Abstract
Introduction and Objective:
Given the favorable cancer-specific survival rates in localized prostate cancer and the negative impact of whole-gland treatments on functional outcomes, the field is moving toward precision strategies such as focal therapy and organ-sparing surgery. We aim to report medium-term functional and oncologic outcomes for the initial Single-Port Robotic Transvesical Partial Prostatectomy (SP-TVRAPP) patient cohort.
Materials and Methods:
We analyzed a prospectively maintained database of 20 patients who underwent SP-TVRAPP between February 2021 and March 2024. Inclusion criteria were prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤10 ng/mL, clinical stage ≤ cT2b, ISUP Grade Group ≤3, unilateral lesions on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) with positive biopsy cores on the same side, and preoperative IIEF-5 ≥ 17. We also considered bilateral prostate cancer in the anterior zone and invisible mpMRI tumors confirmed by unilateral positive biopsies.
Results:
At baseline, patients had an average age of 61 years, a median PSA of 4.8 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.7–7.7), and a median Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score of 24 (IQR: 18–25). All procedures were completed without complications, need for additional ports, or conversion. After a median hospital stay of 4.2 hours, 94% of cases were discharged without opioid prescriptions, and Foley catheters were removed after approximately 4 days. At 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months postprocedure, potency rates, defined as a SHIM score ≥17, were 45.0%, 77.7%, 83.3%, and 87.5%, respectively. When potency was defined as having erections sufficient for penetration, the rates were 80.0%, 88.8%, 88.8%, and 93.7% for the same time intervals. Regarding urinary function, 60.0% were continent at 1 week, increasing to 85.0% by 6 weeks, 88.8% at both 3 and 6 months, and reaching 93.7% at 12 months postsurgery. Oncologically, 30.0% experienced upgrading and 40.0% upstaging within this cohort. Negative surgical margins were attained in 85.0% of the cases and the median PSA was 0.4 ng/mL 12 months after SP-TVRAPP. Two men were found to have residual GG1 cancer in the protocol biopsies and are currently on active surveillance. At a mean follow-up of 15.5 months (0.2–34.8) months, none of the patients has required secondary interventions, and all remain free of both clinically significant residual prostate cancer and metastatic disease.
Conclusions:
SP-TVRAPP represents a promising treatment for certain patients with localized prostate cancer. This targeted surgical method has been associated with faster postoperative recovery and has demonstrated high rates of early recovery in erectile function and urinary continence while ensuring oncologic safety.
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