Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

Prostate cancer remains a significant health problem worldwide and is the second highest cause of cancer-related death in men. While there is uncertainty over which men will benefit from radical treatment, considerable efforts are being made to reduce treatment related side-effects and in optimising outcomes. This article reviews the development and introduction of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP), the results to date, and the possible future directions of RALP. British Journal of Cancer ( 2009) 101, 1491-1496. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605341 www.bjcancer.com Published online 29 September 2009 (C) 2009 Cancer Research UK