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ORIGINAL ARTICLES: Urologic tumours

Low-dose rate brachytherapy with I-125 seeds has an excellent 5-year outcome with few side effects in patients with low-risk prostate cancer

, , , , , , , & show all
Pages 1016-1021 | Received 10 Dec 2015, Accepted 17 Mar 2016, Published online: 13 May 2016
 

Abstract

Background: Low-dose rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) has been used in Sweden for more than a decade for treatment of low-risk prostate cancer. This study presents the outcome for patients treated with LDR-BT at a single institution with focus on the association between dose and biochemical failure-free survival (BFFS).

Methods: In total 195 patients were treated with LDR-BT between 2004 and 2008. The patients were followed systematically for side effects for at least one year. PSA levels were followed regularly from three months and for at least five years. Outcome was analyzed in relation to clinical variables at baseline and to radiotherapy data.

Results: Kaplan-Meier estimated BFFS at five years was 95.7%. Dose to the prostate in terms of D90% was significantly associated with BFFS [HR 0.90 (95%CI 0.83−0.96), p = 0.002].

Conclusion: Out data confirmed that absorbed dose is a predictive factor for BFFS for low-risk patients without androgen deprivation therapy. With our treatment routines and dosimetry, a D90% in the range of 170−180 Gy gives excellent outcomes with acceptable toxicity for patients with low-risk prostate cancer.

Acknowledgments

Donations from the Cancer Research Foundation at the Department of Oncology, Malmö University Hospital made this study possible. We thank Håkan Leek for initial collection of data, Ola Bratt for work during the startup of LDR-BT and Eva Englund for registration of treatment parameters.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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