abandonment of radical prostatectomy (RP).

OBJECTIVE

To compare the overall survival (OS) and relative survival (RS; as an estimate for cancer-specific survival) in LN-positive patients with or without RP.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Between 1988 and 2007, a total of 35 629 men with prostate cancer were identified at the Munich Cancer Registry; of those, 1413 patients had positive LNs.

INTERVENTION

Of these 1413 LN-positive patients, prostatectomy was abandoned in 456 LN-positive patients, whereas 957 underwent RP despite the LN-positive finding.

MEASUREMENTS

Crucial analyses are based on 938 LN-positive patients (688 with RP and 250 without RP) with complete data regarding age, grade, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). OS (Kaplan-Meier estimates) and RS are presented, and Cox regression analysis was used to show the influence of predictors such as clinical stage, age at surgery, number of positive LNs, PSA level, grade, and extent of surgery.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 5.6 yr. OS of patients at 5 yr and 10 yr was 84% and 64%, respectively, with RP and was 60% and 28%, respectively, with aborted RP. The RS of patients at 5 yr and 10 yr was 95% and 86%, respectively, with RP and was 70% and 40%, respectively, with abandoned surgery. There was an imbalance, however, in the number of positive LNs: 17.2% with RP had four or more positive nodes versus 28% in the patient group without RP. In the multivariate model, RP was a strong independent predictor of survival (hazard ratio: 2.04 [95% confidence interval, 1.59-2.63; p<0.0001]).

CONCLUSION

LN-positive patients with complete RP had improved survival compared to patients with abandoned RP. These results suggest that RP may have a survival benefit and the abandonment of RP in node-positive cases may not be justified.

[Surgical's innovations and perspectives in management of localized prostate cancer]

Incidence of prostate cancer is constantly increasing, notably localized cancer cases in young men:As a direct consequence of PSA-driven screening. Recent researchers and clinicians efforts have greatly improved the options and the indications of the treatment, particularly in surgery. The development of the video assisted technologies, with encouraging oncological outcomes and promising functional results are establishing evidences of the evolution of prostate surgery. In daily practice, the strategy for the surgical management of postoperative incontinence, when required, is also more established and represents another challenge took up by the urologists. Besides, the emergence of new innovations:As one-trocar system for laparoscopy or 3-D vision for laparoscopy, confirms the idea of a deep and perpetual mutation in the area of prostate cancer surgery.

Lymph node dissection during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: where do we stand?

Since the initial report of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) in 2001, the technique has gained rapid acceptance and utilization. When compared with more traditional forms of surgical intervention, there is still much debate with respect to cost, and impact on potency and continence. Less often is the focus on oncologic outcomes. Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) at the time of prostatectomy is an important part of the surgical intervention for prostate cancer and is currently underreported during robotic procedures. Herein, we review the current controversies on the value and extent of PLND and the status of emerging data regarding robot-assisted PLND.