Gemma Sancho

Quality of life impact of treatments for localized prostate cancer: Cohort study with a 5 year follow-up

PURPOSE To assess long-term quality of life (QoL) impact of treatments in localized prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Observational, prospective cohort study with pre-treatment QoL evaluation and follow-up until five years after treatment. 704 patients with low or intermediate risk localized prostate cancer were consecutively recruited in 2003-2005. QoL was measured by the EPIC questionnaire, with urinary irritative-obstructive, incontinence, bowel, sexual, and hormonal scores (ranging 0-100). RESULTS Brachytherapys QoL impact was restricted to the urinary domain, Generalized Estimating Equation models showed score changes at five years of -12.0 (95% CI=-15.0, -9.0) in incontinence and -5.3 (95% CI=-7.5, -3.1) in irritative-obstructive scales. Compared to brachytherapy, radical prostatectomy fared +3.3 (95% CI=+0.0, +6.5) points better in irritative-obstructive but -17.1 (95% CI=-22.7, -11.5) worse in incontinence. Sexual deterioration was observed in radical prostatectomy (-19.1; 95% CI=-25.1, -13.1) and external radiotherapy groups (-7.5; 95% CI=-12.5, -2.5). CONCLUSIONS Brachytherapy is the treatment causing the least impact on QoL except for moderate urinary irritative-obstructive symptoms. Our study provides novel long-term valuable information for clinical decision making, supporting brachytherapy as a possible alternative to radical prostatectomy for patients seeking an attempted curative treatment, while limiting the risk for urinary incontinence and sexual impact on QoL.

The Metabolic Syndrome and its Components in Patients with Prostate Cancer on Androgen Deprivation Therapy

PURPOSE Androgen deprivation therapy may promote the development of the metabolic syndrome in patients with prostate cancer. We assessed the prevalence of the full metabolic syndrome and its components during the first year of androgen deprivation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS This observational, multicenter, prospective study included 539 patients with prostate cancer scheduled to receive 3-month depot luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs for more than 12 months. Waist circumference, body mass index, lipid profile, blood pressure and fasting glucose were evaluated at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. The metabolic syndrome was assessed according to NCEP ATP III criteria (2001) and 4 other definitions (WHO 1998, AACE 2003, AHA/NHLBI 2005 and IDF 2005). RESULTS At 6 and 12 months after the initiation of androgen deprivation therapy, significant increases were observed in waist circumference, body mass index, fasting glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. No significant changes in blood pressure 130/85 or greater were detected. A nonsignificant increase of 3.9% in the prevalence of the full metabolic syndrome (ATP III) was observed (22.9% at baseline vs 25.5% and 26.8% at 6 and 12 months, respectively). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome at baseline varied according to the definition used, ranging from 9.4% (WHO) to 50% (IDF). At 12 months significant increases in prevalence were observed with the WHO (4.1%) and AHA/NHLBI (8.1%) definitions. CONCLUSIONS Androgen deprivation therapy produces significant early effects on waist circumference, body mass index, fasting glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol. The prevalence of and increase in the metabolic syndrome depend on the defining criteria. Counseling patients on the prevention, early detection and treatment of specific metabolic alterations is recommended.

Magnetic resonance imaging for prostate cancer before radical and salvage radiotherapy: What radiation oncologists need to know

External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is one of the principal curative treatments for patients with prostate cancer (PCa). Risk group classification is based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, Gleason score, and T-stage. After risk group determination, the treatment volume and dose are defined and androgen deprivation therapy is prescribed, if appropriate. Traditionally, imaging has played only a minor role in T-staging due to the low diagnostic accuracy of conventional imaging strategies such as transrectal ultrasound, computed tomography, and morphologic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As a result, a notable percentage of tumours are understaged, leading to inappropriate and imprecise EBRT. The development of multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), an imaging technique that combines morphologic studies with functional diffusion-weighted sequences and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging, has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of PCa. As a result, mpMRI is now used in staging PCa prior to EBRT, with possible implications for both risk group classification and treatment decision-making for EBRT. mpMRI is also being used in salvage radiotherapy (SRT), the treatment of choice for patients who develop biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. In the clinical context of biochemical relapse, it is essential to accurately determine the site of recurrence - pelvic (local, nodal, or bone) or distant - in order to select the optimal therapeutic management approach. Studies have demonstrated the value of mpMRI in detecting local recurrences - even in patients with low PSA levels (0.3-0.5 ng/mL) - and in diagnosing bone and nodal metastasis. The main objective of this review is to update the role of mpMRI prior to radical EBRT or SRT. We also consider future directions for the use and development of MRI in the field of radiation oncology.

Phase I trial of sorafenib with concurrent radiotherapy (RT) in patients with invasive bladder cancer treated with bladder-sparing intent: A Spanish Oncology Genitourinary Group study.

270 Background: Preclinical studies suggest enhanced radiation-induced cell death when VEGFR inhibitor therapies are combined with RT. METHODS Patients with localized muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in clinical stage T2-3 N0 M0, who were not eligible or rejected radical cystectomy, ECOG PS 0-2, and adequate hematological, renal and hepatic function, were enrolled in this phase I study to assess safety and identify the dose limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended dose (RD) of sorafenib and RT. A 3+3 dose escalation design with cohorts of 3-6 patients was used. Treatment consisted of TUR, followed by normofractionated (2 Gy/day) external-beam RT with high-energy photons, 46 Gy to minor pelvis and 66 Gy to bladder, combined with sorafenib given po continuously. Sorafenib was started two weeks before RT and was administered for 12 weeks, finishing 4 weeks after RT. Dose levels 1, 2 and 3 corresponded to sorafenib 200 mg qd, 200 mg bid and 800 mg bid. Pathological response was assessed by post-treatment TUR. RESULTS Ten patients were included: median age 71 years (44-84); gender 7M: 3F. Patients were treated at 3 dose levels, the MTD was reached at level 3 and the RD was: sorafenib 200 mg bid with RT. Two DLTs occurred, both at the third dose level: diarrhea grade 3 and digestive bleeding grade 3 with secondary anemia and hemodynamic angor in a patient with previous small bowel angiodysplasia. The most frequent toxicity was diarrhea. Other grade 1-2 toxicities included rash, fatigue, hand-foot syndrome, hypertension, dysuria and urinary frequency. One patient developed late radiation cystitis. Pathological complete response was achieved in 8 of 9 patients evaluated. Salvage cystectomy has been performed in one patient due to recurrent superficial bladder tumor. After a median follow up of 30 months, 6 patients remain disease-free with intact bladder. CONCLUSIONS The combination of sorafenib and RT appears to be feasible and safe allowing long-term bladder preservation in selected patients. A phase II study to assess the activity of this promising combination is warranted.

Current management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) has changed little in the last twenty years. The gold standard treatment is still cystectomy, but it has a significant negative impact on quality of life. Bladder-preservation strategies can be used in some cases but patient selection for this approach remains unclear. New chemotherapy and biologic agents in combination with surgery or radiotherapy could improve results and these possibilities are currently under investigation.