Comparison of HDR vs. LDR Brachytherapy as Monotherapy for Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer

Overview

This study will offer men with intermediate risk prostate cancer who are suitable for, and interested in, prostate brachytherapy, the opportunity to be randomized between low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy using permanent implantation of radioactive seeds (the current standard of care in BC) and high dose rate (HDR) or temporary brachytherapy which is also available as a standard of care in BC but only when used as a boost in addition with external beam radiotherapy. In addition, men will be offered the opportunity for testing the aggressiveness of their cancer using Cell Cycle Progression Gene Profile.

Purpose: To conduct a Phase III randomized trial for favorable tier intermediate risk prostate cancer and selected favorable risk tumors to evaluate the difference in Quality of Life in the urinary domain between LDR and HDR brachytherapy. Hypothesis: Because of more rapid dose delivery with HDR compared to LDR brachytherapy (15 minutes vs. 6 months) and more precise control of dose to adjacent critical structures (prostatic and bulbo-membranous urethra and anterior rectal wall), HDR prostate brachytherapy has been associated with more rapid recovery from acute symptoms and a more favorable side effect protocol when used as a boost in combination with external beam radiotherapy. The hypothesis is that this advantage will be maintained when brachytherapy is used as monotherapy without the addition of external beam radiation. Justification: In British Columbia, LDR prostate brachytherapy is the current standard for selected men with favorable risk prostate cancer who are not suitable for, or willing to accept active surveillance, and for men with favorable intermediate risk prostate cancer. LDR brachytherapy has been available in BC for over 15 years and is highly effective with 7-year biochemical disease-free rates of \~95%. However, this type of treatment has a prolonged recovery phase with return to baseline urinary function taking 6 to 12 months. This is partly due to the fact that the radiation is delivered over a 6 month period from the implanted seeds, and partly due to uncertainty in final seed placement. HDR brachytherapy has the advantage of delivering treatment very rapidly over 15-20 minutes, and also exploits the radiobiologic nature of prostate cancer which is more responsive to large doses of radiotherapy. Experience with using HDR brachytherapy as a boost has shown a much reduced impact on quality of life. Objectives: Primary: To evaluate the difference in QOL in the urinary domain between LDR and HDR brachytherapy using the urinary domain of the EPIC prostate cancer specific QOL questionnaire. Secondary: * To assess differences in the bowel and sexual domains of the EPIC prostate cancer specific QOL questionnaire between the 2 treatments * To asses time to recovery of the IPS Score which is widely used to assess urinary function after prostate cancer treatment. The time to return to baseline +/- 3 points will be determined. * Acute and long-term toxicity will be graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE V4) at each follow up time point * TRUS- MRI fusion will be developed within our planning software to facilitate treatment planning * To assess treatment efficacy, PSA will be recorded every 6 months to 5 years and then annually to 10 years and prostate re-biopsy will be performed at 36 months after radiotherapy. Optional: For those patients consenting to targeted biopsies under anaesthesia at the start of their brachytherapy procedure (separate consent) * Verify MRI-TRUS fusion accuracy * Correlate Cell Cycle Progression scores with outcome. Research Method: Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI)will be performed on all men as a staging procedure to ensure appropriateness for brachytherapy as monotherapy (without the addition of external beam radiotherapy or hormone therapy). The value of mpMRI in staging prostate cancer is widely recognized. Previous studies have shown that over 90% of intermediate risk cancers are visible on mpMRI. The MR images will be fused with the planning trans rectal ultrasound (TRUS) for each patient, ensuring adequate dose coverage of the lesion. For those patients consenting to optional biopsies under anesthesia, accuracy of the fusion will be verified by obtaining 2 biopsies of the visualized lesion under TRUS guidance at the start of the brachytherapy procedure. Follow up is as per standard practice to assess urinary, bowel and sexual side effects. In addition to the standard forms, patients will also complete an EPIC questionnaire. The questionnaires are completed every 3 months for 1 year and then every 6 months to 3 years and then annually, as per the standard follow up schedule. Once the biopsy material has been pathologically confirmed to contain the target lesion, the aggressiveness will be assessed through Cell Cycle Progression (CCP) Gene Profile testing. Men may be randomized to the type of brachytherapy and decline the biopsies. This initial protocol is a Pilot that will test feasibility of the randomization (patient acceptance). The aim is to accrue 60 men over 18-24 months and if achieved then apply to expand to a total of 200 men.