title: External beam radiation monotherapy for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report the treatment results and complications of external beam radiation monotherapy for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients with T(1b-3a)N(0)(pN(0))M(0) prostate cancer were treated with external beam radiation monotherapy between 1989 and 2001 at four institutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 4-122 month follow-up period (median: 25 months), 11 (20%) patients experienced biochemical failure, including one with simultaneous local recurrence. The 2-year actuarial biochemical control rate was 85%. Univariate analysis showed that the clinical T classification (P = 0.01), Gleason score (P = 0.006), pretreatment PSA (P = 0.02) and PSA nadir value (P = 0.01) were associated with a higher probability of biochemical failure. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that only the PSA nadir value was a strong predictor of PSA recurrence (P < 0.01). Adverse events were mild and tolerable. No severe urinary or bowel complications were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  External beam radiation monotherapy is effective for clinically organ-confined prostate cancer with a low incidence of severe complications in a mean follow-up period of 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. atakahas@sapmed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yanase
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masumori
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasamura
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Taiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oouchi
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hareyama
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirato
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takatsuka
authors.forename: Noriomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen