Overview
The purpose of this study is to assess late gastro-intestinal side-effects comparing proton therapy to photon therapy in high-risk prostate cancer patients receiving whole pelvic irradiation.
Description
Proton therapy (PT) is a radiation technique with possibility to spare normal pelvic organs: bladder, rectum and bowel for PC patients.
Most PC patients treated with PT receive PT to the prostate gland alone. With PT, we aim to examine PC patients in high risk with both lymph node and prostate treatment will experience less late side effects with PT compared to photon treatment.
The investigators propose a national open-labelled phase III randomized controlled trial (RCT) of proton therapy versus photon therapy of the prostate including the regional elective LN for localized/locally advanced prostate cancer patients combined with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) aimed at 3 years. The investigators aim at reducing gastro-intestinal toxicity grad 2 more than 5 points, which is considered clinical significant, measured by mean Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 (EPIC-26) bowel scores at 24 months and improve HRQOL. Secondary endpoints include morbidity, quality of life and survival data up to 10 years after treatment.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Histologically verified localized/locally advanced prostate cancer T1-3bN0M0 (TNM 8th edition). A clinical T4 is allowed if it is because of invasion into the bladder neck.
- Adenocarcinoma (mixed histology allowed as long as the adenocarcinoma component comprise more than 50%)
- Indication for elective lymph node irradiation
- PSA < 100 ng/mL
- Age ≥18 years
- Performance status 0-1
- Life expectancy ≥ 10 years
- Able to understand and comply with the treatment protocol
- No evidence of inflammatory bowel disease Ability to adhere to procedures for study and follow-up
- Signed informed consent to participate in the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- No previous treatment for prostate cancer
- Hip-prostheses
- Other metal devices in the pelvic region (except fiducials)
- Previous major abdominal/rectal surgery
- Any other malignancy the last five years except for basal or squamous cell skin cancer
- Unable to understand patient information or comply with treatment and safety instructions
- Unable to read and understand patient information due to cognitive disabilities or language (Danish).