Search

Background Patients with prostate cancer face the difficult decision between a wide range of therapeutic options. These men require elaborate information about their individual risk profile and the therapeutic strategies´ risks and benefits to choose the best possible option. In order to detect time trends and quality improvements between an early patient population (2003/2004) and a later reference group (2007/2008) data was analysed with regards to epidemiologic parameters, differences in diagnostics and the type and ranking of the recommended therapies taking into account changes to Gleason Grading System and implementation of new therapeutic strategies, particularly Active surveillance, in 2005. Methods Data from all 496 consecutive patients who received consultation in 2003/2004 (n = 280) and 2007/2008 (n = 216) was retrospectively evaluated. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test. Dependent variables were analysed using the unpaired Students´ t-test and the Mann–Whitney U-test. Results The cohorts were comparable concerning clinical stage, initial PSA, prostate volume, comorbidities and organ confined disease. Patients in Cohort I were younger (66.44 vs. 69.31y; p

A biochemical recurrence following prostatectomy is often diagnosed in relatively young and healthy men, and hence deemed very relevant concerning life, given the generally high life expectancy of these patients. Therefore, there is a need for a therapy that offers a long-term chance of cure. Following salvage radiotherapy in large multicenter series, about 45% of the patients treated are in biochemical complete remission 4 years after radiotherapy. The best chances of response are in those patients in whom none of the established risk factors, that will be discussed, are present. Given the established curative potential of salvage radiotherapy and the fact that there are no therapeutic alternatives with a realistic chance of cure, the rather moderate rates of side effects seem acceptable.

A biochemical recurrence following prostatectomy is often diagnosed in relatively young and healthy men, and hence deemed very relevant concerning life, given the generally high life expectancy of the

153 Background: Biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) is usually defined at a PSA >0.2 ng/ml. BCR may precede clinical progression by years. Though salvage radiotherapy (SRT) is recommend to be initiated at PSA 0.2 ng/ml) within a median time of 7 months. Subsequent PSA rise to >0.3, >0.4, and >0.6 ng/ml was recorded in 174 (58%), 123 (41%), and 24 (8%) men, respectively. Twenty-four (8%) men developed metastases. In cohort 2, 112 men received SRT at PSA between 0.03 and 0.2 ng/ml, and 86 at 0.2-0.499 ng/ml. The latter group, had a poorer 10-years BCR-free Kaplan-Meier rate, 43% vs. 66% (p=0.051). Together with pT0.1 ng/ml after RP will subsequently progress to PSA >0.2 ng/ml. Improved progression free survival can be achieved, if SRT is administered at a PSA