Authors' recommendations: Definitive benefits of radiation treatments compared to no treatment or no initial treatment for localized prostate cancer could not be determined because available data were insufficient. Data on comparative effectiveness between different forms of radiation treatments (BT, EBRT, SBRT) are also inconclusive whether one form of radiation therapy is superior to another form in terms of overall or disease-specific survival. Studies suggest that higher EBRT dose results in increased rates of long-term biochemical control than lower EBRT dose. EBRT administered as a standard fractionation or moderate hypofractionation does not appear to differ with respect to biochemical control and late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities. Available data suggest that BT might be associated with an increase in genitourinary toxicity compared with EBRT. BT appears to be largely comparable to EBRT in the rates of gastrointestinal toxicity. However, more and better quality studies are needed to either confirm or refute these suggested findings.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cms.gov/coveragegeninfo/downloads/id69ta.pdf

Year Published: 2010

URL for published report: http://www.cms.gov/mcd/viewtechassess.asp?where=index&tid=69

URL for additional information: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/ta/comments/prostatecan/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;

Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)