Influence of age on the pattern and outcome of external beam radiotherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
The influence of age on the patterns and outcomes of external beam radiotherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer patients was examined.


METHODS
The Japanese Patterns of Care Study surveys were used to compare the processes and outcomes of radical external beam radiotherapy in 140 elderly patients (>75 years old) and 304 younger patients (<75 years old).


RESULTS
Although the Karnofsky performance status was significantly different between elderly and younger patients, there were no significant differences in disease characteristics such as pretreatment PSA level, differentiation, Gleason combined score and clinical T stage. There were also no significant differences in the treatment characteristics such as CT-based treatment planning, conformal therapy, total radiation doses (both a median of 66.0 Gy) and hormonal therapy usage. Moreover, no significant differences in overall survival, biochemical relapse-free survival and late toxicity rates were observed between elderly and younger patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Age did not influence the disease characteristics, patterns of external beam radiotherapy, survival and late toxicities for clinically localized prostate cancer patients. Therefore, radiotherapy could represent an important treatment modality for elderly patients as well as for younger ones.
Ogawa
Kazuhiko
K
Department of Radiology, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. kogawa@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
Nakamura
Katsumasa
K
Onishi
Hiroshi
H
Koizumi
Masahiko
M
Sasaki
Tomonari
T
Araya
Masayuki
M
Miyabe
Yuuki
Y
Otani
Yuuki
Y
Teshima
Teruki
T
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen