Radical Radiotherapy by External Beam Radiation Versus Radical Radiotherapy With Temporary Iridium Implant Plus External Beam Radiation in Carcinoma of the Prostate

Inclusion Criteria: * All patients must have histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate * The primary tumour should be staged clinically B2 or C as classified by A.J.C. Staging System Exclusion Criteria: * Patients requiring transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) prior to diagnosis * Presence of metastases identified by bone scan, chest x-ray or CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, or staging lymphadenectomy * Karnofsky performance status less than 80 * Inadequate laboratory results: i.e. Hb \< 12 gm/litre, WBC \< 3.5 x 10 per litre, platelets \< 100 x 10/litre, urea \> 13 mmol/litre, creatinine \> 220 mmol/litre * Unfit for surgery for other medical reasons * Age above 75 years * Failure to provide written informed consent