Hypofractionated radiation therapy (RT) yields similar rates of cure and side effects compared to conventional RT in men with low-risk prostate cancer, according to a study presented on Monday at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting in San Antonio.
The phase III randomized study was conducted from April 2006 to December 2009 and involved 1,155 men with low-risk prostate cancer. The researchers estimated that patients who received hypofractionated RT had a seven-year disease-free survival rate of 82%, compared with 76% for those who had conventional RT. Based on the study protocol, there were no differences in biochemical recurrence and overall survival between those who received conventional RT and those who were given hypofractionated RT, according to the team led by Dr. Robert Lee of Duke University.
Furthermore, both groups of patients had a similar rate of grade 3 late side effects. Of those who received conventional RT, 3% had gastrointestinal side effects and 5% had genitourinary side effects; meanwhile, 5% of the patients in the hypofractionated group had gastrointestinal side effects and 6% reported genitourinary side effects.
Hypofractionated RT delivers larger doses over a shorter time period than conventional RT.
