Quality of Life After Whole Pelvic Versus Prostate-Only External Beam Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: A Matched-Pair Comparison
- Department of Radiotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (Germany)
Purpose: Comparison of health-related quality of life after whole pelvic (WPRT) and prostate-only (PORT) external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials: A group of 120 patients (60 in each group) was surveyed prospectively before radiation therapy (RT) (time A), at the last day of RT (time B), at a median time of 2 months (time C) and >1 year after RT (time D) using a validated questionnaire (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite). All patients were treated with 1.8- to 2.0-Gy fractions up to 70.2 to 72.0 Gy with or without WPRT up to 45 to 46 Gy. Pairs were matched according to the following criteria: age {+-} 5years, planning target volume {+-} 10 cc (considering planning target volume without pelvic nodes for WPRT patients), urinary/bowel/sexual function score before RT {+-} 10, and use of antiandrogens. Results: With the exception of prognostic risk factors, both groups were well balanced with respect to baseline characteristics. No significant differences were found with regard to urinary and sexual score changes. Mean bladder function scores reached baseline levels in both patient subgroups after RT. However, bowel function scores decreased significantly more for patients after WPRT than in those receiving PORT at all times (p < 0.01, respectively). Significant differences were found for most items in the bowel domain in the acute phase. At time D, patients after WPRT reported rectal urgency (>once a day in 15% vs. 3%; p = 0.03), bloody stools ({>=}half the time in 7% vs. 0%; p = 0.04) and frequent bowel movements (>two on a typical day in 32% vs. 7%; p < 0.01) more often than did patients after PORT. Conclusion: In comparison to PORT, WPRT (larger bladder and rectum volumes in medium dose levels, but similar volumes in high dose levels) was associated with decreased bowel quality of life in the acute and chronic phases after treatment but remained without adverse long-term urinary effects.
- OSTI ID:
- 21587686
- Journal Information:
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 81, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.05.054; PII: S0360-3016(10)00798-4; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0360-3016
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Whole pelvic radiotherapy for prostate cancer using 3D conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy
Effect of Whole Pelvic Radiotherapy for Patients With Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer Treated With Radiotherapy and Long-Term Androgen Deprivation Therapy
Related Subjects
ANTIANDROGENS
BLADDER
HAZARDS
NEOPLASMS
PROSTATE
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOTHERAPY
RECTUM
STANDARD OF LIVING
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOSES
DRUGS
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLANDS
INTESTINES
LARGE INTESTINE
MALE GENITALS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIOLOGY
THERAPY
URINARY TRACT