Bottke D, Wiegel T, Höcht S, Müller M, Schostak M, Hinkelbein W. Salvage radiotherapy in patients with persisting prostate-specific antigen after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
Oncology 2003;
65 Suppl 1:18-23. [PMID:
12949429 DOI:
10.1159/000072487]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Salvage radiotherapy in patients with persisting prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer offers an approach to reduce local recurrence rates and to improve the rate of biochemical freedom from relapse. 30-70% of these patients experience a decrease in their PSA to an undetectable range; in about 40-50% of these patients, PSA remains stable after 5 years. Therefore, radiation therapy offers these patients an ultimate chance of cure. The pre-irradiation PSA value is of particular importance. The PSA level should not exceed 2 ng/ml because otherwise the rate of distant metastases increases significantly. Serious side effects are apparently low, thus confirming the suitability of this therapeutic approach.
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