Outcomes of palliative resections of the prostate in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer

This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This study found that TURP is a surgical option to relieve bladder obstruction in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer.

Advanced prostate cancer may cause significant complications which affect quality of life, including bladder obstruction and blood in the urine. The bladder sits on top of the prostate in the body. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgery where the prostate is removed via the urethra. This is one of the treatment options for advanced prostate cancer and can be used to relieve bladder obstruction and blood in the urine. Bladder obstruction is important to treat as urine is backed up into the kidneys, causing many complications.

The long-term side-effects of this surgery are unclear.

This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of TURP. 58 patients were included in the study, with an average age of 68. 51.7% of patients had metastatic (spread) cancer at the time of TURP. 46.6% of patients had castration resistant prostate cancer (no longer responding to hormone therapy). 16% of patients had a catheter or nephrostomy (tube to drain urine placed through the skin) before TURP. Patients were followed for an average of 2.23 years.

16.3% of patients survived five years after the surgery. Patients with advanced age, or whose prostate cancer grew despite hormone treatments, had a worse prognosis. 

27% of men underwent more than one redo TURPs and 28% eventually had a catheter placed. Catheters or nephrostomy tubes placed before TURP remained in all patients. Serious complications such as blood loss occurred in 2% of patients. 10% of patients experienced chronic incontinence (lack of bladder control) following TURP. 

This study found that TURP is a surgical option to relieve bladder obstruction in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer, but is ineffective in treating obstruction of the urethra.

This is a retrospective article, which looks back on a data set. This means that its conclusions are weaker than if it were a prospective trial.