Health-related Quality of Life and Toxicity After Single-fraction High-dose-rate Brachytherapy With External Beam Radiotherapy for Localized and Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer.

To evaluate the treatment outcomes, toxicity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients who underwent single-fraction high-dose-rate brachytherapy (single-fraction HDR-BT) with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

From April 2014 to October 2017, treatment outcomes and toxicity of 85 patients who underwent single-fraction HDR-BT of 13 Gy, followed by 46 Gy EBRT in 23 fractions, were examined. HRQOL of 53 patients was evaluated using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)/QOL index, International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) scores through one year.

The median follow-up period was 28.8 months. Only three patients had biochemical recurrence. Toxicities included less than grade 3 lower urinary tract symptoms and grade 1 diarrhea. Urethral stricture, a problem related to late toxicity in conventional HDR-BT, was not observed. The urinary and bowel functions in EPIC scores significantly worsened until three or six months after treatment, respectively.

Single-fraction HDR-BT with EBRT showed promising biochemical control, tolerant toxicities, and preservation of HRQOL, and can be efficiently performed in a shorter time than conventional HDR-BT.

Anticancer research. 2019 Jan [Epub]

Tomoyuki Makino, Kazufumi Nakashima, Masashi Iijima, Shouhei Kawaguchi, Takahiro Nohara, Kazuyoshi Shigehara, Kouji Izumi, Yoshifumi Kadono, Tomoyasu Kumano, Atsushi Mizokami

Department of Integrative Cancer Therapy and Urology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan., Department of Radiotherapy, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan., Department of Integrative Cancer Therapy and Urology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan .