ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This Study was designed to determine the five year biochemical progression free rate of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer stratified to low, intermediate and high risks groups who underwent permanent prostate brachytheraphy.METHODS: Thirty six patients with a mean age of 67 years diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer were treated with Iodine-125 permanent prostate brachytherapy from November 2001 to December 2003. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) failure was defined as having more than +2 increase of serum PSA from the nadir, with PSA nadir set at 0.4 ng/ml. The biochemical recurrence-free rate for the overall and the stratified groups were then calculated.RESULTS: Twelve patients were lost to follow up leaving twenty-four subjects in the study. The prescribe minimum dose was 145 grays. Median follow-up was 62 months. The over-all 5 year biochemical recurrence-free rate was 58%. Satisfying these patients into low, intermediate, and high group yielded a progression free rate of 80%, 42%, and 5%, respectively.CONCLUSION: Permanent prostate branchytheraphy is an effective treatment for patients with clinically localized prostate cancers. This reported 5-year biochemical recurrence-free rate at East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) is comparable with that reported by other centers.