Propensity score matched comparison of SBRT versus IMRT for the treatment of localized prostate cancer

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an attractive option for prostate cancer due to its short treatment duration and cost. In this report, we compare the efficacy and toxicity outcomes of prostate cancer patients treated with SBRT to those who received intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Two hundred sixty-three patients with localized prostate adenocarcinoma were included, ranging from clinically very low- to high-risk groups. We retrospectively compare consecutive patients treated with SBRT with consecutive patients treated with conventionally fractionated IMRT. For most patients, SBRT was delivered to a total dose of 36.25 Gy in five fractions and IMRT to 75.6 Gy in 42 fractions. To minimize selection bias, we perform propensity score analyses.

The treatment groups became similar after propensity matching with absolute standard bias reduced to ≤0.19. For the first analysis, 5-year actuarial survival was 90.8 and 88.1 % in SBRT and IMRT groups, respectively (p = 0.7260), while FFBF was 88.7 and 95.5 %, respectively (p = 0.1720). For the second analysis (accounting for risk group), actuarial 5-year survival was 96.7 and 87.1 % in the SBRT and IMRT groups, respectively (p = 0.3025), while FFBF was 89.7 and 90.3 %, respectively (p = 0.6446). Toxicity did not exceed grade 3 in any of the studied patients. The highest recorded genitourinary toxicity at the time of latest follow-up was grade 2.

Our data support the hypothesis that SBRT has non-inferior efficacy and toxicity rates as IMRT. Given the lower cost and convenience for patients, SBRT may be considered as an alternative treatment for localized prostate cancer.

Journal of radiation oncology. 2016 Jan 23 [Epub]

Caspian Oliai, Matthew Bernetich, Luther Brady, Jun Yang, Alexandra Hanlon, John Lamond, Steven Arrigo, Michael Good, Michael Mooreville, Bruce Garber, Rachelle Lanciano

Philadelphia Cyberknife Center, 2010 West Chest Pike, Suite 115, Havertown, PA 19083 USA., Philadelphia Cyberknife Center, 2010 West Chest Pike, Suite 115, Havertown, PA 19083 USA., Philadelphia Cyberknife Center, 2010 West Chest Pike, Suite 115, Havertown, PA 19083 USA ; Department of Radiation Oncology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 230 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USA., Philadelphia Cyberknife Center, 2010 West Chest Pike, Suite 115, Havertown, PA 19083 USA ; Department of Radiation Oncology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 230 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USA., Claire M Fagin Hall, University of Pennsylvania, 418 Curie Boulevard, 479L, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4217 USA., Philadelphia Cyberknife Center, 2010 West Chest Pike, Suite 115, Havertown, PA 19083 USA., Philadelphia Cyberknife Center, 2010 West Chest Pike, Suite 115, Havertown, PA 19083 USA., Philadelphia Cyberknife Center, 2010 West Chest Pike, Suite 115, Havertown, PA 19083 USA., Philadelphia Cyberknife Center, 2010 West Chest Pike, Suite 115, Havertown, PA 19083 USA., Department of Radiation Oncology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 230 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USA., Philadelphia Cyberknife Center, 2010 West Chest Pike, Suite 115, Havertown, PA 19083 USA ; Department of Radiation Oncology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 230 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USA ; Department of Radiation Oncology, Delaware County Memorial Hospital, 501 North Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA 19026 USA.