Cystoprostatectomy Eases Cancer Symptoms

A new study finds that radical cystoprostatectomy (CP) can help alleviate the symptoms associated with prostate cancer invasion into the bladder.

The study, conducted at the department of urology at the university of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA), evaluated the effect of cystoprostatectomy in 38 patients with clinical T4 prostate cancer. Before surgery, 34 of the patients reported local symptoms, which included pain, hematuria, urinary urgency, pelvic pain, or bladder outlet obstruction. After the procedure was performed, only eight patients had local symptoms. Ultimately, the surgery rendered 30 of the patients free of local symptoms indefinitely.

Furthermore, the requirement for tube insertion to overcome urinary obstruction fell from 22 tubes in 13 patients before surgery to two tubes in two patients afterwards. Average time of tube indwelling also decreased from almost seven months before surgery to one month after surgery. There were no perioperative deaths. However, five patients suffered rectal injury, which was more common with patients who had radiation therapy. Approximately one in five patients required repeat surgery to correct problems brought about by the primary procedure.

"Symptomatic or tube-dependent patients who have bladder invasion by prostate cancer may benefit from surgery if they are medically fit for major surgery, and have adequate performance status and limited or no metastatic disease,” according to Dr. Louis L. Pisters and colleagues in the study, published in the November 2005 edition of the Journal of Urology.

Nevertheless, they added, "Patients with symptomatic bladder invasion by prostate cancer must be fully informed of the potential complications associated with CP, as well as the expected benefit from the extended relief of local symptoms.




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M.D. Anderson Cancer Center