High-Dose Radiotherapy plus Prolonged Hormone Therapy in CT2-3 Prostatic Carcinoma: Is it Useful?

Abstract

The results of the study confirmed the positive impact of radiotherapy doses > 70 Gy and of adjuvant hormone therapy in patients with locally advanced prostatic carcinoma. Owing to the lack of evidence of a correlation between radiation dose and biochemical outcome in patients undergoing prolonged hormone therapy, the role of further dose escalation in patients undergoing combined hormone and radiation therapy is still unclear.

Population-Based Study of Trends and Variations in Radiotherapy as Part of Primary Treatment of Cancer in the Southern Netherlands Between 1988 and 2006, With an Emphasis on Breast and Rectal Cancer

“…However, with regard to localized prostate cancer, because the treatment options are radical surgery, external RT or brachytherapy, and watchful waiting (15), and the choice is generally dependent on the patient's or physician's preferences (26,27), we do not necessarily expect to see an increase in RT use in these patients. Nevertheless, we think that the encouraging results of several trials of adjuvant hormonal treatment for patients with locally advanced prostate tumors has boosted referral for combined RT-hormonal treatment (28)(29)(30). The preference of urologists in the eastern sector for RT might have contributed to the slightly higher RT rates there.…”