Reirradiation of locally recurrent prostate cancer after primary radiotherapy

Abstract Biochemical recurrence can occur after definitive treatment with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or brachytherapy (BRT) for localized prostate cancer. Prior to considering reirradiation for recurrent prostate cancer, appropriate patient selection is important in ensuring that patients are at a high likelihood for a local only recurrence. For appropriately selected patients, careful reirradiation using mostly brachytherapy techniques can provide durable long-term control with acceptable morbidity. Most of the published experience with reirradiation has been using low-dose rate (LDR) BRT, but early results using high-dose rate (HDR) BRT have also been promising. Generally, the use of EBRT as well as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is still uncommon in a reirradiation setting, and further study will need to be performed to characterize its biochemical outcomes and toxicities. The radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) 0526 is a recently closed phase II prospective trial that is investigating the role of reirradiation using LDR brachytherapy. Results from this study will help physicians better understand the long-term toxicities and biochemical outcomes of reirradiation using LDR BRT.
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research