Prostate cancer radiotherapy and incidental testicular irradiation: Impact on gonadal function

Incidental testicular irradiation during prostate cancer radiotherapy is rarely documented in literature and the long-term impact on gonadal function largely underreported. Here we present an overview of available data on incidental testicular irradiation and radiation-induced hypogonadism during prostate cancer radiotherapy and discuss future technical developments to minimize testis irradiation.

Incidental testicular doses during volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients

PURPOSE

To compare the incidental testicular doses during volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in patients receiving prostate-only and pelvic lymphatic irradiation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Testicular doses in 40 intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer patients were determined on treatment planning system (TPS) using the VMAT technique at 6 MV. Scattered testicular doses were also measured by MOSFET detectors placed on testis surface. The testicular doses of patients treated with prostate-only and pelvic field irradiation were compared.

RESULTS

The median testicular doses measured per 200 cGy fraction by TPS and MOSFET detectors were 1.7 cGy (0.7-4.1 cGy) and 4.8 cGy (3.6-8.8 cGy), respectively. The TPS doses and MOSFET readings showed a significant strong correlation (Pearson r = 0.848, p < 0.001). The testicular doses measured by TPS (1.34 ± 0.36 cGy vs. 2.60 ± 0.95 cGy; p < 0.001) and MOSFET (4.52 ± 0.64 cGy vs. 6.56 ± 1.23 cGy; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in patients with prostate-only irradiation than in those with pelvic field irradiation. The mean cumulative scattered dose for prostate-only field delivering 78 Gy was 1.8 Gy and that for pelvic field irradiation was 2.6 Gy, consistent with the reported findings.

CONCLUSIONS

The patients with prostate-only irradiation received lower testicular doses than those with additional pelvic field irradiation possibly due to the increased scattered doses in large field irradiation using the VMAT technique. The clinical response to increased incidental testicular doses due to pelvic field irradiation remains unknown, and it warrants further investigation.

Pelvic nodal radiotherapy in patients with unfavorable intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer: evidence, rationale, and future directions

Over the past 15 years, there have been three major advances in the use of external beam radiotherapy in the management of men with clinically localized prostate made. They include: (1) image guided (IG) three-dimensional conformal/intensity modulated radiotherapy; (2) radiation dose escalation; and (3) androgen deprivation therapy. To date only the last of these three advances have been shown to improve overall survival. The presence of occult pelvic nodal involvement could explain the failure of increased conformality and dose escalation to prolong survival, because the men who appear to be at the greatest risk of death from clinically localized prostate cancer are those who are likely to have lymph node metastases. This review discusses the evidence for prophylactic pelvic nodal radiotherapy, including the key trials and controversies surrounding this issue.