Nerve Grafting With an Allograft During Radical Prostatectomy - Extended Follow-up in a Prospective Randomized Trial

Nerve Grafting With an Allograft During Radical Prostatectomy - Extended Follow-up in a Prospective Randomized Trial

Earlier studies were able to show that an improvement of the erectile function following a non-nerve sparing radical prostatectomy could be achieved using an autologous nerve graft.

The investigators evaluate the use of the implantation of the allogenic nerve graft Avance® in patients undergoing non nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.

In this prospective randomised and single-blind, clinical phase-IV study, 60 patients are randomized into the treatment group and the control group. The follow-up is at least 24 months.

The inclusion criteria were localized prostate cancers cT3 and/or Gleason score ≥ 7 (a or b) and/or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≥ 20 ng/ml and furthermore an erectile function with an IIEF ≥ 21 (IIEF-6).

The operation carried out is a standardised, robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with total excision of both neurovascular bundles.

The Outcome measurement is done with the "quality of life questionnaire before and after prostate surgery" that includes the "International Index of Erectile Function" (IIEF) questionnaire.

The limitations are a small cohort, a short observation period and the lack of statistical analysis due to a still low number of patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Localized intermediate-risk or high-risk prostate cancer cT3
• Gleason score ≥ 7 (3+4 and/or 4+3) and/or
• PSA ≥ 20 ng/ml
• intact preoperative erectile function with an IIEF ≥ 21 (IIEF-6).

Exclusion Criteria:

• IIEF < 21
• Operations in the past 6 months which could limit the erectile function
• Erectile dysfunction in the history or current medication for erectile dysfunction
• Current involvement in another comparable study.