When prostate cancer extends beyond the prostate but is still contained within the prostate region, it is called ‘locally advanced’. Cancer at this stage is at high risk of progression, but is still potentially curable. This report from a US radiotherapy conference suggests that using two therapies can be better than one alone.
From Medscape Medical News, News Author: Zosia Chustecka
September 23, 2008 — Adding radiation to androgen deprivation therapy in older men with locally advanced prostate cancer reduces the risk of dying from the disease by half. These results, from a randomized clinical trial, suggest that men should be offered this additional option, says lead researcher Anders Widmark, MD, professor in radiation oncology at Umea University in Umea, Sweden.
Dr. Widmark presented the results at a plenary session during the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) 50th Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
"This trial will change clinical practice," predicted Anthony Zietman from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who was moderating a press briefing at which the results were highlighted. Dr. Zietman is also president-elect of the ASTRO, taking on the role of president effective September 23, 2008.
"At present, there is a bit of a fatalistic attitude towards locally advanced prostate cancer, as it generally considered to have already quietly spread elsewhere," Dr. Zietman commented. "Often the only treatment often offered to older men with this stage of disease is hormonal therapy," he continued. "This attitude is maybe more common in Europe, but it's also prevalent in the United States."
"The thinking is that the cat is already out of the bag," Dr. Zietman commented, but "the results from this trial prove that this is not the case."
"This randomised trial is the first to show that men with locally advanced prostate cancer will survive substantially longer when radiation is added to their treatment plan," Dr. Widmark told journalists. .
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology 50th Annual Meeting: Plenary session. Presented on September 22, 2008.
See: Medscape article
From Medscape Medical News, News Author: Zosia Chustecka
September 23, 2008 — Adding radiation to androgen deprivation therapy in older men with locally advanced prostate cancer reduces the risk of dying from the disease by half. These results, from a randomized clinical trial, suggest that men should be offered this additional option, says lead researcher Anders Widmark, MD, professor in radiation oncology at Umea University in Umea, Sweden.
Dr. Widmark presented the results at a plenary session during the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) 50th Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
"This trial will change clinical practice," predicted Anthony Zietman from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who was moderating a press briefing at which the results were highlighted. Dr. Zietman is also president-elect of the ASTRO, taking on the role of president effective September 23, 2008.
"At present, there is a bit of a fatalistic attitude towards locally advanced prostate cancer, as it generally considered to have already quietly spread elsewhere," Dr. Zietman commented. "Often the only treatment often offered to older men with this stage of disease is hormonal therapy," he continued. "This attitude is maybe more common in Europe, but it's also prevalent in the United States."
"The thinking is that the cat is already out of the bag," Dr. Zietman commented, but "the results from this trial prove that this is not the case."
"This randomised trial is the first to show that men with locally advanced prostate cancer will survive substantially longer when radiation is added to their treatment plan," Dr. Widmark told journalists. .
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology 50th Annual Meeting: Plenary session. Presented on September 22, 2008.
See: Medscape article
