Monitoring of prostate-specific antigen during external beam radiotherapy for carcinoma of the prostate.
In 35 patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma of the prostate confined to the pelvis, the value of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was evaluated during external beam radiotherapy to the prostate and draining pelvic lymph nodes. In eleven patients initial prostate-specific antigen levels were more than 10 ng/ml and in twelve patients between 4 and 10 ng/ml. In the remaining twelve, initial prostate-specific antigen levels were less than 4 ng/ml. In the course of radiotherapy we could see a significant decrease of the prostate-specific antigen, even in those with levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml. This decrease seems to follow a logarithmic course but, because only three measurements during radiotherapy were made, this needs further study. With higher levels (more than 20 ng/ml), we rarely saw a value of less than 10 ng/ml at the end of radiotherapy but had to wait for several months for lower values to be reached. In several cases prostate-specific antigen decrease took up to three months after the end of the radiation course. Our results indicate that prostate-specific antigen values actually start decreasing during the radiation course itself and may, therefore, be useful for monitoring response to radiotherapy.
Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
M
M
van Eijkeren
J P
JP
van Haelst
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011467:Prostate / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D013997:Time Factors
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen