Early stage prostate cancer: biochemical recurrence after treatment

Abstract

Objectives: To identify retrospectively through chart analysis the biochemical recurrence frequency of localized prostate cancer at diagnosis of patients submitted to surgery or radiotherapy; to correlate diagnostic characteristics associated with higher risk of biochemical recurrence.

Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of 483 patients treated in a single center, from March 2000 to December 2009 in order to verify factors associated with biochemical recurrence.

Results: Biochemical recurrence was more frequent in patients with higher initial PSA levels and those with higher risk disease. Recurrence was more frequent in patients with high risk (25.9%) than those with intermediate risk (10.7%)) and low risk (5.5%). There was no significant statistical difference of biochemical recurrence between patients submitted to radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy. Biochemical recurrence was diagnosed in only 11 of 73 patients (15%)) submitted to conformal radiotherapy using tridimensional technique.

Conclusion: Radiotherapy and radical prostatectomy have similar treatment results. Tridimensional conformal radiotherapy used nowadays is more efficient than earlier forms of radiation therapy (cobalt therapy and bidimensional linear accelerator therapy).