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Overview


Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in western countries.

In the US there were an estimated 192,000 cases in 2009,1 while in Europe there were an estimated 350,000 cases in 2006.2

However, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has meant that more men are now being identified with prostate cancer at an earlier stage. These patients often present with asymptomatic, clinically localized disease.3

Modern research and treatment techniques have significantly improved the outlook for patients who are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Current treatment goals for prostate cancer are to:

  • Achieve cancer cure (elimination of prostate cancer tissue).
  • Avoidance of damage to key surrounding tissues and organs to preserve urinary continence, erectile function, bowel function and quality of life.


Brachytherapy – an established treatment for prostate cancer

Brachytherapy, high-precision, targeted radiotherapy, has an established role in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Brachytherapy was first used to treat prostate cancer in the early 1900s.  Over the decades, a vast amount of research has been performed to refine use of brachytherapy for prostate cancer. This experience, combined with modern state-of-the-art equipment and techniques make prostate brachytherapy a highly effective treatment, which also minimizes the risk of complications.

Two types of brachytherapy can be used in the treatment of prostate cancer:

  • Low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy (seed therapy)
  • High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy


Low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy

Low dose rate prostate brachytherapy, also known as 'seed therapy', provides:

  • A clinically effective treatment option, typically for localized, low-risk, prostate cancer.4,5
  • Reduced risk of urinary, bowel and sexual function complications.4,6,7
  • One-day outpatient procedure.8
  • Very short patient recovery times (typically 1–2 days).
  • Convenience for both patients and healthcare providers.
  • Cost-effective treatment.9

permanent brachytherapy seeds for treating prostate cancer

Small radioactive seeds are precisely implanted into the tumor. The radiation gradually depletes over a period of weeks to months and the seeds then become inactive.

See how seed implants compare to other prostate cancer treatments.



“Permanent seed brachytherapy for prostate cancer has advanced significantly in all areas, including patient selection, treatment planning technique, and technology. These improvements have made transperineal seed implantation an accurate and practical treatment option for men with low-, intermediate- and high-risk disease.”10



High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy

High dose rate prostate brachytherapy offers:

  • A clinically effective treatment option for intermediate or high risk prostate cancer.5,11 
  • Definitive radiotherapy as ‘boost’ therapy on top of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or as monotherapy.5,11
  • Reduced risk of urinary, bowel and sexual function complications.5
  • Two-day outpatient procedure.8
  • Very short patient recovery times (typically 1–2 days).
  • Convenience for both patients and healthcare providers.

The use of HDR brachytherapy as a ‘boost’ to EBRT enables a higher dose of radiation to be delivered to the tumor, while at the same time minimizing risk of unnecessary damage to surrounding healthy tissues and organs.5

See how HDR brachytherapy compares to other prostate cancer treatments.


References
  1. American Cancer Society. How many men get prostate Cancer?. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_How_many_men_get_prostate_cancer_36.asp. Accessed on 5 March 2010.
  2. World Health Organization. World Cancer Report 2008. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
  3. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Prostate Cancer. 2010 National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
  4. Pickles T, Keyes M, Morris WJ. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2010;76(1):43–9.
  5. Koukourakis G, Kelekis N, Armonis V, Kouloulias V. Adv Urol 2009, Article ID 327945.
  6. Stone NN & Stock RG. Urology 2007;69(2):338–42.
  7. Pinkawa M, Asadpour B, Piroth MD, et al. Radiother Oncol 2009;91(2):225–31.
  8. BMJ Group (June 2009). Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/prostate-cancer-treatmentsinternal-radiotherapy-brachytherapy. Accessed 30 December 2009.
  9. Institute for Clinical and Economic Review. Available at: http://www.icer-review.org/index.php/final-harmonized-report-010509.html. Accessed 11 January 2010.
  10. Grimm P, Sylvester J. Rev Urol 2004;6(Suppl 4):37–48.
  11. Pisansky TM, Gold DG, Furutani KM, et al. Mayo Clin Proc 2008;83(12):1364–72.
Page last updated on 14 January 2011.

Brachytherapy

and prostate cancer

 

Cancer types



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