[Disease relapses after radical radiotherapy of prostate cancer--analysis of prognostic factors].
BACKGROUND
Although there is no consensus on which is the best option in prostate cancer treatment, these patients could be successfully treated with radiotherapy. Regarding some prognostic factors, it is possible today to classify prostate cancer patients into several risk groups for clinical and biochemical relapse, and therefore to choose the right treatment modality.


OBJECTIVE
The objective in our study was to analyze the impact of tumour stage and grade, previous transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR), initial prostate specific antigen (PSA) level and age on disease relapse after radical radiotherapy of the prostate cancer.


METHODS
Between January 1991 and December 2005, a clinical, retrospective study was performed at the Radiotherapy Department of the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, which included 283 patients with prostate cancer treated only with radical radiotherapy. During regular followup we analyzed response to treatment and disease relapse.


RESULTS
After radical radiotherapy disease relapse more often occurred (with statistical significance) in patients with locally advanced tumour (stage C 35% vs. A 13% vs. B 19%), low tumour grade (grade III 38% vs. grade II 23% vs. grade I 17%), initial PSA level over 10 ng/ml (29%) and over 20 ng/ml (37%) compared to 11% in the patients with initial PSA level below 10 ng/ml, and patients of lower age (less than 55 years 50% vs. 16% in patients over 70 years).


CONCLUSIONS
Tumour stage C, low tumour grade (grade II-III), initial PSA level over 10 ng/ml (over 20 ng/ml) and younger age are poor prognostic factors for disease relapse. In this case, radiotherapy as monotherapy is not an adequate approach, and it needs to be combined with other therapeutic modalities.
Josifovski
Tatjana
T
Radosević-Jelić
Ljiljana
L
Tulić
Cane
C
Milosević
Aleksandar
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen