In a nutshell
The authors aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated radiation therapy compared to conventional radiation therapy in men with localised prostate cancer.
The authors concluded that hypofractionated therapy was beneficial to men with localised prostate cancer, without enhancing side effects, in comparison to conventional treatment.
Some background
Radiation therapy is a treatment used in prostate cancer. This involves applying radiation beams at the tumor site to kill the cancer cells. There are different types of radiation treatments. This can include conventional and hypofractionated treatments. Conventional treatments use an external beam to deliver a fraction of the complete radiation treatment dose over multiple sessions in order to shrink and kill the tumor cells. This allows normal cells to repair between treatments. Hypofractionated treatment uses the total dose of radiation divided into large doses usually given once daily. This occurs over a shorter period of time than conventional treatments.
Further research is needed to determine the efficacy and safety of hyprofractionated therapy compared to conventional treatment in men with localised prostate cancer.
Methods & findings
The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of hypofractionated therapy in men with localised prostate cancer.
5-year biochemical recurrence or clinical failure free rates (BCFF) were reviewed. Biochemical recurrence involves a rise in prostate specific antigen (PSA – protein elevated in the blood indicating the presence of prostate cancer) levels after treatment. BCFF involves men who did not experience a relapse after treatment.
Patients treated with hypofractionated therapy had an increased 5-year BCFF compared to the conventional group. Patients also had an increased disease-free survival (time after treatment without evidence of disease). This was in comparison to the conventional group. Overall survival (patients who did not die from cancer after treatment) was comparable between both groups.
Side effects were comparable between both groups. This included moderate-to-severe stomach and intestinal problems, biochemical recurrence and prostate cancer-related death.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that hypofractionated therapy was beneficial to men with localised prostate cancer, without enhancing side effects, in comparison to conventional treatment.
Published By :
Oncotarget
Date :
Jan 13, 2017
