Aims and Background: The impact of age on prostate cancer outcome has been controversial.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of age on overall survival and disease-free survival in patients affected by prostate cancer when treated with 3D conformal radiation therapy.
Methods and Study Design: From 1999 to 2005, 1002 patients with T1-T3 prostate cancer were treated with 3D conformal radiation therapy, delivering a median dose of 75.6, 66.6 and 45 Gy to the prostate, seminal vesicles and pelvic nodes (if necessary), respectively. Patients were divided into four groups (< 65, 65-70, 70-75, >75 years) according to age at diagnosis. The relationship between age and both overall survival and disease-free survival was calculated with Kaplan-Meier analysis and the comparison between curves was performed by the logrank test. ROC analysis allowed assessment of the best age cutoff.
Results: Mean age was 71 ± 6 years (median, 72). Median and mean follow-up was 71.4 and 69 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in the distribution of disease risk between age groups. Analysis demonstrated that older age is a strong positive predictor of survival (odds ratio for stratified patients older than 70 years was < 1). In fact, at the 90 month follow-up, overall survival and disease-free survival varied with age, increasing from 85% to 95% and from 78% to 94%, respectively. ROC curve analysis yielded a cutoff age value discriminating overall survival and disease-free survival of 72 years.
Conclusions: Age is a strong positive predictor of overall survival and disease-free survival, playing a protective role for stratified patients up to 72 years of age.
Written by:
Maggio A, Panaia R, Garibaldi E, Bresciani S, Malinverni G, Stasi M, Gabriele P. Are you the author?
Medical Physics, and Radiotherapy, Institute of Cancer Research and Treatment, Candiolo; Radiotherapy, Ospedale Mauriziano Umberto I, Turin, Italy.
Reference: Tumori. 2012 Nov;98(6):722-7.
doi: 10.1700/1217.13495Tumori 2012;98(6):722-727
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23389358
UroToday.com Prostate Cancer Section
