To date, no such measurements have been made in prostate carcinomas. The occasional failure of radiation therapy remains an important problem in the treatment of prostate cancer, especially in patients with bulky, locally advanced disease, who comprise approximately 40 to 50 percent of the patient population. Based on this knowledge, doctors can now study the link between hypoxic cells and the outcome of radiation treatment in terms of local control and subsequent PSA measurements. Ultimately, the goal is to use those strategies to target patients specifically identified to be at risk for poor outcome for radiation treatment based on their oxygen measurements. Such an innovative approach has not been previously explored in patients with prostate cancer.
Radiation therapy remains equally successful in treating prostate cancer as surgery.
Fox Chase Cancer Center is one of 36 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the nation.