[The effect of radiotherapy on patients with prostate specific antigen failure after radical prostatectomy]

We studied the effect of radiotherapy on patients with re-elevation of prostate specific antigen (PSA) after radical prostatectomy. Radiotherapy was performed on 8 patients with re-elevated PSA after radical prostatectomy without any previous treatment. Pathological stages were B in 2 patients, and C in 6 patients. Patients received three-dimensional dynamic conformal radiotherapy, and irradiation doses ranged from 44 to 70 Gy (median 60). The target area of irradiation included prostatic bed and seminal vesicles. PSA levels before radiotherapy were 0.31-1.9 ng/ml (median 0.40). In 7 patients, PSA levels decreased and no increase has been observed thereafter. In one patient, PSA level increased during radiotherapy; therefore, the treatment was discontinued at 44 Gy. Two patients suffered grade 1 to 2 acute toxicities, and no late toxicity has been observed so far. Radiotherapy is considered one of the effective treatments for re-elevation of PSA after radical prostatectomy.