RESUMO
Analysis of a series of 118 patients with histological diagnosis of prostate carcinoma, localized stages A2, B and C, treated with external radiotherapy with radical purpose between July 1964 and December 1991. The 5-year cause-specific survival was 69% years and 62% at 10 years. Disease-free survival was 56% and 48% at 5 and 10 years respectively. Local, locoregional and distant relapse-free survivals were 91%, 75% and 65% at 10 years respectively. Several factors characterize each tumour, influencing the therapy failure. In our series, non-differentiated, stage C tumours with pathological LDH levels at diagnosis and treated with AP-PA fields showed decreased survival and greater relapse ratios. Two separate factors influence on distant failure: LDH pathological levels at diagnosis and non-differentiated tumours. External radiotherapy is a therapeutical alternative in localized stages of prostate carcinoma, which offers little morbidity and good tolerance, similar results to those obtained with surgical treatment.