title: Treating intermediate-risk prostate cancer with hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy alone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intermediate-risk prostate cancer has been treated in many ways; the most effective treatment is uncertain. Hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy (HyRT) is a short and convenient alternative treatment. We report our results of HyRT in intermediate-risk patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty two patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer were treated with 3-dimensional conformal HyRT plans to the dose of 66 Gy/22 fractions prescribed at the isocenter without hormones. Intermediate-risk was defined as clinical stage T2b-T2c, or pre-treatment PSA between 10 and 20 ng/mL, or Gleason Score equal 7. The planning target volume consisted of the prostate plus a uniform 7 mm margin. Toxicity was prospectively graded by the Common Terminology Criteria version3. Biochemical relapse was defined as post-radiotherapy nadir PSA+2 ng/mL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a median follow-up of 51 months, 5-year actuarial biochemical recurrence free survival is 95.4%. At the last follow-up visit, grade ≥ 2 late gastro-intestinal and genito-urinary toxicity rates were 2% and 7%, respectively. No patient ever developed grade 4 or 5 toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HyRT to a dose of 66 Gy in 22 fractions as a single treatment modality is convenient for patients and for the health care system and appears to provide similar results to other treatment choices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada. sergio.faria@muhc.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dal Pra
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duclos
authors.forename: Carolyn R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Souhami
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012306:Risk