Men with high-risk prostate cancer often face tough choices about treatment. A new trial looked at a specific radiation technique called CyberKnife combined with hormone therapy. This approach targets the tumor precisely while sparing nearby healthy tissue. The study involved 20 patients with newly diagnosed unfavorable intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer. These men had specific markers like a Gleason score of 4+3 or a PSA level of 20 or higher. They received a total of 36.25 Gy to the prostate with a focal boost to specific areas. They also took androgen deprivation therapy to lower hormone levels that fuel cancer growth.
After a median follow-up of 54 months, the team checked for late side effects. At two years, 35% of patients experienced grade 2 genitourinary toxicity. This means mild to moderate urinary issues like frequency or urgency. Only 5% had grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicity, such as mild bowel discomfort. No patients suffered grade 3 toxicity, which would indicate severe problems requiring hospital care. Quality of life scores for urinary function and overall health did not worsen significantly compared to the start of treatment.
Sexual function scores did drop from baseline. The median score fell from 18 to 10. This reduction is expected with this type of treatment and hormone therapy. One case of biochemical relapse was reported during the study. The team notes this is a small trial with only 20 participants. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings. Still, the results suggest this method is well tolerated for this specific group of patients.