Intraoperative application of platelet-rich plasma to the neurovascular bundles during radical prostatectomy: A prospective clinical trial.

Abstract

TPS380 Background: Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the most common surgical treatment for prostate cancer (PC). Yet even with nerve-sparing RP (NS-RP), a significant proportion of men experience transient or permanent erectile dysfunction (ED) partially due to intraoperative neurovascular bundle (NVB) damage from thermal or mechanical trauma. Studies have shown that platelet released growth factors counteract trauma and facilitate healing. We evaluate the use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) to facilitate early nerve healing and decrease ED after NS-RP. Methods: A prospective, open label, 20 subject human trial evaluating intraoperative topical NVB PRP application was approved by the IRB and FDA under an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE 16915) for the investigational use of an approved blood separation device. Men aged 50-60 with newly diagnosed, localized PC and normal preoperative sexual and urinary function, defined as a Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score of >19 and an answer of “none” on question 5 of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) are eligible. Intraoperatively, a 10ml PRP product is created from a 180 mL sample of the patient’s whole blood using the Angel Concentrated Platelet Rich Plasma System (Cytomedix, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD USA). PRP is applied via mechanical transfer to the NVB after completion of the vesicourethral anastomosis. The primary endpoint is the safety and tolerability of PRP on the NVB after NS-RP. Secondary endpoints include feasibility of intraoperative PRP application and longitudinal assessment of erectile function and urinary continence by questionnaire administration at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months after NS-RP. Clinical trial information: NCT02957149.