All the different types of external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer: a good introduction

Over the past 20 years there has been an explosion in the different ways that we use varied types of external beam radiation therapy for the treatment of localized and locally advanced forms of prostate cancer. Where is the newly diagnosed patient able to find a good, basic introduction?

GI toxicity, radiation therapy, and androgen deprivation

For men undergoing the combination of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), for treatment of prostate cancer there is a significant risk for gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity over time.

Slightly fewer (severe) complications after IMRT compared to CRT

According to a media release from the University of Pennsylvania Health System, (and another from the American Society of Radiation Oncology [ASTRO]), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is associated with fewer complications than traditional, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) in the treatment of non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Chemohormonal therapy + EBRT for treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer

Several years ago, Bolla et al. planned and carried out the major European trial showing that external beam radiation therapy with 3 years of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT, using goserelin acetate)  extended the prostate cancer-specific and the overall survival of patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer as compared to radiation alone.

CT + ADT vs. 3D-CRT + ADT for first-line treatment of “high-risk” prostate cancer

A South Korean research team has just published data from a small, prospective, case-matched study comparing outcomes after cryotherapy + androgen deprivation therapy (CT + ADT) to outcomes after three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy + androgen deprivation (3D-CRT + ADT) in patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

More on the value of HDR brachytherapy added to EBRT

A few days ago we reported on a study which concluded that the addition of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy to intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) had limited short-term clinical benefit in the treatment of localized prostate cancer compared to IMRT alone. Newly published Australian data is arguably supportive of this viewpoint.

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