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Bilateral Versus Unilateral Lymph Node Dissection in High-Risk Prostate Cancer (BALANCE)
Sponsor: University of Turin, Italy
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
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.
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