Salvage external beam radiotherapy for recurrent prostate adenocarcinoma after high-intensity focused ultrasound as primary treatment

Abstract

Introduction: The main objective was to evaluate feasibility, toxicity and biochemical control rates of salvage external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in recurrent localized prostate cancer after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as primary therapy.

Patients and methods: A total of 24 patients who underwent salvage EBRT after 1 or 2 HIFU sessions and with a minimum post-treatment follow-up of 24 months were retrospectively evaluated. Primary endpoints were toxicity and biochemical disease-free survival (bDFS, defined according to the ASTRO Phoenix definition).

Results: Median follow-up was 40.3 months. Gastrointestinal toxicity was low. Acute genitourinary (GU) toxicity grade ≤II rate was 45.8%, with only few patients presenting grade III (8.3%) and grade IV (4.2%) toxicity. Late grade ≥III GU toxicity was registered in 16.7% of patients. The 3-year bDFS rate was 77.8%. Patients achieving a nadir prostate-specific antigen (nPSA) of ≤0.35 ng/ml after EBRT had significantly higher bDFS (3-year bDFS: 87.7 vs. 50%, respectively; p = 0.001). Achieving nPSA ≤0.35 ng/ml was the only factor independently associated to long-term bDFS both on univariate (p = 0.01) and multivariate analysis (HR 7.06, p = 0.039).

Conclusions: Salvage EBRT after HIFU failure is feasible and allows to obtain satisfactory biochemical control rates, especially in patients attaining a nPSA ≤0.35 ng/ml after EBRT.