Oncological safety and quality of life in men undergoing simultaneous transurethral resection of bladder tumor and prostate: results from a randomized controlled trial

Purpose: To assess oncological safety and quality of life (QL) of men undergoing simultaneous transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Ninety-five men with a new diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC) and symptomatic BPH were randomized to receive TURBT + tamsulosin (Group 1) or TURBT + TURP (Group 2). Inclusion criteria were age ≤ 75 years, first diagnosis of BC up to 4 cm, and prostate volume ≤ 80 ml. All patients were evaluated preoperatively with digital rectal examination, PSA, maximal urine flow rate (Qmax), and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). IPSS and Qmax were repeated at 1-year follow-up. QL was evaluated at 1 year using a modified version of the self-report bladder cancer subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy. Results: Eighty-five men completed the study (43 in Group 1 and 42 in Group 2). Adjuvant instillation therapy was given to 26 patients in Group 1 and to 27 in Group 2. Average time to the first recurrence was 16.64 months in Group 1 and 17.7 in Group 2. Total recurrences were 27 in Group 1 and 22 in Group 2. Bladder neck/prostatic urethra recurrences were 9 in Group 1 vs. 8 in Group 2. QL, IPSS, and Qmax 12 months after surgery were better in Group 2. Conclusion: Concomitant TURBT and TURP appear to be oncologically safe procedures in terms of total and prostatic urethra recurrence, and improve QL in men with BC who require surgery for symptomatic BPH.