Although a significant proportion of patients with localized prostate cancer are cured after definitive radiotherapy, solitary local recurrence is observed in a subset of patients and poses a management challenge.
Curative-intent treatment options include prostatectomy, reirradiation, cryotherapy, and high-intensity-focused ultrasound. Outcomes data after any of these options are relatively limited. The 5-year biochemical progression-free survival rate is approximately 50% after salvage prostatectomy. However, the morbidity rate of the procedure is significantly higher compared with that observed in previously untreated patients. The likelihood of cure after low dose rate brachytherapy is similar to that observed after salvage prostatectomy, and the morbidity, although significant is less. Although cryotherapy and high-intensity-focused ultrasound may be less morbid than a prostatectomy, the probability of cure is probably lower.
Written by:
Mendenhall WM, Henderson RH, Hoppe BS, Nichols RC, Mendenhall NP. Are you the author?
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville; University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, Jacksonville, FL.
Reference: Am J Clin Oncol. 2012 Jul 3. Epub ahead of print.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22772432
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