POst-Prostatectomy Ablative Radiation Therapy

Overview

The use of hypofractionated radiotherapy for prostate cancer has matured to a point that in current guidelines extremely hypofractionated image-guided IMRT regimens (6 Gy per fraction or greater) can be considered an alternative to conventionally fractionated regimens at clinics with appropriate technology, physics and clinical expertise. The delivery of fewer and larger fractions with hypofractionation compared to conventional radiotherapy might effectively improve the therapeutic ratio while maintaining isoeffective tumour doses, thus, shortening overall treatment time. In the present study, patients will undergo postoperative image-guided SBRT by means of volumetric intensity-modulated arc radiotherapy (IGRT-VMAT) with state-of-the-art treatment-planning and quality assurance procedures. Normal tissue sparing and delivery accuracy are accomplished by the use of devices that ensure stability and beam location reproducibility. The primary endpoint is to evaluate the cumulative incidence of treatment related toxicities and adverse events in the acute (\< 90 days from the end of treatment) and late (\> 90 days) setting.

In this observational prospective trial eligible patients are those with adverse pathological features or rising PSA after radical prostatectomy proposed for receiving 31 Gy in 5 sessions each of 6.2 Gy to the prostatic bed delivered in one week, and up to 32.5 Gy in 5 sessions each of 6.5 Gy delivered in one week, respectively, in case of clinical relapse. Patients will be treated by means of image guided volumetric modulated radiotherapy (IGRT-VMAT). A real time non-ionizing target monitoring might be used to account for intra-fractional errors, if deemed appropriate. Whether the dose constraints to the normal tissues are at risk, these will be prioritised over the prescription dose to the target. The primary endpoint of the trial is to assess the treatment related toxicity measured by the CTCAE v5.0. Secondary endpoints are quality of life in different domains (sexual, rectal , urinary) and biochemical outcome. Patients will be followed at approximately one month, then every 3 months for the first 12 months and every 6 months thereafter. Quality of Life will be prospectively evaluated through validated tools (ECOG, EPIC, IIEF-5, ICIQ-SF) at various timepoints. Percentage or total mean score will be reported according to the questionnaires, whether they grade values in a scale or use descriptive statistics. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis of biochemical relapse free survival (b-RFS) at 2 and 5-year bRFS for all patients will be estimated.