Residual interfractional positioning errors were reduced using gold marker-based IGRT; however, this resulted in only slightly different final dose distributions. Therefore, daily MVCT-based IGRT without markers might be a valid alternative.

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BackgroundPostoperative adjuvant radiation therapy (ART) in T3 and R1 prostate cancer as well as salvage radiation therapy (SRT) in case of postoperative biochemical failure (BF) are established treatments. Dose-intensified postoperative radiation therapy (RT) schemes have shown superior biochemical control accompanied by increased toxicity rates. In our study we evaluate a novel risk adapted dose-intensified postoperative RT scheme.MethodsA consecutive series of prostate cancer patients receiving postoperative RT after radical prostatectomy using helical Tomotherapy between 04/2012 and 04/2015 was analyzed retrospectively. RT was administered using a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) to the area at risk (37 fractions of 1.9 Gy, total dose: 70.3 Gy) being defined based on histopathological findings (T3/R1 region) and in few cases according to additional diagnostic imaging. The whole prostate bed was treated with a dose of 66.6 Gy (37 fractions of 1.8 Gy). Primary endpoints were acute and late genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities. Secondary endpoints included patient reported outcome as assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire (ICIQ) and prostate cancer specific Quality of Life questionnaire QLQ-PR25, as well as rates of BF.ResultsA total of 69 patients were analyzed. Sixteen patients underwent ART and 53 patients SRT, respectively. The median follow-up was 20 months (range, 8–41 months). Seven (10.1%) and four (5.8%) patients experienced acute grade 2 GU and GI toxicity. Two patients (2.9%) had late grade 2 GU toxicity, whereas no late grade 2 GI nor any grade 3 acute or late GU or GI events were observed. When compared to the baseline IPSS scores (p = 1.0) and ICIQ scores (p = 0.87) were not significantly different at the end of follow-up. Patient reported Quality of life (QoL) showed also no significant difference. A total of seven patients (10.1%) experienced a biochemical recurrence with the 2-year biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) being 91%.ConclusionsPostoperative RT for prostate cancer patients with a risk adapted dose-intensified SIB using helical tomotherapy is feasible and associated with favorable acute and late GU and GI toxicity rates, no significant change of IPSS-, ICIQ scores and patient reported QoL and results in promising bPFS rates.

For primary radiation therapy (RT) of prostate cancer, dose intensification is established as standard of care. Less is known on the role of dose intensification in the postprostatectomy setting for salvage RT. Thus, we aimed to identify and summarize the existing literature. In retrospective analyses, dose-intensified salvage RT showed a superior biochemical control compared to standard dose salvage radiation with favorable acute and late gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity rates, especially when modern radiation techniques such as intensity modulated RT were applied. We identified one randomized phase III trial addressing the potential benefits of dose-intensified salvage RT (SAKK 09/10). Recently, acute gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities and early quality of life data of this trial were reported, and no significant difference in acute toxicities between both treatment arms were found; however, a significant worsening of genitourinary quality of life was noted in the dose-intensified treatment arm. Whereas dose-intensified salvage RT appears to be feasible and well tolerated, the improved biochemical control rates using dose intensified RT as suggested by retrospective analyses have yet to be validated by prospective trials.