High-dose radiotherapy did not improve survival for men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer but did improve biochemical control and rates of distant metastases, when compared to standard radiotherapy, shows results of a recent NRG Oncology study.
Prostate cancer
patients who received higher-dose radiotherapy underwent fewer salvage therapies to control tumors that had grown larger or had spread to another body site; however, they also experienced more side effects than did men on the standard radiotherapy treatment arm.
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‘Higher-dose of radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients resulted in fewer salvage therapies to control growing and metastized tumors but the side effects of the high dosage was higher than standard radiotherapy.’
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This information will be invaluable for doctors and patients when deciding the best treatment course. Research efforts on this study were led by the Study Chair, Jeff M. Michalski, MD, of the Siteman Cancer Center at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This analysis was published in JAMA Oncology and Dr. Michalski was recently interviewed by JAMA Oncology in a podcast regarding the publication.
NRG Oncology/RTOG 0126 is the first study of its kind large enough to examine whether improvement in cancer control from escalating radiotherapy dose could convert into longer overall survival rates for such patients. The trial analyzed 1,499 participants: 748 men were randomly assigned to the experimental radiotherapy arm to receive the higher dose of 79.2Gy in 44 fractions, and 751 men were randomly assigned to the standard radiotherapy arm to receive 70.2Gy in 39 fractions. At the median follow-up time of 8.4 years, there was no difference in overall survival. The 8-year overall survival for patients who received the escalated dose of radiotherapy was 76% and the 8-year overall survival for the standard radiotherapy dose was 75%. There were more late grade 2 or greater gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities reported (occurring more than 90 days from start of treatment) for patients on the higher-dose radiotherapy arm (5-year cumulative incidence [GI/GU]: 21%/12% with 79.2Gy versus 15%/7% with 70.2Gy). However, the experimental arm had a lower rate of salvage therapies.
![Prostate Cancer Drug Most Effective When Paired With Good Food]( "Prostate Cancer Drug Most Effective When Paired With Good Food")
Taking abiraterone acetate, marketed as Zytiga, a standard prostate cancer drug with food boosts impact and lowers costs when paired with good food. Abiraterone's ability to lower levels of prostate-specific antigen is greater for patients who take low-dose with food.
"If we can safely deliver the higher dose of radiotherapy, my opinion is to do that," Michalski advised. "It does show lower risk of recurrence, which results in better quality of life. But if we can't achieve those 'safe' radiotherapy dose goals, we shouldn't put the patient at risk of serious side effects down the line by giving the higher dose. If we can't spare the rectum or the bladder well enough, for example, we should probably back off the radiotherapy dose. It's important to develop treatment plans for each patient on a case-by-case basis."
Source: Eurekalert
Prostate Cancer Drug Most Effective When Paired With Good Food
Taking abiraterone acetate, marketed as Zytiga, a standard prostate cancer drug with food boosts impact and lowers costs when paired with good food. Abiraterone's ability to lower levels of prostate-specific antigen is greater for patients who take low-dose with food.
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"If we can safely deliver the higher dose of radiotherapy, my opinion is to do that," Michalski advised. "It does show lower risk of recurrence, which results in better quality of life. But if we can't achieve those 'safe' radiotherapy dose goals, we shouldn't put the patient at risk of serious side effects down the line by giving the higher dose. If we can't spare the rectum or the bladder well enough, for example, we should probably back off the radiotherapy dose. It's important to develop treatment plans for each patient on a case-by-case basis."
Source: Eurekalert
Impact of Prostate Cancer on Wives – The Other Side of Prostate Cancer
Wives of advanced prostate cancer sufferers feel that their lives are being undermined by their husband's illness, with nearly half reporting that their own health suffered. Many feel isolated and fearful, and worry about the role change in their lives as their husband's cancer advances.
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 Artificial Intelligence can Diagnose Prostate Cancer AccuratelyArtificial intelligence learning system has been developed that aids in diagnosing and identifying prostate cancer accurately, just like a pathologist. | Advertisement
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