Image Guided Hypofractionated Radiotherapy and Quality of Life for Localized Prostate Cancer: Prospective Longitudinal Study in 337 Patients

Quality of Life Longitudinal Evaluation in Prostate Cancer Patients from Radiotherapy Start to 5 Years after IMRT-IGRT

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to study the evolution of quality of life (QoL) in the first 5 years following Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer (PCa) and to determine possible associations with clinical/treatment data.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients were enrolled in a prospective multicentre observational trial in 2010-2014 and treated with conventional (74-80 Gy, 1.8-2 Gy/fr) or moderately hypofractionated IMRT (65-75.2 Gy, 2.2-2.7 Gy/fr). QoL was evaluated by means of EORTC QLQ-C30 at baseline, at radiation therapy (RT) end, and every 6 months up to 5 years after IMRT end. Fourteen QoL dimensions were investigated separately. The longitudinal evaluation of QoL was analysed by means of Analysis of variances (ANOVA) for multiple measures.

RESULTS

A total of 391 patients with complete sets of questionnaires across 5 years were available. The longitudinal analysis showed a trend toward the significant worsening of QoL at RT end for global health, physical and role functioning, fatigue, appetite loss, diarrhoea, and pain. QoL worsening was recovered within 6 months from RT end, with the only exception being physical functioning. Based on ANOVA, the most impaired time point was RT end. QoL dimension analysis at this time indicated that acute Grade ≥ 2 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity significantly impacted global health, physical and role functioning, fatigue, appetite loss, diarrhoea, and pain. Acute Grade ≥ 2 genitourinary (GU) toxicity resulted in lower role functioning and higher pain. Prophylactic lymph-nodal irradiation (WPRT) resulted in significantly lower QoL for global health, fatigue, appetite loss, and diarrhoea; lower pain with the use of neoadjuvant/concomitant hormonal therapy; and lower fatigue with the use of an anti-androgen.

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective, longitudinal, observational study, high radiation IMRT doses delivered for PCa led to a temporary worsening of QoL, which tended to be completely resolved at six months. Such transient worsening was mostly associated with acute GI/GU toxicity, WPRT, and higher prescription doses.

Introducing new plan evaluation indices for prostate dose painting IMRT plans based on apparent diffusion coefficient images

BACKGROUND

Dose painting planning would be more complicated due to different levels of prescribed doses and more complex evaluation with conventional plan quality indices considering uniform dose prescription. Therefore, we tried to introduce new indices for evaluating the dose distribution conformity and homogeneity of treatment volumes based on the tumoral cell density and relative volumes of each lesion in prostate IMRT.

METHODS

CT and MRI scans of 20 male patients having local prostate cancer were used for IMRT DP planning. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images were imported to a MATLAB program to identify lesion regions based on ADC values automatically. Regions with ADC values lower than 750 mm²/s and regions with ADC values higher than 750 and less than 1500 mm²/s were considered CTV_70Gy (clinical tumor volume with 70 Gy prescribed dose), and CTV_60Gy, respectively. Other regions of the prostate were considered as CTV_53Gy. New plan evaluation indices based on evaluating the homogeneity (IOE(H)), and conformity (IOE(C)) were introduced, considering the relative volume of each lesion and cellular density obtained from ADC images. These indices were compared with conventional homogeneity and conformity indices and IOEs without considering cellular density. Furthermore, tumor control probability (TCP) was calculated for each patient, and the relationship of the assessed indices were evaluated with TCP values.

RESULTS

IOE (H) and IOE (C) with considering cellular density had significantly lower values compared to conventional indices and IOEs without considering cellular density. (P < 0.05). TCP values had a stronger relationship with IOE(H) considering cell density (R² = -0.415), and IOE(C) without considering cell density (R² = 0.624).

CONCLUSION

IOE plan evaluation indices proposed in this study can be used for evaluating prostate IMRT dose painting plans. We suggested to consider cell densities in the IOE(H) calculation formula and it's appropriate to calculate IOE(C) without considering cell density values.

Patient-reported outcomes after treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this systematic review is to assess the impact of primary treatments with curative intention in patients with localized prostate cancer, measured with Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs), and to examine differences among modalities within treatments.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search for January 2005-March 2017 following PRISMA guidelines, including longitudinal studies measuring disease-specific PROs in localized prostate cancer patients with a follow-up from pre- to post-treatment (≥1 year). Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. The study is registered in PROSPERO: CRD42015019747.

RESULTS

Of 148 identified studies, 60 were included in the meta-analyses. At the 1st year, radical prostatectomy patients showed small urinary irritative-obstructive improvement (0.37SD 95%CI 0.30, 0.45), but large deterioration for sexual function and incontinence with high heterogeneity (I² = 77% and 93%). Moderate worsening in external radiotherapy patients for sexual function (-0.46SD 95%CI -0.55, -0.36), small urinary incontinence (-0.16SD 95%CI -0.23, -0.09) and bowel impairment (-0.31SD 95%CI -0.39, -0.23). Brachytherapy patients presented small deterioration in urinary incontinence (-0.29SD 95%CI -0.39, -0.19), irritative obstructive symptoms (-0.35SD 95%CI -0.47, -0.23), sexual function (-0.12SD 95%CI -0.24, -0.002), and bowel bother (-0.27SD 95%CI -0.42, -0.11). These patterns persisted up to the 5th year. High-intensity focused ultrasound and active surveillance only have results at 1st year, showing no statistically significant worsening.

CONCLUSIONS

No remarkable differences in PRO appeared between modalities within each treatment. Nowadays, available evidence supports brachytherapy as possible alternative to radical prostatectomy for patients seeking an attempted curative treatment limiting the risk for urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.

Rectal/urinary toxicity after hypofractionated vs conventional radiotherapy in low/intermediate risk localized prostate cancer: systematic review and meta analysis

Purpose

The aim of this review was to compare radiation toxicity in Localized Prostate Cancer (LPC) patients who underwent conventional fractionation (CV), hypofractionated (HYPO) or extreme hypofractionated (eHYPO) radiotherapy. We analyzed the impact of technological innovation on the management of prostate cancer, attempting to make a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Methods

PubMed database has been explored for studies concerning acute and late urinary/gastrointestinal toxicity in low/intermediate risk LPC patients after receiving radiotherapy. Studies were then gathered into 5 groups: detected acute and chronic toxicity data from phase II non randomized trials were analyzed and Odds Ratio (OR) was calculated by comparing the number of patients with G0-1 toxicity and those with toxicity > G2 in the studied groups. A meta-analysis of prospective randomized trials was also carried out.

Results

The initial search yielded 575 results, but only 32 manuscripts met all eligibility requirements: in terms of radiation-induced side effects, such as gastrointestinal and genitourinary acute and late toxicity, hypofractionated 3DCRT seemed to be more advantageous than 3DCRT with conventional fractionation as well as IMRT with conventional fractionation compared to 3DCRT with conventional fractionation; furthermore, IMRT hypofractionated technique appeared more advantageous than IMRT with conventional fractionation in late toxicities. Randomized trials meta-analysis disclosed an advantage in terms of acute gastrointestinal and late genitourinary toxicity for Hypofractionated schemes.

Conclusions

Although our analysis pointed out a more favorable toxicity profile in terms of gastrointestinal acute side effects of conventional radiotherapy schemes compared to hypofractionated ones, prospective randomized trials are needed to better understand the real incidence of rectal and urinary toxicity in patients receiving radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.

Urinary quality of life outcomes in men who were treated with image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer

PURPOSE

Quality of life (QoL) outcomes play a major role in the treatment selection for prostate cancer (CaP). We evaluated the urinary QoL outcomes in men who were treated with image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) for CaP.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We enrolled men who were diagnosed with CaP and underwent IG-IMRT in a large urological group practice into a prospectively maintained database. The typical radiation treatment dosage to prostates and seminal vesicles was 8100 cGy in 45 fractions. Urinary QoL was self-assessed using the standardized incontinence grade and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at baseline and at each follow-up visit. We evaluated the cumulative incidence of urinary incontinence and changes in both continence and IPSS over time.

RESULTS

Of the 3602 men who were eligible for analysis, 3086 (85.7%) had no urinary incontinence; 479 (13.3 %) had minimal incontinence (no requirement for pads), and 37 (1.0 %) had significant urinary incontinence that required the use of pads or interfered with activities of daily living, at baseline. After a median follow-up of 24 months (range: 12.0-41.0 months), these numbers were 80.6%, 17.4%, and 2.0%, respectively. Radiation therapy appeared to have a beneficial effect on some men: 54.1% of men with minimal incontinence became completely continent of urine during follow-up. Of those with significant urinary incontinence, 29.7% reported resolution and 27.0% reported improved symptoms with no requirement for pads. Of the 1276 men with moderate IPSS, the mean IPSS decreased from 12 to 9.8 at the time of the last follow-up (P < .001). Similarly, of the 233 men with severe IPSS, the mean IPSS decreased from 24 to 13 at the time of the last follow-up (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

IG-IMRT for clinically localized CaP is associated with a relatively low incidence of urinary incontinence. Although unexplained, IG-IMRT seems to improve symptoms in some men with baseline urinary incontinence and moderate-to-severe IPSS.

Quality of life outcomes from a dose-per-fraction escalation trial of hypofractionation in prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

This multi-institutional phase I/II trial explored patient-assessed tolerance of increasingly hypofractionated (HPFX) radiation for low/intermediate risk prostate cancer.

METHODS

347 patients enrolled from 2002 to 2010. Three increasing dose-per-fraction schedules of 64.7 Gy/22 fx, 58.08 Gy/16 fx and 51.6 Gy/12 fx were each designed to yield equivalent predicted late toxicity. Three quality of life (QoL) surveys were administered prior to treatment and annually upto 3 years.

RESULTS

Bowel QoL data at 3years revealed no significant difference among regimens (p=0.469). Bowel QoL for all regimens declined transiently, largely recovering by three years, with only the 22 fraction decrement reaching significance. Bladder outcomes at 3 years were comparable (p=0.343) although, for all patients combined, a significant decline was observed from the baseline (p=0.008). Spitzer quality of life data revealed similarly excellent, 3-year means (p=0.188). International erectile function data also revealed no significant differences at 3 years although all measures except intercourse satisfaction worsened post-treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Three-year QoL changes for bowel, bladder and SQLI were modest and similar for 3 HPFX regimens spanning 2.94-4.3 Gy per fraction. These favorable patient-scored outcomes demonstrate the safety and tolerability of such regimens and may be leveraged to support further implementation of mild to moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy in the setting of low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Moderate hypofractionation and simultaneous integrated boost by helical tomotherapy in prostate cancer: monoinstitutional report of acute tolerability assessment with different toxicity scales

INTRODUCTION

Based on radiobiology evidence, hypofractionated radiotherapy has the potential of improving treatment outcome in prostate cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated the safety, in terms of acutetoxicity, of using moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy delivered with Helical Tomotherapy (HT) to treat prostate cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between December 2012 and April 2014, 42 consecutive patients were treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy using HT. All patients received 70 Gy in 28 fractions to PTV1, which included the prostate. In the intermediate risk group, 61.6 Gy were delivered to PTV2, which included the seminal vesicles. In high risk patients, the pelvic nodes were added (PTV3) and received 50.4 Gy. Acute toxicity was recorded prospectively with RTOG and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 3.0, retrospectively with CTCAE 4.0. Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) was measured at baseline and 3 months after end of treatment, to investigate health related quality of life with regards to bladder and gastrointestinal function.

RESULTS

Acute toxicity was acceptable, independently from the system used to score side effects. Moderate genitourinary toxicity was more frequent than gastrointestinal toxicity. No correlation between acute side effects and patients' characteristics or physical dose parameters was registered. EPIC evaluation showed a negligible difference in urinary and bowel function post-treatment, that did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience confirms the safety of moderate hypofractionation delivered with HT in prostate cancer patients with low, intermediate and high risk.

Potential applications of image-guided radiotherapy for radiation dose escalation in patients with early stage high-risk prostate cancer

Patients with early stage high-risk prostate cancer (prostate specific antigen > 20, Gleason score > 7) are at high risk of recurrence following prostate cancer irradiation. Radiation dose escalation to the prostate may improve biochemical-free survival for these patients. However, high rectal and bladder dose with conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy may lead to excessive gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity. Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), by virtue of combining the steep dose gradient of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and daily pretreatment imaging, may allow for radiation dose escalation and decreased treatment morbidity. Reduced treatment time is feasible with hypo-fractionated IGRT and it may improve patient quality of life.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy for prostate cancer

In the last few years, hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy has gained increasing popularity for prostate cancer treatment, since sufficient evidence exists that prostate cancer has a low α/β ratio, lower than the one of the surrounding organs at risk and thus there is a potential therapeutic benefit of using larger fractionated single doses. Apart from the therapeutic rationale there are advantages such as saving treatment time and medical resources and thereby improving patient’s convenience. While older trials showed unsatisfactory results in both standard and hypofractionated arm due to insufficient radiation doses and non-standard contouring of target volumes, contemporary randomized studies have reported on encouraging results of tumor control mostly without an increase of relevant side effects, especially late toxicity. Aim of this review is to give a detailed analysis of relevant, recently published clinical trials with special focus on rationale for hypofractionation and different therapy settings.

A systematic review of hypofractionation for primary management of prostate cancer

CONTEXT

Technological advances in radiation therapy delivery have permitted the use of high-dose-per-fraction radiation therapy (RT) for early-stage prostate cancer (PCa). Level 1 evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of hypofractionated RT is evolving as this modality becomes more widely utilized and refined.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a systematic review of the current evidence on the safety and efficacy of hypofractionated RT for early-stage PCa and to provide in-context recommendations for current application of this technology.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Embase, PubMed, and Scopus electronic databases were queried for English-language articles from January 1990 through June 2014. Prospective studies with a minimum of 50 patients were included. Separate consideration was made for studies involving moderate hypofractionation (doses of 2.5-4Gy per fraction) and extreme hypofractionation (5-10Gy in 4-7 fractions).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Six relatively small superiority designed randomized trials of standard fractionation versus moderate hypofractionation in predominantly low- and intermediate-risk PCa have been published with follow-up ranging from 4 to 8 yr, noting similar biochemical control (5-yr freedom from biochemical failure in modern studies is >80% for low-risk and intermediate-risk patients) and late grade ≥2 genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities (between 2% and 20%). Noninferiority studies are pending. In prospective phase 2 studies, extreme hypofractionation has promising 2- to 5-yr biochemical control rates of >90% for low-risk patients. Results from a randomized trial are expected in 2015.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate hypofractionation has 5-yr data to date establishing safety compared with standard fractionation, but 10-yr outcomes and longer follow-up are needed to establish noninferiority for clinical effectiveness. Extreme hypofractionation is promising but as yet requires reporting of randomized data prior to application outside of a clinical protocol.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Hypofractionation for prostate cancer delivers relatively high doses of radiation per treatment. Prospective studies support the safety of moderate hypofractionation, while extreme fractionation may have greater toxicity. Both show promising cancer control but long-term results of noninferiority studies of both methods are required before use in routine treatment outside of clinical protocols.