Salvage radiotherapy in patients with persistently detectable PSA or PSA rising from an undetectable range after radical prostatectomy gives comparable results

Purpose

Salvage radiotherapy (SRT) is applied routinely in patients with a biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy (RP). Although the detection threshold for relapse after RP has steadily been lowered, only about 30 % of the SRT patients achieve a durable response. We have previously shown the association between a PSA decrease below detectable levels after SRT and biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS). After recalculating our data according to a more recent definition of biochemical failure after SRT, we now show the significance of the post-RP PSA nadir.

Materials and methods

Among 159 prostate cancer patients without hormonal treatment after RP, SRT was given to 72 patients with persistently detectable PSA after RP and to 87 whose PSA increased out of an undetectable range. The median pre-SRT PSA was 0.29 ng/ml for the former group and 0.34 ng/ml for the latter group. A radiation dose of 66.6 Gy was applied to the prostate bed.

Results

The overall median follow-up time was 41.7 months. The probability for BPFS after this period was 52.8 % in 72 patients with persistently detectable PSA after RP and 65.4 % in 87 patients who had a post-RP PSA nadir below detection limit. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed no significant difference in BPFS of both patient groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that SRT is a viable treatment option for patients with persistently detectable PSA, giving similar results as in patients whose PSA increases out of an undetectable range after RP.     

Phase 3 Study of Adjuvant Radiotherapy Versus Wait and See in pT3 Prostate Cancer: Impact of Pathology Review on Analysis

Background

In a randomised trial, radical prostatectomy (RP) followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) was compared with RP alone in patients with pT3 pN0 prostate cancer with or without positive margin at local pathology (German Cancer Society trial numbers ARO 96-02/AUO AP 09/95).

Objective

A pathology review was performed on 85% of RP specimens of patients to investigate the influence of pathology review on the analysis.

Design, setting, and participants

Patients post-RP (n = 385) were randomised before achieving an undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level to either wait and see (n = 192) or 60 Gy aRT (n = 193). Of 307 patients with undetectable PSA after RP, 262 had pathology review. These results were included prospectively into the analysis.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

Agreement between local and review pathology was measured by the total percentage of agreement and by simple kappa statistics. The prognostic reliability for the different parameters was analysed by Cox regression model. Event-free rates were determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis with a median follow-up of 40 mo for the wait-and-see arm and 38.5 mo for the aRT arm.

Results and limitations

There was fair concordance between pathology review and local pathologists for seminal vesicle invasion (pT3c: 91%; κ = 0.76), surgical margin status (84%; κ = 0.65), and for extraprostatic extension (pT3a/b: 75%; κ = 0.74). Agreement was much less for Gleason score (47%; κ = 0.42), whereby the review pathology resulted in a shift to Gleason score 7. In contrast to the analysis of progression-free survival with local pathology, the multivariate analysis including review pathology revealed PSMs and Gleason score >6 as significant prognostic factors.

Conclusions

Phase 3 studies of postoperative treatment of prostate cancer should be accomplished in the future with a pathology review. In daily practice, a second opinion by a pathologist experienced in urogenital pathology would be desirable, in particular, for high-risk patients after RP.     

Interobserver variability,detection rate,and lesion patterns of 68Ga-PSMA-11-PET/CT in early-stage biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging - 68Ga-PSMA-11-PET/CT is increasingly used in early-stage biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer to detect potential lesions for an...     

The Value of PSA Measurements at 30 Gy, 50 Gy and 60 Gy for Dose Limitation in Patients with Radiotherapy for PSA Increase after Radical Prostatectomy

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy is a treatment option for patients with rising PSA after radical prostatectomy without histological evidence of local relapse and no signs of distant metastases. Prior to radiotherapy there is no certainty whether a patient is going to respond to the treatment or not. When total doses of more than 60 Gy are given there is an exponential rise in treatment-related late toxicity. Therefore those patients in whom radiotherapy later appears to be ineffective may benefit from a dose restriction to 50-60 Gy. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of PSA levels evaluated during radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 41 patients with rising PSA level following prostatectomy received radiotherapy to the prostatic bed and were treated up to a median dose of 66.6 Gy. We evaluated serum PSA levels during radiotherapy at 30 Gy, 50 Gy, and 60 Gy and compared them to the pre-radiotherapy PSA level and the outcome of radiotherapy. RESULTS: After radiotherapy, 31 patients (76%) had either undetectable (n = 15), or decreasing but still detectable PSA levels (n = 16) and ten patients (24%) had rising PSA levels and did not respond. PSA evaluation at 30 Gy showed that 26% (8/31) of those patients who would respond to radiotherapy still had a rising PSA when compared to pretreatment PSA. At 50 Gy and 60 Gy 93% (27/29) of these patients had decreasing PSA levels. In contrast, 75% (6/8) and 88% (7/8) of those patients in whom radiotherapy was not effective had rising PSA levels at 50 Gy and 60 Gy (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PSA measurements at 30 Gy, 50 Gy and 60 Gy for radiotherapy of PSA increase following radical prostatectomy without histologically proven local recurrence gives valuable information about the later tumor response. Therefore it possibly gives the opportunity to finish radiotherapy between 50 and 60 Gy, as almost all patients with continued PSA increase at 60 Gy do not stand to profit from radiotherapy. In these patients dose limitation would significantly decrease the risk of late side effects, especially for the bladder and the rectum. PSA evaluations at 30 Gy and 50 Gy or 60 Gy are recommendable.     

Radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy: immediate or early delayed?

Background

Biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP) is associated with risk indicators, including Gleason score, preoperative PSA level, tumor stage, seminal vesicle invasion, and positive surgical margins. The 5-year biochemical progression rate among predisposed patients is as high as 50?C70%. Post-RP treatment options include adjuvant radiotherapy (ART, for men with undetectable PSA) or salvage radiotherapy (SRT, for PSA persisting or re-rising above detection threshold). Presently, there are no published randomized trials evaluating ART vs. SRT directly.

Methods

Published data on ART and SRT were reviewed to allow a comparison of the two treatment approaches.

Results

Three randomized phase III trials demonstrated an almost 20% absolute benefit for biochemical progression-free survival after ART (60?C64?Gy) compared to a ??wait and see?? policy. The greatest benefit was achieved in patients with positive margins and pT3 tumors. SRT can be offered to patients with elevated PSA after RP. In 30?C70% of SRT patients, PSA will decrease to an undetectable level, thus giving a second curative chance. The rate of side effects for both treatments is comparably low. The role of irradiation of pelvic lymph nodes and the additional use of hormone therapy and radiation dose are discussed.

Conclusion

It remains unclear whether early SRT initiated after PSA failure is equivalent to ART. Where SRT is indicated, it should be started as early as possible.     

Spinales Kompressionssyndrom

Acute spinal cord compression syndrome caused by metastases constitutes an oncological emergency. Patients with corresponding symptoms (progressive back pain, spinal cord compression syndrome) should be promptly referred to a center which can offer complete diagnostic tests and has the appropriate departments (neurosurgery, radio-oncology, orthopedics, hematology). On principle, the further course of action (surgical intervention, if necessary followed by postoperative radiotherapy, or immediate radiotherapy alone) should be decided individually for each patient by the interdisciplinary team.     

Interdisziplinarität am Beispiel gastrointestinaler Tumoren

Efficient treatment is the modern concept for diagnostics and treatment in medicine. Strategic changes have been initiated in order to provide patients with modern, state of the art care. Traditional borders between clinical specialties are also partly breaking down depending on the method. For patients with gastro-intestinal tumors in-patient care is nowadays increasingly being provided at visceral organ-specific medical centers in co-operation with the treating general practitioners. Interdisciplinarity is assumed to be the key to success. This article will discuss the special aspects as illustrated by gastrointestinal tumors, in particular colorectal carcinomas and provides an outlook especially for university based visceral medicine.