Research

Acute and late toxicity in prostate cancer patients treated by dose escalated intensity modulated radiation therapy and organ tracking

Pirus Ghadjar^* , Jacqueline Vock^* , Daniel Vetterli , Peter Manser , Roland Bigler , Jan Tille , Axel Madlung , Frank Behrensmeier , Roberto Mini and Daniel M Aebersold

Department of Radiation Oncology with Division of Medical Radiation Physics, University of Bern, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Bern, Switzerland

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

Radiation Oncology 2008, 3:35doi:10.1186/1748-717X-3-35

Published:	20 October 2008

Abstract

Background

To report acute and late toxicity in prostate cancer patients treated by dose escalated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and organ tracking.

Methods

From 06/2004 to 12/2005 39 men were treated by 80 Gy IMRT along with organ tracking. Median age was 69 years, risk of recurrence was low 18%, intermediate 21% and high in 61% patients. Hormone therapy (HT) was received by 74% of patients. Toxicity was scored according to the CTC scale version 3.0. Median follow-up (FU) was 29 months.

Results

Acute and maximal late grade 2 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was 3% and 8%, late grade 2 GI toxicity dropped to 0% at the end of FU. No acute or late grade 3 GI toxicity was observed. Grade 2 and 3 pre-treatment genitourinary (GU) morbidity (PGUM) was 20% and 5%. Acute and maximal late grade 2 GU toxicity was 56% and 28% and late grade 2 GU toxicity decreased to 15% of patients at the end of FU. Acute and maximal late grade 3 GU toxicity was 8% and 3%, respectively. Decreased late ≥ grade 2 GU toxicity free survival was associated with higher age (P = .025), absence of HT (P = .016) and higher PGUM (P < .001).

Discussion

GI toxicity rates after IMRT and organ tracking are excellent, GU toxicity rates are strongly related to PGUM.