title: [Radiotherapy of localized prostatic cancer: follow-up of 48 patients. G.C.C.P. (Cooperative Group for the Study of Prostatic Cancer)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy of curative-intent radiation therapy in patients with apparently localized prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  48 patients with T < 3 M0 prostate cancer recruited between 1981 and 1985 received regular clinical follow-up for at least ten years or until their death. Radiation therapy was given according to the protocols established by Ray and Bagshaw.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radiation therapy was safe and effective in most patients. The rate of escape phenomenon was less than 10% after two years. Tumor control rates were greater than 80% after five years and 50% after ten years. Unfortunately, local remission, even when prolonged, did not necessarily indicate a complete cure: 20% of local recurrences developed five to 11 years after radiation therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiation therapy may be the best first-line treatment in men older than 75 years of age and in those whose life expectancy seems shorter than ten years, but should probably not be considered curative.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonhomme
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choquenet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coloby
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lachand
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levallois
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reboul
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thibault
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thirault
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Timbal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors