It is a major announcement in the treatment of prostate cancer. After ten years of follow -up, a phase III clinical study shows that Radiation therapy in 7 sessions over 2.5 weeks East also effective, even superior in the standard protocol of 39 sessions over 8 weeks. This result, presented as part of the Congress of Estro (European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology), is based on 10 years monitoring of 1,200 patients with localized or high risk cancer, distributed between two groups according to the type of treatment received.
Radiotherapy, a lightened pillar in the treatment of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers in humans. External radiotherapy constitutes one of the reference treatments, especially for localized forms at intermediate or high risks. But the classic protocol involves almost two months of daily sessions, which weighs heavily on patients, their families and the care system.
From now on, a much shorter protocol is looming. In this study, participants were randomly assigned to two groups:
- Standard group: 78.0 gy in 39 sessions over 8 weeks;
- Short group: 42.7 gy in 7 sessions over 2.5 weeks.
The goal was to confirm equivalence results already obtained at 5 years with a follow -up twice as long.
A 10 -year follow -up which confirms comparable efficiency, or even better
The study, conducted by Swedish researchers, focused on Localized prostate cancer patients. All were followed during a decade. And the results are reassuring on all levels.
Concerning the global survival,, 81 % of patients in the short group were still alive ten years after their treatment, against 79 % in the standard group. The rate of safe survival – Key indicator in the evaluation of recurrences – was even more favorable in the short protocol (72 % against 65 %).
Deaths specifically related to prostate cancer were identical in the two groups: 4 %. As for side effects, including urinary and intestinal, they have been similar in the two groups, most of them being described as light to moderate.
The authors, the professors per nilsson, radiophysicist and adalsteinn Gunnlaugsson, radio-oncologist, declare: “For patients, this means less disturbances in their daily life and potentially a reduction in health costs, without compromising results and safety “.
Towards a new standard: increased comfort and cost reduction
One of the most tangible benefits of this advance indeed concerns the patient’s experience. Reducing the number of sessions from 39 to only 7 means less fatigue, less trips, less professional absences, but also less saturation of treatment centers. Professor Matthias GUCKENBERGER, president of the Estro, adds: “Shorter treatments allow patients to regain normal life faster “.
The short protocol also makes it possible to reduce overall costs: each patient mobilizes medical equipment and teams during a much shorter period of time, which optimizes the use of resources, especially in countries faced with high waiting times in oncology.
With equivalent efficiency, comparable toxicity, and major logistics benefits, this approach could establish itself as the new healthcare standard for localized prostate cancers.