THURSDAY, Sept. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Hypofractionated intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and conventional IMRT therapy are equally effective in decreasing recurrence of intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer at five years, according to a study presented at the anual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, held from Oct. 2 to 6 in Miami Beach.
Alan Pollack, M.D., from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and colleagues compared the effectiveness of hypofractionated IMRT (given in a shorter period of time with higher doses per day), versus conventionally fractionated IMRT, in decreasing recurrence of intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer in 303 men. Participants randomly received either hypofractionated IMRT or conventionally fractionated IMRT between 2002 and 2006. In addition, the high-risk patients received a form of hormone therapy for two years. Patients were followed up for over five years.
The investigators found that the tumor control rates were similar between the two groups with better outcomes than anticipated in the conventionally fractioned group. The hypofractionation group showed results comparable to conventionally fractionated group in two and a half fewer weeks of treatment. Both groups had relatively few side effects, with identical frequency of unsatisfactory erections and long-term rates of bowel or rectal reactions. However, patients in the conventionally fractionated group showed significantly higher bladder control.
"Hypofractionated radiation that shortens treatment by about two and a half weeks is a practical approach to effectively controlling prostate cancer, as compared to the more standard treatment for men with intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer," the authors write.
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