Florida Cancer Physicians Network, Florida Radiation Oncology Group, 717 West Robertson Street, Brandon, FL, 33511, USA.
Current research in prostate brachytherapy focuses on five key concepts covered in this review. Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate brachytherapy assisted by intraoperative treatment planning is the most advanced form of image-guided radiation delivery. Prostate brachytherapy alone for low-risk prostate cancer achieves lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadirs than intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or protons while maintaining durable biochemical control in about 90% of patients without late failures seen in surgically treated patients. As an organ-conserving treatment option, seed implant results in a lower rate of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence than surgery that has been validated in several recent prospective studies. Combined IMRT and seed implant has emerged as a rational and highly effective approach to radiation-dose escalation for intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer. Preliminary results suggest that seed implantation may play a role in improving outcomes for historically poor-prognosis locally advanced and recurrent prostate cancers.
Written by:
Kao J, Cesaretti JA, Stone NN, Stock RG. Are you the author?
Reference: Curr Urol Rep. 2011 Mar 12. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1007/s11934-011-0183-3
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21399887
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