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.