Longitudinal Evaluation of Intestinal, Haematological and Urinary Toxicity From Pelvic Irradiation for Prostate Cancer

The prophylactic irradiation of pelvic lymph-nodes by means of Whole-Pelvis Radiotherapy (WPRT) in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) is aimed at the timely eradication of microscopic lymph-nodal metastases. Nevertheless, even though delivered by means of modern Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques, WPRT may result in intestinal, hematologic and urinary toxicity (IT, HT, UT, respectively) severely affecting patients' daily health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) within the so-called and inadequately investigated Pelvic Radiation Disease.

The aim of this study is to develop sophisticated predictive models of IMRT-WPRT induced patient-reported HT, IT and UT in PCa. The possible correlation between several clinical factors and radiation doses received by various pelvic structures (i.e. pelvic bones subvolumes, intestinal loops, sigmoid, rectum and bladder) and risk and severity of patient-reported IT, UT and HT will be analyzed and robust multi-variable models will be developed and internally validated. A secondary end-point will be the identification of specific symptoms affecting patients' HRQoL during irradiation and in the long term, overall and in different therapeutic settings (radical, adjuvant and salvage). Lastly, possible correlation between HT and UT/IT will be investigated.

Experimental Design:

Hypothesis. Dose-volume histograms (DVHs) of bowel, sigmoid colon and rectum are expected to be predictive of IT prospectively self-assessed by patients by means of IBDQ (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire). Similarly, DVHs of pelvic bony subvolumes (lumbar-sacral, iliac and the lower pelvis) should predict HT, while DVHs and dose-surface histograms (DSHs) of the bladder are expected to be predictive of UT self-assessed by patients by means of IPSS (International Prostate Symptoms Score) and ICIQ-SF (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire- short form) questionnaires. Moreover, some specific urinary and intestinal-rectal symptoms are expected to lead to impairment in emotional, social and systemic domains, as assessed by the IBDQ questionnaire, more than others, with several possible "clusters" of symptoms prevailing in different treatment settings. Finally, the intestinal, urinary and hematologic toxicity profile of WPRT IMRT could emerge to be extremely different in patients treated with radical (RAD), adjuvant (ADV) or salvage (SALV) intent.

Task1. The principal aim of the project is to develop sophisticated quantitative predictive models of IT, UT and HT (without the confounding bias of chemotherapy) from WPRT IMRT in both radical and postoperative treatment of localized PCa. The possible correlation between the radiation doses received by different pelvic structures and different toxicities will be analyzed.

Task2. To try to individuate the intestinal/rectal and urinary symptoms most negatively affecting the Emotional, Social and Systemic patient domains, with the ultimate objective of "focusing" the quantitative predictive models including both clinical and physico-dosimetric parameters only upon these main symptoms. This approach could theoretically permit the creation of a "shortened and radiotherapy adapted" version of the IBDQ questionnaire.

Task3. A thorough assessment of the different self-assessed toxicity profiles to be expected in patients treated with RAD, ADV or SALV intent will be carried out, with the ultimate aim of accumulating a set of extremely detailed information to be provided to patients in order to offer them appropriate counselling after the initial diagnosis of PCa with regard to the choice between radiotherapy vs surgery. In those selecting the latter and in the presence of risk factors at prostatectomy suggesting a possible role for postoperative radiotherapy, the ultimate objective would be that of assisting patients in the always extremely problematic choice between immediate adjuvant and timely, postponed, salvage irradiation in the case of biochemical recurrence.

Task4. Secondary end-points: to search for a possible correlation between HT and IT/UT.

Throughout the treatment period, patients will be seen every 2 weeks for toxicity monitoring. Subsequently, a follow-up visit will be performed at 3 months from the end of treatment, and every six months thereafter, up to 5 years.

Intestinal and urinary toxicities, including urinary incontinence, will be self-assessed by patients by means of the Italian validated version of the IBDQ, IPSS and ICIQ-SF questionnaires: at baseline (no more than 30 days before RT start), at radiotherapy mid-point and end, at 3, 6,12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54 and 60 months from radiotherapy conclusion.

A blood sample for white blood cells (WBC), with absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte counts (ANC and ALC, respectively), red blood cells (RBC) and platelets (PLT) counts will be collected at the same time intervals. In addition to the self-reported assessment of rectal/bowel and urinary symptoms during and after radiotherapy, an evaluation of acute and late IT and UT will be performed by the medical staff for possible future comparison between its subjective and objective measurement. IT, HT and UT will be graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with with an ECOG PS 0-1
* Patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate
* WPRT can be delivered with both static and rotational IMRT techniques such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) or Tomotherapy
* Both conventionally (1.8-2 Gy/fraction) and moderately hypo-fractionated (≤ 2.7 Gy/fraction) regimens with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) approach are allowed; in any case the daily dose delivered to the pelvic nodes should be in the range of 1.8-2.0 Gy/fr

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients older than 80 years at the time of enrollment
* Missing written informed consent