Until the results of 3 randomized trials became known in 2005, the role of adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy following radical prostatectomy was poorly defined. After the publication of these trials, the Genito-Urinary Radiation Oncologists of Canada (GUROC) met and crafted a consensus statement regarding the current place of adjuvant radiation therapy. GUROC also identified gaps in current knowledge and strongly supports ongoing study protocols to further quantify the benefit of postoperative radiotherapy.This report summarizes the main trial findings and the commentary provided during the consensus-building process. It also outlines the subsequent consensus statement.
IntroductionThe Genito-Urinary Radiation Oncologists of Canada (GUROC) meet every 2 years to discuss current issues and, where appropriate, develop consensus guidelines. Since the last meeting in December 2004, 1 new data have been published concerning the role of adjuvant radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy (RRP). Hence, the January 2007 meeting addressed the changing role of adjuvant and salvage radiation therapy. This article describes the background, the current evidence, the new trials under development and the consensus that was reached at this meeting regarding adjuvant radiation.
BackgroundRRP is an established curative management for men with low-and intermediate-risk prostate cancer; it is increasingly being used for selected men with high-risk cancers. When compared with watchful waiting in the clinically detected (as opposed to screen detected) population of men with prostate cancer, it has been shown to offer a survival advantage for men aged under 65 years. 2 For men with low-risk cancer as defined by the Canadian consensus definition, 3 the 5-year prostate-specific antigen (PSA) control rates for no biological evidence of disease (bNED) exceed 80%-90%, but as risk category worsens, 5-year control falls to 60%-80%. 4,5 In large case series from surgical