To estimate the outcomes of high-dose-rate brachytherapy combined with hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients classified as very high risk by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Between June 2009 and September 2015, 66 patients meeting the criteria for very high-risk disease received high-dose-rate brachytherapy (2 fractions of 9 Gy) as a boost of external beam radiotherapy (13 fractions of 3 Gy). Androgen deprivation therapy was administered for approximately 3 years. Biochemical failure was assessed using the Phoenix definition.
The median follow-up period was 53 months from the completion of radiotherapy. The 5-year biochemical failure-free, distant metastasis-free, prostate cancer-specific and overall survival rates were 88.7, 89.2, 98.5 and 97.0%, respectively. The independent contribution of each component of the very high-risk criteria was assessed in multivariable models. Primary Gleason pattern 5 was associated with increased risks of biochemical failure (P = 0.017) and distant metastasis (P = 0.049), whereas clinical stage ≥T3b or >4 biopsy cores with Gleason score 8-10 had no significant impact on the two outcomes. Grade 3 genitourinary toxicities were observed in two (3.0%) patients, whereas no grade ≥3 gastrointestinal toxicities occurred.
The present study shows that this multimodal approach provides potentially excellent cancer control and acceptable associated morbidity for very high-risk disease. Patients with primary Gleason pattern 5 are at a higher risk of poor outcomes, indicating the need for more aggressive approaches in these cases.
International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association. 2020 Jul 07 [Epub ahead of print]
Takashi Kasahara, Fumio Ishizaki, Akira Kazama, Eri Yuki, Kazutoshi Yamana, Ryo Maruyama, Tomoya Oshikane, Motoki Kaidu, Hidefumi Aoyama, Vladimir Bilim, Tsutomu Nishiyama, Yoshihiko Tomita
Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Urology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan., Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan., Department of Urology, Kameda Daiichi Hospital, Niigata, Japan., Department of Urology, Uonuma Kikan Hospital, Minamiuonuma, Japan.