title: Palliative pelvic radiotherapy for symptomatic incurable prostate cancer – A prospective multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiotherapy is used to palliate pelvic symptoms of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, magnitude and time course of effects and toxicities are poorly documented. Study aims were to evaluate changes in patient-reported target symptoms (TS), health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and toxicity following palliative pelvic radiotherapy (PPRT) of CRPC.
  
  
  METHODS
  47 patients with CRPC and a symptomatic pelvic mass prescribed PPRT with 30-39 Gy were prospectively included. Primary endpoint was patient-reported improvement or complete resolution of the TS twelve weeks after PPRT. HRQOL changes were explored. Toxicity was physician-evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) (45%), hematuria (26%) and pain (19%) were the most common TS. In the 40 evaluable patients, overall TS response twelve weeks after PPRT was 70%. TS responses were 8/18 for LUTS, 11/12 for hematuria, and 7/9 for pain. Global HRQOL improved transiently. The most common toxicity was grade 1 or 2 diarrhea (50%). There was no grade 4 toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the majority of patients with CRPC and a symptomatic pelvic tumor, PPRT with 30-39 Gy contributes to relief of hematuria, pain and other pelvic symptoms, with acceptable toxicity. Future studies should investigate whether PPRT regimens can be simplified.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Treatment, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway. Electronic address: Marte.Cameron@sshf.no.
authors.forename: Marte Grønlie
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Treatment, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kersten
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vistad
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Treatment, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Helvoirt
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Innlandet Hospital, Gjøvik, Norway.
authors.forename: Kjetil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weyde
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Undseth
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingvil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mjaaland
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skovlund
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Sophie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fosså
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Colorectal Cancer Research Centre, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Marianne Grønlie
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Guren
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010166:Palliative Care; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Palliative radiotherapy; Pelvic tumor; Prostate cancer; Quality of life; Symptoms; Toxicity