Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy in Prostate Cancer

RATIONALE: It is not yet known whether extreme hypofractionation is equally safe and effective than standard radiation therapy in treating prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: This protocol presents a randomised phase II study aiming to investigate the tolerance and disease control of extreme hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for prostate cancer.

This protocol presents a randomised phase II study aiming to investigate the tolerance and disease control of extreme hypofractionated RT for prostate cancer by delivering 5 x 7.25 Gy = 36.25 Gy over two alternative time schedules: either over 9 days (study A), or over 28 days once-a-week, the same week-day (study B).

The total dose and fractionation schedules have been chosen based on the assumption of their isoeffectivity regarding potential late rectal effects to be expected with a maximum equivalent dose of 74 Gy in 2 Gy fractions and assuming an alpha/beta = 3 Gy for the rectum.

In both arms, the prescribed dose per fraction to the urethra and the surrounding transitional zone will be dropped from 7.25 Gy to 6.5 Gy with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technique. A dose of 5 x 6.5 Gy is equivalent to 31 x 2 Gy assuming an alpha/beta = 3 Gy for the urethra and equivalent to 37 x 2 Gy assuming an alpha/beta = 1.5 Gy for microscopic tumour foci in the transitional zone surrounding the urethra. The two treatment regimens chosen will each be the object of a separate phase I-II study covered by the same protocol and performed in parallel by the participating centres. Randomised assignment to either of the two studies will be introduced to avoid selection bias in treatment assignment within each centre.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

* To determine the risk of urinary, rectal and sexual acute and late toxicities rates in patients receiving two different time schedules of extreme hypofractionated radiation therapy

  • Secondary
* To determine the Quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30, Prostate cancer module EORTC QLQ-PR25) in patients receiving two different time schedules of extreme hypofractionated radiation therapy
* To determine the rate of local failure
* To determine in the two study arms the biochemical disease-free survival bDFS rate
* To determine in the two study arms the metastases-free survival rate
* To determine in the two study arms the disease-specific survival rate

OUTLINE:

This is a multicenter study.

Patients undergo extreme hypofractionated radiation therapy for prostate cancer by delivering 5 x 7.25 Gy = 36.25 Gy over two alternative time schedules:

Experimental Arm A: Over 9 days. Experimental Arm B: Over 28 days once-a-week, the same week-day. All patients will be followed up for at least 18 months to contribute to the analysis of the main endpoints of the study. With reference to the secondary endpoints, follow-up will be extended to 10 years.

Stopping rule: In order to avoid exposure of patients to a treatment that may be unsafe, acute GI and GU toxicity will be continuously monitored with the purpose of assisting in the decision of possibly interrupt recruitment in case of an alarming frequency.To this purpose, the procedure of Ivanova et al., 2005 will be applied.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: \>18
* WHO performance status ≤ 2
* Any patient where prophylactic lymph node irradiation is not required, i.e. risk of nodal microscopic involvement ≤ 20% (according to Roach et al (25):

"N+ (in %) = (Gleason score - 6) x 10 + 2/3 PSA at diagnosis)"

* T-stage: cT1-cT3a.
* Previous TURP is allowed provided there is at least 8 weeks interval with radiotherapy.
* Combined hormonal treatment (Neoadjuvant-concomitant androgen deprivation, AD, for 6 months) is mandatory if two or more of the following tumour characteristics are present: ≥cT2c, Gleason 4+3, PSA \>10 ng/ml, perineural invasion, and/or \>1/3 of positive biopsies. RT shall be delivered between 2 and 3 months (+/- 1 week) after starting AD and according to the following chronologic sequence:

  1. Neoadjuvant AD for 2 months (30 days of bicalutamide 50mg qd, and a 3-month slow-releasing LH-RH analog to be started 15 days after initiating bicalutamide).
  2. Randomization at the end of the neoadjuvant AD period (2 months after starting AD).
  3. Planning RT (to be started within 1 month after randomization (i.e., between the 2nd and 3th month after initiating AD)
* Concomitant and adjuvant HT for 4 more months (a second 3-month slow-releasing LH-RH analog injection).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to obtain a written informed consent
* Patient preference to be treated with one rather than the other treatment arm.
* WHO performance status \> 2
* cT3b,cT4
* Gleason score ≥8
* Clinical N+ on metastases work-up or N+ risk \>20% (Roach algorithm)
* Severe urinary obstructive symptoms (IPSS symptom index \>19)
* Previous TURP less than 8 weeks before radiotherapy
* Previous prostate surgery other than TURP