Radiotherapy is used to palliate pelvic symptoms of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, magnitude and time course of effects and toxicities are poorly documented. Study aims were to evaluate changes in patient-reported target symptoms (TS), health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and toxicity following palliative pelvic radiotherapy (PPRT) of CRPC.
47 patients with CRPC and a symptomatic pelvic mass prescribed PPRT with 30-39Gy were prospectively included. Primary endpoint was patient-reported improvement or complete resolution of the TS twelve weeks after PPRT. HRQOL changes were explored. Toxicity was physician-evaluated.
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) (45%), hematuria (26%) and pain (19%) were the most common TS. In the 40 evaluable patients, overall TS response twelve weeks after PPRT was 70%. TS responses were 8/18 for LUTS, 11/12 for hematuria, and 7/9 for pain. Global HRQOL improved transiently. The most common toxicity was grade 1 or 2 diarrhea (50%). There was no grade 4 toxicity.
In the majority of patients with CRPC and a symptomatic pelvic tumor, PPRT with 30-39Gy contributes to relief of hematuria, pain and other pelvic symptoms, with acceptable toxicity. Future studies should investigate whether PPRT regimens can be simplified.
Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology. 2015 Jun 16 [Epub]
Marte Grønlie Cameron, Christian Kersten, Ingvild Vistad, Rene van Helvoirt, Kjetil Weyde, Christine Undseth, Ingvil Mjaaland, Eva Skovlund, Sophie D Fosså, Marianne Grønlie Guren
Center for Cancer Treatment, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway. Center for Cancer Treatment, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway. , Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway. , Center for Cancer Treatment, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway. , Department of Oncology, Innlandet Hospital, Gjøvik, Norway. , Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. , Department of Oncology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway. , School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway. , Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. , Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; K. G. Jebsen Colorectal Cancer Research Centre, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.