Role of Lymphnode Dissection in Men With Prostate Cancer Treated With Radical Prostatectomy

NCT ID: NCT04269512

Last Updated: 2026-01-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 3650 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-10-15
• Study Completion Date: 2029-12-31

Brief Summary

Currently, lymph node dissection is standard of care during prostatectomy of intermediate risk tumors at the Martini Clinic. It allows the assessment of possible but unlikely lymph nodes metastases. In case of lymph node metastasis, depending on the number of affected lymph nodes, an adjuvant radiation with or without additional hormone therapy may be discussed in order to stop or delay further progression of the disease.

Since the procedure carries additional risks, it is controversial. The risks include prolonged surgery duration, injury of vessels and nerves, as well as disorders of lymphatic circulation after surgery. Moreover, formation of lymphoceles (accumulation of lymph fluid in the tissue) are common, which may result in soft tissue swelling, thrombosis, inflammation and additional surgical procedures.

Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether the removal of the lymph nodes during prostatectomy positively influences the course of the disease in patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer, or if the lymph node dissection does not have any influence on the recurrence of the disease and therefore further therapies.

In this case, the omission of lymph node dissection may avoid an unnecessary expansion of the operation and the potentially associated side effects linked to it. This is particularly of interest considering the rapidly advancing technical possibilities, both in imaging and in the treatment of prostate cancer, since this enables an earlier and more individual intervention in the case of recurrence.

Detailed Description

The significance of lymph node dissection in radical prostatectomy has not been conclusively clarified. If a radical prostatectomy is planned, the question occurs if the additional pelvic lymph node dissection (LND) is justified and to what extent it should be performed (limited LND, standard LND or extended LND). On the one hand, the detection of lymph node metastases is associated with a significantly worse course of the tumor disease and requires immediate or delayed hormone-ablative therapy. On the other hand, the lymph node dissection is associated with risks (lymphoceles, thromboses, lymphedema), so that the indication in negative lymph node findings appears questionable. It must be weighed between the diagnostic advantage and the possibility of increased morbidity due to the lymphadenectomy. For localized intermediate risk prostate cancer (PSA> 10 ng / ml - 20 ng / ml or Gleason score 7 or cT category 2b ), there are currently no recommendations for performing a lymph node dissection during prostatectomy.

Conditions

Prostate Cancer

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

extended lymph node dissection

Patients randomized to arm A undergo bilateral lymph node dissection in the pelvic area as part of prostatectomy. At least 10 lymph nodes must be removed.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

lymph node dissection

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

At least 10 lymph nodes must be removed.

standard without lymph node dissection

Application of standardized surgical technique without extensive lymph node dissection. If, contrary to expectation, intraoperative suspicion of lymphogenic metastasis results, a lymph node dissection is performed and the patient is excluded from the study (freedom of the surgeon).

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

lymph node dissection

At least 10 lymph nodes must be removed.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• localized intermediate risk prostate cancer (intermediate risk (PSA> 10 ng / ml - 20 ng / ml or Gleason score 7 or cT category 2b)
• scheduled for open radical prostatectomie or DaVinci prostatectomie

Exclusion Criteria

• American Society of Anesthesiology Classification> 3
• Existing contraindications for performing a lymph node dissection
• Neoadjuvant hormone therapy

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Martini-Klinik am UKE GmbH

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Markus Graefen

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Director

Locations

Martini-Klinik am UKE GmbH

Hamburg, , Germany

Countries

Germany

Related Links

http://www.martini-klinik.de

Homepage

Other Identifiers

PREDICT_MK2019

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id