Brachytherapy in men with prostate cancer: update on indications and outcomes

Translated title of the contribution: [Autom. eng. transl.] Brachytherapy in men with prostate cancer: update on indications and outcomes

Francesco Pinto, Alessandro Calarco, Salvatore Marco Recupero, Angelo Totaro, Emilio Sacco, Pierfrancesco Bassi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

Brachytherapy (BT), using either a low-dose-rate (LDR) or mostly high-dose-rate (HDR) technique, is the device able to deliver the highest dose-rate in the most conformal way. It is used as monotherapy or in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). LDR-BT is mostly used as monotherapy; HDR-BT is combined with EBRT ± adjuvant hormone therapy. In patients with low-risk disease and in selected intermediate-risk patients, LDR-BT ensures long-term good disease control rates and HDR-BT can show similar results, even if with shorter follow-up. In patients with intermediate/high risk disease the combination therapy (EBRT + HDR-BT) shows better oncological outcomes compared to EBRT monotherapy, even if the role of adjuvant hormone therapy is still unclear. Literature shows variable efficacy of BT in case of local recurrence after EBRT and radical prostatectomy even if few cases have been reported with short follow-up. Side effects are acceptable (urogenital toxicity, urinary incontinence, sexual function) and comparable with the other treatment modalities. So far, randomized controlled trials comparing the different treatment modalities are necessary to clarify indications and real efficacy.
Translated title of the contribution[Autom. eng. transl.] Brachytherapy in men with prostate cancer: update on indications and outcomes
Original languageItalian
Pages (from-to)87-98
Number of pages12
JournalUrologia
Volume80
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • brachytherapy

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