Does neoadjuvant hormone therapy improve outcome in prostate cancer patients receiving radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy?
OBJECTIVE
To assess outcome and predictive factors in men with prostate cancer who receive post radical prostatectomy (RP) radiotherapy (RT) either in the adjuvant or salvage setting, with or without neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (NADT).


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed on 175 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with RP who subsequently received RT (dose range 50 Gy-68 Gy). Twenty-two patients received adjuvant RT (ART), 57 received NADT + ART, 15 received salvage RT (SRT), and 81 received NADT + SRT. Outcome was assessed by biochemical disease free survival (BDFS), prostate cancer specific survival and overall survival (OS).


RESULTS
Although BDFS favored patients who received NADT with 5 year rates of 67%, 80%, 27% and 62% for the ART, NADT + ART, SRT, and NADT + SRT groups respectively; this was not a significant predictor on multivariable analysis. Significant independent predictive factors of improved BDFS were pre-RT PSA < or = 0.2 ng/ml, low Gleason score and positive surgical margins. Age and Gleason score were independent predictors of OS.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-RT PSA is an important predictor of outcome. NADT appears to benefit patients who presented with a pre-RT PSA > 0.2 ng/ml, particularly for patients receiving SRT. NADT can be considered for patients receiving RT after RP who present with a high pre-RT PSA but may not be necessary for patients without. Results of ongoing randomized studies such as RADICALS will also help clarify the role of hormone therapy in conjunction with RT.
Radiation Oncology Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency - Vancouver Island Centre, British Columbia, Canada.
Howard Huaihan
HH
Pai
Brenna
B
Eldridge
Darcy
D
Bishop
Abraham
A
Alexander
Mary
M
Lesperance
Paul
P
Blood
Jan
J
Lim
Charles
C
Ludgate
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen