Study: Radiation Matches Surgery in Treating Prostate Cancer

Researchers, speaking at the latest meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology held in Boston, stated that radiation therapy successfully controlled localized prostate cancer with efficacy comparable to surgery, but with fewer side effects.

After an average follow-up period of eight years, recurrence-free survival rates were statistically similar between the two groups. Among patients who received five sessions of stereotactic body radiation therapy over two weeks, 91 percent remained alive without cancer recurrence, compared to 84 percent of those who underwent surgery.

The trial included 123 patients, most of whom had low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer, and they were monitored for any tumor recurrence or rise in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, which is a potential indicator of prostate cancer.

The original objective of the trial was to compare quality of life following the different treatment interventions. The COVID-19 pandemic thwarted efforts to enroll nearly twice as many participants, resulting in a very small sample size that was insufficient to address the trial’s original primary question.

Dr. Nicholas van As, leader of the research team from the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said in a statement, “What we can say is that we have complete data showing excellent cancer control outcomes with a five-session radiation therapy regimen.”

Another analysis, presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology conference, showed that sexual function scores, based on patient assessments, declined in both groups but remained significantly better in the radiation therapy group.