title: Simultaneous irradiation for prostate cancer: intermediate results with modern techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study of men with early stage prostate cancer we evaluated treatment outcome after modern simultaneous irradiation, comprising transperineal implantation followed by external beam radiation. Disease-free survival rates were calculated according to an undetectable prostate specific antigen (PSA) nadir.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1992 to 1996, 689 men with clinical stage T1-T2, N0, Nx prostate cancer were treated with ultrasound guided transperineal 125iodine seed implantation followed 3 weeks later by external beam radiation. Disease-free status was defined as the achievement and maintenance of a PSA nadir of 0.2 ng./ml. or less. Median followup was 4 years (range 3 to 7). None of these men received neoadjuvant or adjuvant hormonal therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 5-year disease-free survival was 88%. The 5-year rate according to PSA 4.0 ng./ml. or less, 4.1 to 10.0, 10.1 to 20.0 and greater than 20.0 was 94%, 93%, 75% and 69%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that pretreatment PSA was the strongest indicator of subsequent disease-free status in regard to Gleason score or clinical stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intermediate treatment outcome analysis of modern simultaneous radiation supports the principles of radiation dose intensification for intracapsular disease plus the treatment of potential microscopic capsular penetration.
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia and Georgia Urology, Decatur, GA, USA.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Critz
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Levinson
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Benton
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Holladay
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Schnell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000528:radiation effects; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen