Previous HoLEP Surgery Does Not Limit Future Prostate Cancer Treatment

Many men undergo holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) to relieve urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. If prostate cancer is diagnosed later, patients often wonder whether their earlier surgery will affect their treatment options.

Researchers reviewed more than 20 studies examining outcomes after prostate cancer treatment in men who had previously undergone

HoLEP.

The review found reassuring news. Men who later had radical prostatectomy achieved cancer control similar to men who had never undergone HoLEP, and their long-term sexual function was also comparable.

However, surgery after HoLEP was technically more challenging. These patients experienced somewhat higher rates of surgical complications and urinary leakage immediately after surgery. Men treated with radiation therapy generally experienced better urinary control than those treated with surgery.

Overall, the study suggests that previous HoLEP does not prevent successful treatment of prostate cancer, although it may influence which treatment option is best for an individual patient.

European Urology Open Science. 2025.