Prostate Cancer, Support Groups  and Prostate Cancer Treatment

Permanent Prostate Brachytherapy in Patients with Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

 Louis Potters, M.D., Clinical Associate Member

Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Medical Director, New York Prostate Institute    New York Prostate Institute is a part of the Division of Radiation Oncology at South Nassau Communities Hospital at Mercy Medical Center    Oceanside, New York

Current techniques with permanent prostate brachytherapy are associated with excellent biochemical control for patients with localized prostate cancer. Data is now available for this treatment modality that offers 10-year results that are compatible to external beam irradiation or radical prostatectomy. Nonetheless, treatment protocols and techniques vary between centers that perform prostate brachytherapy and there is little conformity of treatment protocols. Controversy exists regarding the selection of patients for monotherapy or combined external beam irradiation and brachytherapy. The role of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation also remains unanswered in patients with localized prostate cancer. In addition, post-implant dosimetry may in fact be more significant for predicting outcome than the addition of adjuvant therapies and should be a requirement when performing prostate brachytherapy. Data now appears to support specific CT-based criteria to evaluate implant quality and delivered dose to the prostate. Unfortunately, prostate edema and poor imaging techniques are limiting factors for evaluating implant dosimetry. Treatment planning techniques that utilize new treatment planning computers may assist in improving the implant procedure and dosimetry and are now available.

Article continues here 

(Combining External Beam Radiation Therapy with Brachytherapy is discussed on Page 7 of this article, as is the use of Androgen Deprevation therapy combined with Brachytherapy. )

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