Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy and external-beam radiotherapy versus external-beam irradiation alone for prostate cancer. A quality-of-life analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) on quality of life after external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 170 patients (85 with and 85 without NHT) has been surveyed prospectively before EBRT (70.2-72 Gy), at the last day of EBRT, a median time of 2 months and 15 months after EBRT using a validated questionnaire (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite). Pairs with and without NHT (median treatment time of 3.5 months before EBRT) were matched according to the respective planning target volume and prostate volume. RESULTS: Before EBRT, significantly lower urinary function/bother, sexual function and hormonal function/bother scores were found for patients with NHT. More than 1 year after EBRT, only sexual function scores remained lower. In a multivariate analysis, NHT and adjuvant hormonal therapy (HT) versus NHT only (hazard ratio 14; 95% confidence interval 2.7-183; p = 0.02) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists versus antiandrogens (hazard ratio 3.6; 95% confidence interval 1.1-12; p = 0.04) proved to be independent risk factors for long-term erectile dysfunction (no or very poor ability to have an erection). CONCLUSION: With the exception of sexual function (additional adjuvant HT and application of LHRH analog independently adverse), short-term NHT was not found to decrease quality of life after EBRT for prostate cancer.

Bladder extension variability during pelvic external beam radiotherapy with a full or empty bladder.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Varying bladder fillings during radiotherapy lead to a changing dose-volume load to the bladder and adjacent structures. The aim of the study was to compare the extent of bladder wall movements during parallel series with full bladder (FB) and empty bladder (EB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and forty serial computed tomography (CT) scans were performed in 50 patients scheduled for primary and postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Each patient underwent two CT scans (with FB and EB) before and 2-3 times during radiotherapy. Displacements of the bladder wall were compared and correlated with changing bladder fillings. RESULTS: The variability of FB was larger compared to EB volume (standard deviation of 124 cc and 56 cc; p<0.01), but significant bladder wall displacement variabilities were only found at the anterior and superior borders. Within a bladder volume range between -100 and +200 ml relative to the FB planning scan, the mean bladder wall displacement remained < 5 mm at the inferior, lateral, and posterior borders - as opposed to 15 and 21 mm at the anterior and superior borders. CONCLUSIONS: Treating the pelvis with EB compared to FB, bladder wall displacement can be only reduced at the superior and anterior borders. FB wall displacements are comparable with EB displacements at all other borders.

Postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer : evaluation of target motion and treatment techniques (intensity-modulated versus conformal radiotherapy).

PURPOSE: To determine the extent of target motion in postprostatectomy radiotherapy (RT) and the value of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) compared to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 20 patients underwent CT scans in supine position with both a full bladder (FB) and an empty bladder (EB) before RT and at three dates during the RT series. Displacements of the CTV (clinical target volume) center of mass and the posterior border were determined. 3D-CRT and IMRT treatment plans were compared regarding homogeneity, conformity, and dose to organs at risk. RESULTS: In the superior-inferior direction, larger displacements were found for EB compared to FB scans; anterior-posterior and right-left displacements were similar. With an initial rectum volume of < 115 cm(3), 90% of displacements at the posterior border were within a margin of 6 mm. The non-target volume irradiated in the high-dose area doubled in 3D-CRT versus IMRT plans (80 cm(3) vs. 38 cm(3) encompassed by the 95% isodose). Bladder dose was significantly lower with IMRT, but no advantage was found for the integral rectal dose. An adequate bladder filling was paramount to reduce the dose to the bladder. CONCLUSION: Postprostatectomy RT can be recommended with FB due to an improved CTV position consistency and a lower dose to the bladder. With improved non-target tissue and bladder volume sparing, IMRT is an option for dose escalation. However, this analysis did not find an advantage concerning the integral rectal dose with IMRT versus 3D-CRT.

Influence of the initial rectal distension on posterior margins in primary and postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to define the effect of different rectum fillings in the planning CT study on the posterior clinical target volume (CTV) displacements (PD) in primary and postoperative radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients underwent CT scans in supine position with a full bladder and an empty bladder before RT and at several points in time during the treatment. PD were determined depending on the initial rectum volume (RV), average cross-sectional rectal area (CSA), and the rectal diameter at the level of the bladder neck (RD). RESULTS: Posterior CTV motion was not found to be minimal with a particularly small initial rectum filling. Steeply increasing PD resulted for patients with RV>120cm(3), CSA>12cm(2), and RD>4.5cm. While below these critical values a posterior margin of 6mm/9mm allowed to cover 80%/90% of displacements, 18mm/24mm were needed for patients with larger rectum fillings. No correlation of increasing rectum distension with increasing PD was found at the apex level. PD could not be reduced by voiding the bladder. CONCLUSIONS: Defining the posterior margin in prostate RT, the initial rectum distension and the superior-inferior CTV level has to be considered. Patients with large initial rectum fillings have preferentially the need for repeated planning CT scans or image-guided RT.