Effect of perioperative blood transfusion on prostate cancer recurrence.

Background: Transfusion may predispose patients to an increased risk of tumor recurrence following solid organ surgery. Lung and colon cancer studies suggest that blood transfusions promote tumor growth or distant metastasis possibly due to immunosuppression. Blood loss can be high during radical retropubic prostatectomy necessitating intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion.

NCCN Practice Guidelines for Prostate Cancer.

Systemic therapies for prostate cancer are likely to improve, and as they do, they will have enormous impact on the treatment of high-risk and locally advanced cancers. Further technical improvements in radiotherapy and alternative local modalities, such as cryoablation, are also likely, and will bring even more options for local control. It is certain these guidelines will continue to evolve.