The second decade of prostate brachytherapy: Evidence and cost based outcomes

PSA-nadir at 1 year as a sound contemporary prognostic factor for low-dose-rate iodine-125 seeds brachytherapy

OBJECTIVES

To identify predictors of outcomes in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with iodine-125 brachytherapy in a longitudinal uncontrolled study.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2011, 560 histologically confirmed patients were treated with brachytherapy of whom 305 with ≥24-month follow-up and localized tumor were evaluated after exclusion of those locally advanced and under androgen ablation.

RESULTS

Patients' mean age was 63.93 years (44-88), mean pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 6.34 ng/mL (0.67-33.09), overall median follow-up was 75.35 months (24-158.37), biochemical recurrence occurred in 17 patients (5.57 %), cancer-specific survival was 100 %, and overall survival was 98.03 %. At multivariate analyses, only PSA-nadir at 1 year and age were related to disease-free survival: To each unit of PSA-nadir, the risk increases 87.3 %-OR 1.87 (p < 0.001; 95 % CI 1.31-2.67), and risk was 4.7 times higher for those under 50 years (vs. >70)-OR 4.69 (p = 0.04; 95 % CI 1.39-18.47). Best cutoff for PSA-nadir at one year was 0.285 (AUC = 0.78; p < 0.001; 95 % CI 0.68-0.89). Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed PSA-nadir (p < 0.001) as prognostic, while D'Amico's classification failed (p = 0.24). No grade 3 or 4 complication was reported, and only 31.4 % of patients had grade 2 urinary or rectal toxicity. PSA bounce ≥0.4 ng/mL occurred in 18.4 % with no impact on biochemical recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Half (50.49 %) of patients in the scenario of localized prostate cancer treated with iodine-125 brachytherapy reach PSA-nadir at 1 year <0.285, recognized as a key independent prognostic factor.

[Prostate brachytherapy: oncological and functional results after 400 cases]

INTRODUCTION

Brachytherapy (BT) with real-time technique for the treatment of low and medium risk prostate cancer (CaP) has been a well known practice for over 25 years in the USA and for over 
15 years in Italy. However, it is an uncommon procedure, because of problems related to the organization and cooperation among urologists, radiotherapists and physics, to the competition of alternative therapies, to dogmatic and educational beliefs, and to the poor knowledge of this technique.


METHODS

Between May1999 and July 2013, 400 patients with low and medium risk CaP underwent I 125 BT using a "real-time" approach. The seeds implantation was performed using a Mick applicator in the first 190 patients and the "QuickLink" technique in the last 210 cases. Oncologic results were reported for the first 250 cases with a mean follow-up of 10 years, while functional outcomes and complications were assessed in 350 patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 year.


RESULTS

A good quality implantation was assessed in 90% of the patients (D90>145 Gy). A biochemical failure was assessed, based on Phoenix criteria, in 12 patients (4.8%). Out of these patients, 
10 underwent prostate biopsy (the other 2 patients showed a systemic disease). The biopsy showed a CaP in 6/10 patients who underwent retropubic radical prostatectomy (4 patients) and external radiotherapy (2 patients) respectively. The remaining 4/10 patients with negative biopsy were treated with total androgen blockade (3 patients) and watchful waiting (1 patient) respectively. Functional results showed an incidence of postoperative irritative disorders in 70% of the patients during the first six months and a good recovery of erectile function in 78.8% and 68.2% of the patients after one and five years from BT respectively.


CONCLUSION

Brachytherapy is a good alternative to radical prostatectomy in the low and medium risk prostatic cancers with excellent oncologic and functional results.

CT-based post-implant dosimetry for I-125 prostate brachytherapy: a multi-centre audit in the UK and Ireland

Background and purpose

To assess the reliability of post-implant CT (PICT) dosimetry for I-125 prostate seed brachytherapy by investigating the variation between centres in performing PICT through a multi-centre audit.

Materials and methods

Computerised tomography data sets from four I-125 prostate brachytherapy patients were circulated to nine participating centres. Centres followed local protocol for PICT outlining and seed identification, dosimetry for D90, V100 and V150 for the prostate was reported. Outlines were compared to determine the variation in: quality parameters (D90, V100 and V150), dose-volume histograms and approach to PICT dosimetry between the centres.

Results

There was significant variation in the prostate outlines drawn by the nine centres; for a prostate with mean volume 43 cm3, the range was 39–57 cm3 which led to variations of D90 of 119–154 Gy (mean 140 Gy) and V100 of 80–93% (mean of 88%). Using automatic seedfinder software reduced discrepancies between centres identifying seeds; overall consistency in seed location was good.

Conclusions

There was a significant uncertainty in the outlining of the prostate volume for PICT dosimetry with an uncertainty value of around ± 20 Gy on D90. PICT is a valuable technique but its accuracy and consistency limitations must be appreciated.

Impact of experience and technical changes on acute urinary and rectal morbidity in low-dose prostate brachytherapy using loose seeds real-time implantation

PURPOSE

To assess the impact of experience and technical changes on morbidity during the first year after permanent prostate brachytherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

From July 2003 to May 2010, 150 patients with prostate cancer underwent low-dose iodine-125 prostate brachytherapy as a monotherapy by the same medical team (one urologist and one radiation oncologist). Patients were divided into three periods: P1 (n = 64), P2 (n = 45), and P3 (n = 41) according to technical changes: use of an automatic stepper from P2, use of a high-frequency ultrasound probe in P3. Urinary toxicity was analyzed according to the incidence of acute urinary retention (AUR), Delta International Prostate Symptom Score (Δ IPSS) defined as IPPS maximal - IPSS at baseline, and proportion of patients with Δ IPSS ≥5 and IPSS total >15. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group classification was used to evaluate the rectal morbidity.

RESULTS

The incidence of AUR (6% overall) decreased significantly with time: 12.5% (8/64) during P1, 2.2% (1/45) in P2, and 0% in P3 (p = 0.014). Mean Δ IPSS (11.6) remained stable during the three periods. Patients with Δ IPSS ≥5 and IPSS total >15 were 58.7%, 58.1%, and 56.1% for P1, P2, and P3 (p = 0.96), respectively. Grade 1 and 2 proctitis were observed in 15.3% and 9.3% of the patients without any significant difference between the three periods.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of AUR decreased significantly with time. This was probably because of the experience of the practitioner and the use of an automatic stepper that allowed reducing prostatic traumatism. Experience and technical changes did not seem to affect rectal morbidity.

Active surveillance vs. treatment for low-risk prostate cancer: a cost comparison

OBJECTIVE

Radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiation therapy are standard curative approaches for low-risk prostate cancer (PC). Active surveillance (AS) is becoming an increasingly accepted management alternative for low-risk PC. Our aim is to compare the cumulative medical costs of treatment vs. AS.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We collected data on the cumulative medical costs of open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), brachytherapy (BT), and AS at our institution. For physicians' reimbursements, Medicare values of our region were used to maintain uniformity. For inpatient costs other than reimbursements, we used the mean cost at our institution. The costs of RRP and RARP involve preoperative investigations, medical clearance, physicians' fees, inpatient costs, and pathologic examination of prostatectomy specimen and follow-up. The inpatient costs include the operating room, disposable equipment, anesthesia, post-anesthesia care, transfusion, and hospital stay. The cost of EBRT involves the cost of consultation, planning, simulation and treatment sessions, and follow-up. BT costs involved radiotherapy planning as well as inpatients costs. AS protocol involves regular visits, transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies, prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing. To evaluate the cost of treating complications, treatment after AS, and treatment for recurrence, we created a Markov model based on recent studies and our experience.

RESULTS

The cumulative costs of RRP are $9,732 (1 year), $10,360 (2 years), $12,209 (5 years), and $15,084 (10 years). While for RARP, the costs are $17,824 (1 year), $18,308 (2 years), $20,117 (5 years), and $22,762 (10 years). The costs of EBRT are $20,730 (1 year), $20,969 (2 years), $22,043 (5 years), and $23,953 (10 years). BT costs are $14,061 (1 year), $14,300 (2 years), $15,374 (5 years), and $17,284 (10 years). The costs of AS are $1,154 (1 year), $2,308 (2 years), $8,761 (5 years), and $13,116 (10 years).

CONCLUSIONS

The cumulative medical costs of RARP and EBRT are much higher than BT, RRP, and AS. AS is associated with a different cost distribution in which the initial cost is low and relatively higher cost of follow-up. Despite the higher follow-up cost, AS remains the most cost effective alternative for low-risk PC.

[Prostate I-125 brachytherapy: critical evaluation of mid-term oncologic and functional results in 250 cases]

BACKGROUND

Even if brachytherapy (BT) in low-risk prostate cancer (CaP) is a common practice since more than 20 and 10 years in U.S.A. and Italy, respectively, it is still an uncommon procedure because of the problems related to the organization and collaboration among urologists, radiotherapists and physics, to the competition of alternative therapies, to dogmatic and educational beliefs, and to the poor knowledge of this technique.

METHODS

Between May 1999 and September 2010, 250 patients with low risk CaP underwent I125BT using a "real time" approach; the seeds implantation was performed using Mick applicator, in the first 190 patients, and the "Quick-Link" technique in the last 60 cases. Oncologic results were reported in the first 150 cases with a mean follow-up of 95 months, while functional outcomes and complications were assessed in all the patients at different time points with a mean follow-up of 65 months.

RESULTS

A good quality implantation was assessed in 88% of patients (D90 >140 Gy). Overall, a biochemical failure was assessed, in accordance with Phoenix criteria, in 10 patients (6.6%). Among these patients, the prostatic biopsy showed a CaP in 6/10 patients, who underwent retropubic radical prostatectomy (4 pts) and external RT (2 pts); only one patient developed a systemic progression with secondary bone lesions and died after 122 months and 36 months from BT and RRP, respectively. The 4/10 patients with negative biopsy were treated with total androgen blockade (2 pts) and with watchful waiting (2 pts). Regarding functional results, we assessed a moderate incidence of irritative disorders (70%) during the first six months and a good recovery of erectile function after one year from surgery (78.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Brachytherapy in the low-grade risk prostatic cancer represents a good alternative to RRP with excellent functional and oncologic results

Low-dose-rate brachytherapy as salvage treatment of local prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVES

To present our initial experience with brachytherapy used as a salvage procedure for local recurrence of prostate cancer in the prostatic fossa after radical prostatectomy.

METHODS

The patients included 5 consecutive men who underwent brachytherapy as a salvage procedure after radical prostatectomy from December 2006 to March 2008. We used a technique of implanting the local recurrences similar to the American Brachytherapy Society Guidelines for implanting an intact prostate as definitive therapy. Two modifications were made related to the recurrence location: a rare need to manage urethral doses because the recurrence was typically perirectal, and more aggressive management of the dose to the rectum because of this proximity.

RESULTS

All patients tolerated the brachytherapy procedure well and showed a decline in the prostate-specific antigen level, with a median nadir of 0.72 ng/mL at a median follow-up of 13 months. The postprocedural symptoms were minor and included limited new-onset urgency. At the last follow-up visit, all patients had prostate-specific antigen doubling times, which have been associated with long median survival times.

CONCLUSIONS

Salvage brachytherapy for biopsy-proven local recurrence of prostate cancer is a technically feasible alternative to external beam radiotherapy for local control of recurrences in the prostatic fossa in selected patients after radical prostatectomy.