Risk of Positive Margins and Biochemical Recurrence in Relation to Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of nerve-sparing (NS) radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) on surgical margins and biochemical recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Location and incidence of positive surgical margins, recurrence, and time to recurrence were assessed in a consecutive series of 734 men who underwent RRP for localized prostate cancer from 1992 through February 2000. NS procedures were used in 33% (n = 240) of 734 patients studied. RESULTS: Surgical margins were positive for 24% (n = 58) and 31% (n = 152) of NS and non-NS patients, respectively (P = .06). No significant difference between the groups was found in location of positive margins (P = .92). Prostate-specific antigen level greater than 10 ng/mL, extraprostatic extension, tumor volume more than 20%, capsular penetration, Gleason score ≥ 7, positive margins, and seminal vesicle invasion were associated with significantly increased risk of recurrence. However, NS patients were not at increased risk of recurrence compared with non-NS patients (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.53 to 1.72). The cumulative risk of recurrence within 3 and 5 years of surgery in NS patients was 9.7% and 14.4%, respectively, as compared with 17.1% and 21.1% for non-NS patients. CONCLUSION: In patients with localized prostate cancer, neither margin status nor biochemical-free survival within 5 years of surgery were altered by the nerve preservation technique. Given our experience, we recommend preservation of neurovascular bundles in these patients whenever the procedure is technically feasible.