Published in:
01-10-2014 | Original Article – Clinical Oncology
Stereotactic body radiotherapy with flattening filter-free beams for prostate cancer: assessment of patient-reported quality of life
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 10/2014
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Purpose
Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an emerging treatment approach reported as safe and effective strategy for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. End point of the current study is to appraise the patient-reported quality of life according to the expanded prostate cancer index composite (EPIC) questionnaire.
Methods
In the framework of a prospective mono-institutional phase II trial, EPIC questionnaire was dispensed (up to 1 year after treatment) to a cohort of 46 patients of 72 treated with 5 fractions of 7 Gy each to the prostate. SBRT was delivered with RapidArc VMAT with 10 MV flattening filter-free photon beams.
Results
Median follow-up of patients was 14.5 months (range: 6–23). Acute rectal toxicity was mild (only 23/72 cases with G1–2 and no G3–4) as well as urinary (50/72 G1–2 and no G3–4). At the moment, four cases of G1 late rectal toxicity and 22 cases of G1 urinary (1 of G2) were reported. Urinary, rectal, sexual, and hormonal scores resulted stable over time: 1 year scores resulted, respectively, in −0.3, +2.8, −1.7, and −2.8 % variations with respect to baseline. No significant differences were observed also when data were stratified according to functional and bother sub-scales.
Conclusions
Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatment of prostate with RapidArc and high-intensity photon beams resulted to be well tolerated by patients with mild toxicity profiles and good patient-reported quality of life perception for the first year after treatment. Longer follow-up in the trial cohort is in progress.