Progressive Site-Directed Therapy for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Localization of the Progressive Site as a Prognostic Factor

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2019 Oct 1;105(2):376-381. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.06.011. Epub 2019 Jun 12.

Abstract

Purpose: Locoregional therapy for oligometastatic prostate cancer has generated great interest. However, its benefit for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) has not been fully demonstrated. Our objective was to evaluate the treatment outcome of progressive site-directed therapy (PSDT) for oligoprogressive CRPC (OP-CRPC).

Methods and materials: This study cohort consisted of 101 patients with CRPC who underwent whole-body diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging between 2014 and 2018, when a new line of anticancer therapy was being considered. For OP-CRPC, PSDT with radiation therapy and unchanged continuation of systemic therapy were recommended.

Results: Thirty-eight patients received a diagnosis of OP-CRPC, and 23 (61%) underwent PSDT at a median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 7.8 ng/mL. The regional radiation therapy targets were the prostate/pelvic lymph nodes (n = 7), bone (n = 15), or both (n = 1). A decrease in PSA levels of at least 50% in response to PSDT (50% PSA decline) was observed in 16 cases (70%); the median time to PSA progression was 8.7 months. Intrapelvic localization of progressive lesions was a significant predictor of time to PSA progression (hazard ratio, 6.6; P = .007) as well as volumes of abnormal signal intensity on whole-body diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (hazard ratio, 0.5; P = .045). A 50% PSA decline was achieved in 16 of the 18 patients with intrapelvic OP-CRPC (89%) and in none of the 5 patients with non-intrapelvic OP-CRPC (P < .001). Intrapelvic OP-CRPC had a significantly longer time to PSA progression than non-intrapelvic OP-CRPC (10.1 vs 4.8 months, P = .0014).

Conclusions: PSDT can be an effective treatment option for OP-CRPC. Progressive site localization was an important factor in good PSA response.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Disease Progression
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Humans
  • Kallikreins / blood*
  • Lymphatic Irradiation / methods
  • Male
  • Pelvis
  • Prognosis
  • Prostate
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / diagnostic imaging*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • KLK3 protein, human
  • Kallikreins
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen