Low dose brachytherapy used for locally recurrent prostate cancer after external beam radiotherapy

This study aimed to evaluate the side-effects of low dose brachytherapy (BT) for local recurrence of prostate cancer after external radiotherapy. This study found that BT had acceptable side effects in this setting. 

Prostate cancer can be treated using surgery or radiation therapy. Radiation therapy can be delivered externally such as external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), or directly into the prostate. This technique that delivers the beam directly into the prostate is called brachytherapy (BT). Sometimes, prostate cancer can recur after EBRT. Low BT can be used after EBRT in this case. The safety of BT after EBRT is still unknown.  

This study included 92 patients. All patients had low dose BT after local prostate cancer recurrence. They were followed up for an average of 54 months. 

At follow-up, 12 (14%) of the 87 patients evaluated had serious and life-threatening late side-effects. These included diarrhea, constipation, urgent urge to urinate and pain. Patients who had a higher dose of radiation delivered to the prostate were more likely to get side-effects. 

This study found that low dose BT is safe for use in local prostate cancer recurrence after EBRT. 

This study included a small number of patients. Larger studies are still needed.