Factors determining the efficacy of radiotherapy for prostate cancer

Abstract

Background. Prostate cancer (PC) ranks first in the structure of oncological pathology in men, being the second leading cause of cancer death and having 30 % as the five-year survival rate. Radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer has great potential for enhancement. Purpose – to evaluate the efficacy of RT in patients with prostate cancer and highlight the clinical and laboratory factors determining it. Materials and methods. The study enrolled 195 men with prostate cancer aged 52 to 82 years. The duration from the moment of diagnosis of the disease averaged 3 years. The Gleason score parameters were 6 points on average, the ratio of peripheral to central tumor form was 3:1, adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 94 % of cases, giant cell carcinoma – in 6 %. Results. On average, recurring neoplasm is observed in 40 % of the patients with prostate cancer 2.5 years after radical prostatectomy combined with different methods of radiation therapy, which is associated with the initial indicators of the Gleason score, shape, localization and expansion of the tumor process, the presence of comorbid papillary carcinoma of the urinary bladder, metastases in the lymph nodes, distant viscera and the skeleton, while the power and direction of radiation exposure influence such radiotherapy complications as dermatitis, polyneuropathy, acute vascular insufficiency and tubulointerstitial nephritis. Conclusions. Developing the medical technology for RT in patients with prostate cancer to reduce the effect of prognostically unfavorable treatment factors is essential.

Keywords

• cancer, prostate gland, treatment, radiation therapy.