Authors' objectives: To assess the available evidence on the efficacy, safety and coverage policy related aspects regarding the use of IMRT in patients with prostate cancer.

Authors' recommendations: The quality of the evidence found is poor since to date, no controlled randomized clinical trials have been conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of IMRT. The evidence suggests that IMRT might be associated with a lower biochemical relapse, lower requirement of new anticancer treatments and a lower risk of late GI toxicity. However, if this difference existed, it would be little in absolute terms. In turn, IMRT might also be associated to a higher frequency of GU toxicity and sexual dysfunction. In contrast to developed countries where the difference in the cost of both techniques is very little, in Argentina, IMRT is almost four times that of 3D-CRT. Uncertainty about its benefits, in terms of cancer, and the big difference in cost, limits its massive use in our country. If used, its use might be justified in patients with high risk of relapse, whom high doses might reduce the risk of relapse. No evidence was found to support its use in case of adjuvant, rescue therapies and/or in patients with bone metastases.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2012

URL for published report: https://www.iecs.org.ar/home-ets/?cod_publicacion=655&origen_publicacion=publicaciones

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Argentina

Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy

Contact Address: Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires - Argentina, C1414 CABA

Contact Name: info@iecs.org.ar

Contact Email: info@iecs.org.ar

Copyright: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)