Together with colleagues from 10 leading European cancer centers, our UroGEC (ESTRO) group has just published the first and largest study to date on the use of high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) as a salvage treatment for men with prostate cancer recurrence after both prostate removal surgery (prostatectomy) and postoperative radiotherapy to the prostate bed.
This represents one of the most challenging clinical scenarios: patients who have already received the two main curative options – surgery and radiotherapy – yet still develop a local relapse in the prostate bed.
Until now, the outcomes of this approach have been poorly understood, and there has been substantial concern about the risk of excessive toxicity.
Our study, published in Radiotherapy & Oncology (The Green Journal), provides long-awaited answers and brings real hope:
5-year local tumor control (LC): 81%
5-year metastasis-free survival (MFS): 77%
5-year overall survival (OS): 96%
Severe side effects remained rare – grade ≥3 genitourinary toxicicty in <9%,
and gastrointestinal toxicicty in ~1%.
What does this mean?
That even in heavily pretreated patients – after both prostatectomy and radiotherapy – precisely delivered brachytherapy can still be safe, effective, and life-extending.
Our results challenge long-standing concerns about unacceptable toxicity and demonstrate that, in the hands of experienced practitioners, HDR-BT is a feasible and valuable option.
I am proud to have contributed to this pioneering work as part of such an outstanding international team. This project reflects the essence of modern oncology: collaboration across borders, sharing expertise, and pushing the boundaries to improve patients’ lives.
Full article available here: https://www.thegreenjournal.com/…/S0167-8140…/fulltext