Outcomes of salvage high dose-rate brachytherapy with or without pelvic external beam radiotherapy in patients with palpable local recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.

This study aims to evaluate the outcomes and toxicities in patients with palpable local recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy (RP), who were treated with salvage high dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) with or without pelvic external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). This retrospective review included patients with palpable local recurrence of prostate cancer after RP who underwent salvage HDR-BT at a single institution between 2002 and 2020. HDR-BT regimens included 950 cGy x 2 (N = 4) or 1500 cGy x 1 (N = 2) combined with EBRT; or monotherapy with 950 cGy x 4 (N = 1) or 800 cGy x 2 (N = 1). Toxicity was graded according to CTCAE Version 5.0. A total of 8 patients were included. Median follow-up was 49 months (range: 9-223 months). Median age at time of salvage brachytherapy was 68 years (range: 59-85 years). Seven out of 8 patients were alive at last follow-up. There have been no locoregional recurrences. Three patients developed distant metastatic disease. One patient developed acute grade 3 urinary obstruction requiring catheterization, which lasted for 1 day postbrachytherapy. One patient developed late grade 3 urinary incontinence 18 months after brachytherapy. There were no other grade 2+ toxicities. This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of salvage HDR-BT in the setting of palpable local recurrence of prostate cancer after RP, with durable locoregional control and acceptable rates of toxicity. HDR-BT should be further explored as an option for dose-escalated salvage radiotherapy after prior radical prostatectomy.

Ni L ，Chen K ，Phuong C ，Sabbagh AR ，Wong AC ，Mohamad O ，Hsu IC ... -  《-》

A Phase II study of salvage high-dose-rate brachytherapy for the treatment of locally recurrent prostate cancer after definitive external beam radiotherapy.

We report the toxicity and biochemical tumor control outcome of a prospective Phase II study using high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR) alone as a salvage therapy for recurrent disease after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Forty-two patients with biopsy-proven recurrence were enrolled on a Phase II study of salvage HDR monotherapy using iridium-192. Median pretreatment EBRT dose was 8100 cGy (6840-8640 cGy) and the median time from completion of EBRT to salvage HDR was 73 months. The protocol prescription dose of 3200 cGy was delivered in four fractions over 30 hours in a single insertion. Median followup after salvage HDR was 36 months (6-67 months). The actuarial prostate-specific antigen biochemical relapse-free survival and distant metastases-free survival rates at 5 years were 68.5% and 81.5%, respectively. Cause-specific survival was 90.3%. Late genitourinary Grade 1and 2 toxicities were found in 38% and 48%, respectively, and one patient developed Grade 3 urinary incontinence. Late Grade 1 and 2 gastrointestinal toxicity was noted in 17% and 8% of patients, respectively. Three patients (7%) developed Grade 2 late urinary toxicity (urethral stricture), which were corrected with urethral dilatation, and one patient developed Grade 3 urinary incontinence. No Grade 4 toxicities were observed. Genitourinary toxicity was the most commonly encountered toxicity observed after salvage HDR but severe toxicities were uncommon. Salvage HDR is an effective and well-tolerated modality for locally recurrent prostate cancer and should be considered even for patients who have previously been treated with ultra-high dose levels of EBRT.

Yamada Y ，Kollmeier MA ，Pei X ，Kan CC ，Cohen GN ，Donat SM ，Cox BW ，Zelefsky MJ ... -  《-》

High-dose-rate brachytherapy with or without intensity modulated radiation therapy as salvage treatment for an isolated, gross local recurrence of prostate cancer post-prostatectomy.

To evaluate the use of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy ± intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) as salvage therapy for patients with an isolated, gross local recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. Between October 2009 and May 2013, the authors treated six patients with salvage iridium-192 HDR brachytherapy ± IMRT for biopsy-proven, recurrent prostate cancer post-prostatectomy. In each patient, a pelvic MRI scan or CT scan demonstrated a nodule (range 1.6, 4.7 cm) in the prostate bed. Although prostate-specific antigen values were 0.2-9.5 ng/mL at the time of salvage brachytherapy, there was no pelvic adenopathy on CT or MRI scan, and a bone scan was negative in all cases. Five patients were treated with IMRT to 4500-5040 cGy in 25-28 fractions to the prostate bed followed by two 950 cGy HDR brachytherapy fractions separated by 1-2 weeks. A sixth patient underwent HDR brachytherapy monotherapy consisting of 3800 cGy in four fractions over 3 days. Toxicities were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Median followup was 9 months (range 3, 40 months). All six patients have been free of androgen deprivation therapy and have an undetectable prostate-specific antigen. One patient developed late Grade 2 urinary incontinence. There was no late grade ≥2 gastrointestinal toxicity. HDR brachytherapy ± IMRT is a safe and effective salvage therapy option for an isolated, gross local recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy and merits further study.

Strom TJ ，Wilder RB ，Fernandez DC ，Mellon EA ，Saini AS ，Hunt DC ，Biagioli MC ... -  《-》

Interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy as salvage treatment for locally recurrent prostate cancer after definitive radiation therapy: Toxicity and 5-year outcome.

We report our results with interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) as a salvage therapy option after external beam therapy with or without BT. Emphasis was put on toxicity and 5-year outcome. From 2003 to 2011, 29 patients with local failure after previous radiotherapy for prostate cancer were treated with salvage interstitial HDR-BT. The diagnosis of local recurrence was made on the basis of choline positron emission tomography. Salvage HDR-BT was given in three fractions with a single dose of 10 Gy per fraction and weekly. The target volume covered the peripheral zone of the prostate and the positron emission tomography-positive area. Acute and late toxicities were documented according to common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE v 4.0). Twenty-two patients with minimum followup of 60 months were analyzed. The 5-year overall survival was 95.5% with a disease-specific survival of 100%. The 5-year biochemical control was 45%. Late grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicities were observed in two patients (9%). No grade 3 or higher gastrointestinal late toxicities were observed. Urinary incontinence found in 2 patients (9%) and grade 2 obstruction of urinary tract occurred in one patient (4%). Interstitial HDR-BT was feasible and effective in the treatment of locally recurrent prostate cancer after definitive radiotherapy. The long-term toxicity was low and acceptable.

Jiang P ，van der Horst C ，Kimmig B ，Zinsser F ，Poppe B ，Luetzen U ，Juenemann KP ，Dunst J ，Siebert FA ... -  《-》

Safety and efficacy of salvage high-dose rate brachytherapy for prostate-bed recurrences following radical prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy.

This retrospective study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of salvage HDR brachytherapy in second local recurrences of prostate cancer after applying radical prostatectomy (RP) and post-operative external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Fifteen patients with locally recurrent prostate cancer after RP and EBRT were salvaged with HDR brachytherapy. Patients had no nodal or distant metastasis evidence on imaging findings, including whole body bone scan, CT scan, and MRI or PSMA PET scan. HDR brachytherapy was applied with 36 Gy in four fractions, in two implantations with 1 week apart. We followed the patients for a control visit every 3 months for 2 years, and every 6 months thereafter. Fifteen patients with the mean age of 64 years (ranged 51-79) underwent salvage HDR brachytherapy. The mean baseline level of PSA was calculated 2.26 ng/ml (ranged from 0.21 to 9, SD = 2.33), which has been significantly decreased in all patients. Hence, two of our patients experienced a biochemical failure during the follow-up period. Our results showed that 86.6% (n = 13) of patients had never experienced a significant increment in PSA level after a median follow-up of 48 months (ranging from 12 to 132 months). Besides, salvage HDR brachytherapy did not induce any significant side effects such as acute or late rectal complications, despite causing urinary complication. HDR brachytherapy could be considered as a treatment in well-selected patients with the second recurrence in their prostatic bed after the former EBRT allowing for dose escalating to the second nodular recurrence.

Aghili M ，Jafari F ，Yamrali M ，Jaberi R ，Cuccia F ... -  《-》