Intraprostatic calcification and biochemical recurrence in men treated with cesium-131 prostate brachytherapy

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Radiotherapy

Background:

• Intraprostatic calcification (IC) presence is linked to higher biochemical recurrence (BCR) rates after iodine-125 prostate brachytherapy (PB).
• Cesium-131 (Cs-131) PB is an alternative treatment modality for prostate cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between baseline intraprostatic calcification (IC) and biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients treated with cesium-131 prostate brachytherapy (PB).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients treated with Cs-131 PB +/- external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).
• Baseline IC (≥ 5 mm) assessed on post-PB CT scans.
• Cox analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves used to evaluate BCR predictors.

Main Results:

• 216 patients included; median follow-up 56.9 months.
• 76 patients (35.2%) had baseline IC; 140 (64.8%) did not.
• Baseline IC was not a significant predictor of BCR (p=0.11); 5-year BCR-free survival was 97.7% with IC vs. 93.8% without (p=0.405).

Conclusions:

• Baseline intraprostatic calcification (IC) is not associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients undergoing cesium-131 prostate brachytherapy (PB).
• The rate of BCR in patients with baseline IC treated with Cs-131 PB is low.