Open AccessProgress and controversies: Radiation therapy for prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Martin Neil E.,
D'Amico Anthony V.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
ca: a cancer journal for clinicians
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 62.937
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1542-4863
pISSN - 0007-9235
DOI - 10.3322/caac.21250
Subject(s) - prostate cancer , medicine , androgen deprivation therapy , radiation therapy , proton therapy , brachytherapy , oncology , prostate , medical physics , cancer , intensive care medicine
Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Radiation therapy remains a standard treatment option for men with localized prostate cancer. Alone or in combination with androgen‐deprivation therapy, it represents a curative treatment and has been shown to prolong survival in selected populations. In this article, the authors review recent advances in prostate radiation—treatment techniques, photon versus proton radiation, modification of treatment fractionation, and brachytherapy—all focusing on disease control and the impact on morbidity. Also discussed are refinements in the risk stratification of men with prostate cancer and how these are better for matching patients to appropriate treatment, particularly around combined androgen‐deprivation therapy. Many of these advances have cost and treatment burden implications, which have significant repercussions given the prevalence of prostate cancer. The discussion includes approaches to improve value and future directions for research. CA Cancer J Clin 2014;64:389–407. © 2014 American Cancer Society.