Intraprostatic Urethra: The New Kid on the Block for Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy?

Abstract

The evolving landscape of radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer has experienced major breakthroughs in the last decade, marked by a constant decrease in number of fractions, from moderately hypofractionated protocols to ultrahypofractionation, and the widespread implementation of modern delivery techniques, like stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Although dose-escalated protocols have been significantly associated with improved outcomes, genitourinary (GU) toxicity remains one of the major concerns of these treatments. Understanding the underlying mechanisms for GU toxicity, together with the development of dedicated dose constraints, is a constant effort by the radiation oncology community to make modern RT treatments safer and more tolerable. Radiation Dose to the Intraprostatic Urethra Correlates Strongly With Urinary Toxicity After Prostate Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: A Combined Analysis of 23 Prospective Clinical TrialsInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, PhysicsVol. 112Issue 1PreviewClinical trials assessing evaluation prostate stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) have used a wide range of allowed doses to the intraprostatic urethra, but the relationship between urethral dose and urinary toxicity has not been thoroughly evaluated. The goal of this study was to characterize urinary toxicity outcomes according to urethral dose administered during prostate SBRT. Full-Text PDF