Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy improves the therapeutic ratio in patients with bulky prostatic cancer treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy Journal Article


Authors: Zelefsky, M. J.; Leibel, S. A.; Burman, C. M.; Kutcher, G. J.; Harrison, A.; Happersett, L.; Fuks, Z.
Article Title: Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy improves the therapeutic ratio in patients with bulky prostatic cancer treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy
Abstract: Purpose: To determine the extent of reduction of volume of normal tissue structures exposed to high doses of radiation therapy (RT) after administration of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) in patients with bulky, geometrically unfavorable prostatic cancers. Methods and Materials: Twenty-two patients with bulky prostatic cancers were treated with a 3 month course of neoadjuvant leuprolide acetate and eulexin prior to three-dimensional (3-D) conformal radiotherapy. Patients were included if 3-D treatment planning revealed that either > 30% of the rectal wall would receive 95% of the prescription dose (D95) (n = 13) ; ≥ 50% of the bladder wall would receive D95 (n = 10); or that any volume of small bowel would receive ≥ 65% of the prescription dose (n = 16). All patients underwent simulation and conformal treatment planning before and after NHT. Pre and posthormone cumulative dose volume histogram (DVH) calculations for all normal tissue structures were analyzed and compared for each patient. Results: The median percentage of target volume reduction after NHT was 25% (range: 3-52%). Ten of 13 patients (78%) whose prehormone rectal DVH demonstrated > 30% of the rectal wall receiving D95 responded to NHT with a median 25% (range: 16-48%) reduction of rectal volume receiving the D95. A median reduction of 50% (range: 6-64%) of the bladder volume receiving D95 was observed in nine of ten patients (90%), while 13 of 16 (81%) showed a reduction of small bowel volume to a median percentage of 88% (range: 67-100%) of the prehormonal values. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy is an effective method for decreasing the size of bulky prostatic tumors as well as for optimizing the geometry of the target volume in relation to the adjacent normal tissue structures prior to radiation therapy. Such an approach allows for reduction of the volume of normal tissues exposed to high doses in the majority of treated patients. Currently, studies are underway to determine whether NHT will lead to a decreased likelihood of long-term complications associated with radiotherapy of bulky, geometrically unfavorable prostatic tumors, and permit the safe delivery of escalated dose levels using conformal treatment techniques. © 1994.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; aged; aged, 80 and over; clinical trial; cancer adjuvant therapy; comparative study; chemotherapy, adjuvant; combined modality therapy; prospective studies; tumor volume; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; radiotherapy dosage; prostate cancer; prostatic neoplasms; leuprorelin; pilot projects; drug response; hormonal therapy; flutamide; radiotherapy, high-energy; leuprolide; rectum; bladder; middle age; neoadjuvant hormonal therapy; human; male; priority journal; article; support, u.s. gov't, p.h.s.; conformal radiation therapy; eulexin
Journal Title: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Volume: 29
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0360-3016
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 1994-07-01
Start Page: 755
End Page: 761
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/0360-3016(94)90563-0
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 8040021
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 14 January 2019 -- Article -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Chandra M Burman
    154 Burman
  2. Zvi Fuks
    427 Fuks
  3. Michael J Zelefsky
    754 Zelefsky
  4. Steven A Leibel
    252 Leibel
  5. Gerald J Kutcher
    106 Kutcher