The standard approach to this disease (in the past) has been to surgically remove the prostate (radical prostatectomy). There is a considerable long term experience with this approach with good results, but it is still unclear if this treatment is better than radiation (or no treatment at all.)

A recent study by Catalona (Cancer 89:1308-14, 2000) of 595 patients treated with surgery demonstrated how the relapse rate related to: PSA level,  Gleason Score,  tumor stage, and the  percentage of gland with cancer. Also see the results with 960 patients from U of Pennsylvania  by risk groups. Surgery should not be performed if there is a high likeihood that cancer is outside the gland (see Partin Tables.)

Also see the other sections on the recurrence rate after surgery, table to predict relapses, and other surgical outcome studies. (also see Hopkins surgery site picture of nerve sparing radical and review from Walsh here).

There has been increased interest in robotic surgery go here and here. It's not clear if minimally invasive surgery is better and may have more complications (go here). Some recent review articles about different surgical approaches: here, here, here