Detection of nodal micro metastases with serial section, immunohistochemistry and real time-polymerase chain reaction in intermediate and high risk prostate cancer patients submitted to radical prostatectomy with extended pelvic lymph node dissection: A perspective study

A consistent rate of patients who are classified as “node-negative” after radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph-node dissection (PLND) experience a nodal disease relapse. Routine pathological examination can miss micro-metastatic tumor foci in the lymph nodes (LN) of patients with prostate cancer (PCa), resulting in confused tumor staging and clinical decision-making. The aim of the present perspective study was to evaluate the impact of micro-metastasis assessed by serial section (SS), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in patient submitted to radical prostatectomy with extended PLND.