Improving Sexual Quality of Life - Randomized Trial of Two vs Five MRI Guided SABR Treatments for Prostate Cancer

Overview

Prostate Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is an established technique that delivers radiation in a non-invasive approach for men with prostate cancer. The treatment regimen is given in total of 5 fractions with one treatment per day at every other day or weekly sessions. Ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy (UHRT) is an emerging monotherapy for localized prostate cancer however, several trials have observed demonstrating superior biochemical control of a two-fraction (HDR) over single-fraction approach. The study aims to compare an experimental shorter course of prostate ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy (UHRT) that will deliver what is expected to be an equivalent amount of radiation as given in the standard 5 treatment regimen. UHRT is given in 2 treatments with one treatment a week for 2 consecutive weeks.

Ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy (UHRT) is an emerging monotherapy for localized prostate cancer. From a radiobiological standpoint, fewer fractions and higher doses per fraction takes greater advantage of the low α/β ratio of prostate cancer to improve the therapeutic ratio, most recently estimated at 1.6 based on 14 randomized controlled trials.Highly conformal delivery of large doses per fraction can be achieved with either high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy or with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). Several trials have explored HDR as monotherapy, from 6-fractions to a single-fraction approach. Sunnybrook recently published a randomized trial of HDR monotherapy demonstrating superior biochemical control of a two-fraction over single-fraction approach. These and other data have informed the design of a phase III randomized controlled trial comparing two-fraction HDR monotherapy to low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy in patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer (NCT02960087) coordinated by the Canadian Clinical Trails Group (PR19). The investigators have shown that 2 fraction SABR has equivalent efficacy and tolerability to 2 fraction HDR but SABR does not require general anesthesia, is less invasive and cheaper. UHRT is also supported by phase III data, including a large non-inferiority randomized trial (HYPO-RT-PC) demonstrating similar biochemical control with a 7-fraction versus conventionally-fractionated regimen. The non-inferiority PACE-B trial comparing 5-fraction SABR to conventionally-fractionated or moderately hypofractionated RT has demonstrated similar acute toxicity with use of contemporary SABR planning techniques. Sunnybrook has also conducted several iterative clinical trials testing increasingly hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy. The investigators observed in parallel cohort studies that 5 fractions of UHRT and 2 fractions of UHRT with a patented immobilization device (GU-Lok) had equal effectiveness but better tolerability with the 2 fraction technique. As this was a post hoc analysis, this study aims to validate those findings.