Prostate Radiotherapy in India: Evolution, Practice and Challenges in the 21st Century

Abstract

The practice of prostate radiotherapy is evolving rapidly while there is an increase in the incidence of prostate cancer in India. Here, the diverse socioeconomic milieu and varied healthcare delivery models interact to exert a significant influence on the adoption of new technologies and evidence emerging from the Western world. Using a targeted cross-country survey of radiation oncologists, this article captures the changing trends in prostate imaging, conformal techniques, dose escalation, hypofractionation, stereotactic ablation and prostate brachytherapy in the context of practice patterns in the West. New directions in research on prostate cancer are highlighted, reflecting the unique challenges of the disease profile and treatment resources in India.

Keywords: India; patterns of practice; prostate cancer; prostate radiotherapy.