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RECRUITING
NCT07580196
NA

Bilateral Versus Unilateral Lymph Node Dissection in High-Risk Prostate Cancer (BALANCE)

Sponsor: University of Turin, Italy

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

BALANCE is a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial enrolling men with unilateral high-risk localized prostate cancer identified by prostate biopsy, multiparametric MRI, and PSMA PET imaging. Eligible patients scheduled for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either unilateral extended pelvic lymph node dissection or bilateral extended pelvic lymph node dissection. Pelvic lymph node dissection is commonly performed in high-risk prostate cancer for staging purposes, but its therapeutic benefit remains uncertain and the procedure may increase operative time, costs, and postoperative morbidity. Modern imaging techniques may improve the identification of patients with predominantly unilateral disease and support a more selective surgical approach. The co-primary objectives are to compare 3-year biochemical recurrence-free survival and early postoperative PSA persistence between the two surgical strategies. Secondary objectives include comparison of perioperative complications, operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, quality of life, long-term oncologic outcomes, and costs. This study is designed to determine whether unilateral extended pelvic lymph node dissection can reduce surgical morbidity while preserving oncologic outcomes in appropriately selected patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

Official title: Bilateral or Unilateral Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in High-Risk Prostate Cancer: The BALANCE Randomized Controlled Trial

Key Details

Gender

MALE

Age Range

18 Years - Any

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Enrollment

820

Start Date

2026-03-30

Completion Date

2030-12

Last Updated

2026-05-12

Healthy Volunteers

No

Conditions

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Unilateral Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection

Extended pelvic lymph node dissection performed only on the side of the dominant lesion, as defined by biopsy, multiparametric MRI, and PSMA PET findings.

PROCEDURE

Bilateral Extended Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection

Extended pelvic lymph node dissection performed bilaterally according to the study surgical template during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Locations (14)

Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre & Humanitas University

Rozzano, Milano, Italy

IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant'Orsola-Malpighi & University of Bologna

Bologna, Italy

Università degli Studi di Firenze / AOU Careggi

Florence, Italy

Università degli Studi di Foggia / AO Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia

Foggia, Italy

IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino & University of Genoa

Genova, Italy

IEO, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia

Milan, Italy

ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda

Milan, Italy

Università degli Studi di Modena / AOU Modena

Modena, Italy

Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione "G. Pascale"

Naples, Italy

Università Tor Vergata / Policlinico Tor Vergata

Roma, Italy

IFO - Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri

Roma, Italy

Policlinico Universitario Gemelli IRCCS & Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Roma, Italy

AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Ospedale Molinette

Torino, Italy

Università degli Studi di Verona / AOU Verona

Verona, Italy