Phase I/II study of a five-fraction hypofractionated accelerated radiotherapy treatment for low-risk localised prostate cancer: early results of pHART3.
OBJECTIVE
Most men with low-risk localised prostate cancer prefer treatments with high control rates and minimal disruption to their lives. Hypofractionating external radiation treatments can theoretically maintain high bioequivalent tumour doses, decrease treatment visits and decrease acute and late toxicities. The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity and feasibility of a hypofractionated accelerated regimen for these patients.


METHODS
The present study was a phase I/II study in which patients with T1-2b, Gleason < or = 6 and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) < or = 10 ng/ml prostate cancer received 35Gy in five fractions, once a week over 29 days. Treatment was delivered with intensity-modulated radiotherapy on standard linear accelerators, with daily image guidance using gold seed fiducials, and a 4mm clinical target volume to planning target volume margin.


RESULTS
As of January 2008, the target accrual of 30 patients had been reached and all had completed treatment and at least 6 months of follow-up. Dose-volume histogram objectives were achievable in all patients. Treatment was very well tolerated with no grade 3 or 4 genitourinary toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity nor fatigue observed (95% confidence interval 0-12%). As a group, compared with baseline, the following additional grade 2 toxicities were observed: 13% genitourinary, 7% gastrointestinal and 10% fatigue. At 6 months all scores had returned to or improved over baseline. The median PSA before treatment was 6.0 ng/ml. At 6 months, the median PSA was 1.8 ng/ml and 75% had a PSA < or = 3.0 ng/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
This novel technique using standard linear accelerators seems feasible and is well tolerated. Further follow-up will be carried out to document late toxicity and efficacy.
Tang
C I
CI
Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Loblaw
D A
DA
Cheung
P
P
Holden
L
L
Morton
G
G
Basran
P S
PS
Tirona
R
R
Cardoso
M
M
Pang
G
G
Gardner
S
S
Cesta
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D055815:Young Adult
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen