The impact of surgery in oligometastatic prostate cancer

Oligometastatic prostate cancer has been considered an intermediate state between localized disease and widespread metastases, but there is no consensus on the definition of oligometastasis in prostate cancer. At present, a clinical diagnosis made on the basis of up to five extrapelvic lesions is reasonable for use. Retrospective studies and post hoc analyses suggest that local or metastasis-directed interventions could have benefits in the oligometastatic state including a better response to systematic therapy, lower risk of local complications, and possible positive impact on cancer-specific survival and overall survival; however, insufficient data are available to draw reliable conclusions. In this short review, we summarize the current available data on the role of surgery in oligometastatic prostate cancer.