The spectrum of prostate cancer care: From curative intent to palliation

Updated results of high-dose rate brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy for locally and locally advanced prostate cancer using the RTOG-ASTRO Phoenix definition

PURPOSE

To evaluate the prognostic factors for patients with local or locally advanced prostate cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy (RT) and high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) according to the RTOG-ASTRO Phoenix Consensus Conference.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The charts of 209 patients treated between 1997 and 2005 with localized RT and HDR as a boost at the Department of Radiation Oncology, AC Camargo Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil were reviewed. Clinical and treatment parameters i.e.: patient's age, Gleason score, clinical stage, initial PSA (iPSA), risk group (RG) for biochemical failure, doses of RT and HDR were evaluated. Median age and median follow-up time were 68 and 5.3 years, respectively. Median RT and HDR doses were 45 Gy and 20 Gy.

RESULTS

Disease specific survival (DSS) at 3.3 year was 94.2%. Regarding RG, for the LR (low risk), IR (intermediate risk) and HR (high risk), the DSS rates at 3.3 years were 91.5%, 90.2% and 88.5%, respectively. On univariate analysis prognostic factors related to DSS were RG (p=0.040), Gleason score <or= 6 ng/mL (p=0.002), total dose of HDR >or= 20 Gy (p<0.001) On multivariate analysis the only statistical significant predictive factor for biochemical control (bNED) was the RG, p<0.001 (CI-1.147-3.561).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the radiation dose administered to the prostate is an important factor related to bNED, this could not be established with statistical significance in this group of patients. To date, in our own experience, HDR associated to RT could be considered a successful approach in the treatment of prostate cancer.

The relationship between the biochemical control outcomes and the quality of planning of high-dose rate brachytherapy as a boost to external beam radiotherapy for locally and locally advanced prostate cancer using the RTOG-ASTRO Phoenix definition

PURPOSE

To evaluated prognostic factors and impact of the quality of planning of high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) for patients with local or locally advanced prostate cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and HDR-BT.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between 1997 and 2005, 209 patients with biopsy proven prostate adenocarcinoma were treated with localized EBRT and HDR-BT at the Department of Radiation-Oncology, Hospital A. C. Camargo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Patient's age, Gleason score (GS), clinical stage (CS), initial PSA (iPSA), risk group for biochemical failure (GR), doses of EBRT and HDR-BT, use of three-dimensional planning for HDR-BT (3DHDR) and the Biological Effective Dose (BED) were evaluated as prognostic factors for biochemical control (bC).

RESULTS

Median age and median follow-up time were 68 and 5.3 years, respectively. Median EBRT and HDR-BT doses were 45 Gy and 20 Gy. The crude bC at 3.3 year was 94.2%. For the Low, intermediate and high risk patients the bC rates at 3.3 years were 91.5%, 90.2% and 88.5%, respectively. Overall survival (OS) and disease specific survival rates at 3.3 years were 97.8% and 98.4%, respectively. On univariate analysis the prognostic factors related bC were GR (p= 0.040), GS < or = 6 (p= 0.002), total dose of HDR-BT > or = 20 Gy (p< 0.001), 3DHDR (p< 0.001), BED-HDR > or = 99 Gy(1.5) (p<0.001) and BED-TT > or = 185 (p<0.001). On multivariate analysis the statistical significant predictive factors related to bC were RG (p< 0.001), HDR-BT > or = 20 Gy (p=0.008) and 3DHDR (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

we observed that the bC rates correlates with the generally accepted risk factors described in the literature. Dose escalation, evaluated through the BED, and the quality of planning of HDR-BT are also important predictive factors when treating prostate cancer.

Therapeutic dendritic cell vaccine preparation using tumor RNA transfection: a promising approach for the treatment of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Early prostate adenocarcinoma can be diagnosed through seric prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings. However, a fraction of patients progress to an incurable metastatic disease. Therefore, novel therapies for treating these patients are extremely desirable. Therapeutic vaccines based on Dendritic Cells (DCs) carrying tumor antigens have emerged as a promising strategy to initiate an immune response against tumor cells. These vaccines can be prepared using different methodologies, such as the application of tumor mRNA described in this work.

METHODS

Mature and immature DCs were obtained in vitro by adding specific cytokines to monocyte cell cultures. RNA extracted from prostate tumor lineage (LNCAP) was introduced into these cells by electroporation and co-incubation. Transfection success was measured by immunocytochemistry of the PSA expression level in DCs.

RESULTS

Cell surface markers, including CD14, CD80, CD86, CCR7, CD11c, and CD1a, confirmed mature and immature DC phenotypes. Both cell maturation stages were successfully used for RNA introduction as shown by PSA characterization.

CONCLUSION

Our data support the use of mature and immature DCs for vaccine preparation with either RNA electroporation or RNA co-incubation. The highest efficiency, however, was observed when RNA was delivered by electroporation into mature DCs. Due to in vitro RNA transcription, this method allows small tumors to be used for DC vaccine preparation; it is therefore a promising approach for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.