According to the results of a recent study, there was no difference in disease recurrence among men with prostate cancer when they were given radiation after surgery or not.
The results from the study could mean that men with prostate cancer could be spared having to undergo radiation after surgery. The study found no difference in disease recurrence at five years between those who did and did not utilize the adjuvant therapy.
As an added benefit for patients, these findings could lead to patients experiencing far fewer side effects. The good news could be that in future, many men will avoid the side-effects of radiotherapy. These side effects can include urinary leakage and narrowing of the urethra, which can make urination difficult. Both are still potential complications after surgery alone, but the risk is increased if radiotherapy is used as well.
In the trial, researchers enrolled 1,396 patients after surgery for prostate cancer, and randomized them to receive either postoperative radiotherapy or the standard approach of observation only (in this particular group radiotherapy was only kept as an option if the disease recurred).
After five years at a median follow-up, progression free survival (the time from treatment to disease progression or worsening) was 85% in the radiotherapy group, compared with 88% in the standard care group.
After one year post-surgery, self-reported urinary incontinence was worse in the radiotherapy group (5.3%), compared with those who underwent observation (2.7%).
There is a strong case to be made that observation could be the standard approach after surgery and radiotherapy should only be used if the cancer comes back.
These same findings were also confirmed in a collaborative meta-analysis that included three randomized trials comparing adjuvant radiotherapy with early salvage radiotherapy following prostatectomy for men with localized prostate cancer.
The analysis was comprised of 2,151 men, including 1,074 who were randomized to adjuvant radiotherapy and 1,077 men were randomized to early salvage radiotherapy. Of those randomized to early salvage radiotherapy, only 37% started salvage treatment to date.
Similarly, the analysis did not find a significant difference supporting the use of adjuvant therapy to improve prostaAfter Surgery May Not Be Necessary Among Men With Prostate Cancer
According to the results of a recent study, there was no difference in disease recurrence among men with prostate cancer when they were given radiation after surgery or not.
The results from the study could mean that men with prostate cancer could be spared having to undergo radiation after surgery. The study found no difference in disease recurrence at five years between those who did and did not utilize the adjuvant therapy.
As an added benefit for patients, these findings could lead to patients experiencing far fewer side effects. The good news could be that in future, many men will avoid the side-effects of radiotherapy. These side effects can include urinary leakage and narrowing of the urethra, which can make urination difficult. Both are still potential complications after surgery alone, but the risk is increased if radiotherapy is used as well.
In the trial, researchers enrolled 1,396 patients after surgery for prostate cancer, and randomized them to receive either postoperative radiotherapy or the standard approach of observation only (in this particular group radiotherapy was only kept as an option if the disease recurred).
After five years at a median follow-up, progression free survival (the time from treatment to disease progression or worsening) was 85% in the radiotherapy group, compared with 88% in the standard care group.
After one year post-surgery, self-reported urinary incontinence was worse in the radiotherapy group (5.3%), compared with those who underwent observation (2.7%).
There is a strong case to be made that observation could be the standard approach after surgery and radiotherapy should only be used if the cancer comes back.
These same findings were also confirmed in a collaborative meta-analysis that included three randomized trials comparing adjuvant radiotherapy with early salvage radiotherapy following prostatectomy for men with localized prostate cancer.
The analysis was comprised of 2,151 men, including 1,074 who were randomized to adjuvant radiotherapy and 1,077 men were randomized to early salvage radiotherapy. Of those randomized to early salvage radiotherapy, only 37% started salvage treatment to date.
Similarly, the analysis did not find a significant difference supporting the use of adjuvant therapy to improve prostate cancer from recurring, compared to early salvage radiotherapy. Based on these results, the difference in five-year event free survival is likely only to be around 1%, according to the release.
te cancer from recurring, compared to early salvage radiotherapy. Based on these results, the difference in five-year event free survival is likely only to be around 1%, according to the release.