Men who have surgery for prostate cancer do not need post-operative radiotherapy, according to the findings of a major trial.
Researchers found a very small difference in progression-free survival between men who had radiotherapy and those who did not.
The findings of the UK-led trial were reported to the conference of the European Society of Medical Oncology in Barcelona, Spain.
The randomised study involved 1,396 patients in the UK, Denmark, Canada and Ireland.
It found that 85% of those who underwent radiotherapy enjoyed progression-free survival compared with 88% of those who did not have it.
Researchers also presented a metanalysis to the conference, combining the findings of the trial with two others and reaching the same conclusions.
Researcher Professor Chris Parker, of the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, said: "The results from this trial indicate that postoperative radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients is equally effective whether it is given to all men shortly after surgery or only given later to those men with recurrent disease. There is a strong case now that observation should be the standard approach after surgery, and that radiotherapy should be used if the cancer comes back.
"This is good news for future patients as it means that many men will avoid the adverse side-effects of radiotherapy which can include urinary incontinence. This is a potential complication after surgery alone, but the risk is increased if radiotherapy is used as well."
Speaking at the conference Dr Xavier Maldonado, of Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, said: "These are the first results to suggest that post-operative radiotherapy for prostate cancer could be omitted or delayed in some patients. This will shorten the duration of treatment for these patients and allow better use of resources since today’s radiotherapy is technically sophisticated and therefore expensive.
"However, strict follow-up will be needed to identify patients requiring salvage radiotherapy."
Abstract: Timing of radiotherapy (RT) after radical prostatectomy (RP): first results from the RADICALS RT randomised controlled trial (RCT) [NCT00541047]
Leave a Reply