A comparative analysis of the 3-field radiation treatment technique versus the 4-field radiation treatment technique in the treatment of patients presenting with either stage B or stage C prostate cancer

Abstract

Radical radiotherapy is quite commonly used to treat localised prostate cancer. Acute and chronic toxicity to the bladder and rectum are dependant upon field arrangement, dose delivered to these organs and the volume of these organs that is within the target volume. A prospective study was conducted in order to determine whether the 3-field or the 4-field radiation treatment technique yields less severe bladder and rectal toxicity. METHODS AND MATERIALS Sixty patients with histologically confirmed stage B or C (Jewitt's staging system) prostate cancer, with or without radical prostatectomy were recruited from two private oncology institutions, 30 of whom were in group 1 (3-field technique) and 30 in group 2 (4-field technique). Pre-treatment and post-treatment prostatic specific antigen (PSA) levels were recorded in order to compare the effect of radiation on PSA. Both groups were treated in 2.00gy fractions per day to a dose of 60.00gy before the field arrangements were changed. This study therefore assessed the patients