High-dose-rate brachytherapy monotherapy without androgen deprivation therapy for intermediate-risk prostate cancer

Outcomes using high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy monotherapy (without androgen deprivation therapy or external beam radiation therapy) for National Comprehensive Cancer Network-defined intermediate-risk (IR) patients are limited. We report our long-term data using HDR monotherapy for this patient population.

One-hundred ninety IR prostate cancer patients were treated 1996-2013 with HDR monotherapy. Biochemical prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure was per the Phoenix definition. Acute and late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities were graded according to Common Toxicity Criteria of Adverse Events, version 4. Kaplan-Meier (KM) biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS), cause-specific survival, and overall survival rates were calculated. Univariate analyses were performed to determine relationships with BPFS. The median patient age was 66 years (43-90), and the median initial PSA was 7.4 ng/mL. The Gleason score was ≤6 in 26%, 3 + 4 in 62%, and 4 + 3 in 12%. The median treatment BED_1.5 was 254 Gy; 83% of patients were treated with a dose of 7.25 Gy × six fractions delivered in two separate implants.

With a median follow-up of 6.2 years, KM BPFS at 5/8 years was 97%/90%, cause-specific survival at 8 years was 100%, and overall survival at 5/8 years was 93%/88%. Late genitourinary toxicities were 36.3% Grade 1, 18.9% Grade 2, and 3.7% Grade 3. Late gastrointestinal toxicities were 6.3% Grade 1, 1.1% Grade 2, and no Grade ≥3. Of the patients with no sexual dysfunction before treatment, 68% maintained potency. Age, initial PSA, T stage, Gleason score, prostate volume, and percent positive cores did not correlate with BPFS. Stratifying by favorable vs. unfavorable IR groups did not affect BPFS.

HDR brachytherapy monotherapy represents a safe and highly effective treatment for IR prostate cancer patients with long-term follow-up.