Patient-reported gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity after prostate cancer treatment : A comparison between radiotherapy including pelvic nodes and prostate-only radiotherapy

• Background: To evaluate side effects of radiotherapy (RT) including the pelvic nodes in patients with prostate cancer. Methods: 143 patients with high risk prostate cancer (Pca) receiving whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) was matched to a group of 142 patients receiving RT towards the prostate and seminal vesicles only (PORT). Both groups were given 78 Gy towards the prostate and 50 Gy towards the seminal vesicles. The WPRT group also received 50 Gy towards the pelvic nodes. WPRT was given with intensity modulated RT or volumetric modulated arc therapy technique and the group treated towards the prostate and seminal vesicles only was treated with 3-dimensional conformal RT. Gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) side effects were evaluated with patient-reported questionnaires and with the RTOG scale, scored by treating physician, at baseline and one-year after RT. Results: Overall the side effects were mild. At one-year follow up there were significant differences regarding morning urgency, mucus- and blood in stool between the two groups (Table 1). The WPRT group expressed lesser complications in all of these cases. In the RTOG GU and GI scores there were no differences between the groups. About 20% had RTOG grade 2 GU score and 2%/1% had RTOG grade 3 score in the PORT and WPRT groups, respectively. The numbers for RTOG grade 2 GI scores were 11% and 5% in the PORT and WPRT groups, respectively. None of the groups reported RTOG grade 3 GI symptoms. Conclusions: Whole pelvic RT can be done with a very satisfying profile of side effects. Sometimes even lesser gastrointestinal reported side effects are seen with the newer techniques compared to prostate only radiotherapy with older techniques.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)