Pelvic nodal radiotherapy in patients with unfavorable intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer: Evidence, rationale, and future directions - Abstract

The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd.,Houston, Texas.

 

Over the past 15 years, there have been three major advances in the use of external beam radiotherapy in the management of men with clinically localized prostate made. They include: (1) image guided (IG) three-dimensional conformal/intensity modulated radiotherapy; (2) radiation dose escalation; and (3) androgen deprivation therapy. To date only the last of these three advances have been shown to improve overall survival. The presence of occult pelvic nodal involvement could explain the failure of increased conformality and dose escalation to prolong survival, because the men who appear to be at the greatest risk of death from clinically localized prostate cancer are those who are likely to have lymph node metastases. This review discusses the evidence for prophylactic pelvic nodal radiotherapy, including the key trials and controversies surrounding this issue.

Written by:
Morikawa LK, Roach M 3rd.   Are you the author?

Reference: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2011 May 1;80(1):6-16.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.11.074

PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21481721

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