Comparison of the Survivals and Adverse Events for Localized High-Risk Prostate Cancer Treated with Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Plus Androgen Deprivation and Trimodality Therapy, Including Low-Dose Iodine-125 Brachytherapy and External Beam Radiotherapy Plus Androgen Deprivation

Abstract

Background To evaluate and compare the survivals and radiotherapy-induced adverse events (AEs) of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and trimodality therapy, including low-dose iodine-125 brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy, and ADT, for high-risk localized prostate cancer (LPC).

Methods High-risk patients with LPC at T stage ≥ 3a, Gleason score ≥ 8, and initial prostate-specific antigen ≥ 20.0 ng/mL treated between 2010 and 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. All the patients were treated with IMRT plus ADT or trimodality therapy. In both groups, ADT was initiated 6 months before and continued for 2 years after radiotherapy. Survival and acute and late radiation-induced AEs were evaluated and compared.

Results Two hundred and thirty-eight patients were treated with IMRT, and 91 underwent trimodality. Five- and 7-year biochemical-clinical failure-free survival (BCFFS) rates in the IMRT/trimodality group were 94.9/96.2, and 91.8/91.5%, respectively (P = 0.511). Stratified by 1–2/3 factors, 5- and 7-year BCFFS rates in the IMRT groups were 95.8/91.8, and 95.8/75.6%, respectively (P = 0.009). Five and 7-year BCFFS rates in the trimodality group were 96.8/94.1, and 91.4/94.1%, respectively (P = 0.995). The cumulative 3-/5-year incidence of late genitourinary AEs in the IMRT/trimodality group was 7.3/8.4, and 15.5/16.9%, respectively (P = 0.037), and the cumulative 3-/5-year incidence of late gastrointestinal AEs was 2.2/3.4, and 11.0/12.2%, respectively (P = 0.001). Thirty patients (9.1%) could not complete long-term ADT.

Conclusion Treatment results of both IMRT and trimodality were considered to be good, and our results also indicated that the long-term survival of unfavorable high-risk patients with LPC who had three risk factors was poor in the IMRT group. Further treatment experience of both modalities must be accumulated with more appropriate patient allocations.