LONG-TERM RESULTS OF RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY - 15-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF 100PATIENTS

Out of 630 patients treated by radical prostatectomy at our institutio n since 1969, 100 are now at risk for more than 15 years. Of these 100 patients, 68 had a pathologically organ-confined tumor (stage pT(2)pN (0)) and 23 had capsular penetration or seminal vesicle involvement (s tage pT(3)pN(0)). In 9 cases, lymph node metastases (stage pT(2-3)pN(1 -2)) were detected. The observed overall 15-year survival rates were f ound to be 55.9 (stage pT(2)), 47.8 (stage pT(3)) and 22.2% (stage pT( 2-3)pN(1-2)), respectively. The corresponding 15-year tumor-related su rvival rates were 80.9, 73.9 and 55.6%, respectively. Patients with st age pT(2) or pT(3) tumors following radical prostatectomy were shown t o have a survival expectancy equal to the male age-matched control pop ulation. These observed 15-year follow-up data delineate radical prost atectomy to be the best way to achieve long-term disease-free survival , if not cure, in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.