Effect of combined treatment with salvage radiotherapy plus androgen suppression on quality of life in patients with recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of salvage radiotherapy (RT) plus 2-year androgen suppression (AS) on quality of life (QOL).


METHODS
A total of 74 patients with biopsy-proven local recurrence or PSA relapse after radical prostatectomy were treated with salvage RT plus 2-year AS, as per a phase II study. Quality of life was prospectively assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire 30-Item Version 3.0 with the added prostate cancer-specific module at baseline and predefined follow-up visits.


RESULTS
Patients experienced a significant increase in bowel dysfunction (23%) by the end of RT (p < 0.0001). This bowel dysfunction improved after RT but remained slightly elevated (5-10%) throughout the 2-year AS period. This extent of residual bowel dysfunction would be considered of minimal clinical importance. A similar, but less pronounced, pattern of change did occur for urinary dysfunction. Erectile function showed no change during RT, but had an abrupt decline (10%) with initiation of AS that was of moderate clinical significance (p < 0.01). None of the other QOL domains demonstrated a persistent, significant change from baseline that would be considered of major clinical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined treatment with salvage RT plus 2-year AS had relatively minor long-term effects on QOL.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Andrew
A
Pearce
Richard
R
Choo
Cyril
C
Danjoux
Gerard
G
Morton
D Andrew
DA
Loblaw
Ewa
E
Szumacher
Patrick
P
Cheung
Gerrit
G
Deboer
Sarat
S
Chander
D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010410:Penile Erection; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen