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Published in: World Journal of Urology 2/2013

01-04-2013 | Original Article

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

Authors: Gunnar Lohm, Dirk Bottke, Basil Jamil, Kurt Miller, Konrad Neumann, Detlef Bartkowiak, Wolfgang Hinkelbein, Thomas Wiegel

Published in: World Journal of Urology | Issue 2/2013

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Abstract

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.
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Metadata
Title
Salvage radiotherapy in patients with persistently detectable PSA or PSA rising from an undetectable range after radical prostatectomy gives comparable results
Authors
Gunnar Lohm
Dirk Bottke
Basil Jamil
Kurt Miller
Konrad Neumann
Detlef Bartkowiak
Wolfgang Hinkelbein
Thomas Wiegel
Publication date
01-04-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
World Journal of Urology / Issue 2/2013
Print ISSN: 0724-4983
Electronic ISSN: 1433-8726
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-012-0860-y

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