To compare differences in the actuarial biochemical relapse-free survival rates at 6 years in a contemporary series of patients who underwent radical prostatectomy with and without pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). Biochemical failure was defined as a serum prostate-specific antigen level greater than 0.2 ng/mL confirmed at least 1 week later.

The records of 806 consecutive radical prostatectomy cases performed between January 1995 and June 1999 were reviewed. A total of 336 patients with favorable tumor characteristics (prostate-specific antigen 10 ng/mL or less, biopsy Gleason score 6 or less, and clinical Stage T1 or T2) not receiving adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy were divided into two groups according to whether PLND was performed (PLND group, n = 140) or omitted (no-PLND group, n = 196). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the effect of age, race, family history, initial prostate-specific antigen level, tumor stage, biopsy Gleason score, PLND, extracapsular extension, and seminal vesicle invasion on the likelihood of biochemical failure. Biochemical relapse-free survival for each group was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The mean follow-up time for the entire group was 60.0 months, with a similar follow-up for both cohorts (mean 61.8 and 58.2 months, respectively, P value not statistically significant). Follow-up information was obtained through an institutional review board-approved prospective patient registry.

The 6-year biochemical relapse-free rate for the PLND versus no-PLND group was 86% and 88%, respectively (P = 0.28). On multivariate analysis, PLND was not an independent predictor of outcome (P = 0.33).

Our study results demonstrated that the omission of PLND in patients with favorable tumor characteristics does not adversely affect biochemical relapse rates at 6 years after surgery. Such patients can be spared the morbidity and cost of PLND without affecting the chance for cure.