High-Dose-Rate brachytherapy for salvage treatment of prostate cancer recurrence post-prostatectomy and radiotherapy: A multicenter retrospective analysis (HDR-REPOPRA) by UroGEC
Abstract
Background
Local recurrence of prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy (RP) and adjuvant or salvage external beam radiotherapy (a/sEBRT) presents a therapeutic challenge. Salvage high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) is a promising modality, though evidence remains limited.
Materials and Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 90 patients treated with salvage HDR-BT after RP and a/sEBRT across 10 UroGEC-ESTRO-affiliated European centers. Eligible patients had biopsy- or imaging-confirmed local recurrence and ECOG performance status 0–2. Primary endpoints were local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and toxicity; secondary endpoints included biochemical failure-free survival (BFFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).
Results
The median follow-up was 47 months. The 5-year LRFS was 81.1 %, BFFS 62 %, MFS 77.5 %, PFS 58.0 %, and OS 95.9 %. Biopsy-confirmed recurrence and use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were associated with improved LRFS and PFS. Grade ≥3 genitourinary toxicity occurred in 5.5 % (acute) and 8.9 % (late) of patients; gastrointestinal grade 3 toxicity was observed in 1.1 %.
Conclusion
HDR-BT is a safe and effective salvage option for well-selected patients with local recurrence after RP and a/sEBRT. Our data support its feasibility, acceptable toxicity, and favorable oncologic outcomes. Biopsy confirmation and ADT use may improve results and should be considered in treatment planning. These findings warrant further prospective evaluation to optimize patient selection and refine salvage strategies.
Keywords
- Brachytherapy, High-Dose-Rate
- Prostatic Neoplasms/recurrence
- Prostatectomy
- Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
- Radiotherapy, Salvage
- Re-Irradiation