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Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of locally advanced ...

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Evidence summary Level References<br />

There is no evidence to support <strong>the</strong> routine use <strong>of</strong> extended field<br />

radio<strong>the</strong>rapy <strong>for</strong> <strong>locally</strong> <strong>advanced</strong> prostate cancer. The role <strong>of</strong><br />

whole pelvis radio<strong>the</strong>rapy has yet to be defined.<br />

There is some evidence to support <strong>the</strong> increased efficacy <strong>for</strong> doseescalated<br />

external beam radio<strong>the</strong>rapy <strong>for</strong> biochemical and clinical<br />

relapse. These data have not yet translated into improved survival or<br />

a reduction in distant disease-free survival. There is some evidence<br />

that dose-escalation increases toxicity, however, <strong>the</strong> impact on<br />

quality <strong>of</strong> life is yet to be determined. It is uncertain whe<strong>the</strong>r any<br />

benefits <strong>of</strong> dose escalation can be generalised to patients receiving<br />

neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant endocrine <strong>the</strong>rapy.<br />

There is evidence that con<strong>for</strong>mal radio<strong>the</strong>rapy decreases toxicity<br />

compared with conventional radio<strong>the</strong>rapy<br />

Recommendation<br />

II 62-64, 66,<br />

71-76, 78-82<br />

When radiation <strong>the</strong>rapy alone is used, limited field radio<strong>the</strong>rapy has similar efficacy and has<br />

less toxicity than whole pelvis and <strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e is recommended. The role <strong>of</strong> whole pelvis<br />

radiation is yet to be defined.<br />

Consideration should be given to dose escalation (74Gy or higher) if it can be delivered<br />

safely.<br />

Patients with <strong>locally</strong> <strong>advanced</strong> prostate cancer should receive 3D con<strong>for</strong>mal radiation to<br />

minimise toxicity.<br />

Grade C<br />

External beam radio<strong>the</strong>rapy compared with o<strong>the</strong>r treatments <strong>for</strong> local control<br />

The <strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>locally</strong> <strong>advanced</strong> prostate cancer has long been controversial. For patients with a<br />

reasonable life expectancy, radio<strong>the</strong>rapy has traditionally been utilised. More recently, hormonal<br />

<strong>the</strong>rapy combined with radio<strong>the</strong>rapy has been shown to improve outcomes. ADT alone has<br />

traditionally been used <strong>for</strong> <strong>locally</strong> <strong>advanced</strong> disease in patients with a poor per<strong>for</strong>mance status and/or<br />

significant co-morbidities predicting a short life expectancy. Locally uncontrolled disease can be a<br />

morbid situation <strong>for</strong> patients, however, and may cause symptoms related to obstruction, renal<br />

impairment, bleeding and pain.<br />

Prior to 2006 (<strong>the</strong> cut-<strong>of</strong>f date <strong>for</strong> inclusion <strong>of</strong> trials <strong>for</strong> this analysis), <strong>the</strong>re were only three<br />

randomised trials comparing radio<strong>the</strong>rapy with alternative treatment approaches <strong>for</strong> <strong>locally</strong> <strong>advanced</strong><br />

prostate cancer. These all asked different questions, contained small numbers <strong>of</strong> patients (between 73<br />

and 151 patients), used old techniques, and provided conflicting results.<br />

There was a suggestion <strong>of</strong> improved survival <strong>of</strong> radio<strong>the</strong>rapy over orchidectomy in one study <strong>of</strong> 151<br />

patients 8, 9 , but at a cost <strong>of</strong> increased toxicity. Ano<strong>the</strong>r study <strong>of</strong> 73 patients 83 suggested that<br />

radio<strong>the</strong>rapy compared with observation did not delay <strong>the</strong> first onset <strong>of</strong> metastases but no long-term<br />

follow-up with survival was given. A third study <strong>of</strong> 95 patients 84 suggested an improvement in<br />

progression-free survival with surgery and hormones versus low-dose radio<strong>the</strong>rapy plus hormones,<br />

but at <strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> increased toxicity in <strong>the</strong> surgery group. Long-term follow-up <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Akakura study<br />

published since 2006 85 has demonstrated similar results with a non-significant trend <strong>for</strong> improved<br />

disease-free survival but at increased toxicity.<br />

27<br />

Locally <strong>advanced</strong> disease

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