The ultrastructural changes of prostate adenocarcinoma following external beam radiation therapy

Ultrastructural studies were done to determine the effects of radiation therapy on prostatic adenocarcinoma. Twenty patients were included in the study: 6 with benign hyperplasia, 4 with untreated adenocarcinoma and 10 with adenocarcinoma who had received radiation therapy. Benign and malignant ultrastructural characteristics were established. On the basis of these characteristics 6 of the 10 radiated prostates were believed to have tumor cells present after therapy. Of the remaining 4 patients 3 had ultrastructural changes suggesting radiation effects and a possibly altered malignant potential.