Prostate Radiotherapy Comparing Moderate and Extreme Hypo-fractionation (PRIME Trial)

Overview

Aim: The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy with SBRT and moderate hypo-fractionation in high risk and node positive prostate cancer PRIMARY STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess whether extreme hypo-fractionation with SBRT in high risk prostate cancer is non inferior to moderately hypo-fractionated standard radiotherapy STUDY DESIGN: Two arm, Prospective Randomized Trial with a non-inferiority design TREATMENT REGIMEN: Arm 1-\[standard arm\] Moderate hypo-fractionated RT, total dose of 66-68 Gray(Gy) in 25# to the primary over 5 weeks, with treatment being delivered daily. All patients irrespective of nodal status will receive a dose of 50 Gy in 25# to the pelvic nodes.Boost to gross nodal disease will be considered based on the response to hormonal therapy to a dose of 60-66 Gy/25# as a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB). An option of equivalent biological dose using 60-62.5 Gy in 20# may be allowed for multi-centric accrual in the future. Arm 2 -\[Experimental Arm\] Extreme hypo-fractionation with SBRT,course of 5 fractions of radiation; each of size 7-7.25 Gy. The total dose will be 35-36.5 Gy. All patients irrespective of nodal status will receive a dose of 25 Gy in 5 # to the pelvic nodes. The 5 treatments will be scheduled to be delivered alternate day over approximately 7-10 days. An option of equivalent biological dose using 35-36.5 Gy in 5 weekly fractions may be allowed for multicentric accrual in the future. RECRUITMENT TARGET: 464 total (232 patients experimental arm and 232 patients standard arm) recruitment over 6 years, with a non-fixed follow up period and a uniform accrual rate. PRIMARY ENDPOINT To assess the 5 year Biochemical Failure free Survival (BFFS) between the two arms. Follow-up At 3-6 weeks from end of radiotherapy, followed by 3-6 monthly for the first two years and 6 monthly thereafter.

The standard duration of treatment with radiotherapy is 8 weeks in conventional fractionation; 5-6 weeks with moderate hypo-fractionation, while it is only 1- 2 weeks with extreme hypo-fractionation (SBRT).The health costs and out of pocket expenditure involved in the conventional hypo-fractionated radiotherapy treatment largely depends on the overall treatment duration. This involves expenditure not only for the patient but also the caretaker. Moreover most of these patients presenting to a tertiary care centre from different parts of the country, have logistic issues of accommodation, food, travel along with the treatment costs. Also for patients staying away from family, 5 weeks treatment without considerable family support has a psychological impact, especially on elderly group of patients commonly seen with prostate cancer.This further leads to a major cause of distress among these patients, especially in a resource limited setting as ours. Extreme hypo-fractionation with a total duration of 2 weeks, would offer an opportunity to optimize the therapeutic ratio taking advantage of the potential therapeutic gain due to low alpha/beta for prostate to higher dose/fraction(compared to surrounding organs at risk). Moreover, shortened overall treatment time,would lead to less distressing and early recommencement of their daily activities for the patients,with an obvious impact in improving the quality of life and health costs. Given the potential positive economic impact with shorter duration treatment with similar clinical outcomes and probable similar toxicity profile, SBRT (extreme hypo-fractionation) in prostate cancer is an attractive treatment option, especially in a limited-resource setting and can have a large and positive impact on the patient care.