[Organ-confined prostate cancer: treatment with high doses of radioterapy (intensity modulated radiotherapy)]

Abstract

Purpose: To report toxicity and local control in patients with localized prostate cancer, treated with high dose radiotherapy.

Materials and methods: The records of 100 consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated between june 2003 and may 2006 were reviewed. They received 80 Gy to the target volume with a biphasic technique (3DCRT + IMRT). The median pretreatment PSA was 9. The median follow-up time was 12 months.

Results: Eighteen (18%) developed acute Grade 2 rectal toxicity, and no patient experienced acute grade 3 or higher rectal symptoms. Forty-four (44%) developed acute Grade 2 urinary symptoms while 34% of the patients experienced no GU symptoms (Grade 0) during treatment. Three patients (3%) developed late rectal toxicity grade 2 and eight patients (8%) experienced late urinary toxicity grade 2; any patients experienced more severe symptoms. We recorded biochemical relapse in two patients, both had poor prognostic factors at initial diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Conclusions: The data demonstrate the feasibility and safety of high dose radiotherapy for patients with localized prostate cancer and provide a proof that this method allow safe dose escalation with low severe toxicities to the normal tissues.