From July 1969 to September 1990, 370 patients with prostatic cancer underwent radical prostatectomy at our institution. Of these 370 patients, 115 consecutive patients could be followed for more than 10 years (mean 12.5). Patients with stage pT1-pT3 tumors received no further treatment until progression occurred. Patients with regional lymph node metastases (stages pT2-3pN1-2M0) were treated by either an immediate orchiectomy or an adjuvant hormonal therapy. No radiotherapy was applied prior to radical prostatectomy or thereafter. Of the 115 patients followed for more than 10 years, 84 had stage pT1-2, 22 had stage pT3, and 9 had stage pT2-3pN1-2 tumors. The observed 10-year survival rate of all 115 patients (including those with regional lymph node metastases) was found to be 67.0%. The 10-year disease-free survival rate was 58.3% and the tumor-related survival rate was 83.5%. Considering only patients with locally confined (stage pT1-2) tumors, the 10-year survival rate was 75.0%. This observed survival rate equals the 10-year survival expectancy of a male age-matched control population (69.9%). Progression (local recurrence or distant metastatic spread) was noted in 27.8% of patients within the 10-year interval after radical prostatectomy. Within this time interval, 16.5% of the patients died from their disease.