Twelve years after brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer, the actuarial analysis of 1449 patients implanted at the New York Prostate Cancer Institute (stages T1c-T2c) gave overall and disease specific survivals of 72% and 95% respectively, (data presented at ASTRO by Dr. L Potters et al).
Patients were stratified by PSA score (>/< 10), Gleason score and number of positive biopsy cores into low, intermediate and high risk groups.
Using the ASTRO definition of biochemical failure (three PSA rises) the 12 year rate of biochemical failure was 78% for the entire cohort, (89% for low risk, 78% for intermediate risk and 63% for high risk patients).
These data add to other published studies demonstrationg a high cure rate, sustained into the second decade of reporting, for brachytherapy as a front-line therapy for prostate cancer.
