ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate long-term changes in health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients with local advanced prostate cancer after intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) combined with androgen deprivation therapy.Methods The patients who met the criteria for this study were enrolled and were treated with IMRT combined with androgen deprivation.The total dose of radiation was 68.2Gy(2.2Gy per fraction).QOL was evaluated before and 3,12,36,48 and 60 months after treatment using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite(EPIC),a validated tool that assesses four primary domains (urinary,bowel,sexual and hormonal).Results From 2002 to 2007,87 patients were enrolled.At each follow-up time point,the number of cases was 87,87,86,81,75,65,56 and 47,respectively.The median follow-up time was 76.8 months.Compared with baseline assessment,all of four domain scores were declined in follow-up assessments.The mean score of urinary,bowel and hormonal domains were significantly reduced.At 3 months after treatment,the scores of bowel domain were lowest,in which the total,function and symptom scores were 75.7,78.4 and 72.8,respectively.However,there was no statistically significant difference in the mean sexual domain score.The mean change scores in urinary incontinence and obstructive were-13.0±8.3 and-6.12±3.9,respectively.Conclusions IMRT combined with androgen deprivation therapy was well tolerated in patients with local advanced prostate cancer.QOL was decreased in urinary,bowel and hormonal toxicity,most of which could be tolerated in five years.