R. Alonzi

High-dose-rate brachytherapy alone given as two or one fraction to patients for locally advanced prostate cancer: Acute toxicity

BACKGROUND To evaluate early urinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events (AEs) after two or one fraction of high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) in advanced prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS 165 patients were treated with 2 × 13 Gy (n=115), or a single dose of 19 Gy (n=24) or 20 Gy (n=26) HDR-BT. Early AEs were assessed using the RTOG scoring system and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). RESULTS Week-2 prevalence of severe IPSS symptoms was higher after 20 Gy than after 26 or 19 Gy but by 12 weeks all groups were at pre-treatment levels or less. Grade-3 GU toxicity was observed ≤9% of patients. No Grade 4 GU and no Grade 3 or 4 GI complications were observed. However, there was a significant increase in catheter use in the first 12 weeks after implant after 19 and 20 Gy compared with 2 × 13 Gy. CONCLUSION Single dose HDR-BT is feasible with acceptable levels of acute complications; tolerance may have been reached with the single 19 Gy schedule.

Reproducibility and correlation between quantitative and semiquantitative dynamic and intrinsic susceptibility‐weighted MRI parameters in the benign and malignant human prostate

To assess the reproducibility of relaxivity‐ and susceptibility‐based dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the benign and malignant prostate gland and to correlate the kinetic parameters obtained.

High-dose-rate brachytherapy with two or three fractions as monotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer

BACKGROUND To evaluate late urinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events (AEs) and biochemical control of disease after high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) in locally advanced prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS 227 consecutive patients were treated with 3 × 10.5 Gy (n = 109) or 2 × 13 Gy (n = 118) HDR-BT alone. Biochemical failure was assessed using the Phoenix definition of PSA nadir + 2 μg/l and late AEs using the RTOG scoring system and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). RESULTS Kaplan-Meier estimates and prevalence of late events indicate that urinary, bowel and IPSS symptoms are higher after 31.5 Gy than after 26 Gy, however differences are significant only for Grade 1 and 2 urinary toxicity. Kaplan-Meier estimates of morbidity are consistently and considerably higher than time-point estimates of prevalence; which reflects the transient nature of most symptoms. At 3 years 93% and 97% of patients treated with 26 and 31.5 Gy, respectively, were free from biochemical relapse (p = 0.5) and 91% for the latter regimen at 5 years. In univariate and multivariate analysis risk-category was the only significant predictor of relapse (p < 0.03). CONCLUSION These HDR-BT schedules achieved high levels of biochemical control of disease in patients with advanced prostate cancer with few severe complications seen throughout the first 3 years.

Single-dose high-dose-rate brachytherapy compared to two and three fractions for locally advanced prostate cancer

BACKGROUND Single-dose high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT), in a Phase-II study, was compared to two or three fractions in intermediate and high-risk localized prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS 293 patients received 1×19Gy or 1×20Gy (A=49), 2×13Gy (B=138), or 3×10.5Gy (C=106) and assessed with prospective measures of serum PSA, late genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) morbidity using RTOG scales and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). RESULTS Median follow-up is 49, 63 and 108months (A, B and C, respectively). At 4years biochemical relapse free survival was 94% (A), 93% (B) and 91% (C) (p=0.54). Risk-category was the only significant independent predictor of relapse (p<0.0001). Kaplan-Meier 4-year-estimates of GU-3 were 2% (A and B) and 11% (C). GI-3 was 0% (A and B) and 1% (C). No GU or GI grade-4 events were observed. IPSS≥20 was 11% (A), 9% (B) and 16% (C) (p=0.9). Prevalence of GU-3 was ≤4% in the 3 groups at all times; GI-3 was low or non-existent. Prevalence of catheter use was ≤6% in all groups. CONCLUSIONS A single dose of 19-20Gy achieves similar rates of late morbidity and biochemical control compared to 2 and 3 fractions.