Dr. Michalski on Escalated Dose Radiation Therapy in Prostate Cancer

Jeff Michalski, MD, professor, vice chair of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, discusses results of a study which compared standard dose radiation therapy to escalated dose for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

The trial randomized patients with 70.2-79.2 Gy of radiation therapy. Data demonstrated that there was no difference in overall survival (OS) in men who received the escalated dose of radiation therapy.

The mortality rate of prostate cancer on this trial was 3% of patients, Michalski says. Prostate cancer death represented 13% of all causes of death in the trial.

Michalski adds that the low mortality rate meant no difference in OS; however, it demonstrated that men treated with intermediate-risk prostate cancer have a high likelihood of no disease recurrence.