Comparison of the efficacy of local therapies for localized prostate cancer in the prostate-specific antigen era: a large single-institution experience with radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiotherapy

Robot-assisted versus three-dimensional laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: 12-month outcomes of a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare functional and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) to three-dimensional laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (3D-LRP) at 12 months after surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospective randomised single-centre study of 145 consecutive men referred to radical prostatectomy in a tertiary referral centre in Finland. Patients were randomised 1:1 to the RALP (N = 75) and 3D-LRP (N = 70) groups. The primary outcome was urinary continence evaluated with the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite 26-item version (EPIC-26) incontinence domain score at 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes included the use of protective pads at 12 months after surgery, EPIC-26 domain scores of irritative/obstructive, bowel, sexual and hormonal symptoms, positive surgical margin (PSM) rate, and biochemical recurrence (BCR). Complication frequency within the 3-month period after surgery was evaluated according to Clavien-Dindo classification. Statistical significance between groups was analysed using Mann-Whitney, chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. The trial was terminated after interim analysis based on no statistically significant difference in EPIC-26 urinary incontinence domain scores. Altogether 145 patients of the target accrual of 280 patients were recruited.

RESULTS

Postoperative continence at 12 months after surgery according to the EPIC-26 incontinence domain was 79.25 in both groups (P = 0.4). Between group difference was -5.8 (95% confidence interval -15.2 to 3.6). There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of PSM or BCR between the two surgical modality groups.

CONCLUSION

We were unable to demonstrate a difference between the RALP and 3D-LRP groups for functional and oncological outcomes at 12 months after surgery.

Acute, Subchronic, and Chronic Complications of Radical Prostatectomy Versus Radiotherapy With Hormone Therapy in Older Adults With High-Risk Prostate Adenocarcinoma

Purpose

To compare acute, subchronic, and chronic complications between older patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer (HR-LPC) receiving radical prostatectomy (RP) and high-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) combined with long-term hormone therapy (HT).

Patients and Methods

We recruited older patients (≥80 years) with HR-LPC from the Taiwan Cancer Registry database. After propensity score matching, logistic regression analysis was used to compare the acute, subchronic, and chronic complication rates between patients who underwent RP (the RP group) and high-dose IMRT combined with long-term HT (the IMRT+HT group).

Results

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms and urinary incontinence (UI) were the most common complications over 5 years (BPH symptoms: RP, 17.69%; IMRT+HT, 29.58%; UI: RP, 10.47%; IMRT+HT, 5.50%). Compared with the RP group, the IMRT+HT group had higher odds of BPH symptoms and lower odds of UI and hernia after the 5-year follow-up period. The impotence rates were significantly higher in the IMRT+HT group than in the RP group at 3 months and 1 year after treatment and became nonsignificant after 2 years. At 5 years after treatment, the IMRT+HT group had lower risks of UI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28–0.88) and hernia (aOR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.11–0.82) and a higher risk of BPH symptoms (aOR, 4.15; 95% CI, 2.82–7.37) than the RP group.

Conclusion

IMRT+HT was associated with lower UI and hernia risks than RP. By contrast, RP was associated with fewer complications of BPH over the follow-up period and less impotence during the first year after treatment. Our findings provide important and valuable references for shared decision-making for optimal therapy selection among older men with HR-LPC.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy in High-Risk Localized and Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer

The recommended treatment for high-risk localized or locally advanced prostate cancer is radical prostatectomy plus extended pelvic lymph node dissection or radiation therapy plus long-term androgen deprivation therapy. However, some patients are treated with androgen deprivation therapy alone for various reasons. In this review, we will discuss the position, indications, complications, and future prospects of androgen deprivation therapy for high-risk localized and locally advanced prostate cancer.

Narrative Review of the Post-Operative Management of Prostate Cancer Patients: Is It Really the End of Adjuvant Radiotherapy?

Simple Summary

Among patients with prostate cancer who have been operated on, a subset harboring high-risk features will present with a biochemical recurrence (BCR). Adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) was proven to significantly reduce the risk of BCR when compared to salvage radiotherapy (SRT) but suffered from several limitations: a lack of patient selection criteria, a higher treatment-related morbidity and an uncertain benefit for long-term clinical endpoints. In the same clinical setting, early SRT (eSRT) appears as non-inferior to aRT with a lower morbidity, replacing aRT as the preferred option. In this review, we insist on the need for multidisciplinary discussions to fully comprehend the individual characteristics of each patient and propose the best treatment strategy for every patient.

Abstract

Despite three randomized trials indicating a significant reduction in biochemical recurrence (BCR) in high-risk patients, adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) was rarely performed, even in patients harboring high-risk features. aRT is associated with a higher risk of urinary incontinence and is often criticized for the lack of patient selection criteria. With a BCR rate reaching 30–70% in high-risk patients, a consensus between urologists and radiation oncologists was needed, leading to three different randomized trials challenging aRT with early salvage radiotherapy (eSRT). In these three different randomized trials with event-free survival as the primary outcome and a planned meta-analysis, eSRT appeared as non-inferior to aRT, answering, for some, this never-ending question. For many, however, the debate persists; these results raised several questions among urologists and radiation oncologists. BCR is thought to be a surrogate for clinically meaningful endpoints such as overall survival and cancer-specific survival but may be poorly efficient in comparison with metastasis-free survival. Imaging of rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA), post-operative persistent PSA and BCR was revolutionized by the broader use of MRI and nuclear imaging such as PET-PSMA; these imaging modalities were not analyzed in the previous randomized trials. A sub-group of very high-risk patients could possibly benefit from an adjuvant radiotherapy; but their usual risk factors such as high Gleason score or invaded surgical margins mean they are unable to be selected. More precise biomarkers of early BCR or even metastatic-relapse were developed in this setting and could be useful for the patients’ stratification. In this review, we insist on the need for multidisciplinary discussions to fully comprehend the individual characteristics of each patient and propose the best treatment strategy for every patient.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Radical Prostatectomy versus IMRT with Long-Term Hormone Therapy for Relatively Young Patients with High- to Very High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer

Simple Summary

That the definitive optimal treatments for relatively young men (aged ≤ 65 years) with high- or very high-risk localized prostate cancer (HR/VHR-LPC) are radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiation plus antiandrogen therapy (RT-ADT) is controversial. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first and largest to examine biochemical failure (BF), all-cause death, locoregional recurrence, and distant metastasis in relatively young men with HR/VHR-LPC as defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk strata. After head-to-head propensity score matching was used to balance the potential confounders, a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze oncologic outcomes. In relatively young men with HR/VHR-LPC, RP and RT-ADT yielded similar oncologic outcomes and RP reduced the risk of BF compared with RT-ADT.

Abstract

That intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plus antiandrogen therapy (IMRT-ADT) and radical prostatectomy (RP) are the definitive optimal treatments for relatively young patients (aged ≤ 65 years) with high- or very high-risk localized prostate cancer (HR/VHR-LPC), but remains controversial. We conducted a national population-based cohort study by using propensity score matching (PSM) to evaluate the clinical outcomes of RP and IMRT-ADT in relatively young patients with HR/VHR-LPC. Methods: We used the Taiwan Cancer Registry database to evaluate clinical outcomes in relatively young (aged ≤ 65 years) patients with HR/VHR-LPC, as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk strata. The patients had received RP or IMRT-ADT (high-dose, ≥72 Gy plus long-term, 1.5–3 years, ADT). Head-to-head PSM was used to balance potential confounders. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze oncologic outcomes. Results: High-dose IMRT-ADT had a higher risk of biochemical failure (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.56–2.65, p < 0.0001) compared with RP; IMRT-ADT did not have an increased risk of all-cause death (aHR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.65–2.24, p = 0.564), locoregional recurrence (aHR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.67–1.06, p = 0.3524), or distant metastasis (aHR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.56–1.9, p = 0.9176) compared with RP. Conclusion: In relatively young patients with HR/VHR-LPC, RP and IMRT-ADT yielded similar oncologic outcomes and RP reduced the risk of biochemical failure compared with IMRT-ADT.

Whole-Body Integrated [68Ga]PSMA-11-PET/MR Imaging in Patients with Recurrent Prostate Cancer: Comparison with Whole-Body PET/CT as the Standard of Reference

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the detection rate of [⁶⁸Ga]prostate-specific membrane antigen ([⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11) positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to compare it with [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 PET/X-ray computed tomography (CT) in patients with recurrent prostate cancer (PC) after radical prostatectomy.

PROCEDURES

A total of 93 patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer underwent [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 PET/CT and subsequently a whole-body integrated PET/MRI examination. Board certified nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists evaluated PET/CT and PET/MRI datasets regarding identification of tumor lesions ((i) lymph nodes, (ii) bone lesions, (iii) local recurrence, and (iv) parenchymal lesions) based on maximum [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 uptake as well as morphological changes. Quality of PET images for both PET/CT and PET/MRI were rated using a 5-point scoring system by evaluating lesion homogeneity, contrast, contour, and delineation. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to determine statistical differences.

RESULTS

PC relapse was detected in 62/93 patients. PET/MRI detected 148 out of 150 lesions described in PET/CT. In addition, PET/MRI detected 11 lesions not detected in PET/CT (5 lymph nodes, 6 local recurrences). The exact McNemar statistical test (one-sided) showed significant difference between PET/CT and PET/MRI for diagnosis of local recurrence (p value = 0.031). Diagnostic confidence for (iii) was higher in PET/MRI compared with PET/CT (PET/CT = 1.1; PET/MRI = 4.9). Diagnostic confidence for (i) (PET/CT = 4.9; PET/MRI = 4.6), (ii) (PET/CT = 4.9; PET/MRI = 4.6), and (iv) (PET/CT = 4.6; PET/MRI = 4.8) was equivalent between PET/MRI and PET/CT.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 PET/MRI provides a similarly high diagnostic performance for localization of recurrent PC as PET/CT. For the detection of local recurrences [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 PET/MRI is superior compared with [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA-11 PET/CT.

A comparative study of high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost combined with external beam radiation therapy versus external beam radiation therapy alone for high-risk prostate cancer

We aimed to compare the outcomes of high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) boost and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) alone for high-risk prostate cancer. This was a single-center, retrospective and observational study. Consecutive patients who underwent initial radical treatment by HDR-BT boost or EBRT alone from June 2009 to May 2016 at the Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Japan were included. A total of 96 patients underwent HDR-BT boost, and 61 underwent EBRT alone. The prescription dose of HDR-BT boost was set to 18 Gy twice a day with EBRT 39 Gy/13 fractions. The dose for EBRT alone was mostly 70 Gy/28 fractions. The high-risk group received >6 months of prior androgen deprivation therapy. Overall survival, biochemical-free survival, local control and distant metastasis-free survival rates at 5 years were analyzed. The incidence of urological and gastrointestinal late adverse events of Grade 2 and above was also summarized. In the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) high-risk calssification, HDR-BT boost had a significantly higher biochemical-free survival rate at 5 years (98.9% versus 90.7%, P = 0.04). Urethral strictures were more common in the HDR-BT boost group. We will continuously observe the progress of the study patients and determine the longer term results.

Oncologic Outcomes of Radical Prostatectomy and High-Dose Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy with Androgen-Deprivation Therapy for Relatively Young Patients with Unfavorable Intermediate-Risk Prostate Adenocarcinoma

Simple Summary

Scarce reports have evaluated oncologic outcomes in relatively young men with unfavorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer (UIR-PC) receiving radical prostatectomy (RP) or high-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). After a literature review, we present the leading and largest head-to-head propensity score-matched study to examine all-cause death, biochemical failure (BF), locoregional recurrence (LRR), and distant metastasis (DM) in relatively young men with UIR-PC undergoing RP or high-dose IMRT. After adjustment for confounders, RP was found to be superior to high-dose IMRT in terms of the patients’ overall survival, BF, LRR, and DM.

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the oncologic outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) and high-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with short-term androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in relatively young men with unfavorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer, as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN-UIR-PC). Patients and Methods: We enrolled relatively young men (≤65 years) from the Taiwan Cancer Registry who had been diagnosed as having NCCN-UIR-PC and who had received RP or high-dose IMRT (at least ≥72 Gy) with short-term ADT (4–6 months). After propensity score matching of the confounders, Cox proportional regression was used to model the time from the index date (i.e., date of diagnosis) to all-cause death, biochemical failure (BF), locoregional recurrence (LRR), and distant metastasis (DM). Results: The corresponding adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the risk of all-cause death, BF, LRR, and DM were 2.76 (1.36–5.60, p = 0.0050), 2.74 (1.72–4.84, p < 0.0001), 1.28 (1.09–1.90, p = 0.0324), and 2.11 (1.40–4.88, p = 0.0052), respectively. Conclusions: RP is superior to high-dose IMRT with short-term ADT in terms of oncologic outcomes for relatively young men with UIR-PC.

Unbiased Phenotype-Based Screen Identifies Therapeutic Agents Selective for Metastatic Prostate Cancer

In American men, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Dissemination of prostate cancer cells to distant organs significantly worsens patients' prognosis, and currently there are no effective treatment options that can cure advanced-stage prostate cancer. In an effort to identify compounds selective for metastatic prostate cancer cells over benign prostate cancer cells or normal prostate epithelial cells, we applied a phenotype-based in vitro drug screening method utilizing multiple prostate cancer cell lines to test 1,120 different compounds from a commercial drug library. Top drug candidates were then examined in multiple mouse xenograft models including subcutaneous tumor growth, experimental lung metastasis, and experimental bone metastasis assays. A subset of compounds including fenbendazole, fluspirilene, clofazimine, niclosamide, and suloctidil showed preferential cytotoxicity and apoptosis towards metastatic prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The bioavailability of the most discerning agents, especially fenbendazole and albendazole, was improved by formulating as micelles or nanoparticles. The enhanced forms of fenbendazole and albendazole significantly prolonged survival in mice bearing metastases, and albendazole-treated mice displayed significantly longer median survival times than paclitaxel-treated mice. Importantly, these drugs effectively targeted taxane-resistant tumors and bone metastases - two common clinical conditions in patients with aggressive prostate cancer. In summary, we find that metastatic prostate tumor cells differ from benign prostate tumor cells in their sensitivity to certain drug classes. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that albendazole, an anthelmintic medication, may represent a potential adjuvant or neoadjuvant to standard therapy in the treatment of disseminated prostate cancer.

Does radiotherapy increase the risk of colorectal cancer among prostate cancer patients? A large population-based study

Objective: The survival of prostate cancer (PC) patients after radiotherapy (RT) has improved over time, but it raises the debate of increased risk of secondary colorectal cancer (SCRC). This study aimed to assess whether RT for PC treatment increases the risk of SCRC in comparison with radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: A population-based cohort of PC patients treated only with RT or only with RP between January 2007 and December 2015 was identified from the Taiwan Cancer Registry. The incidence rate of SCRC development was estimated using Cox regression model. Results: In this study, total 8,797 PC patients treated with either RT (n = 3,219) or RP (n =5,578). Patients subjected to RT were elder (higher percentage of 70≧years, p < 0.0001) and more advanced clinically (stage III: 22.90% vs. 11.87%; stage IV: 22.15% vs. 13.80%, p < 0.0001), compared to those subjected to RP. More patients subjected to RT had a much higher percentage of autoimmune disease (22.34% vs. 18.75%, p < 0.0001) and osteoarthritis and allied disorders (16.31% vs. 12.98%, p < 0.0001). Besides, RT patients had a higher percentage of underlying Crohn's disease (0.25% vs. 0.05%, p = 0.0230). Although almost all selected factors were not statistically significant, they presented the positive risk of SCRC for those under RP compared with those among RT. Besides, for PC patients in clinical stage I and II, patients with RP may have borderline significantly protective effects of SCRC compared with those under RT (stage I, HR: 0.14; 95% C.I.:0.01-1.39; p = 0.0929; stage II, HR: 1.92; 95% C.I.:0.93-3.95; p = 0.0775). Kaplan-Meier curves for a 3-year-period, which demonstrated no statistical difference in the risk of SCRC free between PC patients undergoing RT and RP (p = 0.9766). Conclusion: Whether or not pelvic RT for PC is associated with an increased risk for SCRC on a population-based level remains a matter of considerable debate. From a clinical perspective, these PC survivors should be counseled accordingly and received continued cancer surveillance with regular colonoscopy follow-up.

Imaging-Based Individualized Response Prediction Of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy For Prostate Cancer Patients

Purpose

To explore the value of the pre-treatment MRI radiomic features in individualized prediction of the therapeutic response of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for prostate cancer patients.

Patients and methods

Twenty-three patients with localized prostate cancer treated by CIRT were enrolled for analysis. Prostate tumors were manually delineated on T2-weighted (T2w) images and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps acquired before CIRT. Abundant radiomic features were extracted from the delineations, which were randomly deformed to account for delineation uncertainty. The robust features were selected and then compared between patient groups of different CIRT responses. Support vector machine (SVM) was subsequently applied to demonstrate the role of the radiomic features to predict individualized CIRT response in the way of artificial intelligence.

Results

Radiomic features from ADC had significantly higher intra-correlation coefficient (ICC) (0.71±0.28) than T2w features (0.60±0.31) (p<0.01), indicating higher robustness of ADC features against delineation uncertainty. More features were excellently robust in ADC (58.2% of all the radiomic feature candidates, compared to 41.3% in T2w). By combining the excellently robust radiomic features of T2w and ADC, SVM achieved high performance to predict individualized therapeutic response of CIRT, ie, area-under-curve (AUC) = 0.88.

Conclusion

Radiomic features extracted from T2w and ADC images displayed great robustness to quantify the tumor characteristics of prostate cancer and high accuracy to predict the individualized therapeutic response of CIRT. After further validation, the selected radiomic features may become potential imaging biomarkers in the management of prostate cancer through CIRT.

Class III β-tubulin expression as a predictor of docetaxel-resistance in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

About half of the patients treated with docetaxel in the setting of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) are non-responders. Therefore, a marker of response would be beneficial for clinical decision-making. We evaluated class III β-tubulin (βIII-tubulin) expression as a predictor of resistance in this setting, which previously has been correlated with lack of response to taxanes in other cancers. Patients with CRPC were included if they were treated with at least 3 cycles of docetaxel between 1990 and 2011. βIII-tubulin expression was assessed by immunostaining, which was performed in tissue samples obtained either via biopsy or prostatectomy at the time of diagnosis. Rates of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response and overall survival (OS) following docetaxel treatment were compared between patients with high (2+ or 3+ staining) vs. low (0 or 1+ staining) βIII-tubulin expression. Of 73 patients, 26 (35%) had a high expression of βIII-tubulin. A PSA decline of 10% or greater occurred in 65% of patients with a high βIII-tubulin expression vs. 89% with a low βIII-tubulin expression (p = 0.0267). The median OS for patients with a high βIII-tubulin expression was 17.4 (95% CI 8.7–21.0) months vs. 19.8 (95% CI 16.6–23.6) months for patients with a low expression (p = 0.039). Our results show that a high βIII-tubulin expression is a negative prognostic factor in metastatic CRPC patients treated with docetaxel.

Hypoxia and angiogenic biomarkers in prostate cancer after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone or combined with high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost (HDR-BTb)

PURPOSE

To investigate angiogenic and hypoxia biomarkers to predict outcome in patients receiving external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone or combined with high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost (HDR-BTb) for localised prostate cancer.

METHODS

Prostate biopsy samples were collected prospectively in patients entered into a phase 3 randomised controlled trial of patients receiving EBRT or EBRT + HDR-BTb. Univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards model were performed to identify associations between immunohistochemical staining of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), osteopontin (OPN) and microvessel density (MVD) using CD-34 antibody with clinical outcome. The primary endpoint was biochemical relapse free survival (BRFS) and secondary endpoint was distant metastasis free survival (DMFS).

RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry was available for 204 patients. Increased OPN (Hazard ratio [HR] 2.38, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.06-5.34, p < 0.036) and GLUT1 (HR 2.36, 95%CI 1.39-4.01, p < 0.001) expression were predictive of worse BRFS. Increased GLUT1 expression (HR 2.22, 1.02-4.84, p = 0.045) was predictive of worse DMFS. Increased MVD (CD-34) (HR 1.82, 95%CI 1.06-3.14, p = 0.03) and OPN (HR 1.82, 95%CI 1.06-3.14, p = 0.03) but reduced GLUT1 expression (HR 0.40, 95%CI 0.20-0.79, p = 0.009) were predictive of improved BRFS in patients receiving EBRT + HDR-BTb.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest angiogenic and hypoxia biomarkers may predict outcome and benefit of dose escalation, however further validation in prospective studies including hypoxia modification is needed. Trial registration number ISRCTN98241100, registered with ISRCTN at http://www.controlled-trials.com/isrctn/.

Randomized phase II trial of neoadjuvant everolimus in patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer

Background Despite definitive local therapy, patients with high-risk prostate cancer have a significant risk for local and distant failure. To date, no systemic therapy given prior to surgery has been shown to improve outcomes. The phosphatidilinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mTOR pathway is commonly dysregulated in men with prostate cancer. We sought to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of the mTOR/TORC1 inhibitor everolimus in men with high-risk prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. Methods This is a randomized phase II study of everolimus at two different doses (5 and 10 mg daily) given orally for 8 weeks before radical prostatectomy in men with high-risk prostate cancer. The primary endpoint was the pathologic response (histologic P0, margin status, extraprostatic extension) and surgical outcomes. Secondary endpoints included changes in serum PSA level and treatment effects on levels of expression of mTOR, p4EBP1, pS6 and pAKT. Results Seventeen patients were enrolled: nine at 10 mg dose and eight at 5 mg dose. No pathologic complete responses were observed and the majority of patients (88%) had an increase in their PSA values leading to this study being terminated early due to lack of clinical efficacy. Treatment-related adverse events were similar to those previously reported with the use of everolimus in other solid tumors and no additional surgical complications were observed. A significant decrease in the expression of p4EBP1 was noted in prostatectomy samples following treatment. Conclusions Neoadjuvant everolimus given at 5 mg or 10 mg daily for 8 weeks prior to radical prostatectomy did not impact pathologic responses and surgical outcomes of patients with high-risk prostate cancer. Trial registration NCT00526591 .

Androgen Ablation Therapy Does not Increase the Risk of Late Morbidity following 3D-conformal Radiotherapy of Organ-confined Prostate Cancer: The Experience of the European Institute of Oncology

Aims and Background

Androgen ablation therapy in conjunction with radiotherapy-neoadjuvant and adjuvant – has consistently been shown to be associated with improved biochemical and local control, whereas controversy still remains as regards its benefit in terms of overall survival. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of androgen ablation in combination to 3D-conformal radiotherapy on late treatment-related toxicity.

Methods

236 patients were treated with 3D-conformal radiotherapy to a total dose ranging from 70 and 78.6 Gy. Fifty-six patients did not receive any form of androgen ablation whereas 176 were given at least 3 months of neoadjuvant androgen ablation. Of these, 64 stayed on androgen ablation for a median time of 6 months post-radiotherapy. Acute toxicity was evaluated weekly during the course of treatment. Late toxicity was assessed at 3-months intervals during the follow-up. Toxicity was scored according to the RTOG criteria.

Results

The median follow-up was 24.6 months (range, 12-62). The incidence of late genitourinary toxicity was: 3% G2, 3.5% G3, 0.5% G4. The incidence of late gastrointestinal toxicity was: 12% G2, 2% G3, 1% G4. No association was observed between the use of androgen ablation and late treatment-related toxicity. High-risk patients who continued on androgen ablation long-term were not found to have an increased risk of developing late toxicity with respect to those who never had any form of androgen ablation or those only treated neoadjuvantly.

Conclusions

In our experience, the use of androgen ablation does not impact on late toxicity following high dose 3D-conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

Factors influencing prostate cancer patterns of care: An analysis of treatment variation using the SEER database

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to describe the trends and factors that influence the initial treatment of men with localized prostate cancer (PC) in the United States between 2004 and 2014.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was used to identify patients with primary prostate adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2014. Patients were staged in accordance with the American Joint Committee on Cancer 7th edition criteria and stratified according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines risk group classification. Descriptive statistics describing treatment patterns by year of diagnosis, age, risk group, insurance status, and region were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 460,311 male patients were identified with sufficient information to be categorized into National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk groups. Overall, 30.9% of patients had low-risk disease, 38.1% were intermediate risk, 20.2% were high risk, 4.4% were very high risk, 1.6% were node-positive, and 4.7% had metastatic disease. During the study period, there was a 60% decrease in brachytherapy monotherapy utilization for patients with PC, and no definitive treatment increased from 20.3% in 2004 to 26.3% in 2014. There were regional treatment variations and discrepancies in treatment by age. Radical prostatectomy was performed on a greater proportion of insured patients than patients with Medicaid or those who were uninsured, but radiation therapy and no definitive treatment was administered to a greater proportion of uninsured and Medicaid patients.

CONCLUSIONS

PC treatment shows declining trends in brachytherapy utilization, increases in conservative management, and stability of surgical procedures over time. There is wide variation by geographical region, age, and insurance status.

Dual-timing PSA as a biomarker for patients with salvage intensity modulated radiation therapy for biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy

We investigated the outcomes and the associated clinical-pathological factors in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing salvage intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for post-radical-prostatectomy (RP) biochemical failure. We report clinical outcomes of post-RP salvage IMRT, and describe chronic toxicity in these patients.Fifty patients with PCa underwent post-RP salvage IMRT. The median dose of IMRT was 70 Gy to the prostatic and seminal vesicle bed. Clinical-pathological and toxicity information were collected. The prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS), disease-free survival (DFS), and biochemical-failure-free survival (BFFS) were calculated. Prognostic factors were analyzed for their association with disease control.The median follow-up time was 74 months. The 5-year PCSS, DFS, and BFFS after salvage IMRT were 95%, 88%, and 60%, respectively. Two patients (4%) experienced late gastrointestinal toxicity ≥ grade 3, and 5 patients (10%) had late genitourinary toxicity ≥ grade 3. On multivariate analysis, post-RP prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadir ≤0.1 ng/ml (P=0.018) and PSA ≤0.5 ng/ml at salvage IMRT (P=0.016) were independent factors predicting better BFFS. Patients with both post-RP PSA nadir ≤0.1 ng/ml and PSA ≤0.5 ng/ml at salvage IMRT had a 5-year BFFS of 83% as compared with 43% in other patients (P=0.001).In conclusion, with hormonal therapy in most PCa patients, the addition of salvage IMRT for post-RP biochemical failure can achieve a good outcome with low toxicity. Patients with a post-RP PSA nadir ≤0.1 ng/ml and PSA ≤0.5 ng/ml at salvage IMRT could benefit the most from salvage IMRT.

Prostate cancer as a paradigm of multidisciplinary approach? Highlights from the Italian young radiation oncologist meeting

Aims and background

The diagnostic and therapeutic approach to prostate cancer has evolved rapidly in last decades. Young professionals need an update about these recent developments in order to improve the care of patients treated in their daily clinical practice.

Methods

On May 18, 2013, AIRO Giovani (the young section of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology) organized a multidisciplinary meeting involving, as speakers, several young physicians from many parts of Italy actively involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to prostate cancer. The meeting was specifically addressed to young physicians (radio-oncologists, urologists, medical oncologists) and presented the state-of-the-art of the diagnostic/therapeutic approach based on the latest evidence on the issue. Highlights of the congress are summarized and presented in this report.

Results

The large participation in the meeting (more than 120 participants were present) confirmed the interest of young radiation oncologists in improving their skills in prostate cancer management. The contributions of the speakers confirmed the need for regular updates, considering the promising results of recently published studies and the many new ongoing trials, on the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to prostate cancer.

Conclusions

Multidisciplinary meetings are helpful to improve the skills of young professionals.

Significance of prostate-specific antigen kinetics after three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the relationship between biochemical recurrence and post-radiation prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics in patients with localized prostate cancer treated by radiotherapy with various durations of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

METHODS

We reviewed our single-institution, retrospectively maintained data of 144 patients with T1c-T3N0M0 prostate cancer who underwent three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) between December 2005 and December 2015 and 113 patients were fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In this cohort, 3D-CRT was delivered with a dose in the range from 70.0 to 72.0 Gy with ADT. All patients received ADT as concurrent regimens. Biochemical recurrence was defined on the basis of the following: "PSA nadir + 2.0 ng/ml or the clinical judgement of attending physicians". Kaplan-Meier, log-rank, and Cox regression analyses were carried out.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 54.0 months. The median duration of ADT was 17 months (interquartile range, 10-24 months). There was a trend toward statistical significant correlation between post-radiation PSA decline rate of ≥ 90% and PSA recurrence (p = 0.056). The same correlation could be observed in D'Amico high-risk patients (p = 0.036). However, it was not observed between PSA nadir and PSA recurrence (p = 0.40) in univariate analysis. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that post-radiation PSA decline rate of ≥ 90% was a significant predictor of biochemical recurrence in patients who received radiotherapy with various durations of ADT (p = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

Post-radiation PSA decline rate of ≥ 90% was a prognostic factor for biochemical recurrence in localized prostate cancer patients received 3D-CRT with various durations of ADT.

Ex vivo γH2AX radiation sensitivity assay in prostate cancer: Inter-patient and intra-patient heterogeneity

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study is to assess inter-patient and intra-patient heterogeneity in tumour cell radiosensitivity using the ex vivo γH2AX assay in prostate cancer specimens.

METHODS

Excised specimens from untreated prostate cancer patients were cultivated 24h in media, irradiated ex vivo and fixed after 24h. Residual γH2AX foci were counted and the slope of the dose response was calculated. Intra-patient heterogeneity was studied from three to seven different biopsies.

RESULTS

In pathology-confirmed tumour samples from 21 patients the slope of residual γH2AX foci and radiation dose showed a substantial heterogeneity ranging from 0.82 to 3.17 foci/Gy. No correlation was observed between the slope values and the Gleason score (p=0.37), prostate specific antigen (p=0.48) and tumour stage (p=0.89). ANOVA indicated that only in 1 out of 9 patients, biopsies from different tumour locations yielded statistically significant differences. Variance component analysis indicated higher inter-patient than intra-patient variability. Bootstrap simulation study demonstrated that one biopsy is sufficient to estimate the mean value of residual γH2AX per dose level and account for intra-patient heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

In prostate cancer inter-patient heterogeneity in tumour cell radiation sensitivity is pronounced and higher than intra-patient heterogeneity supporting the further development of the γH2AX ex vivo assay as a biomarker for individualized treatment.

Comparative effectiveness of radical prostatectomy and curative radiotherapy in localized prostate cancer: long-term follow-up

We sought to investigate the long-term outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP) and external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for the treatment of localized prostate cancer in Japanese patients. RP and radiation therapy are curative treatments for localized prostate cancer. However, there is controversy around which treatment is superior in Japanese patients. The aim of our retrospective study was to compare the long-term clinical outcomes of each treatment. We retrospectively evaluated the overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and biochemical failure-free survival (BFS) for patients who had been diagnosed with localized prostate cancer and treated with RP (n = 248) or conventional 2D or 3D-CRT EBRT (n = 182) between 1995 and 2009. The median OS was superior in the RP group compared with that in EBRT group (P < 0.001), although CSS was comparable for both treatment groups; BFS was superior for the EBRT group compared with that for the RP group (P = 0.04). Univariate analysis identified a prostate-specific antigen count (PSA)of ≥20 vs <20 mg/ml, clinical T-stage of the tumor and Gleason score as predictors for CSS. However, multivariate analysis did not identify a factor for CSS. Subgroup analysis was also performed based on clinical T stage, PSA and Gleason score, but there was no difference in each subgroup between RP and EBRT. Both treatments provided satisfactory clinical outcomes in terms of disease control in localized prostate cancer.

The impact of body mass index on treatment outcomes for patients with low-intermediate risk prostate cancer

Background

Little is known about the relationship between preoperative body mass index and need for adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) following radical prostatectomy. The goal of this study was to evaluate the utility of body mass index in predicting adverse clinical outcomes which require adjuvant RT among men with organ-confined prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods

We used a prospective cohort of 1,170 low-intermediate PCa risk men who underwent radical prostatectomy and evaluated the effect of body mass index on adverse pathologic features and freedom from biochemical failure (FFbF). Clinical and pathologic variables were compared across the body mass index groups using an analysis of variance model for continuous variables or χ² for categorical variables. Factors related to adverse pathologic features were examined using logistic regression models. Time to biochemical recurrence was compared across the groups using a log-rank survivorship analysis. Multivariable analysis predicting biochemical recurrence was conducted with a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Patients with elevated body mass index (defined as body mass index ≥25 kg/m²) had greater extraprostatic extension (p = 0.004), and positive surgical margins (p = 0.01). Elevated body mass index did not correlate with preoperative risk groupings (p = 0.94). However, when compared with non-obese patients (body mass index <30 kg/m²), obese patients (body mass index ≥30 kg/m²) were much more likely to have higher rate of adverse pathologic features (p = 0.006). In patients with low- and intermediate- risk disease, obesity was strongly associated with rate of pathologic upgrading of tumors (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02), respectively. After controlling for known preoperative risk factors, body mass index was independently associated with ≥2 adverse pathologic features (p = 0.002), an indicator for adjuvant RT as well as FFbF (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Body mass index of ≥30 kg/m² is independently associated with adverse pathologic features, which is an indicator for additional RT, particularly in patients with low-intermediate risk disease. Future studies may determine if this select group of patients may be best treated with definitive RT to reduce toxicity from additional RT following radical prostatectomy. We propose including body mass index in clinical decision-making for appropriate treatment recommendation for patients with low-intermediate risk PCa.

Risk stratification system and pattern of relapse in patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy

PURPOSE

To retrospectively evaluate the role of adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) as monotherapy in a cohort of prostate cancer patients with undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after surgery and to propose a risk stratification system.

METHODS

Between 2003 and 2010, 174 consecutive patients were treated with ART (median dose 71 Gy) at a single institution. Subsequently, we assigned a score of 1 to the following risk factors (RF): T stage ≥3b, presurgical PSA ≥10 ng/mL, pathologic Gleason score (GS) ≥4 + 3, and positive surgical margin (R1). The scores were then summed to stratify the population into low risk (LR), intermediate risk (IR), and high risk (HR).

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 61 months (range 4-105). Five-year biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS), clinical relapse-free survival (cRFS), and overall survival (OS) were respectively 93%, 97.1%, and 98.6%. On univariate analyses, GS was the only variable related to bRFS (p = 0.04) and to cRFS (p = 0.05). Any variable was related to OS. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that HR patients (3-4 RF) had a worse bRFS (p = 0.02) compared to LR patients (0 RF or R1 as single RF); IR patients (1-2 RF) had a lower bRFS compared to LR patients (p = 0.06). Patients with R1 as single RF have the same bRFS as patients with 0 RF (p = 0.6) and are considered as LR patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant radiotherapy leads to excellent bRFS and cRFS rates at 5 years (93.3% and 97.1%, respectively) in our population. Patients with multiple RF are at higher risk of bRFS. Patients with R1 as single RF have bRFS rates comparable to patients without any RF.

Common variation in BRCA1 may have a role in progression to lethal prostate cancer after radiation treatment

BACKGROUND

To evaluate whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) reflecting common variation in the tumor suppressor BRCA1 affect prostate cancer outcomes. Because radiation therapy (RT) induces DNA damage, we hypothesized that common variation in BRCA1 has a role in progression to lethal prostate cancer, particularly in patients receiving RT.

METHODS

We followed 802 men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer (cT1-T3/N0/M0) who were treated with RT in the US Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) and Physicians' Health Study (PHS), for progression to lethal prostate cancer. Six SNPs (rs3737559, rs1799950, rs799923, rs915945, rs4474733 and rs8176305) were genotyped in HPFS to capture common variation across BRCA1. rs4474733 and rs8176305 were also evaluated in the PHS cohort. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate per-allele hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) stratified by primary treatment.

RESULTS

In the RT group (n=802), 71 men progressed to lethal disease during a mean follow-up of 12 years. We found that two SNPs, rs4473733 (HR: 0.65; 95% CI 0.42-0.99) and rs8176305 (HR: 2.03; 95% CI 1.33-3.10), were associated with lethal prostate cancer in men receiving RT.

CONCLUSIONS

Common variation in BRCA1 may influence clinical outcomes in patients receiving RT for localized prostate cancer by modifying the response to RT. Our findings merit further follow-up studies to validate these SNPs and better understand their functional and biological significance.

The comparative oncologic effectiveness of available management strategies for clinically localized prostate cancer

The primary goal of modern prostate cancer treatment paradigms is to optimize the balance of predicted benefits associated with prostate cancer treatment against the predicted harms of therapy. However, given the limitations in the existing evidence as well as the significant tradeoffs posed by each treatment, there remain myriad challenges associated with individualized prostate cancer treatment decision-making. In this review, we summarize the existing comparative effectiveness evidence of treatments for localized prostate cancer with an emphasis on oncologic control. While we focus on the major treatment categories of radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and observation, we also provide a review of emerging therapies such as cryotherapy and high-intensity frequency ultrasound (HIFU).

[Comparative oncologic and functional outcomes of prostate cancer surgery with other curative treatments]

OBJECTIVE

Review of the comparative results of different treatment strategies (surgery, radiotherapy, ultrasound, surveillance) of prostate cancer, in which the main goal is the local control and the second target is the tolerance of the side effects of those treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Review of literature using Medline databases selected based on scientific relevance. Clinical keys centered on the oncological and functional outcomes of comparative series between different curative treatments.

RESULTS

The numerous comparative series between surgery and other therapeutic modalities are essentially retrospective with significant methodological bias that is difficult to overcome in order to formulate the optimal thesis. However, there is a clear tendency toward surgery usually with young patients who have intermediate risk tumors without important comorbidity.

CONCLUSION

In the absence of randomized comparative series with significant power, the oncological and functional results of the radical prostatectomy with or without adjuvant treatment seem at least the same, in a selected population of patients, compared with the combination of radiotherapy-hormonotherapy in terms of survival, without biochemical recurrence, disease-specific survival and overall survival, for the aggressive tumors necessitating curative local treatments.

Radiotherapy for early-stage prostate cancer in men under 70 years of age

AIMS

To demonstrate that radiotherapy (RT) is a valid alternative to surgery in men ≤70 years old with localized prostate cancer.

METHODS

From 1988 to 2009, 214 patients with T1-2 N0 M0 prostate cancer were treated with RT. The effects of patient- and treatment-related risk factors on toxicity were investigated.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 105 months (range 14.2-180). The 5-, 10-, and 15-year biochemical relapse-free survival for all 214 patients was 80%, 61.9%, and 57.5%, respectively. In bivariate analysis, age (≤65 vs 65-70 years) was not a significant factor for biochemical relapse, while radiation dose was (p = 0.05) in multivariate analysis. Cancer-specific survival rates at 5, 10, and 15 years were 98.4%, 93.2%, and 69.7%, respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was 167 months (95% confidence interval 147.3-186.7). The OS rates at 5, 10, and 15 years were 91.8%, 75.8%, and 42.5%, respectively. Acute genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities occurred in 105 (49%) and 98 patients (45.8%), respectively, with only 2 cases of grade III GI toxicity. Late GU and GI toxicities occurred in 17 (7.9%) and 20 (9.3%) patients, respectively, with 1 grade III GI toxicity and 2 grade III GU toxicities. Risk factors for late toxicity were age and RT dose and technique, which were unrelated to acute toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Age ≤70 years does not consistently confer a negative prognosis for localized prostate cancer. Radiotherapy appears to be a viable alternative to surgery, offering excellent long-term cancer control.

Declining Use of Radiotherapy for Adverse Features After Radical Prostatectomy: Results From the National Cancer Data Base

BACKGROUND

Patterns of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) use in prostate cancer (PCa) after the publication of major randomized trials have not been well characterized.

OBJECTIVE

To describe patterns of postoperative RT use after radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with adverse pathologic features in the United States.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Retrospective analysis of 97 270 patients with PCa diagnosed between 2005 and 2011 whose presentation and outcomes were recorded in the National Cancer Data Base.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Temporal changes in receipt of postoperative RT and factors associated with receipt of this treatment using the Cochran-Armitage trend test and multiple logistic regression, respectively.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Between 2005 and 2011, receipt of postoperative RT decreased steadily from 9.1% to 7.3% (ptrend<0.001). Use of RT with or without androgen deprivation therapy monotonically decreased with advancing age from 8.5% in patients aged 18-59 yr to 6.8% in patients aged 70-79 yr (ptrend<0.001). Receipt of RT was higher at community cancer programs compared with teaching/research centers (14% vs 7.3%; odds ratio [OR]: 2.16; p<0.001), in those with pT3-4 disease and positive margins compared with those with pT3-4 and negative margins (17% vs 5.9%; OR: 2.89; p<0.001), and in patients with a Gleason score of 8-10 compared with those with a Gleason score of 2-6 (17% vs 4.2%; OR: 3.50; p<0.001). Limitations include lack of postprostatectomy prostate-specific antigen level.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative RT use for localized PCa in patients with adverse pathologic features is declining in the United States.

PATIENT SUMMARY

In this report, we show that use of postoperative radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer with adverse pathologic features is declining. Patients treated at community cancer programs, those with locally advanced disease and positive margins, and those with a high Gleason score were more likely to receive postoperative radiotherapy.

Intensified autophagy compromises the efficacy of radiotherapy against prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION

Radiotherapy is an equivalent alternative or complement to radical prostatectomy, with high therapeutic efficacy. High risk patients, however, experience high relapse rates, so that research on radio-sensitization is the most evident route to improve curability of this common disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the current study we investigated the autophagic activity in a series of patients with localized prostate tumors treated with radical radiotherapy, using the LC3A and the LAMP2a proteins as markers of autophagosome and lysosome cellular content, respectively. The role of autophagy on prostate cancer cell line resistance to radiation was also examined.

RESULTS

Using confocal microscopy on tissue biopsies, we showed that prostate cancer cells have, overall, high levels of LC3A and low levels of LAMP2a compared to normal prostate glands. Tumors with a 'highLC3A/lowLAMP2a' phenotype, suggestive of intensified lysosomal consumption, had a significantly poorer biochemical relapse free survival. The PC3 radioresistant cell line sustained remarkably its autophagic flux ability after radiation, while the DU145 radiosensitive one experiences a prolonged blockage of the autophagic process. This was assessed with aggresome accumulation detection and LC3A/LAMP2a double immunofluorescence, as well as with sequestrosome/p62 protein detection. By silencing the LC3A or LAMP2a expression, both cell lines became more sensitive to escalated doses of radiation.

CONCLUSIONS

High base line autophagy activity and cell ability to sustain functional autophagy define resistance of prostate cancer cells to radiotherapy. This can be reversed by blocking up-regulated components of the autophagy pathway, which may prove of importance in the field of clinical radiotherapy.

Role of 3T multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging without endorectal coil in the detection of local recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: the radiation oncology point of view

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to evaluate the role of 3 tesla multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (3TmMRI) without endorectal coil in the detection of radiographic local recurrences (rLRs) in a contemporary cohort of patients with prostate cancer who presented with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP) with low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and to identify clinical parameters associated with the 3TmMRI findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 2009 and 2013, 57 patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after RP who were considered for salvage radiation therapy (SRT) were included. 3TmMRI with T2-weighted imaging, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging without endorectal coil was carried out in all patients before treatment.

RESULTS

In 14 out of 57 patients (24.56%) local recurrence was detected through 3TmMRI. Median pre-SRT PSA was 0.40 ng/ml (interquartile range 0.30-2.05 ng/ml). The recurrence was perianastomotic in eight out of 14 patients (57.14%) and retrovesical in six out of 14 patients (42.86%). The median size of the local recurrence was 15.2 mm (range 8.0-46.0 mm). The probability of rLR was significantly higher in patients with PSA levels above 0.5 ng/ml [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 6.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-30.79, p = 0.02] or PSA doubling time (PSADT) over 14 months (adjusted OR 7.12, 95% CI 1.40-36.25, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to find a significant relationship between the PSADT and the rLR through MRI. Patients with PSADT longer than 14 months or pre-SRT PSA above 0.5 ng/ml benefited most from 3TmMRI. Its routine use could have significant clinical implications for SRT.

Selenium supplementation and prostate cancer mortality

BACKGROUND

Few studies have evaluated the relation between selenium supplementation after diagnosis and prostate cancer outcomes.

METHODS

We prospectively followed 4459 men initially diagnosed with nonmetastatic prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study from 1988 through 2010 and examined whether selenium supplement use (from selenium-specific supplements and multivitamins) after diagnosis was associated with risk of biochemical recurrence, prostate cancer mortality, and, secondarily, cardiovascular disease mortality and overall mortality, using Cox proportional hazards models. All P values were from two-sided tests.

RESULTS

We documented 965 deaths, 226 (23.4%) because of prostate cancer and 267 (27.7%) because of cardiovascular disease, during a median follow-up of 8.9 years. In the biochemical recurrence analysis, we documented 762 recurrences during a median follow-up of 7.8 years. Crude rates per 1000 person-years for prostate cancer death were 5.6 among selenium nonusers and 10.5 among men who consumed 140 or more μg/day. Crude rates per 1000 person-years were 28.2 vs 23.5 for all-cause mortality and 28.4 vs 29.3 for biochemical recurrence, for nonuse vs highest-dose categories, respectively. In multivariable analyses, men who consumed 1 to 24 μg/day, 25 to 139 μg/day, and 140 or more μg/day of supplemental selenium had a 1.18 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.73 to 1.91), 1.33 (95% CI = 0.77 to 2.30), and 2.60-fold (95% CI = 1.44 to 4.70) greater risk of prostate cancer mortality compared with nonusers, respectively, P trend = .001. There was no statistically significant association between selenium supplement use and biochemical recurrence, cardiovascular disease mortality, or overall mortality.

CONCLUSION

Selenium supplementation of 140 or more μg/day after diagnosis of nonmetastatic prostate cancer may increase risk of prostate cancer mortality. Caution is warranted regarding usage of such supplements among men with prostate cancer.

Radical prostatectomy versus external beam radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: Comparison of treatment outcomes

PURPOSE

We retrospectively compared the treatment outcomes of localized prostate cancer between radical prostatectomy (RP) and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 738 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent either RP (n = 549) or EBRT (n = 189) with curative intent at our institution between March 2001 and December 2011. Biochemical failure was defined as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA)  level of ≥ 0.2 ng/ml in the RP group and the nadir of + ≥ 2 ng/ml in the EBRT group.

RESULTS

The median (range) follow-up duration was 48.8 months (0.7-133.2 months) and 48.7 months (1.0-134.8 months) and the median age was 66 years (45-89 years) and 71 years (51-84 years; p < 0.001) in the RP and EBRT groups, respectively. Overall, 21, 42, and 36 % of patients in the RP group, and 15, 27, and 58 % of patients in the EBRT group were classified as low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively (p < 0.001). Androgen-deprivation therapy was more common in the EBRT group (59 vs. 27 %, respectively; p < 0.001). The 8-year biochemical failure-free survival rates were 44 and 72 % (p < 0.001) and the disease-specific survival rates were 98 % and 97 % (p = 0.543) in the RP and EBRT groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the EBRT group included more high-risk patients than did the RP group, the outcomes of EBRT were not inferior to those of RP. Our data suggest that EBRT is a viable alternative to RP for treating localized prostate cancer.

Are biochemical recurrence outcomes similar after radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy? Analysis of prostate cancer-specific mortality by nomogram-predicted risks of biochemical recurrence

BACKGROUND

Due to the protracted natural history of the clinical progression of prostate cancer, biochemical recurrence (BCR) is often used to compare treatment modalities. However, BCR definitions and posttreatment prostate-specific antigen kinetics vary considerably among treatments, calling into the question the validity of such comparisons.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) according to treatment-specific nomogram-predicted risk of BCR for men treated by radical prostatectomy (RP), external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and brachytherapy.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 13 803 men who underwent RP, EBRT, or brachytherapy at two US high-volume hospitals between 1995 and 2008.

INTERVENTION

RP, EBRT, and brachytherapy.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The 5-yr progression-free probability (5Y-PFP) was calculated for each patient based on the treatment received using a validated treatment-specific nomogram. Fine and Gray competing risk analysis was then used to estimate PCSM by a patient's predicted 5Y-PFP. Multivariable competing risk regression analysis was used to determine the association of treatment with PCSM after adjusting for nomogram-predicted 5Y-PFP.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Men receiving EBRT had higher 10-yr PCSM compared with those treated by RP across the range of nomogram-predicted risks of BCR: 5Y-PFP >75%, 3% versus 0.9%; 5Y-PFP 51-75%, 6.8% versus 5.9%; 5Y-PFP 26-50%, 12.2% versus 10.6%; and 5Y-PFP ≤25%, 26.6% versus 21.2%. After adjusting for nomogram-predicted 5Y-PFP, EBRT was associated with a significantly increased PCSM risk compared with RP (hazard ratio: 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.0; p=0.006). No statistically significant difference in PCSM was observed between patients treated by brachytherapy and RP, although patient selection factors and lack of statistical power limited this analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

EBRT patients with similar nomogram-predicted 5Y-PFP appear to have a significantly increased risk of PCSM compared with those treated by RP. Comparison of treatments using nomogram-predicted BCR end points may not be valid.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Biochemical recurrence (BCR) outcomes after external-beam radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy are associated with different risks of subsequent prostate cancer-specific mortality. Physicians and patients should cautiously interpret BCR end points when comparing treatments to make treatment decisions.

Performance of the Genomic Evaluators of Metastatic Prostate Cancer (GEMCaP) tumor biomarker for identifying recurrent disease in African American patients

Evaluation of prostate cancer prognosis after surgery is increasingly relying upon genomic analyses of tumor DNA. We assessed the ability of the biomarker panel Genomic Evaluators of Metastatic Prostate Cancer (GEMCaP) to predict biochemical recurrence in 33 European American and 28 African American prostate cancer cases using genome-wide copy number data from a previous study. "Biomarker positive" was defined as ≥20% of the 38 constituent copy number gain/loss GEMCaP loci affected in a given tumor; based on this threshold, the frequency of a positive biomarker was significantly lower in African Americans (n = 2; 7%) than European Americans (n = 11; 33%; P = 0.013). GEMCaP positivity was associated with risk of recurrence [hazard ratio (HR), 5.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.32-15.11; P = 3 × 10(-4)] in the full sample and among European Americans (HR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.13-10.51; P = 0.032) but was not estimable in African Americans due to the low rate of GEMCaP positivity. Overall, the GEMCaP recurrence positive predictive value (PPV) was 85%; in African Americans, PPV was 100%. When we expanded the definition of loss to include copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (i.e., loss of one allele with concomitant duplication of the other), recurrence PPV was 83% for European American subjects. Under this definition, 5 African American subjects had a positive GEMCaP test value; 4 went on to develop biochemical recurrence (PPV = 80%). Our results suggest that the GEMCaP biomarker set could be an effective predictor for both European American and African American men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer who may benefit from immediate aggressive therapy after radical prostatectomy.

Large prostate gland size is not a contraindication to low-dose-rate brachytherapy for prostate adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

Prostate volume greater than 50cc is traditionally a relative contraindication to prostate seed implantation (PSI), but there is little consensus regarding prostate size and clinical outcomes. We report biochemical control and toxicity after low-dose-rate PSI and compare outcomes according to the prostate size.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 429 men who underwent low-dose-rate PSI between 1998 and 2009 were evaluated. Median followup was 38.7 months. Patients were classified by prostate volume into small, medium, and large subgroups. Differences were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Pearson's χ(2) tests for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate effect of prostate size on outcomes.

RESULTS

Patient pretreatment factors were balanced between groups except for age (p=0.001). The 10-year actuarial freedom from biochemical failure for all patients treated with PSI was 96.3% with no statistically significant difference between large vs. small/medium prostate size (90% vs. 96.6%, p=0.47). In a multivariate analysis, plan type (hazard ratio [HR]=0.25, p=0.03), dose to 90% of the gland (D90: HR=0.98, p=0.02), volume receiving 200Gy (V200: HR=0.98, p=0.026), and biologic effective dose (HR=0.99, p=0.045), but not prostate size (HR=2.27, p=0.17) were significantly associated with freedom from biochemical failure. Prostate size was not significantly associated with time to maximum American Urologic Association score.

CONCLUSION

In men with large prostates, the PSI provides biochemical control and temporal changes in genitourinary toxicity that are comparable with men having smaller glands. Accurate dose optimization and delivery of PSI provides the best clinical outcomes regardless of gland size.

Lactate dehydrogenase 5 isoenzyme overexpression defines resistance of prostate cancer to radiotherapy

Background:

Radiotherapy provides high-cure rates in prostate cancer. Despite its overall slow clinical growth, high proliferation rates documented in a subset of tumours relate to poor radiotherapy outcome. This study examines the role of anaerobic metabolism in prostate cancer growth and resistance to radiotherapy.

Methods:

Biopsy samples from 83 patients with prostate cancer undergoing radical hypofractionated and accelerated radiotherapy were analysed for MIB1 proliferation index and for lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme LDH5, a marker of tumour anaerobic metabolism. Ninety-five surgical samples were in parallel analysed. Correlation with histopathological variables, PSA and radiotherapy outcome was assessed. Dose–response experiments were performed in PC3 and DU145 cancer cell lines.

Results:

High MIB1 index (noted in 25% of cases) was directly related to Gleason score (P<0.0001), T3-stage (P=0.0008) and PSA levels (P=0.03). High LDH5 (noted in 65% of cases) was directly related to MIB1 index (P<0.0001), Gleason score (P=0.02) and T3-stage (P=0.001). High Gleason score, MIB1, LDH5 and PSA levels were significantly related to poor BRFS (P=0.007, 0.01, 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). High Gleason score (P=0.04), LDH5 (P=0.01) and PSA levels (P=0.003) were significantly related to local recurrence. MIB1 and T-stage did not affect local control. Silencing of LDHA gene in both prostate cancer cell lines resulted in significant radiosensitisation.

Conclusions:

LDH5 overexpression is significantly linked to highly proliferating prostate carcinomas and with biochemical failure and local relapse following radiotherapy. Hypoxia and LDHA targeting agents may prove useful to overcome radioresistance in a subgroup of prostate carcinomas with anaerobic metabolic predilection.

Benchmarks for operative outcomes of robotic and open radical prostatectomy: results from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study

BACKGROUND

Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) has become increasingly common; however, there have been no nationwide, population-based, non-claims-based studies to evaluate differences in outcomes between RALP and open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP).

OBJECTIVE

To determine surgical, oncologic, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes following RALP and RRP in a nationwide cohort.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We identified 903 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2000 and 2010 who underwent radical prostatectomy using RALP (n=282) or RRP (n=621) as primary treatment.

INTERVENTION

Radical prostatectomy.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

We compared patients undergoing RALP or RRP across a range of perioperative, oncologic, and HRQOL outcomes.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Use of RALP increased during the study period, constituting 85.2% of study subjects in 2009, up from 4.5% in 2003. Patients undergoing RALP compared to RRP were less likely to have a lymph node dissection (51.5% vs 85.4%; p<0.0001), had less blood loss (207.4 ml vs 852.3 ml; p<0.0001), were less likely to receive blood transfusions (4.3% vs 30.3%; p<0.0001), and had shorter hospital stays (1.8 d vs 2.9 d; p<0.0001). Surgical, oncologic, and HRQOL outcomes did not differ significantly among the groups. In multivariate logistic regression models, there were no significant differences in 3- or 5-yr recurrence-free survival comparing RALP versus RRP (hazard ratios: 0.98 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.46-2.08] and 0.75 [95% CI, 0.18-3.11], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In a nationwide cohort of patients undergoing surgical treatment for prostate cancer, RALP was associated with shorter hospital stay, and lower blood loss and transfusion rates than RRP. Surgical oncologic and HRQOL outcomes were similar between groups.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We studied men throughout the United States with prostate cancer who underwent surgical removal of the prostate. We found that robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy resulted in shorter hospital stay, less blood loss, and fewer blood transfusions than radical retropubic prostatectomy. There were no differences in cancer control or health-related quality of life.

Salvage Low-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer Local Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy: Our First three Patients

Purpose of the Study

To present our initial experience with brachytherapy (BT) as a primary salvage procedure for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) local recurrence following radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP).

Methods

From December 2009 to May 2010, three patients underwent salvage BT due to local recurrences of high risk PCa after extrafascial RRP without additional adjuvant therapies. Local recurrence was confirmed by prostate biopsy and the relapse was well defined by endorectal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Metastatic screening was negative. The patients were followed-up according to the American Brachytherapy Society guidelines.

Results

The median dose delivered to 90% of the local relapse (D90) was 115 Gy. The three patients reached a prostate specific antigen (PSA) nadir value within the first year that remained stable at a mean follow-up of 32 months. As regards morbidity, moderate de novo urgency was reported by only one patient.

Conclusions

We think that our data confirms the feasibility and safety of salvage BT as a possible alternative option to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for the treatment of locally recurrent PCa in selected patients when performed by experienced centers. However, larger series of patients with longer follow-ups are needed to define the oncologic role of this procedure.

MRI findings of radiation-induced changes in the urethra and periurethral tissues after treatment for prostate cancer

PURPOSE

To assess radiotherapy (RT)-induced changes in the urethra and periurethral tissues after treatment for prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

This retrospective study included 108 men (median age, 64 years; range, 43-87 years) who received external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and/or brachytherapy for PCa and underwent endorectal-coil MRI of the prostate within 180 days before RT and a median of 20 months (range, 2-62 months) after RT. On all MRIs, two readers independently measured the urethral length (UL) and graded the margin definition (MD) of the urethral wall and the signal intensities (SIs) of the urethral wall and pelvic muscles on 4-point scales.

RESULTS

The mean urethral length decreased significantly from pre- to post-RT MRI (from 15.2 to 12.6mm and from 14.4 to 12.9 mm for readers 1 and 2, respectively; both p-values <0.0001). Brachytherapy resulted in greater urethral shortening than EBRT. After RT, SI in the urethral wall increased in 57% (62/108) and 35% (38/108) of patients (readers 1 and 2, respectively). The frequency and magnitude of SI increase in pelvic muscles depended on muscle location. In the obturator internus muscle, SI increased more often after EBRT than after brachytherapy, while in the periurethral levator ani muscle SI increased more often after brachytherapy than after EBRT.

CONCLUSION

After RT for PCa, MRI shows urethral shortening and increased SI of the urethral wall and pelvic muscles in substantial percentages of patients.

[Comparative study of radical prostatectomy versus external beam radiotherapy (75.6 Gy) combined with hormone therapy for prostate cancer of intermediate D'Amico risk classification]

INTRODUCTION

Thirty-three percent of the localized cancers belongs initially to the group of intermediate risk of D'Amico. The standard treatments validated by the French Association of Urology are the radical prostatectomy and the external beam radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES

We retrospectively compared the carcinologic results of the radical prostatectomy±adjuvant treatment (RP) and the external beam radiotherapy combining high dose (75.6 Gy) and short hormonotherapy (RH), in the treatment of intermediate risk prostate cancer. The series consisted of 143 patients treated between 2000 and 2006 in the department of Urology and Kidney transplantation of the Conception Hospital, Marseilles. The main assessment criteria was the survival without biological recurrence (SBR).

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 90 months [59-51]. The 5 years and 8 years SBR were 85% and 73% in the RH group, versus 74% and 65% with RP (P=0.196). There was a significant difference between the series: on the age of diagnosis (63.9 versus 73.3 years, P<0.001), the Charlson score of comorbidity (2 versus 3, P<0.001) and the number of intermediate criteria per patients (one intermediate criteria: RP 74% versus 57%, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

According to our study, there was no superiority of the radical prostatectomy±adjuvant treatment or the external radiotherapy combining high dose and concomitant short hormonotherapy on the survival without biological recurrence at 5 and 8 years. Many studies confirm that a concomitant hormonotherapy increases the carcinologic control, even with a high rate external beam radiotherapy.