Primary focal prostate radiotherapy: Do all patients really need whole-prostate irradiation?

Abstract

Objectives: To review the available data about focal primary partial prostate irradiation (focal radiotherapy, FRT) for early prostate cancer.

Inclusion criteria: Medline search for English language full paper on primary FRT for early prostate cancer including review articles, planning studies or patient series (clinical outcome available) published before May 31, 2015.

Results: 22 papers have been found: 11 review articles, 4 planning studies and 7 patient series. Eleven review articles were dedicated to all types of focal therapy including FRT and 2 to FRT only. All planning studies included brachytherapy and showed excellent organ-at-risk sparing. Patient series included together 715 patients (99% treated with brachytherapy) and showed promising tumour control in low-risk cancer. In intermediate-risk tumours, FRT might be suboptimal.

Conclusions: Primary FRT is feasible in early prostate cancer. As any other focal therapy, FRT remains investigational until numerous questions are answered.

Keywords: Focal radiotherapy; Focal therapy; Index lesion; Intraprostatic lesion; Primary partial prostate irradiation.