The risk of malignancy in the surgical margin at radical prostatectomy reduced almost three-fold in patients given neo-adjuvant hormone treatment.

Objectives: To investigate the outcome of neo-adjuvant hormone treatment before radical prostatectomy regarding local tumour extension, peri-operative blood loss and operation time. Patients: Of 111 surgically treated patients with prostate cancer (T1(b-)T3(a), N-0, M(0), G(1-3)), 55 were randomised to immediate radical prostatectomy and 56 to 3 months of neo-adjuvant treatment with triptorelin (3.75 mg i.m. every 28 days) and cyproterone acetate (50 mg b.i.d. for 3 weeks to prevent flare). Results: No differences were found in blood loss or operation time but patients who had neo-adjuvant treatment had a significantly lower frequency of positive margins (41 vs. 23%, p = 0.013). Conclusion: Neo-adjuvant treatment does not facilitate radical prostatectomy but may improve the chance of local cure. This must, however, be documented with long-term follow-up in randomised patients.