Management of late events after conventional radical prostate radiotherapy: against the odds of secondary tumours and recurrence of prostate cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. e242640
Author(s):  
Rodriguez-Perez AR ◽  
Montero-Feijoo M ◽  
Blanco-de-Córdoba LA ◽  
Luna-Tirado J

We present two 85-year-old men, with a similar history of prostate cancer treated more than 10 years ago with radiotherapy, who were in remission, but sought medical care at a time, due to alarm sign and symptoms. Case 2 resulted in a locally advanced secondary radiation-induced sarcoma of the penile base. Case 1 suffered from a round, 2 cm soft-tissue lesion with spiculated borders at the ureterovesical junction responsible for ipsilateral iliac vein compression and urinary obstruction without proven biochemical prostate cancer relapse, raising concerns about recurrence or secondary tumour. Both patients followed an oncological geriatric assessment and were ‘vulnerable’ at their presentation. Hence, we describe the effort to perform medical care adequacy regarding patient’s frailty and the anatomic locations within the prior radiation field. In case 2, we got a pathological diagnose and followed sequential multimodal treatments without success. But in case 1, minimal intervention resulted in improvement.

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arndt-Christian Müller ◽  
Johannes Mischinger ◽  
Theodor Klotz ◽  
Bernd Gagel ◽  
Gregor Habl ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The aim of the study was to reach a consensus on indication and application of a hydrogel spacer based on multicentre experience and give new users important information to shorten the learning curve for this innovative technique. Methods The interdisciplinary meeting was attended by radiation oncologists and urologists, each with experience of 23 – 138 hydrogel injections (SpaceOAR®) in prostate cancer patients before dose-escalated radiotherapy. User experience was discussed and questions were defined to comprise practical information relevant for successful hydrogel injection and treatment. Answers to the defined key questions were generated. Hydrogel-associated side effects were collected to estimate the percentage, treatment and prognosis of potential risks. Results The main indication for hydrogel application was dose-escalated radiotherapy for histologically confirmed low or intermediate risk prostate cancer. It was not recommended in locally advanced prostate cancer. The injection or implantation was performed under transrectal ultrasound guidance via the transperineal approach after prior hydrodissection. The rate of injection-related G2-toxicity was 2% (n = 5) in a total of 258 hydrogel applications. The most frequent complication (n = 4) was rectal wall penetration, diagnosed at different intervals after hydrogel injection and treated conservatively. Conclusions A consensus was reached on the application of a hydrogel spacer. Current experience demonstrated feasibility, which could promote initiation of this method in more centres to reduce radiation-related gastrointestinal toxicity of dose-escalated IGRT. However, a very low rate of a potential serious adverse event could not be excluded. Therefore, the application should carefully be discussed with the patient and be balanced against potential benefits.


1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria M. Talbott

Complaints of older widows regarding their husbands' health care are investigated in this study. Sixty-four older widows were interviewed several years after their husbands' deaths. The deaths occurred in the early 1980s. Forty-six percent reported problems in the health care their husbands had received. Widows whose husbands had not known in advance that they were going to die were more likely to complain about their husbands' medical care than widows whose husbands had known in advance. Complaints were also related to the frequency of several symptoms of grief. The widows' complaints about their husbands' care focus on quality of care, perceived insensitivity on the part of health care professionals, lack of control over the death, and the organization of services.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 2082
Author(s):  
Chiara Zanusso ◽  
Eva Dreussi ◽  
Roberto Bortolus ◽  
Chiara Romualdi ◽  
Sara Gagno ◽  
...  

Up to 30–50% of patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing radiotherapy (RT) experience biochemical recurrence (BCR). The immune system affects the RT response. Immunogenetics could define new biomarkers for personalization of PCa patients’ treatment. The aim of this study is to define the immunogenetic biomarkers of 10 year BCR (primary aim), 10 year overall survival (OS) and 5 year BCR (secondary aims). In this mono-institutional retrospective study, 549 Caucasian patients (a discovery set n = 418; a replication set n = 131) were affected by locally advanced PCa and homogeneously treated with RT. In the training set, associations were made between 447 SNPs in 77 genes of the immune system; and 10 year BCR and 10 year OS were tested through a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Significant SNPs (p-value < 0.05, q-value < 0.15) were analyzed in the replication set. Replicated SNPs were tested for 5 year BCR in both sets of patients. A polymorphism in the PDL1 gene (rs4143815) was the unique potential genetic variant of 10 year BCR (training set: p = 0.003, HR (95% CI) = 0.58 (0.41–0.83); replication set: p = 0.063, HR (95% CI) = 0.52 (0.26–1.04)) that was significantly associated with 5 year BCR (training set: p = 0.009, HR (95% CI) = 0.59 (0.40–0.88); replication set: p = 0.036, HR (95% CI) = 0.39 (0.16–0.94)). No biomarkers of OS were replicated. rs4143815-PDL1 arose as a new immunogenetic biomarker of BCR in PCa, giving new insights into the RT/immune system interaction, which could be potentially useful in new approaches using anti-PDL1 therapies for PCa.


Author(s):  
Daniel E. Spratt ◽  
Neal Shore ◽  
Oliver Sartor ◽  
Dana Rathkopf ◽  
Kara Olivier

Abstract Background Prostate cancer (PC) is a leading cause of death in older men. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is considered the standard-of-care for men with locally advanced disease. However, continuous androgen ablation is associated with acute and long-term adverse effects and most patients will eventually develop castration-resistant PC (CRPC). The recent approval of three, second-generation androgen receptor inhibitors (ARIs), apalutamide, enzalutamide, and darolutamide, has transformed the treatment landscape of PC. Treatment with these second-generation ARIs have produced positive trends in metastasis-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival. For patients with non-metastatic CRPC, who are mainly asymptomatic from their disease, maintaining quality of life is a major objective when prescribing therapy. Polypharmacy for age-related comorbidities also is common in this population and may increase the potential for drug–drug interactions (DDIs). Method This review summarizes the multiple factors that may contribute to the therapeutic burden of patients with CRPC, including the interplay between age, comorbidities, concomitant medications, the use of ARIs, and financial distress. Conclusions As the treatment landscape in PC continues to rapidly evolve, consideration must be given to the balance between therapeutic benefits and potential treatment-emergent adverse events that may be further complicated by DDIs with concomitant medications. Patient-centered communication is a crucial aspect of alleviating this burden, and healthcare professionals (HCPs) may benefit from training in effective patient communication. HCPs should closely and frequently monitor patient treatment responses, in order to better understand symptom onset and exacerbation. Patients also should be encouraged to participate in exercise programs, and health information and support groups, which may assist them in preventing or mitigating certain determinants of the therapeutic burden associated with PC and its management.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document