Value and perspectives of proton radiation therapy for limited stage prostate cancer

Background: This review article will focus on clinical results and limitati ons of proton beam irradiation. Possible technological, biological and medi cal perspectives will be addressed. Patients and Methods: A total of 911 patients with limited stage prostate c ancer were treated with proton beam irradiation at Loma Linda University be tween 1991 and 1996. Endpoints of this evaluation were biochemically no evi dence of disease survival (bNED) as well as acute and late treatment-relate d toxicity. Results: The bNED survival rate was 82% at 5 years. Among 870 patients eval uable for late toxicity the following late effects were observed: Grade 3/4 : 0%, Grade 2 rectal. 3.5% and bladder: 5.4%. Conclusions: Despite relatively short follow-up times it seems justified to conclude that proton beam irradiation of prostate cancer can improve bNED rates by 10% and decrease Grade 2 tate effects by more than 10%. There were no Grade 3 and 4 late effects.