title: Treatment of localized prostate cancer using a combination of high dose rate Iridium-192 brachytherapy and external beam irradiation: initial Australian experience.
abstract: Combination high dose rate brachytherapy (HDRB) and external beam radiation therapy is technically and clinically feasible as definitive treatment for localized prostate cancer. We report the first large Australian experience using this technique of radiation dose escalation in 82 patients with intermediate- and high-risk disease. With a median follow up of 3 years (156 weeks), complications were low and overall prostate-specific antigen progression-free survival was 91% using the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology consensus definition. The delivery of hypofractionated radiation through the HDRB component shortens overall treatment time and is both biologically and logistically advantageous. As a radiation boost strategy, HDRB is easy to learn and could be introduced into most facilities with brachytherapy capability.
authors.affiliation: Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. mjstevens@ausdoctors.org
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Stricker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saalfeld
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kooner
authors.forename: G F A
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Duval
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jagavkar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martland
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen