Moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy for prostate cancer: 3-year toxicity results of a multicentre randomized phase 3, non-inferiority trial

Abstract

Background and purpose: Moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) is a standard treatment for prostate cancer patients. We compared 2 moderate HFRT regimens, with a biologically equivalent dose of 80 Gy in 2 Gy fractions, with a modest simultaneous integrated boost to the dominant intraprostatic lesion.

Material and methods: This is a multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized phase 3 trial with acute toxicity as the primary endpoint, comparing: 56 Gy in 4 weeks (16x3.5 Gy, 4 days/week, Arm A) with 67 Gy in 5 weeks (25x2.68 Gy, 5 days/week, Arm B). The H0 hypothesis is that both regimens are equivalent in terms of acute grade ≥ 2 gastro-intestinal toxicity, defined as a difference in acute grade ≥ 2 gastro-intestinal toxicity of ≤ 10 %. Here we report on acute and late toxicity.

Results: We included 170 patients in Arm A and 172 patients in Arm B. The median follow-up time for all patients was 42 months. Acute grade ≥ 2 gastrointestinal toxicity was reported by 24 % of patients in both groups. Acute grade 2 and 3 urinary toxicity was observed in 52 % and 9 % of patients in Arm A and 53 % and 7 % in Arm B. Late grade 2 and grade ≥ 3 gastrointestinal toxicity occurred in 19 % and 4 % of patients in Arm A compared with 15 % and 4 % in Arm B. Late grade 2 and grade ≥ 3 urinary toxicity was observed in 37 % and 10 % of patients in Arm A and 36 % and 6 % in Arm B.

Conclusion: This analysis confirms that both HFRT regimens are safe and equivalent in terms of acute grade ≥ 2 gastrointestinal toxicity.

Keywords: Moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy; Prostate cancer; Toxicity.