Background: The therapeutic outcome and toxicity of 3-D conformal photon external beam therapy of prostate cancer is well documented in the literature. Progress is still in work for optimization of treatment strategies by risk-adapted dose escalation studies to improve local tumor control without increase of radiation side effects.
Patients and methods: We present our experience of 291 patients treated between January 1994 and August 1997 with a 3-D planned four-field box technique and a central dose of 66 Gy. Biochemical response of patients with radiotherapy alone (group 1, n = 72 pts.) has been analyzed in detail. Acute radiation side effects are given for all patients (n = 291), late radiation side effects are given for patients treated between Jan 1994 and Jan 1996 with a median follow-up of 22 months (n = 115 pts.).
Results: We have observed a biochemical response (nadir PSA < 1 after 12 months, < 2 after 6 months) for patients treated with radiotherapy alone without hormone manipulation in 67%. Incidence of late rectal and bladder morbidity (grade 2 and 3) was 9.4% and 4%, respectively.
Conclusion: Compared to other reports our results indicate a high rate of local tumor control (early biochemical response) and a low rate of late morbidity. Nevertheless, we will start a risk-adapted dose escalation study up to 74 Gy for unfavorable subgroups (G2-3, Gleason Score > 7, PSA > 10) to improve treatment outcome.