The role of external beam radiation therapy after prostatectomy for prostate cancer

The role of radiation therapy as an adjuvant to prostatectomy is evaluated in 21 patients. Eleven were treated prior to clinical recurrence with 100% local control, no serious complications, and 86% long-term survival. Ten were treated after local recurrence with 80% local control, no serious complications, and 71% long-term survival. These data and the available literature indicate that the patient found to have capsular penetration, seminal vesicle involvement, or positive surgical margins at prostatectomy can be salvaged by postsurgical radiation therapy. When this is done after recovery from surgery, rather than waiting for clinical recurrence, a lower radiation dose can be used (6000 rad vs. 7000 rad), improved local control is obtained (94% vs. 79%), and fewer serious complications are observed.