Multi-institutional analysis of long-term outcome for stages T1-T2 prostate cancer treated with permanent seed implantation

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007 Feb 1;67(2):327-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.08.056. Epub 2006 Nov 2.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess long-term prostate-specific antigen (PSA) outcome after permanent prostate brachytherapy (BT) and identify predictors of improved disease-free survival.

Methods and materials: Eleven institutions combined data on 2,693 patients treated with permanent interstitial BT monotherapy for T1-T2 prostate cancer. Of these patients, 1,831 (68%) were treated with I-125 (median dose, 144 Gy) and 862 (32%) were treated with Pd-103 (median dose, 130 Gy). Criteria for inclusion were: available pre-BT PSA, BT > or =5 years before data submission, BT between 1988-1998, and no androgen deprivation before failure. The median follow-up was 63 months.

Results: Among patients where the I-125 dose to 90% of the prostate (D90) was > or =130 Gy, the 8-year PSA relapse-free survival (PRFS) was 93% compared with 76% for those with lower D90 dose levels (p < 0.001). A multivariable analysis identified tumor stage (p = 0.002), Gleason score (p < 0.001), pretreatment PSA level (p < 0.001), treatment year (p = 0.001), and the isotope used (p = 0.004) as pretreatment and treatment variables associated with PRFS. When restricted to patients with available postimplantation dosimetric information, D90 emerged as a significant predictor of biochemical outcome (p = 0.01), and isotope was not significant. The 8-year PRFS was 92%, 86%, 79%, and 67%, respectively, for patients with PSA nadir values of 0-0.49, 0.5-0.99, 1.0-1.99, and >2.0 ng/mL (p < 0.001). Among patients free of biochemical relapse at 8 years, the median nadir level was 0.1 ng/mL, and 90% of these patients achieved a nadir PSA level <0.6 ng/mL.

Conclusions: Outcome after permanent BT for prostatic cancer relates to tumor stage, Gleason score, pretreatment PSA, BT year, and post-BT dosimetric quality. PSA nadir < or =0.5 ng/mL was particularly associated with durable long-term PSA disease-free survival. The only controllable factor to impact on long-term outcome was the D90 which is a reflection of implant quality.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Brachytherapy / methods*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Palladium / therapeutic use
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Radioisotopes
  • Palladium
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen