Postoperative or Salvage Radiotherapy for Node Negative Prostate Cancer Following Radical Prostatectomy
Inclusion Criteria:
- Prostate cancer treated primarily with open, laparoscopic or robotically assisted
prostatectomy.
- Node negative pathologic T stage 2-3 of the prostate.
- Maximum PSA value of 2 ng/ml.
- At least one of the following risk factors as the indication for radiation:
If post-op radiotherapy:
- Extracapsular penetration
- Positive surgical margins
- Invasion of the seminal vesicles
- A persistently elevated post prostatectomy PSA (≥ 0.2 ng/ml < 6 weeks after
prostatectomy) in the absence of detectable distant metastasis
If salvage radiotherapy:
- Biopsy proven and/or radiographically defined local-regional relapse
- Biochemical relapse after a non-detectable post prostatectomy PSA (any detectable PSA
at least 6 weeks after prostatectomy followed by another higher value, or a single
PSA of 0.5 ng/ml or higher) in the absence of detectable distant metastases
- Patient must give study-specific informed consent on an IRB-stamped consent
prior to any research related procedures or study treatment.
- Patient must be at least 18 years old at the time of consent.
- Documented pathological TNM stage if this can be determined from prior records.
- Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dl within 3 months prior to study treatment.
- Alkaline phosphatase within 3 months prior to study treatment. If elevated,
patient must have clinical correlation to assess for metastases. (Plain x- ray,
CT, BALP and/or bone scan)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pathologic T1 tumors.
- Evidence of distant metastasis (M1). If confirmatory imaging studies remain
equivocal, the patient is excluded unless biopsy of the questionable area is
negative.
- Prior systemic chemotherapy for any reason.
- Previous irradiation to the pelvis that would compromise the ability to deliver the
prescribed study treatment.
- Active inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, diverticulitis or ulcerative
colitis) affecting the rectum. (Non-active diverticulitis and Crohn's disease not
affecting the rectum are allowed).
- History of hip replacement.
- Prior or concurrent cancer, other than non-melanomatous skin cancer, unless disease
free for at least 5 years.
- Patients of child-producing potential not willing to use medically acceptable
contraception while on study treatment and for at least 12 months after study
treatment. Please document as such.
- Major medical, addictive and/or psychiatric illness which, in the investigator's
opinion, may prevent the consent process, completion of the study treatment and/or
interfere with follow-up.
- Taking Saw Palmetto or methotrexate and unable or unwilling to discontinue its use
during radiation.